| Show THE DESERTS DESERT'S PRICE E EI I J I I 1 SYNOPSIS II McC McCann young Arizona Arbon ranchman hda Idi aa sn old bid friend blond Jim Y Y br with a br a. a lof Julia JuL S Stark daught of Stark SIB i nM n my of d the tb McC la 10 II with hi him per Julio Julia brother la le InI Ann An Gifford Clfford with bar be young tb slats 1 r. r Ethel an sr ab b keep p 1 and nd en ea thai tbt ut Jar with tha th cattleman rid boot a McC McCann rider Idol rl McCann Wiliona I. I If reward eI for or tha th of 0 th that Identity YI V a ty M t McC McCann I Jill ha W r nn na lie Ica Stark p. p pea Ic h. h win kin km wac WUen wa- c M sight A A Gifford llad U V tha lb thaMa Ma a bar he dead ded alaur Nora Ner betrayed ncI end by r i er M Iov lover teye J. J Stark and Cart Carl I. I tae knan kM aa a hold bold ral ton tea A Stark Id r. r Tom Tarn U b be b. behaved It haved kr by the Stark Star to t. h. h haw have ben been killed by tha lb c but hut rumor L. L II hi name cams m with It II thai W 1 Nora Non Gifford Clfford It Stark U I. killed f. f from rent l uela Julia r. r tied find him dad dred with willi WIt WIt- Mca MoCan at stooping avar we him She Sh and nd nd Phil PAI her br F- F r brother 1 McC McCann McCaa of d tha lb IoWn p t. t hit hl vehement denial WI la Is thai shot lee the tha over Mel Mat haw w tar body Believing him dying tha lb stork have bars him t. t taken laka ta to chair borne homa D C. C Dv Ta a tone Stash Stark ride rid a e T. T Teem with a record ecord at e. openly pol doubt double ht Wit guilt Ip r U Ia disinherited by hla hlo father will ilL Wilson Mc Me- Ca Cann Cena la I. ta I. health I Stark d. d da- da pits tha lb girls girl's seek ta Is ud Elbi to t. m. m merry marry him blur holding bolding y vrr vu h. h bar br barthe the eh of 0 Ann al i the tha 1 of 01 Tom Ann An him from tha Ih reach ranch Lal aha b admits to Etbel that ba h. killed UW N. N Non Noraa betrayer Na No action cllon aa t ta Matthew 51 Starke killing la I. I. I taken An A anon non yso letter la to lb Ih sheriff abI chI Ann AnD Clfford with MAdI murder lI Day Dava Stone Stona hearing burin of 01 on confess to I. lb sheriff that ha La killed tha lb slaying being tb tha Ih result of 01 McArdIe Mc Me- ArdIe Anaa betrayal of 01 N. N Nora Nera Stan Stona U I. confined la In latka IL jan Jail at al M. M Mw Jim yh Yerby ands Je r r rb b lark stark and ncI urging the lb lynching of el Stone SIn for It murder mur CHAPTER IX Continued IX-Continued Continued 10 10 We to 10 o tell It to 10 no Jury jory We to let Rome slick lIck lawyer talk him off orr Not none nOlle This town alms aims to see lA Justice done dOlle to show these there bad men who come inan In Inn Inn n an n kill our tint we wont won't I stand land fur for It a It minute The hatred haired little man rubbed Mi JIll unshaven chin and onil tried again Hoys lIos It Its It's a n mighty serious business to make n II mistake an nn take Inke a mans man's life Ute without giving him a 0 show to tell lell the courts his story X A big nosed hook no ed man the worse for far liquor laughed savagely ogI Youre right It Its It's serious Dave Stones Stone's liable to find that out Jag Jas Is This I fellow fetlow had hall ought to be bl strung up to a 11 telegraph pole poll Me MI I expect to 10 do come pulling on the rope that's round hIs bis gullet The fierce murmur of ot assent told Yerby that opposition was useless Argument Argument Ar was a 0 waste ute o or of time fine lie He moved away reluctantly forgetting forget forget- ting to take his snake bite medicine with him when he hl left Itt the saloon For Joor Forlie he tie was troubled This thing wast was WOI t l wrong he felt Yet he did not know how bow to prevent If it At Hasford's Basford's he found little tittle On the porch were Simp I Shell a cowpuncher whom he knew as os lied and Medford n a tenderfoot clerk rk KImp Simp wanted to know In hU his Indolent drawling voice what was new Why not nothing bing I reckon except except- Say Simp the devils devil's