| Show i Selwood of Sleepy Cat Ct c FRANK H. H SPEARMAN By i- i Copyright by br Charles Son Soni I f. f r L If I Continued X-Continued Continued i CHAPTER X I 12 12 I All right That's settled Carpy continued Selwood thinks this place I I Js J getting too noisy for you OU Dave All MI these squatters coming in JU find and the clatter they make lIe He says you'll doJ do f. f J better out under the pines a few miles op up P river and Ive I've got ot things arranged cd there today The to get you JOu up I A- A weathers weather's settled now and ond Ive I've e got J time to move mo you you what what do you say Sal we start today I ul know where Im I'm comfortable better better bet bet- i ter than Carpy does Ill I'll stay here ic Selwood with patience continued to dwell on the advantages of ot country f-F f f life But the old d soldier resisted all allI and in the end his I J V 7 blandishments f patience gave e out first Look here John he be exclaimed with a n snap of ot beating round the disgust youre roure bush like like these crooked Sleepy Cat lawyers I know what's going on Jf lt I T cm nm flat fiat on my back The Vigilantes are ready rendy to move Where did you OU get et the Idea I was afraid of ot Vigilantes I Selwood shrugged his shoulders Where did you ou get the idea I thought H you yon were Well ell youre you're trying to ship me rue out of ot town you town you and ond Carpy Now John Im I'm not going going that's that's flat not lint not for tor nil all the Vigilantes In the Rocky moun moun- As Tracy uttered his declaration Bill like n a huge camel tuc k his head within the tent SelWood Selwood Sel- Sel t wood paying no further attention to tor r the intruder vainly tried in low tones j to persuade Tracy It would be sheer folly to remain where he ho was He reminded Tracy of ot his helpless Condi Condition tion and of ot what his obstinacy might mean menn he begged him to to consider his his his- Il L Selwood's Selwood's feelings feelings if It there were none of ot his own to move moyo him The Theold Theold old ld gambler proved adamant to every consideration and not only that he grew more and more set against all proposals John he ragIng rag rag- In lag Ing like n a grizzly at nt bay are ale you running too 7 J 4 You know kno very well Dave theres there's theresa a heap of or difference between a n wellman's well mans man's running anti a w wounded mans man's 1 being carried out auf of of the way of ot a n fight You o going to stay i 1 Theres ijo C reason WIlY why I shouldn't J And fight Nobody will ui mss miss me me if It I dp elp do fight If It you OU stay slay sta theres there's Just s one e answer an nn- you ou you get get killed kIh d said Tracy Dash you L know you better than you know yourself Now r John f listen The Theod o old d man gray ray grizzled 1 unshaven hollow eyed but stern his I Iron gray hair fn falling In a n great grent mat i over yer his wrinkled forehead sat bolt upright on his cot He tore open pen the breast of ot the coarse shirt he wore wore wore- I his only upper garment garment and and pointed to an nn American flag tattooed oed over oer his Selwood sat with the eyes of ot youth ti I silently fixed on his country's emblem fl Bill stepped closer in craned his neck forward pulled ol oft off his tattered hat to get Jet still sUII closer i and ond peered dumbly at the tattooed 1 breast Tracy spoke to John I i 4 dont don't say Ive I've never ne done anything to disgrace it he went on but I fought for that old flag ag nigh night three year I tramped down the Peninsula la with Mc Mc- McClellan Clellan and double back again I stood best 1 I could against PIckett at Gettysburg with George Meade I went up against the Bloody Angle In the the Wilderness with Grant It dont don't mean a continental to a lot lotI I r of folks folies nowadays s 's but It means menna something to me yet et Does anything youve you've ever seen me do John look to you IOU as ns If Id I'd run run from n R blamed parcel of ot Vigilante crooks Ill I'll admit Im I'm no saint Im I'm no preacher preacher-or Youre preaching right now Dave Daye e Then d n d-n n It let me preach preach but but the worst wont Ive I've ever er done was to Inie In- In Invite ie vite a It man to back his luck against mine Ive I've played crooked with i crooks ril ru admit it but no honest man can say jay Ive I've ever stacked a ft deck T- T against him I I took my chances same us liS s he took his Now a n parcel of Vigilantes threaten threat threat- en tn to h hang ng me me-I me I know sames same's If It you'd told me I I left heft the best ot of my life Ufe In health and strength th down the Jim on river for this this' old flag flag that's that's why I cant can't put up n a mans man's fight today If today today- lie He bared his right breast breust There was a n gap CaP in it In which h you could lay n ci hens hen's egg A Johnny neb shell took t that ant lung John John lohn- JohnH H He tore open with fierceness the shirt sleeve of at his left arm arm arm- arm ua a ball hafl that arm John you John you know kilOW Its It's no good It wasn't that fight with Frank Frunk Sanger that did for Cor tao me I done for was wa In the tue Wilderness und and came ame out with no health to and earn a living hero i I am am and and not sorry for it It Well they can cnn hang me rue But nut