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Show The nearer he got to Pltmsoll's place the more room they allowed hlra. They melted away from Jhe car on all sides, leaving It clearest between the machine ma-chine and the entrance to the gambling shack. The man with the square face looked alertly about him at the crowd, giving place to the lean tall man wnlk-lug wnlk-lug leisurely up the street, high lights touching the metal of the two guns that hung In holsters well to the front of his hips. Sandy's face was serene, but there was no mistaking the fact that the star performer of the moment had come upon the stage. Five paces back of him strolled Sam, his eyes j j Rimrock Trail j I I I By J. ALLAN DUNN I I 1 AuthorofAMantoHlsMaW'etc "0 I J V Copyright, ISO. bf J. Allan Dunn X I . X I $ everything but my clothes. I Hied a gun rouna here somewheres." "You can have It when you come back fo yore saddle, Wyntt," said Sandy. "Where was you an' yore pal goln' to repo't back to I'limsoll?" Wyntt grinned in the lantern light. "Ef we trailed Inter his place an' made a bet on the red over to the faro table he'd snbe everything went ofT fine an' dandy. He w'udn't flgger we'd show nt all If It didn't come ofT. An' we w'udn't have. It was a wln-or-lose Job. Pay If It was pulled off. Otherwise, Other-wise, nothln' doln'. You hombres treated me white. There's a lot who'd have plugged me full of lead an' death. I was on yore land. Ef you force me to walk Into I'llmsoll's place ahead of you I ain't reslstin none, an' I shall sure admire to watch l'llm's face when he sees you-all back of me." He took the trnH abend of them, bands In his pockets, bis cigarette glowing. Behind him walked Sandy. "He's a cool sort of a cuss," said Sam to Mormon. "I reckon he's a bad actor, but there's sure somethln' erbout the galoot I like. He ain't ver fond of I'limsoll, that's a sure thing, If he Is workin fo' him. Wonder why?" "They tell me," replied Mormon, "tbet I'limsoll's apt to be fond of the f CHAPTER XIII Continued. -11- I Two riders, trailing a rope, had raced down the valley hoping to sweep away the tent, to send its occupants sprawling, Its contents scattered In a . confusion of which advantage would be taken to chase the three off their claims, taken by surprise, tuude ridiculous. ridicu-lous. Sandy and Sam, searching for a con- venlent tent Site, had hnppened upon a mass of outcrop, overgrown by . brush. Over this they hnd pitched the tent, using tile rock for table, propping their dummies about It. If dynamite was flung it would find something to work against. . They hnd not anticipated antici-pated the use of the rope to demolish the canvas, any more thnn the two riders had expected to bring up against a boulder. The Impact, with their ponies spurred, urged on by- their shouts to their limit, tore the cinches of one saddle loose, Jerked It from the horse and catapulted the unprepared rider over Its head, flying through the air to land heavily, while his mount, unencumbered, frightened, went careering ca-reering off leaving Its breathless master mas-ter stunned amid the sage. As the cinches hnd given way at one end, the line itself had parted at the other. The second pony had stumbled stum-bled sldewlse, rolling before the man was free from the saddle. They could hear It thrashing In the willows, the rider cursing as he tried to remount while Sandy ran ent-footed down the hill, leaving Mormon and Sam to hnndle the other. The two found their man groaning and limp, "Don't believe he's bu'sted anything," any-thing," announced Sam, " 'less he's drnv his neck inter his shoulders. Got his saddle, Mormon?" "Yep. Want the rope?" They trussed their captive with the lariat still snubbed to his saddle-horn. Down In the willows there was a flash, a report, a scurrying flight punctuated by an oath almost as vivid as the shot. Sandy came up the hill toward them. ' "Miss him?" asked Mormon. "It was sure dahk," said Sandy, "and I hated to plug the hawss. So I only took one shot to cheer him on his way. He was mountin' at the time an' it was a snapshot. I aimed at the seat of his pants. I w'udn't be surprised sur-prised but what he's rldin so't of onesided. one-sided. Who you got here? Tote him downhill. I don't believe they bu'sted the lantern. We'll take a look at him." Sandy retrieved the lantern from days before, he might re-estnbllsh himself. him-self. Sandy's prompt arrival and subsequent sub-sequent events had crimped that plan and he fell back upon all the crooked tactics that he possessed In gambling. And now, if