broth Is In town lown today The 1 boys OS O'S are aimin tn en earn Inn Looks iCks t l tn admitted Shell Im not for tor It myself after he comeIn comeIn come comeIn In an an give himself up not up-not not till tilt we Wl hear the right of ot the 1114 story but of ot course ourse If it they're there h I h-I 1 bent on It It- It The nester shook hook his head something Something Some ome- ome thing queer about this deal I dont don't get It U a n Me Ml I dont don't hold bold with these k killers IIII Time we settled downan down n an n became decent folks an au law la citizens Hut But theres there's about Kate Dave Stone well Stone well wEl Iguess hes he's a killer j 1 I nil all right but Id I'd trust him nil all the way wayn wayan an n back lint Hut Jas Stark says says says- I know what he says an sn wouldn't trust him any farther than I could throw n a bull by the tall tail neither him nor that Carl They're had bad eggs both of at em cm Theres There's hili back of nt this I tell you ou If It we knew what It was all Stone had hod a talk with Le Je Page III anthen an anthen then shut up like a II clam I under under- stand Hanks Hank's gone to Tucson on business lIe He has Yerby's thoughts moved mO fast fust Then they aim the aim the Circle Cross outfit does dOEs to to get Stone outa t jail an hang him while Hunks hanks away i They'll 1111 do It II too sure as 01 joure youre a afoot afoot foot toot high I aint allow In to I stop top em tn Jim Are Arl you I dont don't know as ns I am nm am Yerby con con- n ceded reluctantly Hut But looks to me melike melike like the decent citizens would get together together to to- gether an serve sere notice that there would be nc doln In necktie parties par lIar parties ties far as this case goes Simps Simp's forefinger tanned fanned the air X Now ow thas tha's right where youre you're way off Jim If Jr Jas Jus was flits to hang you jou oU why I reckon some of ot U us uN would wake up an an ask some question lint Hut this Stone Ston why Stone why we WI dont don't care carl a billy billy-be- d n d-n n whether he gets gEls hung or not They're all In the same crowd crowd nos no- no count fellows vs hellin around an nn anakin trouble for tor the r rest t of ot u us Theres There's Just one plain word for killers They're cold blooded d murderers o 1 Stoat Host t tot of ot em lm would just Jua as lie lief shoot a man manIn manIn In the back as In front of ot fact they'd rather It If they think they thy can pet get away with It because ther theres there's s 's II less s dan danger clanger er In It You cant can't get me to shed any tears about this Stone Verby Yerby tried one or two t other representative representative citizens elsewhere and ID tact met t with the same lack lark of t response The general sentiment was waR as that neither Jasper l Stark nor url earl litner were WErl any good but so long as 88 they confined their Ir attention nUon to Stone they might so go 0 as far tar faras farns ns as they liked 1 The he little man gave up with a shrug I f- f of ot his shoulders The feeling of ot the tile wn tl fc hd d Its Iu weight with him After Atter l By William MacLeod Raw Copyright h by McLeod MacLeod R Rain Rahn ln all all Stone Slone was Tins nl a had nd man and probably probably ably deserted the fate tate hanging over him Yf Yerby rby nodded loaded his hi supplies on the park pack horse hou arranged time tile lash rope and threw a squaw hitch Presently he was out of ot town lown an and headed homewards home home- ward wards On the way home Yerby stopped l at atthe atthe atthe the sheep ranch to 10 Il leave ve a sick rack of ot flour flout and nail some om coffee he had bought for the Cliffords Ann came to the thedoor thedoor thedoor door at nt his hi call coll MI Stirs Miss Ethel ithel not home he a asked ked Xo so She he rode out with a message for tor Tony Mn Maybe e just jost n ni ne well WIt I got news nes for tor you ou Stirs Miss Ann A bitter smile milE broke the th lines of ot her thin