Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1943-05-21
CHAPTER XIX

up, ran for the other, backed OIL
and stood in corner with both
weapons in her hands. The two men
stood up.
"All right" Waldron said. 81 know
when I'm licked"
Cody shook his head. He was
thinking of the old Judge, of old
Early Bill, even of Tom Cough shot
like dog. He said quietly,
mo, Waldron, you're not licked
yet. Stand up"
Waldron stood up. New rage red
dened the pin-points of his eyes,
new strength flowed into him and
perhaps new courage. He charged
like bull
Bill Cody struck the one blow then
that was like coup de grace. 1t
took Rance Waldron on the point of
the chin; it seemed to lift him
inches from the floor. And this time
when he fell, whether tainted by
words or threatened with further
bodily punishment, he was beyond
rising.
Ann Lee thought him dead. So
did Aunt Jenifer. So, for that mat
ter, did Doc Joe.
In the kitchen, "Oh, Cole Cody!
Your poor dear facet" gulped little
Ann Lee. "Your poor eye!" and
tears began scattering like summer
rain.
Bill Cody caught her in his arms;
he forgot the unloveliness of his bat
tered face and crookedly leering
eye; he drew her tight and tighter
and kissed her. And it is of record
that Ann Lee returned his kiss ex-
actly the way it was received, a
fact to be sworn to if necessary
by Cal Roundtree who, just then
bursting into the room stood a mo-
ment transfixed on the threshold.
Cal virtually brushed Ann Lee
aside, grasping Bill Cole Cody by
an arm, yanking him close, then
whispering into his ear.
81 bet Rance Waldron's here,
from the looks of you," was what
he said. "And, Cody"
mo secrets from Ann Lee" said
Cody, pulling away. "Sure he's here.
And so is old Doc, and both Ann
and Aunt Jenifer know that, too"
Doc Joe and Aunt Jenifer, hearing
voices, came into the kitchen.
keep all this dark from Waldron
until tomorrow" said Cal Round
tree. "That's all I ask
"That's fair enough, CAL" nodded
old Doc Joe. "Only just what is it
that we're to keep dark"
But at that Cal closed his mouth
after the fashion of buttoning it.
Then he shook his head. Finally he
said:
"Tell you at sun-up. Just keep
Rance Waldron alive and handy.
Night, folks"
Before sun-up all in the house
breakfasted. even to a savage, sui
len Rance Waldron. save Doc Joe
alone who as yet wanted Waldron to
know nothing about his presence,
about his still being above ground.
Yet Waldron, though battered and
angry, had certain malicious grin
in his eye. Over the coffee he said
with dash of his old cock-sure
arrogance,
my lawyers coming out this
morning The sheriff will be with
him or close behind. This place is
mine, is going to be proved mine,
and every darned one of you inter-
lopers is going to clear out, bag
and baggage"
Cal Roundtree came up from the
clubhouse. He carried an open en-
velope in his hand. He cleared his
throat. forgot all about saying good
morning, and announced a bit of
news that came pretty close to
knocking several people out of their
chairs,
ME" said Cal, Il just got let
ter last night. It's a letter from a
guy by name of Mr.. William Cole,
known far and wide as Early Bill"
The first to gasp out word was
Rance Waldron, hastily on his feet.
"You fool Early Bills dead and
buried Are you crazy?"
"Nope, l amt crazy. Yep, the
old devils dead and buried; me, l
saw him die and I helped bury him.
Just the same he wrote me letter
and I just got it last night" He
tossed the missive to the table.
Here, Cody, you read it," he said.
"Read it right out loud"
Cody caught it up, whipped the
letter out of its envelope and stared
at it long minute. He stared
from face to face, then back at the
letter.
Here's what it says" he said
slowly, land it's in Early Bills
handwriting"
And he read:
"Dear Cal, you old sinner, me be-
ing dead and dug under ground, my
old bones sort of feel cramped. I'd
sort of like If you'd dig me up, soon