| Show s The Deserts Desert's tae By y William MacLeod flange Raine t hi b by William MacLeod H Rata r SYNOPSIS f W WH Wawa oo a McCann McCan young youn ranchman fI ands an n old h Jim vor with with a broken oIe le Jg Julia Juli Stark SUrk daughter of d Matthew Stark Str enemy of at t the lh McCann U Is with wilb him JI Jullas Julla's brother broth attempt la t. Wason A. A Ann Aim Cin Gifford Cifford with b. b her bar young OWl abler It are r ah boop p rl and an on that abat account popular with tho cattlemen Night rid rider I boot a a McCain McCaw rr Ieter Ie McCann Wi father II a reward war for lor the tha of f Identity WI McCann ha h. making practically n lie no Matthew Stub Sla posts t. t odes notice Ie ho ha will UJ kin kill 10 WD on a eight A. A Ann ABB Clfford's tragedy troed la I. th tha th fata t of d 14 kr d dead ad sister hlo N. N Nora Nor betrayed and nd abandoned by her hH lover lor J. J Stark and nd Cart Carl r known n aa as a killer bold 01 t con eon A Stark T Tone Tom U Is h be Vend lined b br by the Stark to hay hava Mb kilted Iud d b by the tho MaC but ru rumor links linka hie hi aa name with that ef sJ N. N Nora Clfford Matthew Stark la to killed hIRd Ir Iran from ambush buh Julia Jull Anda find him dud dead with Wilson McCain over ovar him bun She Sha and Phil her ho younger brother oth ecu accuse McC McGinn McCann of d the tho killing It hla vehement t denial WU Wilson U I. shot hot from the tha whit while standing over on Matthew Mat Mt th thaw thew SUrka starks bod body him dying tha tho thaS S lard I he have him ban a. a taken lotion to their horn home 0 Dave Da Stone Stark rider a Texan Tn with a record a as a killer openly ht Wilson guilt Jasper JrIe b Ie disinherited h by hi hla th will wID Wilson Wilon MeCum Me- Me Cum Cann la Is to health J. J Jasper Japer Stark Str da pit the lb girl aversion rolon seeks to persuade Ethel Ethul Clfford od t to la marry him holding over vr b. b her hertha herthe t the tha threat of o Ann a. a tha tho slayer layer r of 01 T. T Tom McArdle MAreD Ann Ana drivel him tram Irom tha tho ranch rach Later Lat h aha a to 10 Ethel that b ha killed bind McArdle Nor betrayer No action eUon at as atto t. t Matthew Stark killing It Is taken Ir An anus anon 1 tt to tha lb sheriff horl cher charges Ann Ano Gifford Clfford with wit murder PlY Dave Eton tone hearing of d Skis Ihl ar to 10 U tha sheriff that tbt ha k killed McArdle the th slaying In being tit tha of f Me- Me betrayal of d N Nora Nor Stone atone le is In Inthe the tb a Jail ioU U al t M. M Jim Jane Vt find ands Jasper Jar Stark and urging tha tho lynching of St St. Stone Mar for nr murder He Its till hll Ann Clfford Cliford w who wh insist rt she aha killed McArdle and nd Stone la Is trying to shield hUM her ho With Phil rhU nd and Julia Jull sh h he rI rid oo to Miss Meia la to tell toll her hor tory alary end and save lave Sto Stone atone Julia Juna meet meeta t Wll m McCann McCan and nd appeal to 10 Ira him for tor 0 it McCann McCan kidnaps J. J Jasper Ja Jas- per Stark CHAPTER X Continued X Il 11 II IlI I f You Ton wouldn't take advantage of me Wild Willi he wheedled I 1 I tot got a thing In n the world against t you you- all nil This Thin filially feud Is plumb foolish what I t nM raid to Jule I says Lets take Willi home an nurse nune him I 1 I says This was wa Duds Dud's fault anyhow an an Will la is a good fellow fl honest to O cl 01 d thas tha's what I told her We looked after you right at nt athe atthe the he Circle Crow Cross didn't we Done Pone Everything for you that we could Im not going to hurt you theother the theOther Other WIther sattl 1 with disgust st st. No use to me use U It dont don't buy you anything anythIng anything any any- thing Move on up the bank bauk here lure an knock on the door Through tho the gloom the shadowy outline out out- line of a building had emerged d. d It was tho rho back bock of the stone Jail Jasper knocked on the Iron Iron studded studded Moor boor HIO in e 11 iii IH McCann with a prisoner That you ou Mike Yet Yep Its It's sure enough you Wilt Is Ia It The Tile deputy WAS WI already unlocking The door Ills question had bad been for he Ite had recognized the voice N Nevertheless Hands Hand's revolver covered the men as they entered lie he demanded Why I brought a n trouble trouble maker maker along with nip me Mike answered Wll- Wll Non lion I figured ll he was better here than off art his lilt mouth at Itt the Gilt Edit Edge Jot Got a cell handy for him Youve got no right to hold me without a It warrant I wont won't stand for tor forIt forIt It a minute minute blustered Jasper now touch much reassured as to his safety to riot Mike Better hustle bustle Mm film Into a cell rell This Is liable to be our busy night Im I'm going back to get joet that If I can If It we get lt throe these two birds blyda In Jail nn nobody knows where they're at at the mob Is going to drift around for awhile for tor Its It leaders leaden If It we can cnn stand em tm off otc a few hours liours there wont won't be tie any Ifo Mostly m mobs niobe l s are arc what you OU cull call tem hIU pera Hand Band was Irish and r ready to fight tight If there was Will a It chance to save his prisoners prisoner's pris Otters ont life he was more than willing willingto to take It lt The 1111 appearance of at a n friend