Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1946-08-09

Mac stopped now and pointed, ig-
noring what he had just said.
eth cabins hid in there-among
them trees. I built it most forty
years ago. hadn't no health those
days; doc said I'd got to live out, up
here in the redwoods, so knocked
up tn shack. There used to be
mighty good shootin' an fshin'. It's
stood weather better'n I expected.
There amt anybody knows about 1t
except Jane; she saw 1t once, I
fetched her up here. You can camp
here safe enough till bring you word
where Cutters gone"
Sherwin, looking ahead into the
dense shadows of the mountainside,
saw a Light. Both men stood still,
electrified.
by goshl" Mac caught at his
companions arm and gripped it, lis
tening. "I'm darned if Jordan amt
| up here-sure as shootin'l he whis-
pered.
I'm your cabin?" Sherwin smiled
grimly, loosening his pistol in the
shoulder holster.
Mcdowell cautioned him to 81
lence with a gesture and they both
crept forward. As they did so, Sher-
win discerned the outline of
little cabin set in under sycamore.
A rectangle of light appeared, the
door was open! Softly, step by step,
the two men approached, keeping in
the shadow. Sherwin slipped behind
the house and looked in the win
dow. A man was sitting on the floor,
smoking and reading a newspaper
by the light of candle. It was the
outlaw! Sherwin signaled to Mac
Dowen and the old man came softly
over and looked in. The man was
an easy mark, but they did not
shoot, both loved fair play too well.
Making sign to Mac, Sherwin went
quickly toward the thicker shadows
OF the trees in front of the cabin,
then, deliberately and slowly, he be"
gan to tramp down dry twigs and
make the noise a man might make
IN carelessly approaching from the
woods back of the ravine. The
sounds reached the rustler's ears.
He extinguished the candle and
stepped outside the door.
THAT you,. Kenny"
| For answer Sherwin sprang for
ward, pistol in hand, and old Mac
emerged from behind the cabin with
roar.
We've got you now, you skunk"
he shouted.
The outlaw lodged, dropped to his
knees, rolled over like a ball and
went spinning down the slope, Sher-
wins bullet speeding after him. A
sailing cloud suddenly obscured the
moon and, in the darkness, gun
flashed below them and a bullet
whlstled past. They heard scram-
bling fall. Sherwin fired again into
| the dark, man cursed and ST.
lence followed.
Darn that cloud, I can't see a
thlng!" old Mac whispered. "You
think Jordan's down there, Sher-
VIM"
Sherwin, who had gone to the edge
OF the ravine and came back after
the last shot, answered as softly,
Yes! I can hear him scramble
I'm hanged if I know how he got
away without falling over the preci-
pice! There comes the moon-back
out Of range or he'll pick you off,
MacDowell!"
They both stepped back into the
Shadow of the cabin and waited, ex-
pecticg a rush by Jordan and his
confederates, but nothing happened.
Far below them they heard a twig
snap and some gravel slide.
comm, I reckonl" Mac whis-
pered.
Sherwin shook his head. "Stil 60
ing, the same man. Very likely
he's gone for help"
That's true, amt any use stay
In here to be shot att" As he spoke
he felt his way into the cabin.
Want to risk lighting the can
dle?" Sherwin asked him from the
door. 1--WE got matches"
Nope! We'd be targets sure
then. can see from tn moon.
Where you goin'?"
I'm going to stay here"
You'll have to give tn cabin up,
son; you'd have a batch of them
rustlers to fight-if he comes back"
And the sheriff on the road"
Sherwin replied grimly.
That's true!" Mac thought a mo-
ment. II say, Sherwin, you'd better
Just keep under the trees for tn
night an skip at daybreak. The
posse'u be most likely tired an rest
in. You'll get some hours start any
ways"
Sherwin nodded. He had other
plans, but he would not tell them.
He grasped the old mans hand,
Come, I'm going to see you off safe
with the horses, then I'll come back
here quietly"
Mac protested, grumbling, but he
finally let the younger man accom-
pany him to the road. His lame
arm still made the old man more or
less awkward. Sherwin helped him
get the two horses and saw him
mount.