The Ely miner., 1939-10-19
Q TAlBoT MUNpY-WNU SERVICE

been thinking. If you want to know
what I was thinking, I'll tell you.
Barring two or three injustices
you've done to me, and I'm of a
forgiving disposition, there's only
one man in Kadur, by my reckon
ing, who'd pay money to see you
dead and buried"
"You may name him."
'Name him yourself. Him and
you was thumbing guitar and sing
ing to the same girl. Let's suppose
he knows, for instance, that the
priests slipped you bribe. And let's
suppose he thinks you're honest.
Let's suppose he thinks you'll earn
the bribe and fix it so the priests
win their case And him heir to
the throne. And him and you mash
ing the same golden-haired beauty.
He'd be as officer-headed as you
are if he didn't hit quick-and below
the belt. He'll hit hard! What's to
stop him from spiking the Brahm-
ms case by getting them blamed
for having murdered you? Answer
that one? Why not lay off the girl?
If was you, I'd"
Don't let me have to caution
you too often, O'Leary. What I
expect from you is information. I
do my own thinking. If I should
ever need advice est'm you IN tell
you"
"'Tain't never 70 use advising
nobody about no woman" said
O'Leary. ST know symptoms when
1 see 'em. All right, NUNS the
word, I amt saying nothin'."
''Get out of here"
After supper, Norwood wrote an
other letter to Lynn Harding. He
didn't tear up that one. He ad-
dressed it in care of Mrs. Harding
at the guesthouse, and then stuck it
into his tunic pocket. He was still
undecided. Determined, but no:
ready with his plan. O'Leary came
and warned him again about sitting
too near the lamp, so he went out
side the tent and sat in the shadow
cast by the rising full moon. A
sentry challenged.
Careful" Norwood shouted.
Don't shoot unless you have to-.
And don't shoot to kill"
A bullet whizzed past him-then
another. They came from two di-
rectionS.
'Sentries, hold your fre!" he
shouted.
Stoddart came charging up,
breathing hard, fastening his tunic
and belt as he ran.
'tAll present, sir! All ready!"
Every well, Stoddart. Keep your
hair on. Post two men to guard my
tent. Send two to the horse-line and
the remainder to guard the store
tent. Thieves-I think"
Norwood walked ahead into the
darkness, shadowed by O'Leary.
"Now what?" asked O'Leary.
For the love o."
Fetch a lantern on a long stick
Hurry"
Norwood stood in deep black
shadow waiting for him. O'Leary
ran up with lantern at the end
of very long stick-at least ten
feet long.
''Give that to me. Next shot they
fire, raise a yell that I'm hit"
"Okay. I get you. You're cred
it to your Uncle Moses
Norwood held the pole extended
toward his left to its limit. He
walked forward. The lantern danced
as if it were in someone's hand. A
bullet spat out of the darkness. Nor
wood fell. O'Leary shouted at the
top of his lungs:
''Stoddart! Hi there, Stoddartl
They've shot the Captain! He's
dead! They hit him through the
heart!"
Stoddart and four men came hur-
rying. Norwood whispered:
"Pick me up. Carry me into the
tent feet first"
"Mournful and solemn" O'Leary
added.
Lay me on the cot in full lamp
light. Spread a sheet over me-"
said Norwood.
Hes as dead as trouble" said
O'Leary.
So they carried Norwood to the
cot and there he lay, in lamplight,
while Stoddart slightly overdid the
business of taking over command.
O'Leary secuted At the end of ten
minutes, O'Leary returned to the
tent.
That's done it. They've gone.
crashed among the bushes Like a
pig with panther after him. No
body fired a shot. There wasn't a
sound. They've gone for good. ALI
Kadur will know that you're dead,
within twenty minutes. They may
even tell 'em the news at the pal
ace, though I doubt that. Palaces
get the news late, after other folks
have had time to lay their bets"
Norwood sat up. He stared at
O'Leary. O'Leary held his tongue.
He watched, waited. Norwood didn't
speak for sixty seconds. Then:
''O'Leary, there is just one chance
in fifty that Prince Rundhia is on,
the wall, by that kiosk, where he
was last night"
It almost seemed as If the nigfis
knew that Norwood had made up
his mind. He was riding a fresh
horse, but he didn't hurry. He was
followed by a mounted sails, and by
O'Leary on another horse. The
borcac fho chic and O,T o,r,, be
haved like snakes tail. They fol-
lowed the head without asking ques
tions. Norwood gave no orders. He
didn't tell O'Leary what he intended
to do. But as they came near the
palace garden wall, he reduced the
speed a little and O'Leary, without
needing to be told to do it, went
scouting ahead.
O'Leary, on the other side, made