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Show Thursday, August 18, 1932 THE TKE DESERT'S man-burner- PRICE o By William feLeod Ilalne -- Qiidhi by Via McLaa (Uses CHAPTER X Coatiaae 14 lie shook bis bead, meeting her eyes steadily. "No, ma'am. I told you the atratght of It. lis said something do decent man would say. 1 called for a showdown an' beat him to the draw, lie bad better than an even chance." She threw out ber hands In an Impatient little gesture of abandon. "1 don't care what yon say. If yon did It and I don't believe it yet-- yon did It for me. You're shielding me now. That's why yon gave yourself op. sr that people wouldn't blame me. And I had treated yon mean wouldn't let yon be my friend. Then yon do this for me. But I won't have It. I'm going to stop It ru'tell them I did It end they'll let yon go." Ann ended on a rising note close to hysteria. Tbe gunman was close to death. The dull roar of its menace echoed up to htm from the street a block away. He did not think of that now. In his blood there drummed a beat of joy. In that hour be was nearer to the woman be loved than ever he bad been before. But no flicker of feeling was allowed to reach his poker face. "Nothing to that." he said quietly. "This .Is a private grudge an those holding it will git me If they can. You're not In this. What's the sense of yoo mlxln' In? It won't help me any, an' youll get In bad yoreself. If I was yon I'd go straight home an' not say a word to anybody. Maybe things will work out all right for me. Ton never can tell." His coldness chilled her, but she would not give up. "Go home!" she repeated. "Leave you here to die when when " She put her hands up to ber face and broke Into violent sobbing. The Texan stepped closer and touched, ber arm gently with his hand. "Don't you take on thata-way,- " be begged. "Don't you." Alter a time, through the catches of ber breath he caught the an swtr. "What kind of a woman do you think I am to go home and fold my hands whiles while " "I think you're the salt of the earth) Miss Ann," he told her simply, "lou've risked a heap In try-Ito help me what folks will think, an' what this crazy mob would be liable to do If they found you here with me. It's the biggest thing any woman ever did for me except my mother. But there's no way you can help me more than So I say, you've done already. don't get yore name mixed up with me In this. I'll likely make the grade. I've been in tighter places than this an' come through all right. Do 1 look like 1 was worried about It?" Before be bad finished speaking there rose a sound such as Ann had never heard before. It had In It something of the wild beast's triscream when It has umphant brought its kill to bay. At that yell of hundreds of voices answering the call of the old savage blood-lus- t she shuddered with terror. The dread of It crashed over her senses like a great wave lifting ber from her feet The room tilted and objects swam together In a haze of bubbles. When ber eyes opened she found herself looking up Into the face of Stone. He was supporting her in his arms. "Ton fainted," he explained. An appreciation of the situation flowed back Into ber mind.' It's dreadI was frightened. ful. If some one would talk to them, would explain things " "No use. He shook bis bead. They're beyond talk," he said quietly. "But there must be some way. There must be," she pleaded desperately. "We'll fight 'em off," he promised. "Time for you to go. Miss Ann. If Mike Hgures It's safe, have blm let you out tbe back way. Then you go straight borne." She was pallid beneath the tan. He knew that Her Hps trembled. she wns shaky on ber legs. "If you die It will be for me," she told him In a whisper. "I'll never live." forget It never as long as "I m not flgurin' on dying," he told her. with a steady cheerfulness designed to deceive. "Adlos I n' 1 have to hurry." had not removed his arms frT&fciT for fear ner strength had not fully returned. Her eyes, wltb piwhe gift of her love In them, fathoms deep In his. Again the exultant beat of drum-w- 5 Unworthy though he pulses. he knew that she had given Tool I tew iJ.ir tha H1"" Inner citadel ber of rt. er: P'2 of the end of the passage nonr for him and because he B thnt Id the years to come ship V h. a pfimfArl trt hpr. he "Thv cose t0 him and kissed ' policy proKra'"hout ano,her and wd- wor(1- Again there came to blm on the light night breeze the ominous yell of tbe Out of bis eyes the tenderness died. They grew