Hungry Horse news. [volume] (Columbia Falls, Mont.) 1948-current, 1948-04-02
CHAPTER xxxIv

noan Afford helped Brand put o
his coat. JEFF sat on the bed grir
ping the covers to steady himself.
Gimme my gun belt" he said
You don't need no gun tonight
JEFF" Roam told him. ''You couldn'
use one good if you needed it-ant
you won't"
I'll take the belt, Roam.
wouldn't feel dressed without it"
Afford buckled the belt around
him. Lane Carey walked into the
room.
They supported him to the wagon
and helped him to get into the hay
filed bed. Ellen arranged pillow
which she had brought from the
hotel.
She said in a low voice to her
father, II want to go with you"
NO." Brand said. 1--WE won't
have girl in this. It's mans
game"
JEFF is right" Carey agreed.
"You stay here, honey, and don't
worry. Well work this out some
how"
Ellen moved to one side, her heart
filed with a leaden despair, and
watched the wagon roll down the
street. But she could not 60 back
into the Round Top Hotel and sit
there quietly while the man she
loved was being lynched At least
she could return to the Holden
House, which was much nearer the
Jail.
Ellen had come to a street corner
from which she could see seq |
lnent of the milling crowd. Every
step she took now toward her hotel
would carry her farther from the
Jail. She found she could not do it.
She could not walk away and leave
Calhoun Terry to his fate.
Lane Carey drove the team
through the square and down the
road leading to the Jail.
Help get us through" Carey
urged. 1--WE got jeff Brand here.
He's wounded and can't get to the
front afoot, but he has something to
say. It's important.
The pack around the Jail door was
more dense. Somebody had been
sent for an axe, and those nearest
were already throwing their weight
against the door.
The sheriff shouted down a warn
ing. "A lot of you are going to get
killed, boys. Terry and Richards are
armed. We mean to fight"
He was standing on little rallied
balcony which faced the street. Ter
~ and Richards Joined him.
Terry flung out the palm OF his
land as signal that he wanted to
;peak. The thunder of the mob re-
doubled, started to die down,
welled out again in crescendo. Ter
y waited, his lean, strong face
howing no sign Of fear
The voices stilled at last. Terry's
cornful gaze swept the crowd.
mo use to tell you I'm against W
ais invasion of the Texans" he be- m
an. mo use to tell you that I'm hi
esponsible for the breaking up the pr
rst Of the big ranches in this dis We
let, and that on my advice the sa
wners of the Diamond Reverse B iu,
re dividing it to sell to small set DIR,
ers. You haven't brains enough TIL
take in a simple little thing like at
at" inc
He was interrupted by yens, but me
$ strong, clear voice made itself sor
ard above them. 'T'u tell YOU f1ai
netting you can understand. The ane
airway is barricaded Before you dol
'rm it we can shoot down eight jan
ten Of you. Think that over, and A
IN listen to my proposition" ma
To hell with yore proposition" Pre-
income shouted. Were gonna fro,
ing you up to telegraph pole" hir,
from the wagon seat Carey shout L
another opinion. "Sure well lis sig,
J.. Go ahead. CAL" hav
I'm the man you lunkheads den
nt," Terry went on, taking his wal
lie. Larry hasn't thing to do orp
h this. He's only a hired hand. mo
today he saved jeff Brands life 70,
m these Texans. You haven't a NIT
1g against him. All he did was "
e job at cowpunching when he the
.ded one. And Sheriff Hart is a the
I'd man. He means to do his duty a {
defend us. Very likely he will mo-
killed. That would be a pity. the
res my proposition. I'll surren. san
if you'll let Larry CO." s
.arry's voice rang out instantly. beg
o, won't have it that way. II lvn
l muttonheads don't know anv the
ter than to kill Cal Terry you will ..
5e to kill me too" .r
All right. Have it yore own wav. poo
IS 60, boys. Here's the axe" T
he sheriff called down an answer con
that. He knew the voice. Come "H
into the open, Lee. II you're sen
anxious to have good men killed vol
1t stand away back there but He
p out and lead the attack" clio,
somebody laughed at that and mo. sio,
ntarily eased the tension. ing
Assisted by Roam Afford, the "
unded man In the wagon got to tod
feet 1t took him a moment to H
ar his head from the unsteadi. sup
IS that went over him like a wave. a t
Good old jeff" a black-headed A
18th shouted. They didn't get you The
time. If they did cripple YOU" E