Wyatt ... He was dealing the last card around when Wyatt came in, and his eyes lit up. Then his face stiffened, the light changed to a gleam of malevolence. Following Wyatt were the three partners, part-ners, taking open order as they came through the entrance, about which the space was clear, Sandy in the middle, Mormon on the right flank and Sam on the left. The two last smiled and nodded to- one or two acquaintances. Sandy's face wns set In serious cast. The players nt I'llmsoll's table turned to see what caused the suspension of the game, others followed their example. ex-ample. The Three Stnr men were known personally to some of those In the room. The story of what had. happened hap-pened during the day hnd buzzed In everybody's ears, from Koarlng mis-sell's mis-sell's discomfiture to riimsoll's failure to hold the claims and the eviction notice no-tice served on him by Sandy. Chairs edged back, the standing moved for a better viewpoint, the room foenssed on Himsoll, Wyatt and the three cow-chums. Then Wyntt stepped aside. There was a malicious little grin on bis face. Mormon's suggestion sugges-tion as to his private grudge against I'limsoll was not without foundation. Wyatt had been glad to find excuse for severing relations with the gambler. gam-bler. He had done his best and hilled, but his failure was not bitter. The partners walked between the tables toward rilmsoll who sat regarding regard-ing them bnlefully, his teeth Just showing between his pHrted Hps, cards In midair, action In a paralysis that was caused by the concentration forced by Sandy's even gaze, by the same sickening conviction that his manhood shriveled In front of Sandy and that Sandy knew it. The placing of bets censed, there was no sound of clicking chips, the roulette dealer held the wheel, expectant, dealer and case-keeper case-keeper at the faro bank halted their manipulations, the presiding genius of the craps layout picked up the dice. Tragedy hovered, the shadow of its wing was on the dirt floor of the rude Temple of Chance. "The chaps you sent up to move yore tent an' truck didn't make a good Job of It, rilmsoll," drnwled Sandy. "I reckon they warn't the right so't of help. Ef you-all are almln' to tak? liuf ctnrV prtnnfT with von 11 rpnnni- danclng with the excitement that did not show In Sandy's steel-gray orbs. Westlake followed to one side, by the advice of Sam. It wns I'llmsoll's way the professional profes-sional gambler's way to play his cards until be knew himself beaten. He had been hoping for the arrival of this num. He represented capital, the development develop-ment of the camp Into a mining town, the movement of money, the boom of quick sales. With his backing once the camp understood what t niennt to all of them he might turn the tables on Sandy Bourke. The protection of Capital wns powerful. He came out licking his lips nervously, nervous-ly, with a swift survey that took Irt the setting of the stHge prepared for his entrance. Ills eyes, shifting from the big machine, as if drawn by something beyond bis will, focused on the figure of Sandy, easy but sinister In Its capacity capac-ity to avoid all melodrama. Half-way between door and car he halted. "I'limsoll?" said the stranger. "I am Keith." The light was perceptibly changing. Faces of men came out of the shadows pale but visible. In the east the sky showed gray behind 'the dark purple crests between which mists were trailing. trail-ing. "I'limsoll," said Sandy. "That peak oveh on Sawtooth range is goln' to catch the light first. I'll call It sun-up when the sun looks oveh the mesa." I'limsoll bared his teeth In a fox-grin. fox-grin. Sandy stood with his bauds by bis sides, covering him with his eyes. I'limsoll looked at the hands that he knew could move swifter thnn he could follow, be looked at the car with Keith gazing from him to Sandy, he sensedj the waiting strain of all the men, waiting wait-ing to see Snndy shoot If he did not go, to see him crumple up in the dust, and he looked at the peak on Sawtooth Saw-tooth and his face grayed as the granite gran-ite suddenly flushed with rose. His will melted, he turned and went inside his cabin. No one followed him, there wos no one inside to greet him. Ills heart was filled with helpless rage, centered against Sandy Bourke. He knew the camp was against him, considering con-sidering him outbluffed or outmatched. His horse, ready saddled, hnd been at the door since midnight He mounted, dug spurs Into the beast's flanks and went galloping madly up the slope that rose from the street gulch leading