bard and cold as ice. Involuntarily be straightened bis shoulders. Then be sat down on the edge of tbe col to wait Wilson stopped in tbe doorwsy of tbe office, taken by surprise. Tbe woman be saw was not tbe one be bad expected to see. Ann Gilford, pallid to the lips, came forward eagerly. "Can you save hi ml" she asked. "We'll try," be promised. "He didn't do it I did. 1 can't let them kill blm. It's awful." Her eyes closed for a moment so that be thought she was going to faint But she caught at the back of a cbalr and steadied berselt "1 want to give myself np. If they must bang somebody, why" The yonng man's eyes picked op two others in tbe room, Jim Terby and Phil Stark. He passed tbe question of ber guilt as immaterial for the moment Tbe mob was in a banging temper and would disregard any evidence she might offer, no matter whether true or false. "Tou boys here to belp Mike?" be asked crisply. "Tba's whatever, Wilt," Terby answered promptly for both. "Good." Wilson turned te Mike. "If Miss GIfford'i story satisfies - ne "Tbe sooner tbe quicker," Terby added. "Well call out first an' tell those In front she is coming, so there won't be any chance for a mistake," McCann said. Ann looked plteously at the Texan and followed Mike without a Her heroic gesword of protest ture to save tbe man wbo bad come to play so targe a part In ber life was under a veto of general masNo doubt their culine opinion. view was a commonsense one, that tbe mob would listen to no explanation she made, but none the less she longed to try what still seemed to ber the only simple way that might save bloodshed. To the watchers outside, tbe deputy sheriff explained in a about that a woman was leaving tbe jail accompanied by a friend. "Let 'em come straight down the walk an well meet 'em both, Mike." some one answered. "Hands in tbe air all tbe time an' no shenanigan. We're not takln' chances." Phil and Ann were let out and tbe door locked behind them. Hands op, they moved forward to meet the guards. Tbe man In charge of tbe Jail blockade did not Intend to let any trick be played npon blm. He bad beard of prisoners escaping dressed as women. When be recognized Ann be took bis bat off. But be held ber for a short examination. "What yon been doing there, ma'am he asked. . "I went to give myself up. This afternoon I beard Mr. Stone bad been arrested for killing Tom I shot blm myself." Tbe man laughed, grimly. "That's a new play, hidln" behind a woman. I wouldn't hardly have expected that of Dave Stone." "But that Isn't true." Ann cried. "I did shoot blm. Jasper Stark and that Gltner saw me riding away afterward. Ask them. They can't deny it?" "We can't ask them. They've lit out somewhere, an' that's funny, too. Know anything about it?" he asked suspiciously. "No. But it's true. Mr. Stone hadn't anything to do with shooting Tom McArdle. I did It I shot blm because because of what be did to my sister. I was coming home from one of our camps when I met him. lie tried to make up to me, so he could come and see come and visit at the bouse. We quarreled and I shot blm. Tou don't believe me, and It's the truth before God," she cried desperately. "No, ma'am, we don't believe you. We think you're tryln' to save Dave Stone," the leader said, not unkind ly. "No man confesses to a killing be didn't do. That wouldn't be We'll tell Dave you reasonable. done yore best for him. If you'll take my advice you'll light right outa town. It's no place for you r Mc-Ard-le. Out of His Eyes the Tenderness Died. They Grew Hard and Cold as Ice. you, why don't you turn Stone over to me as deputy to slip blm outa town? I'll be responsible for him." The Jailor rasped bis chin dubiously. "That alnt a bad idea Tou either, if it's not. too late. mean for the rest of us to stay an' hold the Jail." "Make a bluff at it, yes." "Question Is, have they got the Jail surrounded? They've got a dozen men with rifles strung out In front" This came from Phil. "I Just got in the back way, by the creek bed," Wilson said. "But Get Stone, we'll have to hurry. Mike an' don't waste a second." The Irishman nodded and left the room almost on tbe run. To young Stark his Inherited enemy gave orders. "Get Miss away from here. ' Til have Mike let you out the front door. There won't be any trouble with the guards outside. They'll let you through, except maybe to ask some questions. Take her to the hotel. If yore sister Isn't there they will know where she Is at Get bold of my brother Lyn an' tell blm to