The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1941-08-15
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The shack in which she now found
herself was a cramped makeShift,
intended only as a shelter for cow
boys, storm-caught while riding the
northern limits of the Fork Creek
range. A single lantern hung from
roof pole; and now, by its yellow
light the two men studied her with
an unconcealed amazement.
by God" said the older of the
two, Its girl, all right"
The other man, tall enough so that
the door at his back looked small,
was much the younger of the two.
His face was prematurely hard-cut
the face of man who even in
youth had learned an effectiveness
in action upon which he could well
rely. He spoke sharply.
Jim - you know who this is?
That's Lew Gordon's grill"
Good Lord Almighty! believe
you're right"
tits her, sure enough!"
$50 you know me?" Jody said.
II seen you once in Ogallala, and
another time in Bandera."
The older man shifted his eyes to
his partner. "Queerest turn of the
cards." he said, II ever seen in all
my born days!"
The younger mans voice was
sharp and strained. Jim, we got
to get her out of here, and get her
out quick!"
The man called Jim appeared to
NOnSI6nr inf hi al
others face. Il amt SO sure" he
said after moment.
You talk like fool" the younger
man snapped at his superior. Look
what we got! We got the law back
of us. We got the most powerful
coWman in the West back of us. We
got one Of the biggest rewards that's
ever been hung up, right ready to
drop into our hands. We've located
Roper's main shebang, after work.
Ing on it for months. We got all
the odds in the world in our IA
vor-and here comes this girl and
boys the whole works."
it," ~ e'
1--WE got every chance of mailing
our man, right here, any hour now.
But don't ever think well nail him
without hell of sharp fight. Sup
pose this girl gets hurt in this fight,
or gets loose and loses herself, or
runs out of luck some other way?
The quicker we get her out of
here
Cant"
whats the reason we can't?"
I'VE got the bear by the tail. She's
dynamite so long as she's here.
l grant you that. But what if
we leave her go? She warns Roper
off. Then where are WEI"
The younger mans eyes were
keen with a repressed excitement.
"Jim-you figure she come to meet
Bill Roper here?"
"She didn't come here by ac-
cident," Leathers said with convic-
ton, "any more than you or me.
And she sure didn't come here TO
throw in with u.s.
A swift panic struck Jody with the
shock of blow in the face. If
Jim Leathers wished, he could hold
her here-litcraly as bait with
which to draw the man whom il was
his mission to kill. If Shoshone
Wilce had got clear, and could reach
Roper, Roper would certainly attack
as soon as the best ponies of the
raiders could bring him. Or, fail
ing to locate Roper, Shoshone Wilcc
might even bring her fathcr-and
what orders jim Leathcrs had in
regard to Lew Gordon she could only
surmise.
I'm getting sick of this" Jody
told Jim Leathcrs. "You owe me
a hose; there can't possibly be
any argument about that. I'll have
to ask you to rope pony and bring
him TO my saddle-and I'll be on
my way!"
Slowly Lcathcrs shook his head.
You won't give me a pony?"
"I'm afraid-you'll have to wait
until your friends come, lady"
For Jody Gordon's white fash Of
anger there was no outlet whatever.
She turned away TO hide from them
the furious tears that sprang into
her eyes. She took Off her shccpskin
coat and flung it on the table. for
the room was very hot; but be-
cause her fingers were still chilled
! to the bone she pulled off her gloves.
tucked them in her belt, and went
to the shallow fireplace TO hold out
her hands to the flames.
They went on talking now i'm the
drawing, well-considercd speech of
the trail, long pauses marking ev-
cry interchange. Whatever else thew
might think of her, they evidently
did not consider that she implied
any necessity to secrecy.
IF Roper is on his way" the
younger rider said thouphtfullv.
"and this side rider of hers has rot
loose and meets him, so that Ron.
or knows what'he's up against-that
might be kind of bad medicine
JIM If he's got his war-riders witt
him"
1--WE missed hooking I'D with Ron
er twenty times when l thought !
had him ~ aa4Iov- str,1