Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1941-09-04
CHAPTER XIV

King Gordon cowboy whom Roper
had not known-had finished their
makeshift dressing of Old Joe's
wound, and were working on Jim
feathers. Jim feathers lay perfect
1y still; only his eyes seemed alive.
Flows she feeling?" Bill Roper
asked.
"The Gordon girl? She's all right.
She went out to look over the horses
or something"
Bob, you better 60 see nothing's
happened to Jody."
''I'n 60 in a minute, soon as we're
through here
But Jody came in of her own ac-
cord, before that. She went straight
to Old Joe.
care you terribly uncomfortable,
Joe?"
II feel great" Joe said with spir-
it. II been hunting for vacation
for fifteen years, and this is my
first excused"
"I'm sorry, Joe. You'll never
know how sorry I am. I tangled
things up pretty badly, I guess"
"You done wonderful" Joe told
her. "You saved Bills neck, all
right. They had him hog-tied like a
mosshorn, and the girl, too, when
we busted in
Jody shot Marquita a glance in
which the only light was faint con-
tempt, but she did not comment.
'I'm riding back to Miles," she
told Joe. ION the way I'll send
help back, and everything you'll
need. And I'll see that you're moved
in spring wagon, soon as you feel
like moving. l appreciate what
you've done, Joe."
"Hey, look" Bob Stokes began.
"You can't be riding off like this in
the middle of the night"
cts coming daylight, fast. I'll be
all right"
Outside, in the gray light that
seemed colder than the air, Jody
Gordon had mounted as Bill Roper
came to her stirrup.
"You mustn't 60 yet" he told her
gently. "These boys are fixed as
comfortable as they can be; there's
no hurry to get help. You'll be
wanting some coffee; and have to
talk to you, Jody."
''I'm not interested in talking to
you," Jody said without expression.
"Why, Jody-look here
81 got you into this" Jody said.
81 got you into this because was
fool. So had to get you out. That's
all over now. I don't want to talk to
you, now, or any time"
She whirled her horse sharply, so
that it's hoofs sent up a scurry of
dry snow; then she was gone, her
retreat covered by the cabin as she
swung toward the trail.
For moment Roper stood look
ing after her Then he stepped in
side.
"You'll stay here, Bob," he said.
"I'll saddle and ride after her; I'll
see that she gets to Miles"
"Wait minute" Old Joe said.
"You got to wait minute There's
something else you got to know"
1lcIc uOIll1llS GlSe uGGU W
know"
''Lew Gordon amt in Miles!'
''Then where the devil is he? His
daughter"
Somebody - Jim Leathers, 1
guess-sent note to Lew Gordon
that his daughter was all right, but
couldn't be sent home just yet. No.
body signed that note. But it was
plain to be seen from it that some
war party of Ben Thorpe's was hold
ing her some place. So Lew Cor
DON"
"You mean that Lew Gordon is
going on the warpath himself? Hunt
ing for Jody?"
Hes going after it straighter
than that. Everybody knows Ben
Thorpe is at Sundance. Lew Cor
don has gone to Sundance to tie into
Ben Thorpe, and his old gun is
hammering away at his side.'
HE figures to fight Thorpe?"
"Bill, it sure looks that way to me.
What's strange about that? Thorpe
has punished away at Lew Gordon
all his Life. He's stole his cattle and
killed his trail bosses. and fought