sardonic face News Wl Is t always hart bad news for fog u no nr she he Mid cold What Is II It I dont don't kno know ns U you yon could call rail this thU rl right ht bad ball news near That Dave line Stone of ot the Circle Cross Crom outfit hn has j VI C ve himself himself him him- self It up 11 an confessed d that he killed Tom McArdle Ann win was literally struck dumb with astonishment She stared Incredulously Incredulous ly Iy at the Pave Dave Stone any he killed McArdle dle the she repented repeated 11 Yes ma Come through clean clEnn clEnna as a a whistle they IhlY ray ony Sheriff I. I Ie he Page he hI give It out himself I didn't get to 10 talk with him p oula town lown done to Tucson I hear Im I'm rl right ht sorry about that too he he- cause hell he'll I be lop needed In town fown tonight tonI looks like 1111 Some of the Circle Cro Cross nut outfit lit are DTP milk makin In trouble They're to break brenk Into the Jail nn an lynch Inch Stone the ton tan the color faded from the face nf ot the Ihl young oun woman Because l' l he lie killed Tom McArdle she naked asked In n hoar hoarse whisper nalI wh why Tas Starle Is stirring up 11 feeling Him an nn that Im Irn going to 10 town lown Ann announced Cnn Can with lIh you go o me ml Why hy I reckon an o he replied taken aback Hut But Mesa MII nn anyplace any place for tor a young lady like you you alt all not tonight The II lids lid's R off orr an on theres there's certainly going to bo ho wild wilt times tilDES Yon You cant can't do a thing I know because e I Idid Idid Idid did my dl They're h h on ongoing ongoing going through with this I can an tell them the truth truth that that I 1 l kl killed him mY myself It was his turn lurn to 10 stare he be asked You 1011 killed Tom Yes YR Ill I'll tell you all nil about It on the wa way Hut lets let's get started started please II please We Wo may be too late lale already Yerby went to the corral He lie rope roped and ond saddled a n horse horAe while Ann Aiu changed her hr dress s and wrote n a hurried hurried hur hur- ried note to Ethel Miss Silas Ann you gonna be able uble to put It over the Ihl timer old warned her Im scared to 10 death you'll ouli git Into trouble yore own self I hadn't ought ht to let you OU go to Mesa Im Tm going sue alto out IOKI mm aim with wan finality When I tell them I 1 did It H and ond why why why- Ito T 1 been In mobs he persisted I e heard blard em roar when the pore devil they thy was to hung bung was brought out Its It's awful Tie Ive got to do what I can She swung to the lI saddle and started down the road rondo There was nothing for tor him to do but follow tollow When they thel came carne to 10 n I long lone hill bill anti and were wre forced for a short time to walk the horses hOrEl's he once onre more remonstrated with her If It It would do any I 1 wouldn't say lacy a word Miss Ann nut Hut It wont won't Of Do you think I can cun sit still and let 11 them kill kilt a man I know Is Innocent lie He knew by the set look In her hr young face tacE the intentness s of ot her gaze that she could not be moved from her hr purpose nut Hut he could not consent in silence lie Ho claimed he did It If Miss Ann- Ann went Int In and told Ie 11 Tape Page so so 80 did dill he be do d that It If It aint so I dont don't know A faint taint flame of ot color bent beat Into the cheeks beneath the tan Hut tut how could he lime have done donI It when I when l when I shot Tom Toni McArdle Me myself If It you'll out tell tIll ine ule the story tory Miss Ann Ann Ann- She ho told U it It almost as she had done to her hr sister just as she had gone o over It In to her own mind a hundred dreadful times There was a relief In confession lon Yerby's wrinkled leathery hand reached rl across s to the pommel of ot the Ih saddle where hf hers rested and gave l a II comforting little tIe pressure surl Im Is with you ou at every enry turn of ot the road Miss Ann The young woman looked at him and nodded a lump In her throat Since life lite