Evening star., 1940-05-06

miss him with his rife. DeNber-
ately he moved his horse closer and
drew up 8 or 10 yards from the Dia-
mond Slash owner.
ANY time Red wants to turn his
wolf loose on me it's all right" he
said quietly. But before he be-
gins I'll tell you, Pesky. that when
I reach for my cutter I dea't need
anybody to back my play. Buck
went crazy with the heat and started
the trouble at Blanco. I wasn't in
1t till Buck got to shooting"
Silcott looked at the fat, bald
headed puncher and shook his head
reprovingly. Naughty, naughty,
Pete. If you go around hunting
trouble that way some time you'll
bump into q citizen who isn't quiet
and peaceful like me and you'll find
1t sitting right in your lap. About
that Blanco business, I'll take your
word for 1t. It was q crazy mixup
Russ let you know that when he
read you the riot act after you got
home. He doesn't have his killings
done that way. You'll have to get
1t IN your nuts that he wants pub
icity for his support Of the church
and other civic enterprises and
privacy for all the hell he scatters.
BY the way, you might tell him
when you get home, If he starts to
ride you for the way this Job turned
out, that he has nobody but him
sell to blame for it. He gave him.
self away. Pass the word to him
That he ought to play his hand
closer to his belly"
How do you mean he gave it
away?" demanded Jordon.
Never mind how. He was irving
TO pull a fast one and wasn't slick
enough"
VIII Tell Him Plenty"
We'll tell him plenty" Yeaeer
said vindictively. This defeat
ranked. 1t was so unexpected and
so complete. He did not see that
he had been to blame for the fail
ure and he intended to tell Prentiss
just what Silcott had said. Jud
would be furious and so would
Mosely. The big boss had a mania
Tor success in anything he under
LOOK. 1t would not please him to
know that everybody in the district
would be laughing at him. When
Russ pulled his lawless high-handed
oramatics he expected to get away
with them.
I expect you are busy. It has
been nice meeting you, but we must
not keep you too long" Silcott
turned his white -toothed grin on
them. IF you're going hunting
deer with your ASS, as Frosty saws,
you're liable to have a long day
ahead OF you. Or If it's strays YOU
are after, as Pete claims. youIl
probably want to start on a couple
OF broomtails that hightailed it out
OF here just before the fireworks
began. They were going fast when
we saw them last"
Where are your broncs?" Jud-
son asked.
ours? Oh, don't worry about
us. We won't have to drag it IS
miles on foot. Well, adios, boys.
Don't take any wooden quarters in
change"
Yeager went reluctantly. He
would have liked to do something
to build himself up in his own and
others esteem, but he knew he
would have to postpone this. He
would gain nothing by q fight. Sill.
colt and Kennedy were watching
every move the Hat T men made
and even at this distance their rifles
would be far more accurate than
revolvers.
Don't laugh too long" Peter
warned. You're top dogs right
yet"
Frosty climbed astride of Jordon's
morse. The Hat T men disappeared
into the aspen draw.
When Rufe Jelks and Bar Over
street reached the Diamond Slash
they found nobody at home except
a Mexican vaquero who was top
ping some colts in the corral. From
him they learned that Silcott and
Kennedy had reached the ranch on
the previous afternoon, but had
stopped only long enough to get
fresh mounts. No, they had not
said where they were going. But
they carried rifles, 50 it was possible
they were out looking for a buck.
I'VE better ride up to the dam,
Rufe suggested, grinning at his
companion. Maybe we might see
a buck, too"
They were relieved to find the
dam intact and the waters Of the
lake back Of 1t unrufned.
II reckon" Rufe said, Red is
scouting these hills to make sure
none of the Hat T lobos are holed
up here" He rolled and lit q
cigarette. But we probably
wouldn't find him If we hunted all
day. might as well go down to the
ranch"
They logged down the trail, not
very well pleased with the situation.
They wanted to see Silcott, to offer
him help If he needed any.
Hear Explosion.
The fences Of the ranch were In
sight when the sound Of an ex-
plosion pulled them up short. Jelks
and Overstreet looked at each other,
the same quetsion in both their
minds.
The two riders turned their horses
heads back up the trail. When they
came in sight of the dam they saw
it had not been injured. The place
was as deserted as it had been when
they left.
1T sure has got me guessing. !"
Overstreet said. The big man looked
worried. II won't be easy In my
mind till I see Red safe and sound u
They tried shouting, and their
voices echoed back to them. Rufe
fired his Winchester and received no
answer.
Maybe we had better ride circle
and see If we cut any sign," he pro-
posed.
Roforn %hn1, hed rara am ,,a~L~