down to the main gulch of Flivver creek. Ills plans for wealth had been blocked by a man he dared not face. Before Sandy Bonrke his spirit flinched as a leaf shrinks and curls from flame. Silence Held. Sandy Stood Noncommittal, Noncom-mittal, at Eaie the collapsed canvas and lit It. Mor- j nion and Sam took the senseless man down to the creek, where they -attempted to revive him by pouring hnt-fuls hnt-fuls of the Icy water on his head. He was a black-haired chnp, sallow of face, clean-shaven. His clothes were -those of a cowman. "Looks a heap like a drowned rat," said Mormon. "It's Sol Wyatt, one of l'llm's riders oveh to his hawss ranch. He got fired from the Two-Bar-Circle fo' leavln' his rldln' Iron to home an' usln' unothelf brand. Leastwise, that's what they suspected. He's snimn', Sandy; what we goln 'to do with him?" "Take him up Inter camp, Boon's he's able to walk nn' bond him over to Pllmsoll with our compliments. They flggered they'd mnke us all look plumb ridiculous with beln' flipped out of the tent. Then they'll have had the crowd on their side erlong with the l'af, way it usually goes." Wyatt opened n pair of shifty black eyes to consciousness and the light of the lantern and Immediately closed them again, playing opossum. Sam prodded him gently In the ribs. "Wake up, Sol," be said. "Come back to pnrth. you sky-salutln' clrcus-rlder. Ton sure looped the loops 'fore you lit. GH up !" Wyntt gasped and sat up, grinning foolishly. "What hnppened?" he asked. "Nothln'," answered Sandy. "Jest nothln'. How's yore huld?" "Some tender." "It ain't in first-rate condition or you w'udn't be drnwln' pay from I'limsoll. I'lim-soll. Yore saddle's here, yore hawss other feller's gal. He ain't satisfied with what he can pick for himself. T'otheh feller's apple alius has a sweeter core. I w'udn't wondeh but what that was the trouhle." As they entered the street of the camp Sandy moved up even with Wyatt and locked arms with him. "I nln't goln' ter mnke no break," said Wyatt. "Here's l'llm's. Jest you let me go In ahead through the door. I've seen you use your guns. I ain't sulcldin'." They allowed him to go In first, unescorted. un-escorted. Their plans held no further reprisal against Wyatt. CHAPTER XIV A Free-for-AII. rilmsoll had set up a working partnership part-nership with a man who hnd brought moonshine and bootlegged whisky to the camp, occupying the next shack to the gambling place. For convenience of service extra doors had been cut nnd a rough-boarded passageway erected between the two places. I'limsoll I'lim-soll himself presided over the stud-poker stud-poker table, dealing the game. He waited the result of his play with Wyatt and the hitter's companions. Wyatt and his fellow rider had been detailed to ride down the tent that bad been reported occupied by the Three Star owners. That part of the plan had been suggested by Wyatt out of the sheer deviltry of his Invention. I'limsoll had enlisted others of his following, fol-lowing, none too fearless, to loiter In the brush and. In the general confusion, confu-sion, fire to cripple and to kill. I'linmoil hnd learned of the visit of mend you 'tend to It yorese'f. It's get-tln' get-tln' erlong to'ards sunup, fast as a clock can tick." Silence held. Sandy stood noncommittal, noncom-mittal, at ease. His conversation with I'limsoll might have been of the friendliest friend-liest nuture gauged by his attitude. His hands were on his hips. Back of him, slightly turning toward the crowd, were Mormon and Sam, smilingly smiling-ly surveying the room. But not one there but knew that, faster thnn the ticking of a clock, guns might gleam and spurt fire and lend hi cuse of trouble. "I'll attend to my own business in my own way," said the gambler, knowing know-ing the room weighed every word. It was a noncommittal statement anil a light one, but It passed the situation for the moment. Snndy pulled out a gunmetal watch. "I mnke It half afteh one. 