Evening star., 1941-07-06

they ever find out why plugged him, you'll
be in Jail for rustln'! Don't forget that
Again they were all quiet Then one of the
other men said, You better clean those
clothes Bud And we better start playin'
poker too, in case they walk in on us. Most
everybody knows this is where you come
nights"
So that was the way it happened. After Bud
cleaned up. they sat down to play again, all
of them kind of scared. Mostly they seemed
to be listening for the sounds of horses. l was.
too couldn't think of going to sleep.
The crowd galloped up to the house in less
than half an hour - at least twenty men, all
toting guns, and they pushed right into Mas
parlor. Angry men, looking like they were
ready to do some mighty straight shooting.
The sheriff wasn't there, but Jim Wylers
son, Dan, was right in front of the crowd.
l sort of liked Dan. He was studying in
Austin to be parson but every once in a
while he'd come home for couple weeks.
He was tall and bony, built like my Pa. But
a lot younger, of course. About nineteen or
twenty. guess He had light hair and he was
different from most men. Never toted gun,
for one thing. Said he didn't believe in it.
l used to like going around to the Wyler
place when Dan was home. He'd sit down on
the porch step and tell me Bible stories, start
ing way back with Adam and Eve. Pa would
make me tell them over, and then he'd nod
and say That right Keep goin' there, son"
! oNIGHT Dams thin face was all twisted
His eyes we're crazy bright like the eyes of
a loco bronco. He started toward Bud Oakley,
but old Pop Garretson held Dan back.
Pop Garretson said to Bud, Dams iden-
tfyin' you as the hombre who shot his Pa.
Sheriff Brooks gone to El Paso. So we're
constitutin' ourselves posse Bud, to hold
you under arrest till the sheriff gets back
Bud Oakley looked surprised, like he didn't
know what it was all about. He asked few
questions in dazed kind of way, and Pop
Garretson explained how Jim Wyer had been
shot hardly an hour ago.
But didn't do it!' said Bud. How
could l? been playing poker here since seven
O'Clock. He turned to the others at the table.
Amt that right, gents?"
Pa didn't say anything. But the others all
said sure, it was right.
''Seen' as how got five witnesses to back
me up Bud Oakley told Pop Garretson,
Il don't see why you should want to hold me.
l never had nothing against Jim Wyler'
Pop Ganetson stood scratching in his white
beard like he didn't know just what he ought
to do. But Dan took step toward Bud. His
eyes we're wilder than ever.
You're lying, Bud" he whispered Il was
in bed and heard your voice plain as I'm
hearing it now You're lyingr'
Buds hand started for his gun, but he did
mt draw. He just grinned a little, cold and
poisonous. Generally" he said, I'D make
an hombre shoot it out if he called me liar.
But you bein' too yaller to tote gun, I'm
warnin' you to shut up or I'll paste you!"
Dan said again, low and furious. You
killed my Pa!''
With all those men looking on, guess Bud
just couldn't back down. He hauled off and
banged fist square into Dams face. Bud
was about fifty pounds heavier than Dan
Wyler, and bigger, and the fist sent Dan
staggering back. He'd probably have fallen
if Pop Garretson hadn't caught him. Then he
shook his head and first thing anybody knew,
he charged right back at Bud. Lit into him