The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1942-09-17

of wind hit his face and there was q
telltale smearing of the shadows in
the open area by the far building.
They were running wide, Heren-
deems men, and now they were on
foot, firing as they moved away from
the dobe. Jump said: I'm goin'
after those horses" and scurried
forward.
Bullets squashed into the 'dobe
wall beside Morgan, causing him
to shift slowly.
Horses plunged around him,
knocking him backward; some
body's shoulder hit him and then he
saw Herendeen's men rise out of the
earth's massed darkness, into their
saddles.
The ruff1e of Herendeen's horses
diminished on the desert and, stand
ing slack and tired in the open,
Morgan knew this nights fight was
done. He knew something else, as
well. 1t was Herendeen's crew
which had given way, not Heren-
deem.
Vance Ketchell called: 'Lige's
been hit
Morgan went over at once. Ketch-
ell knelt on the ground, his knee
propping Lige at the shoulders.
Morgan drew back from the par
ty, quietly calling Fox Willing.
Fox" he said, 81 wish you'd ride
over and bring Mrs. White to the
ranch.''
Fox cut away at once. The rest
turned north, reaching Long Seven
an hour later. Coming into the yard
Morgan saw Catherine in the door
way. When he got down to help
Lige White from the saddle he
turned to look at her again, framed
as she was in the light, tall and
still and straight-shouldered; and he
felt the tug of strange, old excite
ment. Lige could use one leg only
and had to brace himself between
Ketchell and Morgan. Catherine
stepped aside to let them pass, say
ing: "Put him on a bed, Clay" and
followed the men upstairs into an
extra bedroom.
The room was dark and they had
moments trouble getting Lige on
the bed. Morgan heard Lige grit
his teeth together as they laid him
down. Catherine found lamp and
lighted it and by this yellow glow
all of them saw the whiteness of
Lige's face. His hair came down on
his forehead and sweat oiled his
skin; his lips crawled back, FORM
ing smile. II sure as hell broke
something. You know, Clay, if it
wasn't too much trouble, I wish
you'd send for Grace"
Already have. I'm going into
town for Padden. Vance, you bet
ter get his clothes off,"
Lige White said: 81 guess you
don't know the whole story yet,
Clay. Hillhouse cornered Hack and
killed him. The mans a fanatic.
I'm warning you about that, if you
should see him in town."
Morgan's eyes dropped. He stood
like this, quiet and cold and too
weary to feel the full shock of the
news. He said, after while, "I'n
meet him, sooner or later" and
left the room.
He turned to Janet's room. When
he came beside the bed and looked
down through the shadows he found
she wasn't asleep. She reached for
his hand, saying: who's hurt, Dad
dy?"
1--WE had fight with Herendeen's s
ranch, Janey. Lige White was hurt.
I'm going after DOCTOR"
| She murmured: 1T is too bad.
But I'm glad it isn't you." The pres
sure of her hand was warm and con-
fident. She was pleased to have him
sit here and talk with her; it made
her expand and grow confidential. 81
wish had been here, Daddy, when
you were young and danced with
Catherine. I bet you were the best
dancer of all. She is pretty"
"Wait till you get old enough to
dance. I'll stand by and remember
when you were so small you walked
under the table,"
She was silent, seeing the picture
of herself dancing--and pleased by
it; her lips softened and there was a
glow in her eyes. Afterwards, in a
family reserved tone. she said: "She
isn't like thought she was, Daddy" !"
What did you think?"
"She likes me, Daddy. I didn't
think she would"