Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1942-06-12
There's WAY @4rrFlYnn

sent-minded about customers orders,
made sense.
Steve Mayfield was on her mind and
Steve was on my mind, too. the after
noon I caught villa alone in the res
, taurant.
Jonathan Case was in to see Ed
Carlin." I said over my coffee.
Villa smiled. That was nice of
Jonathan, or does Ed owe the bank?"
Neither" I stirred the coffee and
took breath. "Steve's been in the
bank asking questions. Wanting to
! know about his fathers money. Asking
, how much Of it's on hand in the bank.
Asking Jonathan what the bank would
do about all the money it had on
hand If there happened to be a hold
up"
Villa looked at me steadily. Steve
would be curious. after being away so
long"
Jonathan Case has other ideas" I
said. Some of the friends Steve's made
since he came back would hold up a
bank or stagecoach anytime. Maybe
they have. The stage has been robbed
twice lately an We don't know who
did it"
Color was in VILLAS face before I
finished. Jonathan Case is fool.
Rusty, and-and :"
And so am -"
IF you believe that of Steve!"
1 finished my coffee, sighed and
looked out the front window so I
wouldn't have to meet VILLAS look.
Il don't believe anything" I said.
But somebody ought to corral Steve
| and talk to him. The way he's doing
| amt helping him any.
Maybe it's Ed Carlin's business to-"
I said. staring out the window. and
mine. Like the Tonic Kid is our bust
ness. And that crooked gambler we
ran out of town yesterday, and these
hard-shell gunnies who keep drifting
in"
Steve isn't like themr
I shrugged. Folks who always liked
Steve are saying he must be wilder
than ever, from the company hes
keeping. Jonathan Case amt helping
it any. Case went to Ed Carlin first
He'll be talking to other folks next
Il suppose So" agreed villa; and
when the bitter note in her voice drew
my look back across the counter, bit.
terness was there, too, in her young
set face.
steve will always do what he wants
I'm not even interested any more"
Sure" I said. watching a little spur
of activity outside. Men across the
!. street were turning to look at some.
thing.
Voices were shouting somewhere w
the street. Men were starting that way
Two riders went by with a rush as
came off the counter STOOL
Some trouble" I said. Forget thi
other, Villa. Probably doesn't amount
to anything"
Five minutes later. inside the Dro
vers bank, the dry afternoon hea
pressed heavily about us. About Et
Carlin, Jonathan Case, Con Walker
the town marshal, and a little excitet
man named Kirby, who kept records a
the Glorieta mine.
THE shot didn't make much noise,
Kirby's thin, unsteady voice was say
ing. 1T was time for the bank to b.
closed. I didn't think gund be 60
ing off inside here. Wasn't until I saw
them riding out from the alley behint
the bank that got an idea what hac
happened"
Behind the counter where we stood
lWo letI llOlll Ell CdTllll 5 SCulleQ IlQ
ing boots, lay kindly Tom kirkland
who had served the letters window TO
years. The bullet must have killed Ton
instantly.
, The money drawer was still out
looted, empty. Inside the iron door o
the little vault, papers and coins lit
tered the floor. And Jonathan Case
who looked like cattleman who ha,
been out of the sun, away from hare
work too many years, soft now. gath
ering flesh, spoke with anger shaking
his heavy voice.