The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1941-12-26
CHAPTER XVIII

beCLer lie tneTe on the Deu, 1Cl-
ry said, without looking round. Let
Larry have your rifle"
jeff looked at Terry's fiat, strong
back with cold dislike. This was a
nice pickle to be in. Without know
ing it, he had come to rescue an
enemy, and by another queer topsy-
turvy quirk the man had saved him.
''How soon will your friends get
here?" Larry asked. 81 reckon they
are gathering quick as they can"
81 sent Lee Hart out to pass the
word. My guess would be, in an
other hour and a half"
After a pause, "We can't stand
them off another hour and a hal"
Terry said.
A sinister light quickened Jeff's
face. He said ironically: you'll be
able to make a nice deal for your
selves now. They won't have two
to hang, but one is better than
none"
Terry did not answer. Larry
flushed angrily. "a
You nave a nne way OF making
friends, jeff" he said.
''I'm particular about who my
friends are," Brand jeered.
'I've noticed that. A scoundrel
like Lee Hart who shoots from back
of wall at man not expecting it.
A bullypuss rufian like Jack Tur-
ley. A scalawag like"
Don't talk about Turley being
my FRIEND" jeff interrupted. II
killed him this morning"
Larry stared at him. "Howcome
you to kill Turley?"
eve found out he was the traitor
who shot Jim Tetlow and the other
boys. I gave him an even-Stephen
break, which was more than the
skunk deserved. We found the blood
money in his cabin"
They've stopped the wagon"
Larry interrupted. Someone has
brought in horse without rider.
Looks like the roam you were on.
Bet dollar they have recognized
the horse and are having pow-wow
about it,"
''It looks like only one of us may
be dead in ten minutes" JEFF
snarled. "I'n take that rifle now,
Larry. I aim to 60 out in smoke"
Larry looked at the Diamond Re
verse B manager.
'Give it to him." Terry said, his
gaze fixed on the outlaw. "But don't
make mistake, Brand. / wouldn't
have chosen it that way, but we're
all in this tight together. We all
come out of it alive or none of us
do. Let me do the talking; that is,
if any of us get a chance to do any
with these fellows"
Were getting chance, all
right" Larry cried. Someone is
running out a white flag from back
of the barn."
Terry walked to the door, unbolt-
ed it, and waved the -four sack.
Ellison and Sunday Brown came out
of the barn and walked toward the
house. When they were about forty
yards distant the No, By 10 man.
ager shouted a question.
sWhat made you run away, Ter
ry?" he demanded irritably. "You
might have got killed"
The Diamond Reverse B man
waited until they were nearer. $50
we might" he agreed, sarcasm rid
ing his voice. whether we ran or
whether we stayed. Your hired kill
ers are too ready with their guns,
Ellison. told you it would be that
way"
Into Larry's face beneath the tan
dark blood swept. ''Your hired kill
ers have been plugging at us for
a couple of hours. You're no better
than that dead wolf Turley you were
telling us about. The sooner you are
run out of the country the better"
Larry had made a slip, and Eli
son bounced on it. "Did mention
Turley? How do you know he was
the mani"
''Never mind how ! know. He has
nothing to do with our complaint
against you. I'm going to see that
it gets into the Denver papers that
you attacked u.s."
Sunday Brown spoke for the first
time. 'sWho is the man that slipped
into the cabin little while ago?"
Terry looked at him bleakly. "You
wounded the nRn, whoever he is.
That's enough for one day. ! adj
wise you-an to mount your horses
and get out of here while you can"
Don't try the high and mighty
with me, Terry" the No, By Joe
manager advised, restraining his
temper with difficulty. ''I'm asking
you two questions, and ! don't in
tend to leave till I get answers. The
first is, how do you know Turley
was killed, unless you were in on
the job? The second is, who did you
carry into the cabin little while
ago?"
You're out of luck in your ques-
tions, Ellison" drawled Terry. 1--WE
won't answer either of them"
A man appeared in the doorway Of
the house. He leaned against the
jamb for support, but the rifle in
his hands was quite steady.