The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1942-09-03

tkAGvU kVS1s v%&Ox OG8 49,
right away. Your dads been shot
dead. Killed less than half an
hour ago by a murderin' skunk
who fired through the window,
while we was talkin' together. ]
went after him, but he got away
from me-"
Lois expression hardly chang
ed, only that set, bitter look came
into her eyes again, and her
mouth hardened.
$50 you killed him, did you?"
she said. "For what? Did you
think he had money? You've
found out your mistake by now,
I guess. Well, why don't you
shoot me, too?"
you're talking nonsense, Miss
Lois, which amt to be wondered
at under the circumstances, an
swered Dave. "I'm ridin' for the
sheriff. You'd best 60 back and
wait in the cabin. There wasn't
nothing I could do for him. He
was killed instantly"
The girls expression didn't
change. She sat on Black Dawn,
watching Dave intently. Sudden
lv she swung round on the horses
back and gave a shrill whistle.
Instantly the broncs disappeared
through the scrub. And in a
mother instant Lois had kicked
the outlaw horse in the TANKS
and was galloping wildly IN the
direction of Mescal. ,
Dave tried to follow her, out
the black had the speed OF the
wind. He galloped at full speed
downhill, over delivities down
which the bay could only PICK
his way cautiously, to avoid
plunging headlong. BY the time
Dave reached the lower slopes,
Lois was a mere speck in the dis
lance.
Before he reached the neck OF
the valley, Dave saw Lois riding
back, accompanied by two men,
one of whom he recognized as
Sheriff Coggswell. The other
from the badge he wore, was evil
IDENTIFY a deputy. AS Dave rode
up, the two drew swiftly and
covered him.
Dave, without raising his hands.
refined in grimly beside the sher-
iff. who nodded to the deputy
The latter leaned forward and ex-
trasAad Dawes gun from his
holster, at the same time running
his hands over his sides in search
of a concealed weapon.
$50 yuh think I killed Mr.
Hooker?" Dave inquired Il was
on my way to tell you"
"You can tell me now, Bruce,
answered Cogswell. IF Hook
er's dead, as you told Miss Lois
there's no particular hurry,
reckon"
Dave briefly recounted his sto-
nv of the killing, while Coggs'
well and the deputy listened If
stoney silence. Lois, seated or
BLACK Dawn, watched him witt
Ihate in her eyes, but not a soune
came from her lips either.
$50 yuh claim Hooker woke VI
before dawn and started talkln',
grunted the sheriff. "And Will
YOU two was talkin', this mask
ed Teller hot him through tn
the winder? How about tina
gun, Sims?"
zone cartridge fired" said tn
deputy, who had been examining
lit. "A forty-five."
"How about that, Bruce?" ask
ed Coggswell.
81 told you I fired shot at tn
murderer. I couldn't get furthe1
sight of him in that scrub and i
being almost dark"
"Well, now, I'll tell yuh, Bruce
lsaid Coggswell. "Yore story
sounds kinda queer to me. Anc
yore payin' that two hundred yes
terday, and takin advantage o.
Hooker to 60 partners when ne
was drunk-which don't hole
good in law-was queerer. Anc
yestidday yuh rode up to the
Cross-Bar and picked a quarre
with Curran and beat him up
All of which puts yuh under sus'
picion for the murder of Hooker
Bruce.
$50, I'm arrestin' yuh, and il
/ vo'ro innocent as Vuh claim