The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1941-06-13
CHAPTER Nv

Iran winch ne himself had pi-
oneered. They thought he would
want to rest out there in the open
PLAIN, near enough to the cattle trail
SO that the rumble of hoofs would
sometimes come to him through the
ground.
Over his grave they piled boul-
ders, after the fashion of the prairie
men. Bill Roper himself fitted a
cross of railroad ties, the most dur
able and massive timber available
at Ogallala.
After that was all done, and night
had come on, and everybody had
gone back to town, Bill Roper went
back to that lonely cross and squat
ted on his heels against the pile of
stone.
After while ridden horse came
toward the cross at a walk; and
Bill Roper remained motionless, un-
seen against the stones, as the horse
man came up.
The rider stepped to the ground
and walked slowly toward the cross,
the reins of his pony on his arm.
"Quien esq"
Roper said, ooh, hello, Dry
Camp"
Dry Camp Pierce came and sat
down beside Bill at the foot of the
stones. Find out anything, in the
town."
Hell, no."
NO." Dry Camp repeated after
him. mo, and they won't"
"You talk mighty sure, Dry
Camp"
81 talk mighty sure because 1 am
mighty sure. Nobody saw Dusty
killed except the three men that
done it; and one other man."
Bill Roper's hand shot out and
caught Dry Camps lean arm in a
grip that bit like trap. "Who was
that?"
"Me."
There was a silence, sharp and
hard, before Bill said, How is it
you haven't told anybody this?"
Haven't had any chance to talk
to you," Dry Camp said. Pm tell
ing you now, amt II"
who was it?"
"Cleve Tanner; and Walk Lash
am, and Ben Thorpe"
Dry Camp took a match out of
the pocket of his cowhde vest and
chewed the end.
"You sec" he searched for his
words painfully, after the manner
of men who are much alone
DUSTY, he tied his horse out back
of the Lone Star Bar, in the angle
of the wagon shed. There's kind
of a corner there, like you can't see
into it from any place, hardly; and
what with il getting dark"
where were your"
~ was in Bailey's Harness Shop,
next door. | saw Dusty turn off the
walk, and walk back between the
buildings I'd been watching for
him, because / wanted TO speak TO
him a minute. l went back through
the harness shop, and was just 60
ing out the back door. And then hell
bust in the wagon shed angle"
1.-THE time it happened" Bill
Roper said, there must have still
been little light"
Enough to see by, all right. These
three varmints steps out of the shed
quick and quiet. Dusty knew what
he was up against, al right. His
gun come out; but Walk Lasham
grabs his gun arm with his left hand
and bears down like he was wras-
ting him. Then the whole works
seems to blow up, as all three OF
'em loose. They just stood and
throw . e.. into him, and it seemed
like o.. ms never going to fall. Ben
Tho.3c jumped tWo more shots aft
CT Dusty was down, and dead"
That was all the story. Both of
them seemed to recognize that there
we're no questions TO ask, nothing TO
add.
II promise you this, Bdl:" Dry
Camp said at last. Il can't 60 up
and testify against these men. You
know why. If / let it be known
that I'm here, that's the finish Of
me. But that would be ali
right. Only, what court, that we
got, would believe me against
them"
Bill Roper said, "Thcre isn't any
thing you can do, l don't suppose"
"Oh, yes, there is There's one
thing | can do. III have to kind of
hide my time, and make it sure;
but-I'm going to get me these three
men"
"No, you amt" Bill Roper said.
"We're going to 90 at this thing
different way. Trouble with you,
you're figuring these three men as
lust three men. They amt They
rot the biggest string of tough out
fits in the country, and they spread
all the way from the Rio Grande
to the Rosebud, and beyond. We
got to bust up the whole works, if
we want to get any place"
Dry Camp was silent for several
minutes. "What you aim to do?"
IL aim to start in Texas, where
Cleve Tanner runs Thorpe's breed
ing outfits in the Big Bend; / aim
TO tic into him piece by piece, till
Ben Thorpe is smashed out Of the
West"
Lew Gordon will never stand
for