come up the creek with what men When we hear he has gathered. an owl hoot twice we'll know he's there an' open the back door for him." Ann demurred. "I don't want to go. Td rather stay here so I can go out and tell the mob he didn't do It I mean, If yon and he don't get away." "That would sure do a lot of good, about as much as tryln' to persuade a hungry tiger not to make Its kill," Wilson scoffed. His harsh voice softened. "If you want to help, there's a way. Go to the hotel and tell yore story. Or wherever Miss Stark is now. She's likely gathered a few good citizens. Stir 'em up to help." "Well," she agreed doubtfully. Rand came Into the room with Stone. The prisoner's face was hard and Impassive as He looked round the room and nodded to those present "Ready?" asked Wilson. The deputy sheriff banded a revolver to Stone. "Me, I believe this young lady's story. But I'm askin' yon to give yoreself up whenever Hank calls for you, Dave." "Yes," the Texan promised. Rand led the way to the back door through the corridor. He unlocked the heavy door and stepped outside. A bullet flattened Itself against a boulder two feet from blm. "Nothing doing, Mike," a voice railed from the brush across tbe "We've got you covered creek. good an' plenty." The deputy stepped back Into the corridor and closed the door. "Too late. They'd get you both sure," he satd. McCann. "No "Yes," agreed chance." They returned to the office. "They're watchln' the back way," Rand explained. "Now what about Do you reckon she Miss GlfTord? had ought to go7" answered Stone and McCann "Yes," simultaneously. Gif-for- d rim-roc- tonight" He turned to Phil. "Who's up at the Jail with Rand? Anybody else at all?" "Four others." "Who?" Phil looked him hardily In the eye. "I've forgot their names." "Meanin you won't tell?" "Meanin just that" There was a short silence. "How come you mixed In this, Stark?" "If Dave killed McArdle it was In a fair fight an' he was Justified I know that Dave never shot anyone without givln' him a chance." "He's Just a kid, Phil Is," someone spoke up. "You know how kids are about gunmen." "I wouldn't call Dave a gunman "He's abexactly," Phil protested. solutely square an' he's game." Ann broke down and between her sobs begged for the life of her friend. She kept repeating that Stone did not kill McArdle, that she had done it berselt that he was sacrificing himself because he was trying to protect her. The net result of ber passionate entreaty was that In their minds she convicted herself only of being In love with the Texan. Phil escorted her, still shaken with sobs, to the hotel. They passed groups of hurrying, excited men. The question they beard repeated several times was as to what had become of Jasper Stark and Gltner. Ann found the hotel a nucleus of activity for the few who opposed mob law. Julia was here, and Sam Sharp and Lyn McCann. But the leader was a lean grizzled brown with bard man, a trifle eyes and shaggy brows. Peter McCann had been enlisted by Julia to support bis son Wilson. With sharp Incisive questions be drew from Phil the situation at the jail. "You say yore brother an' Gltner are there, too?" be asked after the boy bad told the facts. Phil an"Yes, as prisoners," swered a little sulkily. He did not command to enjoy surrendering these McCanns, as be had been forced to do both at the JaU and here. "Yore son got 'em there somehow. Arrested the two of 'em, one at a time." "Walked into their crowd an' took them away?" asked Peter in "He couldn't do it credulously. No single man could." "All right He didn't do it then," snapped the boy. "All I know is that Mike Rand Bays he did an' claims to have Jus an' Gltner locked up In cells for Inciting riot." Peter's eyes were shining. If this was true If Wilson renlly had carried through this cutting out adven bow-legge- TIMES-NEW- NETIII. UTAH S. PAGE SEVEN ture and arretted the leaders of tbe mob be certainly would be proud of bis boy. Ann bad been talking to Julia, wbo now Interrupted McCann by leading the owner of tbe sheep ranch to blm. "Do you know Miss GlfTord. Mr. McCann she said by way of Interruption. "She has something to tell you." Again Ann told ber story of the trouble wltb McArdle that bad led to bis death. McCann listened and believed. It was possible that Stone's story was true, too. Per baps she bad missed the range rid er and be bad been killed later in a fight wltb tbe Texan. Or per baps, wblcb was Just as Ukely, the little gunman bad made up tbe story