had wounded her bEr so greatly she had tried to encase h her r heart in 1 Ice 1 resolved to fend off orr friendship In the shame of ot her hurt she had hugged her passionate resentment cherl cherishing It as a II virtue Instead of at the e evil ll thing It w was as To look at this brow faced brown faced n-faced little cowman whom she lObe had hall helped In his need was a to know Iba that t his hili loyalty I would never falter And there was another who had offered of ot trl t friendship and been len rejected the the man who was lying In the Jail at Mesa lesa while the town seethed 1 with propagated hare bate E Even en now the mob might be storming the prison to blot out his life lite He lie was dangerous dan men said fald of ot a cold and au deadly temper it was not safe to cross Hut nUl the David ld Stone tone beneath this surface armor of ot defense was a n wholly lIy different one Ann was convinced She knew am kind and strong and To Ill I save her hr he had taken on himself the burden of at her guilt lie He would not wl weaken Jen If It he died diEll It would be for tor her They rode fast for tor Ann was ass consumed consumed con con- with anxiety Just before they reached tl the e river a rider swung Into loto the road rood twenty five e yards ahead of at them At sight of at Ann and her escort as- as es I cort cart he reined up have e e you heard he asked That you ou folks from the th Circle Crops CroF are up U Uthe the town to 1 lynch h e Stone Yes YI'S weve we've heard beard that thai Yerby replied curtly Ihil flushed angrily He ire WAS WAI much excited cited t Id No Xo such a thing he retorted retorted re re- re- re angrily There wont won't be any lynching I If f I 1 can stop it it I dont don't get this business but hut Im I'm lai Yen l sure of one thing Stone never killed Tom McArdle unless ho hI had it to doIle do lie Ile didn't kill him Ann said quick ly Iy I 1 did 1111 The 1 boys boj's OS t eyes ejes PI grew big his and troubled Then why did he say he be shot allot him he was wu our uncles uncle's friend anti ami wanted to be ours Hut nut does dols does It matter what his reason Is Is' Is Ann asked tip La hw of i 1 t tAnd And You You Are Are You On One of 0 This Brave Brava Mob She Asked Scorn fully Impatiently I 1 tell you I did It I II I shot hot the man and left him there Surely I ought to know Almost on Oil the wings of ot the Ule wind the news spread that the Texas killer was to be lynched for tor the murder of ot Tom H Hy fly word wold of at mouth month It came cam e tn the cowpuncher Uett to Julia He l had wanted wontEd to stay In town and share the excitement but he Ill had agreed to skin a jerk line string to Monarch with supplies for tor the flea Den RenHolt Holt mine minI And he prided himself that he bE was a n man of lIf his word Come night they'll sure put It u uto up P to 10 Mike Hand Rand to open the Jail door an an turn over Dave to them If It he killed poor Tom McArdle like they claim h he e did hangin aint any too good for him Jas has sure lure got the right of it when lie he says fays we hadn't ought to stand fo for tor r them Texas bad ball men cumin in an an off oIT our own boys The sound round of ot her brothers brother's name dragged Julia Julin out of ot the shock th the e news had hall given gl her Is Jas mix mixed eel up In this this' she asked quickly It occurred to H lied Ked d that perhaps he heI e had been heln indiscreet He lie went through I the process of ot what ho he would have hll called u stalling Well ell now Miss Julia I expect everybody's e In It more or less He Ill was putty In her hands Inside of ot two minutes she had the truth ou out t of ot him Julia Jolla way was greatly troubled In tD the e past weeks she had come to 10 know th the e little Texan It was Impossible for tor he heto her herto herto r to believe that h. h he was a cold blooded ti murderer He lie had been a n friend when n she needed one at al a time when be her r own brother had failed In the phrase of ot |