It'll l i b don done I after Im I'm dead And Anti then h ho muttered mattered with blamed satisfaction n the th i skunks havo have got to old lag flag ag with me tue I tell teU hang the thc don't dont say Ive I've you rou n again I r disgrace ace It I dont don't never done nothing t to I winding say Im I'm proud 0 of r up ns as a gamblerS gambler But nut Is as QS they Is Js is And If It this things thing J i Is mj my last lai t stand its it's all nil right He lIc ie reached his hand band out J the with VJ h tent Selwood pole pote CI 01 me toe m. m my pun gun pun toward to BUI I sitting In Silence Par Par- lifted U team m the nail on which i At j it Jt hun hung by the scabbard an old Colts Colt's army revolver Tracy took It almost affectionately Leave this with me he said falling back on his frowsy pillow Bring me InC n a couple dozen Jozen that'll be he all I need Selwood smiled Moren you'll I need Dave ho lie said quite undisturbed Selwood d continued to smile not mirthfully seriously rather He Just lust studied the mumbling old gladin tor- tor half toothless laid low after many a n 9 stout OUt fight stiffened fight stiffened in joint J In ILl nerve cares caressing the old gun un with It u slinking shaking hand so enfeebled he could with difficulty hold bold up tip his head and with only the gray grayeyes rn eyes ees flashing the old fire re as os he hurled de defiance at nt athis athis his enemies enemies It it was not riot n a cheerful picture 1 No home to die In no woman to be tender with hl his pain or patient with his irascibility no childs child's kiss to close the weary day day day- just n a h human de derelict c east cast t b by t the e storm nna wave o or civilization Cl on UI its L outermost shore shor such shore such suc-h was Dove Dave Tracy What you ou looking at nt me that way for tor John John demanded the old gam gem gambIer gambler bIer bler peevishly pee Nothing Dave nothing nothing- Just thinking Ill I'll be back again II lie IIo rose as ns he lie spoke Parda oe peered peered- as If it In farewell at farewell at Tracy und pushed his way Vay outside e. e See Sec here exclaimed Tracy detaining You n a mes me's been partners aint we You say youre you're You talk about my g getting killed loW killed how d' d dy dv suppose Id I'd feel if It you got ot killed Selwood laughed I lightly Its UIt's what's comin to both of or orus us I 1 guess Da Dave e Carry me up the hill t to the hall ball you rou and FH ru stay ty and yo yogo you go Id I'd n a blamed sight better be defending de dp- defending de- de fending the hull than you ou Im I'm no lo lu luto to anybody bod on oarth earth n. I Neither 0 am 11 I Dave 1 Wl t about the girl that br brings brines os me soup tw two and imd nd three e. e times times' a week What's she bringing It to me What did CUd she bring m me nn an apple for today Because she thinks n lot of mo moor or or you oU winced u Because she's 1 kind hearted 1 d he saId said Irritably Dont talk nonsense But 1 he be was j red in the face a e Tracy followed I y up sharply Its s you Se Selwood nat pod nat me ine- ine you me-you you u. u I don't dont hn have to be told what a n girls girl's think ing lag wilen when sh shell she'll set ser right th there re where youre you're settin n now w and listen ns as Jon Jonas Jons as Ill I'll t talk lk about you Selwood shrugged his shoulders Youre wasting your breath to talk about me He lie flung out of the tent in no very pleasant frame of ot mind The valley the river and the flats were in shadow when Selwood stepped out outride Turning Tw up street his e eyes ees es fell on the hill bill where the front windows vs of ot the big gam gambling gambling- house burned In the glow of ot the sunset sun sun- sun sun- set Busy with J his ls thoughts he reached the barn spoke e to S Scott ott who stood In the doorway directed him to bring with him as ns soon as It was dark RUM mrA i tl that at all ordered was I in readiness Selwood walked on up the lull hill CHAPTER XI The River Bridge It was two hours yet to opening t time ime He unlocked the front door of ot t the he hall crossed the room to his o unlocked the door entered locked l It U behind him sat down nt at his desk unlocked It and pulled open n a drawer In which he kept his stock of ot ammunition Besides the boxes of cartridges and cleaning implements t there here were In It Jt two wo cartridge belts and two Colts Colt's revolvers Th There re was waR still dayl daylight enough for tor his purpose and Selwood taking first his own gun n and und In turn the two guns In k the I drawer began the task of Inking down cleaning and assembling the three It gave him plenty of ot time t to think Warning had lied come his come his defiance h hind tl answered it It nt at least for tor John Sel Set wood He had been told what to expect expect ex- ex ex x he had said how hov he lie should meet It there remained only the question of how far tar twelve e cartridges es loaded Into two guns expressly for tor this occasion oc oc- occasion oc- oc casion would carry him att r the opening shot It w was wils s too much to hope that ho lip should live to fire them nIl all mid tie he fell to speculating how howman ng on man many loaded cartridges would be f found und In the two guns when they picked hint up It enraged him to think of at bein being