Adventure, February 20, 1922 — page 171: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

The Closed Trail One of the men guarding the Mexican lay on the floor, shot through the lungs, the other, his right arm dangling, his smoking gun in his left hand, stood in the street, cursing himself most wholeheartedly for a fool, and his inability to shoot straight with his left hand still more so. ‘“‘He worked his hands loose some way and played sick; said that his head hurt where Frank belted him, and Bill got too close and the greaser grabbed his gun,’ he explained to wrathful inquiries. “You fel- lows needn’t say anything, Icansay it myself. And maybe Bill’s got his, so he’s out of it.” Gorham called half a dozen men by name. “The fat’s in the fire and cussing won’t get it out. You boys string out and tell every man that ain’t here to be at the Broken Bow as quick as the Lord will let him, and a whole lot sooner, and don’t spare horse-meat while you're doing it; there’s plenty more. “The greaser’ll head for there, to get a fresh horse and warn the others, but we'll be so close behind that he can’t get away.” Where the road to the Broken Bow turned off Gorham stopped, swung off and lighted a match. The fresh horse-tracks went that way. “We'll get him all right,” he exulted. “He didn’t have ten minutes start of us and we’ve been burning the ground. Throw a rope over that telephone wire and jerk it down; there’ll be no getting word to Washington, and having the cavalry butting in this time.” There was no light or sound at the Broken Bow, and Gorham strung his men in a circle around the place. The quadrangular, fortress-like stone house, with its iron- barred windows, looked grim and formida- ble. The corrals and stables, set away from the house, seemed abandoned. ““We don’t know just what sort of a play this is, and we might stir up a yellow- jackets’ nest,” he remarked. “If you see any one trying to leave plug ’em first and inquire afterward, otherwise we'll wait for daylight and more men.” DAYLIGHT showed the gates in €! the archway closed. ‘“‘That’s a little BMA out of the way, they’re generally open,” said one of the watchers. “And there should be somebody out at the corral by this time, these short days.” . “It’s up to us to make the first break, 169 then. You come with me, Carson,” and Gorham rode up to the gate and shouted. After he had done this several times a little wicket in the gate opened and a man looked out. “What are you yelling about this early?” he wanted to know. “‘We want to see Newton; is he here?” “Yes, but he isn’t up yet.” “Go wake him up, then, and tell him Frank Gorham wants to see him.” Shortly afterward the gate opened and Newton came out. - “Good morning, Mr. Gorham,” he said. ‘What is it you want?” Gorham returned the salutation. “We want two of your men, Anderson and Mexican Pete.”’ Newton expressed surprize. ‘What do you want them for?” he inquired. : “Murder,” said Gorham shortly. Sack they here?” “T don’t know. I don’t keep track of the men. I suppose that you have warrants?” Newton inquired. “We don’t want warrants, Mr. Newton,” Gorham told him. = “It’s gone beyond war- ‘rants now. Those two men killed Dick Lloyd, and if they’re here they’re going to hang for it, right here, today.” “P’m not in the habit of giving up any of my men to any one that wants them,” said Newton. “If you will send an officer with a warrant he can serve it if the men are here,’ and he turned back into the gate. Gorham and Carson rode back to their men. “It’s a showdown,” Gorham explained. “Tf we don’t get those killers today we never will get them. If we’re going broke over this play let’s go broke right, though if any of you want to back out, I don’t blame you.” But no one showed any desire to with- draw. “Jack,” said Gorham, “ make a circle and see that every point’s covered, and that plenty of men watch that little gate in the © back that opens to the corrals, so that no- body makes a break to get away.” “But how are you going to get them out — of there without half of us getting killed?” some one wanted to know. “Son,” said Gorham, “just you watch. I'd a whole lot rather take the job of getting them out of there than if they was holed up 7 - at - *. = . = * : = a — ~~ ty Nf ee