The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1942-08-06

the Huge Jaw.
pulled himself up as Herendeen
walked against the cracker barrel.
Herendeen swept one fist out, strik-
ing air as Morgan jerked back. Her.
endeen started around the cracker
barrel, flat-footed and patient. Nor
gan, still on the defensive, still weak
from his beating, kept circling. Sud-
denly Herendeen stepped back from
the barrel, took a half-dozen side
steps and seized chair. He whirled
it over his head and flung it at Nor
gan. Morgan dropped behind the
cracker barrel and rose again, see
ing Herendeen at once rush for1
ward. Herendeen seized the cracker
barrel with his hands and swept it
aside, diving at Morgan.
Morgan knew what Herendeen
meant to do before Herendeen's s
mind had recognized the ax-handle;
and now Morgan, looking around
him, saw a rack of new Winchesters
on the wall. He seized one by the
barrel, kicked his way out of the
debris of nails and harness and cir
cled Herendeen slowly, the butt of
the rifle lifted like a club. Heren-
deem moved slowly forward, follow
ing Morgan's circle. Somewhere, as
from a great distance, Morgan
heard the rush of horses along the
street and voice calling.
Morgan backed against a hang
ing harness. He put his shoulders to
this fiimsy support; the harness gave
way and he sat down, still gripping
the Winchester by the barrel. He
could not draw wind into his lungs;
he was starving for air, his heart
beat against his ribs and his head
was light. He rolled over, sucking
wind through his teeth, with his
face to the floor; and heard a voice
at the doorway, calling into the
blackness.
who's here?" 1t was Bones Nc
Geen's voice.
Kern Cases voice was a lower
and lower murmur. 'Make a step
and I'll blow your chest out"
Bones yelled into the store. "Ben,
you there? Hey, Ben!"
A shot broke along the street
again, quick and hard, and other
men ran rapidly across the dust.
Bones McGeen swung from the
door, rushing down tie porch. The
shots came in regular method; and
the Three Pines men were begin
ming to answer, all the racket boil
ing up the dead echoes of the town.
Kern Case said, II hope you've
killed the" and his easy voice
laid terrible words on the past and
present of Herendeen. IF you
amt I'm like to finish the job.
You all right. Clay?"
Clay Morgan said: ''Who's shoot
in'?"
"Breathitt started it. He's up in
the hotel. That's what was going to
tell you when Herendeen came in. "
Morgan pulled himself from the
harness and found his legs snarled
in it. He sank back to the floor
and rolled clear and stood up. Light
flashed red before his eyes, though
there was no light in the room. His
head ached in long, solid surges of
pain, from the base of his skull all
around to his nose. He tasted his
own salty sweat, his own blood He
drew deeper into his lungs for wind,
catching the throb of his ribs. His
left fist began to send up its steady
racket and he knew then he had
broken a knuckle. He could not
move the middle finger.
Kern Case said: "That your"
Herendeen's boots scraped the
floor. Morgan bent down, catching
Herendeen's shadow, on all fours,
against the faint light of the door
way. He saw Herendeen come UP
and weave toward the door. He said
to Case: mo"
Kern Case called: "Stop right
there, Ben."
Herendeen moved on toward the
door. He was out of it before Case
got around the counter. He was on
the street, calling through the spotty
racket of the gunfre. "Bones-come
herei"
Kern Case swore in the same,
passionless voice. Il should of shot
the. Now we're in trouble" He
stepped around the floor. He said:
Duck" The front windows clat-
tered down before the sudden veer.
ing of gunfre. Slugs struck the
store shelves. A can of wet goods,
punctured, began to spill out its
fluid with a gurgling irregularity
Another slug, striking metal, went
Whanng!