The Glacier reporter., 1958-01-23

the kitchen he discovered the
rifle. sitting back of the door.
This he took with him as he
went on into the front room. In
this room Tim slept. Observing
the bed in the corner he had an
idea. He walked back to the kit.
chen door and called to his pal.
IKE. you stay here and keep
your eyes open. I'm going to take
a little nap while the old woman
Is cooking up a feed for u.s."
Boone returned to the front
door. He laid the Watson rifle on
the back of the bed, then sprawl
ed down. boots, mud and all, as
| he had said to have q nap.
Meanwhile Tim had heard the
two chicken killing shots fired.
He knew they could not have
come from his mothers gun for
she had only single shot rifle
at the house. He thought 1t might
be one of the neighbors shooting
near the house but decided to 60
see. As the barn was north of the
house and he had been grubbing
north of 1t Tim could obviously
approach the house hidden by
the barn. Before Tins father had
gone to war he had given his son
a Remington Navy-.36 caliber.
six shot single action percussion
handgun. which he purchased at
Springfield. Tim priced this high.
ly and In the few years he had
owned 1t had practiced until he
was very adept in its use. Not
always did he take his gun with
him 10 work but when game was
needed for food he often took
"old meatgetter." as he liked to
call It. with him to the field.
His pistol was lying with his coat
near him as he worked. He pick.
ed up both and walked south to.
ward the barn. As before men.
toned. the man sitting on the
grindstone was not in Tins line
of view as he neared the barn.
Upon reaching the building he
heard sounds of life therein. He
knew there was not supposed to
be any stock inside 50 he took a
look from the west door. There
he saw the strange saddle horses
quietly munching the precious
hay which he had been saving
for his own stock. Puzzled over
the horses and the two shots Tim
peeped through Z crack of the
barn toward the house. To his
establishment he saw q strange
man astride the srindstone load.
Ing 4 Dragon revolver. and his
mother standing on the porch
with the two dead chickens at
her feet. There must be some.
one else reasoned Tim, 50 he
remained quiet to observe the
situation for . brief time. The
stranger finished the reloading
Job and Stood up. Reholsterine
his handGlan be walked near the
porch and addressed Tins mo
ther. Tim tried hard but could
not hear what either said. Some
thing was wrong but he dislileed
to appear until he had located
the rider Of the second horse
Deciding Il was best not to wal,
any longer Tim opened the barr
door and walked toward the
house. His coat was draped over
his left forearm with his gun In
the other hand held under the
cost. He was not noticed immedi
ately by the stranger. however
his mother saw him when he was
within thirty feet Of them. Tim
stopped. As he did 30 the strang
er heard the hating step. whirled
around. hand on gun but he did
not to start to draw. Tim spoke
"Who are you and what arc
you doing here?" Without turn
ing to his mother Tim continued
What does he want Mom7 Who.
with him?"
Tins eyes never left the CUR
hand Of the stranger. He wa.
only . country boy Of fifteen and
had never stacked up against q
gunman or thug: although, dur
ing the past three years he hat
experienced many hard knocks
He possessed brains which were
busy most Of the time and thi.
was no exception. He was sure
that this man and someone else
I whom he had not yet seen. mean,
no good to his mother and him
He did not intend to take any
thing unobserved II he could pre-
vent Il.
The stranger was next to speak
"Hey. punk. you got q CUR
under that COST"
what do you care? What art
you doing here anyway"
To be continued next week.