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

to the camp among the pines.
''Couple Of fellows brought some
freight in for Mr.. McFaddin and
then Lit out like the heel flies were
after Them" he said. "The other
boys are chasin' them. They acted
right funny"
McFaddin and Ellison stepped for
ward.
The Texan released the diamond
hitch and whipped off the tarp. "A
body slid to the ground. Those pres
ent stood staring at what they saw.
Ellison leaned over him. cts
Jack Turley, one of our stock de-
tectives," he said.
by God, they got the double
crossing killer" McFaddin said
bluntly.
From the coat pocket Ellison drew
the note Morgan had written.
"Here is yore killer" he read,
''come back to report"
"We had better move fast"
Gaines said. "After being chased off
the map these two fellows must sus-
pect something"
Lets CO., McFaddin said with
q sardonic laugh. "We don't have
to wait any longer for Turley to
guide us. He's here. A little late
for his appointment with us, but /
reckon he couldn't help that"
The regulators, as the invaders
called themselves, looked to their
cinches and mounted. From the
prong they wound up through the
pines into country of open range
too wild for homesteaders. The
spread was too rocky and too billy
to invite settlers. Presently they
would cross a mountain spur from
which they would drop down into a
district of gulches, rock rims, and
small valleys where at not too fire.
quent intervals few nesters and
cow thieves held the fort unmolest-
ed, except when posses from the
big ranches came hunting stock that
was missing. On Ellison's list were
the names of dozen men who lived
in this section.
They struggled forward in no for
nation, Ellison and McFaddin in
the van. From a long, rocky slope
they came into a little mountain
park, not far from the summit.
McFaddin lifted a shout Of warn
ing and whipped up his rifle. Two
men had appeared on the rim and
started to ride down, but at sight of
the large company pulled up and
turned. One of them flung up a
hand in protest as the Flying v c
mans gun cracked. The echoes of
that shot rolled across the valley.
A sorrel horse stumbled and flung
his rider, then raced across the slope
with reins flying wild. The man
who had given the Indian peace
sign called to his companion. It
was almost as though the dismount-
ed man had bounced back from the
ground, so quickly was he on his
feet. He ran a few steps along the
hillside and vaulted to the back of
the uninjured horse behind his
friend. Three or four Texans fired,
but the horse and its double load
reached the rim and vanished.
Giving the cowboys "Hi-yi-yippy-
yi!' McFaddin brought his cow
pony to canter and pursued. The
others followed him.
A roam horse, carrying two men,
was travelling fast down the side of
the spur but was already showing
signs of distress.
We've got 'em!" yelled McFad-
din. "Come on, boys"
Just ahead was q little clearing
with log cabin on the edge of q
creek. A man had appeared from
behind it driving few cattle. He
was at casual ease, in no hurry
whatever. At the sound of the roar
ing guns he swung his head, took in
the situation, and instantly forgot
there was such a thing as leisure
in the world. While the fugitives
were still a good two hundred yards
distant he jumped his horse to q
gallop and vanished up a draw.
The hunted men flung themselves
from the back Of the horse and ran
into the house. The door slammed
behind them. The pursuers dragged
their horses to q halt and many of
them dismounted. Frightened by the
firing, the horse of the men in the
cabin splashed through the creek
and bolted.
Ellison took command. He named
four or five men to follow the cow
man who had disappeared UP the
ravine. The others he distributed
about the place, most of them in or
back Of the barn, which was over
seventy-five yards from the house.
Several he stationed across the
brook in the brush near the edge Of
the clearing. A steady, intermit-
tent sniping conferred on the cabin.
Already its windows were shattered.
The defenders had dug spaces in the
dry mud between the logs of the
walls, which they used as loopholes
for their guns. One had rife.
Apparently the other was armed
only with revolver.