to protect ber. In any event it was clear to blm that Tom McArdle bad earned bla doom and tbat be had not been murdered but shot down after due warning. Tbere were half a dozen men in tbe room in addition to Phil and tbe owner of tbe Flying TT. To them Peter gave Instructions. "There's two ways of doing this Job, boys. One la for ns to get inside tbe Jail an' stand off tbe mob. We can do It but there The other might be bloodshed. way la for me to step in an' take the leadership of this Job. Tbat last is how it will be. Too boys will sift in among tbe crowd an' talk me op aa boss of this rodeo. They're mlllln' around out tbar and don't bardly know where they're at now as Stark an' Gltner have gone. So I'll take charge. When I make a play yoo back It strong." "But what are you going to do?" Julia asked. Peter looked at her, flushed and bright-eye- d and quivering with life. She was a lovely picture of youth, and at sight of it bis eyes for a moment played tricks with him. The girl he saw was tbe one he had loved and lost twenty-od- d years before. on playing their "I'm flgurin game. But we'll change it some. Well be vigilantes and not lynchers. That calls for a trlat Don't It'll work out you worry, Jessie. fine." Julia understood now, when Inadvertently he had called her by her mother's name, much that had puzzled her In Peter McCann's attitude. In his eyes, while he had been staying at tbe Circle Cross. 8he.had more than once seen an expression she could not fathom. She was very like ber mother, and when be looked at ber tbe hatred for ber family was no longer In his heart The memory of Jessie Far-we- ll made It Impossible. "Can you save him that way?" Ann asked. "If you'll come through with yore story clean, If you'll tell what Tom McArdle did to ruin the lives of yore family." Ann shrank back, white-face- d and trembling. "I couldn't before everybody." "Just enough so they'd understand," he said gently. Julia put her arms around the other girl. "I'll be with you, Ann," she whispered. And to McCann she said: "Leave It to me." The old cattleman nodded. He Judged ber competent to handle that end of the situation. r CHAPTER XI Dunwlg's Park. a band of six MESA boasted called upon for music on all patriotic occasions such as ball games and Fourth of July celebrations. Tbe man wbo played the big drum was Medford, clerk at Basford's emporium. Him the owner of the Flying VT pressed Into service. They repaired to the steps of the courthouse. "Let her go, son," McCann ordered. "Klnda slow an' steady." With heavy measured strokes, Medford beat the drum. The sound of it filled the night It arrested the attention of every man and every group within hearing. All knew It was a call to gather for Within three concerted action. minutes the courthouse square was full. The slow reverberation of the drum died down. Peter McCann began to speak. The gift of winning an audience was native to him, perhaps Inherited from the ancestors who had come across from the Emerald isle. Before he had been speaking three minutes he was not only one of the mob but Its accepted leader. His assumption, to begin with, was that Stone must pay the penalty of bis crime. But Mesa was, he claimed, a community. It did not Intend tbat killers should come In and shoot down Its citizens. All It wanted was to make sure of the fact before It proceeded to summary Justice. To that end a court must be organized and the accused man tried. If be was found guilty Tom McArdle, of of murdering blm without giving the range rider a chance for bis life, he ought to be executed promptly. "What's the sense In wastln' time on a trial when he admits he did It?" a voice shouted. "We'll bang him first an' you can try him afterward." "Come up here, Kelly Brown," the big voice of McCann boomed. "Don't hide back there, but come up and tell me that to my face." mmj teraw tThtritm d ml imdudt liJrr.1 tax bytbt Pull Orersiia 4.40--2 X Each Input Full Oreruxe-4.50-- 83 adr Full Z0 Orixe - 4.e;eSl Ford I J Each n. VHfTlVHl SBIKF V. Per nsU tire Fall bnmtil mim Ovenin - 4.7S - Each In pain 39 Foil Per tingle tire CTeniz-47S- Chrysler Plymouth Cvt Pontile S J laEach pain aaa '4 la pain 63 Per $.00-- aoe tire 0 tingle tire Full . Each In pairs have to GOODYEAR TUBES are now so low priced It's thrifty to put a new tube in every new tire MX largest tire factories. Guaranteed for life. Full oversize. Bodied with Goodyear Supertwist Cord. 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