willing to pla play the lug game ame out with him was tremendously cheering lie Ho knew the McCanns well veIL It If they rallied rallIN to toMs Ms his aid there was a 0 likelihood of at sue suc- cert Boy 1 Im I'm with you till Yuma gois gots eno bound he cried with enthusiasm Well put rut Sir Mr Stark In Number 40 an on give five him a to cool off otT Five later Inter a small colored toy lay was wa giving n II message t to the tho big Texan sa says s latah Stark would like fur tr to sea seo you at th the back doab Gitner Busy though he be had been tn drinking and exhorting had missed hi his fellow conspirator and wondered where whre he be bad had gone ronI That Jasper should send for tor him to hold a whispered confer confer- Nice Mice away from the crowd was quite probable swaggered to the rear of the saloon without an Instant of misgiving lie He wal walked d out of the back door straight Into a forty five the barrel barrIl of ot which h pressed against his stomach Hands lIand up came the hard bard crisp order The Texan Tuan had no option Ills His hands moved skyward n Deftly ruy McCann removed his hla re- re 01 v Were going down the alley he explained ex ei- f in a low voice I dont don't aim to tilt kill you ou unless you make mab sums some fool tool break Do no that an an It will sure lure be beS S ore funeral I 1 I 4 II I d n nL L 7 the play If youre you're not fun to kill me asked liked Youl find out Now move not move not too fust an fast an dont don't look back I 1 might change my mind The Texan Tuan moved He lie never argued with a man who had the drop on him and meant bu business It was safer to watch for tor a chance chonce and plug the fellow fellow fel tel low when he was wan not looking Wilson follow followed ell at his heels the gun under one td edge of ot the coat be tie wore unbuttoned They rell reached hed the street unnoticed crossed it without observation observation tion and passed ed Into the tho gloom of the alley IY beyond Where you akin me mer growled To Jail What fur for Raisin a riot The prisoner primmer made no complaint about the Illegality allty of this proceeding It was high handed of course counE but the theman theman man behind a n gun has the privilege of being that If It he ht chooses There Thre was no use trying to talk bilk McCann out of the advantage he hold hAId did not attempt It t. t Ills cunning mini mind concentrated concen coneen on the tho practical problem of es S cape The chance came ns as they were pickIng picking pick pick- Ing their way down into the small gulch It was so 0 dark that McCann McCunn was following close clone on the heels of the other liner stumbled and uM fell Ills arm swept out cn caught II 11 1 t the tile younger oun tr mans man's legs legi below the knees and dra dragged them out front from under him Mm The revolver flew out of Wilsons Wilson's ons on's hand as all he went down Before he could stop himself he lie had rolled down the steep ground on top tI of the tile Texan They went to the bottom of ot the Incline In Ins cline dine together now one and now DOW the theother theother other on top In the scramble of wildly flying legs the two men clung Iun fast But In that Instant while they thy were locked In each others other's arms firms Wilson realized that he was nil no match for h his hi opponent at this kind of rough work Ho was wall lighter by twenty five pounds and he was still weakened from the effect of ot his recent wounds wound To survive he knew It would be necessary to break the others other's bear bear- like hu hug bug Otherwise e his bis ribs would be crushed and the breath driven out of his hili body They landed In the creek be bed l with whit on top The Texan Tenn laughed In savage triumph lIe He had his hI enemy at his hla m mercy rey and knew It It though Wilson Wil son sona was waa still trying with short arm I jolts to the jaw to break the viselike grip that encircled d himI himI him I I gotcha by G G-d. G d th the Texan grunt grunted ell lie He shifted his hold bold One hand band pinned down the list beating like a piston platon pis pla- ton rod against his face tace The other found the throat of the prostrate man the sinewy fingers tightening until Mc Mc- Cann strangled for breath Wilson knew he Will was lost lot unless ss he could escape from the grasp of ot steel encircling his neck Yet It was by no set plan llan that he hit upon a way of saving himself In his agony he be drew up his feet and straightened them with swift force torce The effect was astonish astonish- lug ing Gitner let out a shriek of pain Ills throat lIt hold loosened momentarily Again McCann brought up his heels hels rind Mil raked them savagely sa down the calves of the other Gitner tore himself free tree cursing ursin and got to his feet fet Th The mans man's trouser r legs were shredded anti and his limbs bleeding The sharp spurs purs on Wilsons Wilson's boots had hUll ripped through to the flesh and aUd It mercilessly sly lie lIa stood there cursing furious furlou with rage Before he hI recovered his hi reason the theman theman man Dlan on the ground covered him with his bis own revolver drawn from the belt on had fastened shove above his hll hips Reach Beach for the ro roof f McCann ord or or- d tiered dered The ThO Texan glared at him savagely lib hued huce doubled fists worked