The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1939-10-05
BY JACKSON GREGORY

anu SLOW, SOOu-HuIIlOTeu GIN
played across his heavy features,
''there's something else. You
heard him say he's got his pick
into a mine? Well, I believe 1t,
and what's more, maybe he end l
are pardnersH' He turned to Bar
ry. you're the fellow Timber
line told me about?"
'That's so," nodded Barry.
"You haven't asked me to chip
in said March, land from the
look of you, you're not to yelling
for help. Just the same it seems
you're a stranger here - and Ia
be glad to line up alongside the
Judge in seeing you get square
deal"
Instantly Barry made up his
mind. He grinned back at March.
"Thanks-pardner," was all
that he said.
Then he recklessly played a
high card, win or lose. He sud-
denly showed his gun back into
it's holster, ignored the many
guns trained on him and stepped
to the bar. From his pocket ne
jerked the small buckskin bag
containing the major part of his
golden gleanings of two years
ago; he poured the little duly
cleaning heap out on the bar
"There's more where that came
from, boys" he called out cheer
lily. mo reason we should all 60
dry; step up; it's on me-"
Thus he strove to center their
interest on his gold, knowing
we'll enough that in any case a
few hours would spread talk OF
it. But Tom Haveril, still leaning
lazily against the bar, was single
purposed. He said:
"a while ago you said you had
sister here, Lucy Blount, and
that she could settle this"
"Why, so she cant" cried Bar
ry.
"Bueno," nodded Tam Haveril,
He glanced about the room.
Suppose "a committee of you
boys goes and puts it up to her?
I reckon we'll take her word"
Ken March looked at Barry,
and Barry nodded. But he had to
add: "The only trouble is that I
don't know where she is. She
doesn't seem to be anywhere in
town."
Another man spoke up sharply.
II seen her just little while ago,
when it was hardly more'n dark.
She was ridin' out O town. A
couple o. boys was with her. One
of 'em was Dick Longo, that
Johnny-come lately that's been
ridin' with Sarboe."
Sarboe! The name rang bells in
Barry's brane,- and thoughts
clicked away like mad. Tom Hav-
eril had tactily accused Barry OF
sitting those wolves on Lucy; if
Tom Havlril were Laredo, what
more likely than that he himself
had been at the bottom of the
thing? What next, Tom Haveril-
-Laredo-had heard Barry say
that Lucy Blount was the one
person here who could identify
him!
"This fool trial is postponed, -
Barry shouted aloud. IF you
want me won't be hard to find.
If you think you can stop me
now, try it! I'm on my way to
find Lucy Blount."
For once in his life Judge Blue
was uncertain. He started to
speak, then held his peace. A
swift glance passed between him
and Tom Haveril; the younger
man permitted a shadowy smile
to pass his lips, then shrugged.
Barry went straight to his
horse. "A man gets where he's
going all the faster when he rides
alone" he grunted to himself, but
was nonetheless piqued at Ken
March's loss.
Barry rode slowly, striking into
the North Road.
He came to the first clearly de-
fined off-shooting trail, all but
passed it in the dark.
He had scarcely sat there pom
dering five minutes when he
heard a furious pounding of
hoofs, and a rider came racing out
of Red Rock.
"Now, who the devils that?" he
wondered.
The one way to find out was to
follow. Barry dipped his spurs
and sped after him.
He forced his horse at a run up
thu steep hill, came for a moment
into clear space among the
pines and of sudden saw light
ahead.
Tt was but a dim ve11owiSh