'Bout three hours to sunrise, I'limsoll. I'll be round later." He turned his back on the gambler nnd sauntered toward the door. A few followed the three out Into the street, among them, Wyatt. "I got n hunch It ain't extry healthy fo' me In there," he said. "A gitml.lln' parlor where I nln't welcome to stay or play makes no hit with me." Many blocks away, men were watching watch-ing the mesa whence came a hlgli-ow-ered car, rushing at high speed, magnificently mag-nificently driven, taking curve and pitch und level with superb Judgment. Two men were In the tonnenu. One of them leaned forward, looking nt the crowd, a square-Jawed man, clean-shaven but for the bristle of a sliver mustache beneath be-neath an aggressive nose,nhove a firm hard mouth and determined chin. The CHAPTER XV. Casey Town. The man named Keith called to Sandy Bourke, who, for the moment, still stood alone, now rolling a cigarette. cig-arette. "You-nlt tnlkln' to me?" he Inquired mildly. "I would like to know," said Keith In a manner which he appeared struggling strug-gling to Invest with humor, "exactly went west. Ef you want to leave the suddle till you locate the hawss, you can git It 'thout any trouble any time you come fo' If. Or you can pack It with you now. We're goln' up to enmp. I don't ngger we'll be Jumped ag'In befo' morning. Ef we are, why, we'll have to start the arguments all over." "I w'udn't be surprised," said the philosophic Wyatt, gingerly pressing his hend with his fingertips, "but what there Is a gen'rnl Impression 'stob-Hshed 'stob-Hshed by this time that you three hombres from the Three Star are right obstinate about conslderin' this yore property." "Ton leavln' camp with I'limsoll In the mornln'7" Mormon asked casually. "I beard some rumor about his hlt-tln hlt-tln the sunrise trail." said Wyatt. "Ef he goes, I stay. I'm a 111 fed up on Jim I'limsoll lately. He pulls too much on his picket line to suit me. Ef he's got a yeller stripe on his belly, I'm qulttln'. Some day he's goln' to git Inter n hole that'll sure test his standard. Me, I may be a bit of 1 wolf, hut I'm d d ef I trail with coyotes. I'll lenve my saddle. Any of you got jkhe makln's? I seem to have lost most the men who had come with Bill Brandon Bran-don to Investigate I'llmsoll's methods of running the Waterllne horse ranch. He had learned, through the leakage thnt always occurs in a cattle community, com-munity, that Brandon claimed to be an old acquaintance of Sundy and his partners. So he had told bis men who hnd come with him to the camp from the Waterllne ranch that the Three Star outfit was a danger to all of them, undoubtedly acting as spies for Brandon, Bran-don, and that they should be eliminated for the general good. But there was none of them, from rilmsoll down, who had any fancy to stand up against the guns of Snndy, or of Mormon and Sum, when the breaks were anywhere nearly even. I'limsoll, with his ejection from Hereford, the ndvent of womnn suffrage, suf-frage, the coming f Brandon n"d other Irnte home owners, had begun to realize thnt his days were getting short In the land. He looked to tho rump for a final coup. If he held the Casey claims and sold them, as he expected ex-pected to do, to an Eastern capitalist to whom he had telegraphed some mintage of the East was stamped upon his features. He was a niun accustomed accus-tomed to sway, If not to lend. His companion was as plainly an Eastern product, but his manner was subordinate. subordi-nate. "I'm looking for a mnn named I'limsoll," I'lim-soll," said the first of these two, bis voice an indication that he wns accustomed accus-tomed to a quick answer. "He wired me about some claims. Where'll I find him?" "You'll likely find him at his place," answered a miner. "Up-street on the left. Name's outside." They let the car go on In a lane that wns pressed out of their ranks. They fell In behind or alongside of It ns It passed slowly up the street. Snndy turned to Mormon. "You better see Miss Mlrnndy up to her claim." ho said, his voice casual enough. Mormon stnrted nn appeal, but It died unvoiced. The spinster knew nothlni of the clash Imnendlng between S.indy nnd tho gnmhler. Snndy walked up th street without hurry ami, as the-. Iuh' made way from the car, men gave him space. "You-all Talklno to Me?" He Inquired Mildly. what Is the Idea of this theatrical, moving-picture episode? You were ready to shoot I'limsoll 7" "I was ready. I didn't flgger there was goln' to be much shootln'." "It looks to me as If you've driven the man out of camp and, as I've come all the way from New York to do business busi-ness with him, driven the last two hundred miles In this cur, I'd be obliged If you would tell me Just what was the matter, Mr.?" "Bourke. Sandy Bourke." The stranger hnd managed to muffle down his chngrln and resentment nt the outcome of his trip, Keith was an adept ut adapting himself to his environment. en-vironment. "Sorry to have upset things fo' yon," went on Snndy, "but this wns a personal per-sonal watte! between tnysn'f an' I'limsoll that had to be settled uronto an' permanent. I don't reckon how yni've lost a heap, said I'limsoll buiii a crook." (TO BE CONTINUKD.J |