spas He lIe wanted to fling himself on this young fellow and ant stamp the life out of f him But lint under the menace menace men men- ace of the f forty five he lie dared not attempt at ate tempt It McCort L for tr breath brath In Ina Inn ina a n world 01 cL 1 swam In bubbles before his eyes ejes Rut But did not know that The big tI fists tl slowly moved up over owr the shaped bullet t. t head It If I had a gunThe gun gun- gun gun- The Th subordinate clause was wa a threat threet which needed no conclusion to be un un- Im I'm still sUII borro it Dont Don't you move Slowly Wilson rl rose Every moment mo mo- meat ment he was WIlS breathing less legs rag raggedly I and was 81 seeing more clearly If It youre you're quite sure you sure you dont don't want to start tart something else lsE Mr Olt ner well we'll well we'll be moving luo on again he be said with an effort They traveled up the sandy wash climbed from th the creek b bed and were admitted Into the jail Bows Hows everything Wils ils the deputy dep uty asked Why fine as u silk Brought you another another an other prisoner Mike lIk he be be What been n doln Inciting to riot too Can you give him a nice quiet cell rell all by his lonesome lone Ion some somer Sure can d do To Tu his 1111 prisoner the deputy deput said Come right along Mr air Boom 27 for tor you fOU When bell Rand Hand had locked up the he Texan he led Ild his hi friend down the corridor cor core toward the office You sure set lIet a good example he ire said with a grin Since you OU left Ive I've had more visitors to help me outa the hole Im I'm In Two of em Good flood If It we get tour four five ve fighting men men n One of these Is I. a lady the deputy explained dryly A lady 1 McCanns McCann's mind flew fiew to Julia Stark Had she he been so 10 unwise e as III to come to the jail with the Idea that she could be useful 1 It would belike be belike belike like her She was both Impulsive and unselfish h. h Wh Why yes a lady Indy I 1 Come right tight In Inan Inan inan an meet her Wilson followed him Into the office a a. a S Before he be had left for tor Tucson Sheriff Le Page lage dropped In to Stones Stone's cell 1111 If It theres there's a thing more you need to make you comfortable Dave Due cigars or newspapers or a honk book to read shy hy why speak right up an Ill I'll see you get It Not a n thing thine Hank Im I'm doing fine Youre You're trentin me roe like a parlor boarder what I aim to do dos Youre You're no DO oller In for a sack eack of ot flour t I Reach for the tha Roof Roo McCann Ordered Or Or- I dered I like yore next door neighbor Well If It theres there's anything you au want while Im I'm away holler for tor It to Mike Hell He'll fix you up Stone did not trouble the deputy with fussy requests lIe He read or lay IllY layon layon on the iron cot and let lt his hi thoughts drift where they would lIe He found them turning If he did not consciously direct t them elsewhere to a tight-lipped tight young woman whose last word to him had been that she did not want him for tor a II friend I When hen Rand hand brought dinner In tot for him at noon Doon Stone detected In his hI manner man mannor ner nor a note of silent evasiveness foreign to the temperament of the garrulous Irishman Within five live minutes he knew what was troubling the deputy The town was wilding up Looked like Jas Ju Stark and might get the boys bos to do some crazy thing or other Stones Stone's impassive eyes fastened to his just what Mike Allow AI Al low lowin ln In to hang me me ar are they Well ell Jas Jos Stark an that are how you OU dry Tom Mc A Ardle Stone nodded I know those birds So they're thin to get rid of me mt They would of ot course Ive I've played right Into Info their hands handt What Phat you g going go go- lag Inc to do about It It Mike Well Veil Ive I've wired lank Hank to come swearing In home an Im I'm figurin on tome some deputies to help m m. m me meA A sardonic smile mlle touched the face of at the Texan To help you protect Dave Stone bad man wan an killer I 1 reckon you'll find the boys some re re- reluctant It proved to be as the prisoner pre pre- dieted Rand nand returned to him In the middle nf ot the afternoon From the cot where he was lying Stone looked up tip and read failure In the deputy's honest face tace the Jail full tull of law law- Well ell you got abidin citizens Stone asked with gentle derision All of at em cm anxious to to go the limit for me Hands Hand's eyes confessed defeat Dont worry Mike the Texan went on I knew It would be thata thata- way WilY Question Is what do you aim to do now Do I get a chance for tor my white alley Mike 1 How dIu mean Do 1 0 I get my guns back so I can take an Stark with me on this long Journey I dont don't reckon that would hardly be right Dave Due Youre You're a prisoner turn me over to be lynched then by two murderers who want me afraid outa outs the way because they're Ive I've got the goods good on them Rand Hand had bad an Inspiration No sir If It It comes comps to a showdown Ill I'll swear you In as a deputy he promised Ill prom promise IRe not to throw down on you 1011 this time Stone assured him with mordant Irony During the long afternoon the deputy deputy dep dep- uty was WIlS In and out of ot the prisoners prisoner's cell a dozen times to consult him The Texan |
