The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1942-07-09
CHAPTER VII

CHAPTER VII
Hack Breathitt held himself in the
thick shadows by the courthouse cor
ner and saw McGeen and Lizard Con-
nor leave the Long Grade saloon.
The two of them Immediately sepa-
rated, McGeen turning toward Old
Town while Connor travelled to Gen
try's stable. More Three Pines rid
ers drifted from the saloon, moving
toward the dance hall. Instead of
going up the stairs they turned down
the black alley between the Odd Eel
lows Hall and the adjoining saddle
shop. Meanwhile Clay Morgan
walked down Stage Street with Har-
ley Stewart, these two going into
the bank. A light flashed on. Jesse
Rusey appeared from the darkness,
at once crossing to the bank and
looking through the window. Lige
and Mrs. White left the dance hall
and passed Hack, on the way to the
hotel. Hack heard Lige say in his
light, courteous voice: ''I'n have a
drink or two with the boys, then
we'll go home" Presently Lige re-
turned from the hotel, passed the
saloon and followed the Burnt Ranch
road, disappearing toward Mrs. Ben
sons house. Hack clucked his
tongue in disapproval, saw Morgan
come out of the bank, and went al
once toward his partner.
"Stayin' around, Clay?"
NO" said Morgan, I'm riding
out" He saw the glitter of Hack S
gunbelt buckle. whats up?"
"Nothin'. Nothin' at ALL"
Morgan said: Don't let anybody
push you into the wrong stall
Hack" and turned across the street
to his horse. Morgan stepped into
the saddle; he kicked his feet into
the stirrups, sat there a moment
looking ahead of him, and went out
of War Pass at long-reaching gal.
lop. Hack thought, 81 ought to be
with him." Lizard Connor appeared
at the bank corner, exactly opposite
the point he had disappeared from
a few minutes before; whereupon
Hack Breathitt crossed Stage
Street, passed the hotel and ducked
down an alley. He threshed around
the broken boxes and tin cans and
bottles behind Shevlin's pool hall,
made a wide sweep of this COM
pletely black area and came into
the street again near Old Town.
At this same moment McGeen
stepped from the shadows of the
blacksmith shop. He had his head
turned, watching the up-street direc-
ton, but whipped around when he
heard the strike of Breathitt's boots.
The two stood here, face to face
with half the street between them
Hack didn't say anything. He held
his ground, showing McGeen his
swift, malicious grin. McGeer
pulled up both hands and caught
the lapel of his coat, which was his
way of showing Hack he didn't
want to draw, and afterwards he
rolled up the street toward the sa.
loon. Connor was near the door
of the Long Grade; he saw Nc.
Geen-and started down to join him
Breathitt's laughter was a soft
bubble in his throat. He crossed the
street and circled the blacksmith
shop at a short, jumpy run. He trot.
ted on around the Odd Fellows
building into a small vacant lot ad.
Joining Gentry's saloon. The dance.
hall lights fell on the street and
hugging the side of the wall, Hack
saw Lizard Connor step from Gen.
try's. Hack was softly laughing
again, at Connor's back. He said
Wrong way, Lard" and watched
Connor jerk around.
Connor said: "All right - al
right" But he wasn't talking te
Breathitt. Bones McGeen broke ou
of the shadows near the bank. Some.
body kicked out a window in the
dance hall, the glass splatterine
around Breathitt. McGeen had quiz
advancing. Lard Connor, no long
er in motion, said again, "All right,
and dropped his hands.
They had MIN nlpped. Drawing
he had his one single moment:
choice-McGeen on his left or Con
nor in front of him; knowing Connol
to be the tougher man, he threw
his shot that way. Connor's heac
flew up and
The sound OF Hack Breathitt's
gun pounded between the walls
of the street.
And was drowned out by Bones
McGeen's quick-following fire. Con
nor fell on the walk and pulled him
self to his knees; his gun had dropped
on the walk and now he crawlec
forward, trying to reach it, and fel
again with his arm stretched out full
length, fingers touching the gun.
butt.
Hack Breathitt felt McGeen's shot.
breathe by. He snapped an answer
across the street, meanwhile plung
ing past the open mouth Of Gentry.
toward his horse. The shadows shell
tered him and McGeen's shot
crushed through the so1 wood O