cornered by by Vigilantes and escape now was so easy easy and always th there re was Christie Christlo In the back background round of ot his thinking But Dut his word hind had been passed passed whether whether foolishly or not v 4 is itS beside the question He lie had bud told the reel real estate boomers where they would find Oud him In the tho street ho heard n ft beating of or hoofs hoots and n a chorus of ot whooping yells from horsemen heading town down on a drunken spree Curp Carpy's s words word came bade baek to him Its Saturday night All AU the Ule thieves horse ride Into town I for tor n a spree They'll all nIl get In in But they wont won't many get out J H He did not I know the mon mon men he knew r that In their company a 4 Sk leI le- le f I I ton horseman astride a n skeleton steed galloped noiselessly ahead that Death that nJ night ht would slink in nn invisible guest In III with these iii me men as CS they lined up UI at nt the bar unbidden would sit that night with them nt t their tables and stake ee their their evil e lives JIves n against the caprice of frontier fate fate Cute ns In Indeed eed he had already lly for forI I that night slaked John s lIe He picked up In last t of ot his Job the cartridge belt It was too dark to see but It fiR as e easy s to feel w with th the hc fingers rs of one ono hand for tor the cartridges l lin in hi th the bo box while in the other he be lucia held the belt and felt for the empty spaces space to slip Blip the brass slugs Into place And Anil with the thrift of f Hobin son Crusoe he lie emptied n a handful of rot cartridges es Into his trousers pocket rose buckled th the belt helt his waist As he lie did this he heard a loud knock knorl at the outer door It startled him I then Ihen he remembered that he had told Scott to bring to him hint ns fIS soon as It was waR dark I IlIe I lIe He walked to the front door the two men were there Bob Dob Scott JJ bared his tobacco stained d teeth teet l ns as ns' ns h he tic smiled his report to Selwood They e put men on oui nil all the roads out of town to ex cx- except the upper river er road I guess 4 11 I I 1 i t 1 di i 4 Things Thine Are Aro Fixed the tho Barn arn Boss Bess H Half Halt lt Whispered the tile Iden idea Is to stop nil the birds that try to fly the he coop tonight And they no one ir from r n ni Cal b ms be leaving town fown till pretty late nn any any- way Selwood asked whether the team and horses were ready rendy had luid come straight from the barn His eyes es set rather harder than usual with the he prospects of ot the night appeared ap tip- closer If It possible together and g glowed wed with JUI n a n. n dee deeper r light while If It suspicion could more completely com com- characterize his man manner er It s seemed now heightened In view o o or cJ c coming oming events re hitched John ohn J he said darkly u chewin their I bits In two and up the planks r right ight now In the gangway I III suppose J yoju U know SeK h wood addressing ii Koth thi men Im Tin going to take fake Dave Tracy Trucy out of t tt t town wn Hes He's my partner Ill PIl never ne s tee fee ee him hurt while Im I'm alive He refused refused re re- re- re fused to go ns os you OU know Bill he said to and hes he's bullheaded bull bull- headed enough t tg put up a R scuffle rather than be dragged out No mot mat t tor ter er Carpy py put a n s sleepy eelY dose In Tracys Tracy's s coffee corree tonight By this time he should be bo under I hope he lie Is But hes he's got Jot to go now whether h he of I me tue coree or not nor I s wont won't t EI see C Chim him s strung rt r t 1 up a teJ telegraph r ph i if It f I r have hue to kill him Juin to get him out of ot town How low you going to get Jet across ucross the bridge asked grimly Ill attend to that You say Ray the Ule river road Isn't guarded nn anyway addressed the flue words to Scott It wasn't when I rode up p from th the the- west bridge The trail will shako shake Dave some but we ct I can get over o It If It we can g get t to it it I Big JUg Hu 1 loomed up out of th the darkness s WIlI ts up bo s he asked ns as he walked In and the three men meui In Jn confab b. b We Ve dont don't know y yet yat t said Mid Set SP- w wood od But nut Ill I'll be bo away for tor two or three hours Theres There's talk of ot trying to c dean clean nn the town own up tonight ht Skill- Skill mun monts Is In Jn Bend n leave I-leave you ou In charge of ot t the H pit place l ace o. o lucre here ro rT mJ i L expecT to LU be tiC buck before anything much mach happens But If you have ye to run b get t u it good start start start youre youre you're fat Cat fingering a n gun gum n ns big n asa ns as a Q toy cannon looked hurt Whom I going to run lUn from John Youre You're put putt putting ting this ulace lilace ace in my charge till you OlI get back buck ho asked to confirm his his understanding nt I Ul nm What you be he back If lilt rm Fin not back b by clever o'clock don dont don't t look Jook for tor me Haynes straightened cp up Ill hold this thu place against nil corners comers till Ull twelve lwI o'clock he lie paid nid compos composedly Give GI me n a couple of good men he added lidded nod ling significantly toward and Scott Ill I'll hold this place against all nil the Vigilantes in Sleepy Cat Cati I I need a n couple coule of good |
