Evening star., 1940-05-06

Xosslv ja sp,nn a ISSSIny SIay tGHs JIM Gnat
ton dam. At Bar oSssstreets e1SS SMs ranch ranch
Ns hm T. nassoon sse e hsa s1od
and she tells him she never wants to
sss ns;.I hin e.. .assin; Jim and Pesky sur
to blow UP the dam.
Better start up the gulch, Pesky,"
silcott advised. "1'n be joining you
IN minute on the jump. Wen have
time to reach the top and take
shelter behind some rocks"
Jim lit the fuse and ran to the
gulch. He hurried up this, and when
he reached the top saw the other
two men running into the boulder
field. Even though Frosty limped,
he was making good time. Silcott
caught up with him just as he
ducked behind the fiat edge of a
sloping slab Of granite.
They had not been there more
than minute when q terrific ex-
plosion sent a shower of rocks
hurtling into the air.
When the sheltered men emerged
from cover, Silcott told the pris-
oner, "Tell Russ Mosely we enjoyed
his fireworks. Only next time he
had better come and enjoy them
himself"
Jim led the way down the gulch.
He knew that the other two Hat T
men would come hurrying back. The
three men waited back of a fringe
OF bushes near the entrance to the
gulch.
Presently they heard the sound of
ealloping horses. Yeager and Jud-
son came crashing through the as
pens and pulled up to view the
shattered rocks scattered all over
the pocket.
Frosty must have been blown
70 bits!" Judson cried.
Silcott stepped out from the
bushes, rifle in hand. "Glad to re-
ieve your mind, Roam" he said.
FROSTY had a grandstand seat where
he could see the fireworks fine"
"Out After Strays".
Prodded by Kennedy, Frosty
emerged from the brush. The two
on horseback stared at them and
at Silcott, so completely taken
aback that they had not a word to
say.
"A little surprised to see us, boys"
the Diamond Slash men said. Were
up here having a look-see at my
dam, just as a matter Of form. I
gather from Frosty that you are
hunting g-bucks-without rifles. It's
sure sporting of you to go after them
with six-shooters."
Were lookin'. for strays," Yeager
ssid "Any objections?"
Did you aim to blow them back
to their own range with dynamite?"
Jim wanted to know, his drawing
voice loaded with sarcasm.
Roam Judson was q long, stoop-
shouldered man with yellow jaun-
diced face. II don't get this" he
snapped. "Who set OF the powder?
And why?"
"Oh, we did that" silcott told
him cheerfully. "Pesky and I.
Wasn't that all right? Didn't you
bring it here to be set off?'
1T wasn't your powder" Judson
persisted, splenetic anger in his
voice. What right had you to touch
it,"
I'VE found it here" Jim answered,
bland innocence in his manner. "And
when we decided on the fireworks
Frosty didn't object. Did you
Frosty?"
The wrinkeld little man with
the skim-milk eyes yelped an ex-
plosive reply. "They kept me cov-
cred with their damn rifles"
TITS all right with you boys
about us playin' Fourth of July,
amt it?" kennedy want to know,
. chip on his shoulder.
Jordan Issues Threat.
Pete Yeager's high-colored face
looked apoplectic. Thought Russ
told you to get outa this part of
the country, Pesky." he snarled.
russ Mosely never saw the day
he could order me to cut my stick"
Kennedy replied angrily.
Frosty volunteered information.
'"They claim we was going to use
the dynamite to blow up Reds
dam"
"Who told 'em that?" Yeager
quizzed, challenging eyes on the
man who had been left at camp.
IT dunno" Frosty glared at the
fat, bald-headed rider. Don't you
look at me thataway, Pete. I didn't
tell 'em q thing. Ask 'em. Ask
Pesky-or Red"
That's right" Silcott assented.
sI wouldn't want to start hard feel
ing in q happy family like the Hat
T. A little bird whispered it to me,
Pete"
yeah, well I want to tell you
that you've got yoreself up to the
neck in trouble, fellow" Jordon pre-
dicted.
Jim laughed. Not news, Roam,
but I'm in no deeper than I was
before. Friend Pete here was in
at q little party where I was the
target. There was little hitch in
It, but Russ will try to see 1t goes
OF better next time. Pete's inten-
tions were good, but he and the
other boys had been tanking up
Ocme."
"You were lucky" Yeager said
with an oath. 1T ought to have
been you and not Buck that was
carried into the Trails End and
buried"
That's right" agreed Silcott. "A
man trapped In an ambush, with
i've men against him, hasn't any
license to expect he can rub one of
them out and make his getaway
safe. It was sure enough gilt-edged
luck"
Denis Any Ambush.
IF you claim it was an ambush
that's q ne," Yeager retorted bluntly.
"Buck Sneve saw you crossing the
street and started pluggin' at you, "
Seems to me II I was you I'd
keep my mouth shut about that fuss,
Pete" advised Pesky. "Four-five Of
you jumped him when he wasn't
lookin' and he had the best Of It.
~yAA IA~~t IL Ia