Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1946-08-02
CHAPTER v
Jim, he's faint from loss Of blood
limb AZ b;y,oIbS

Old Mac interviewed. "I'n fix him
up; you 60 phone for tn doc, Jane"
he thrust his hand through Sher-
wins well arm. "You come along
with me, son. Hellol" he shaded
his eyes with his hand. "Say, Jim,
If I amt mistakenly sheriff's
coming across tn bridge right
now!" he added, pointing.
Jim gave quick exclamation of
satisfaction. $50 he is. Got posse,
too. Just in the nick of time-it's
all right that you didn't 60 for him
now, Hazlett!'
Sherwin flushed suddenly to his
hair, but no one noticed it. Jane
was running on ahead to telephone
Tor the doctor. Mac had him by the
arm, and Jim had apparently be-
come absorbed in the approaching
posse.
Send man over for that horse,
Mac" he threw back as he hurried
off.
Sherwin's face was set. The old
man peered at him sideways, ru-
minating.
Thought you knew the way to
Hemmings'." His tone was casual,
and he went on at once; TITS a pity
you missed baggin' Jordan; he's got
tn start Of us now"
We'll have to get him." Sher-
win answered absently. He had
watched James figure disappearing
into the house and now he saw the
sheriff's posse riding up the long
slope to Las Palomas.
1T seems to take a good many
men to hunt down one out here" he
remarked dryly.
kinder nasty hurt" old Mac
said, "but there amt no bones bro
ken. III wash it an tn doc'n fix
1t up all right"
While he worked, his patient sat
by the window watching the posse.
He expected to be called to tell his
story of Jordan, but he was not,
and, as time passed, he began to
wonder why. Then old Mac startled
him more.
Il reckon you don't know that
James said to be goin' to marry
Stenhart, do you?" he asked casu-
ally.
He felt Sherwin stiffen under his
hands.
II think she will notl" he said
sharply.
Mac stared. Then he fell silent,
binding the arm a trifle closely, his
eyes straying out of the window, fol-
lowing Sherwin's. The old man was
farsighted. He made out a paper in
the sheriff's hand, and after a mo-
ment Jim took it and both men
stared at it.
1.-THE sheriff's got a description of
some one that's wanted" he said
finally. 1--WE seen them papers be-
fore now"
Sherwin did not answer; his arm
was bound up and he rose suddenly
and made for the door which opened
on the posse. But Mac caught him
back.
Don't you do it, sonl"
Sherwin stared at him. "What do
you mean?"
The old man smiled grimly. IT
reckon I kinder suspicion why YOU
took tn wrong road, son; you don't
need to meet tn sheriff here, Jim
amt called for you."
For a moment longer Sherwin
stared at him sternly, then he flung
himself into chair beside the table,
and leaning across it, buried his
head in his arms. Old Mac came
and stood beside him, looking down
at him pityingly, for he saw his
broad shoulders shake with a hard
drawn, bitter sob.
Got any new men on?" Cutler
had asked. Seen a fellow like that
picture?"
Jim studied the picture a long
time silently, then he looked around
at the sheriff.
whats he wanted for. Cutler?"
Murder, first degree. Escaped
convict from Rhode Island; it's for
life there, you know"
Jim nodded. Better leave the
paper with me-" he said at last:
new men come along every now
and then"
"That's sol Personally don't
think likely he's round these parts:
too far off his beat, eh?" The sher.
if moved to the door. by the way.
Keller, where's that Teller who
mixed it up for Jordan? Send him
along to show US the way he went"
"Tu send old Mcdowell, he
knows" Jim said promptly. 1.-THE
other mans got a bad arm; I've
phoned for the doctor for him." AS
he spoke he accompanied the sher-
if to the door and shouted for Mac,
The old man answered at once and
got his orders to 60 with the posse.
He cast sharp look at Jim's face
and obeyed without word.
At the moment Jim scarcely no.
ticed that he did not suggest that
the man whom thew called Hazlatt