The Sheriff's Son

Takes

f the saloon, he would have seen an odd change in the ranchman. He slid swiftly along the wall of the building until he had melted into the shadows of darkness. His eyes searched the neighborhood for lu

him, in the exercise of ordinary common sense, to leave by the rear exit. That he would be watched

ther it was Teddy he could not be sure, but there was no time to lose. Already a signal whistle had shrilled out from the ot

d circled the small grove so as to enter it from the other side. As he expected, a man

ed man flattened under the weight crushing him, but his right arm swept around and embraced the neck of his second assailant. He flexed his powerful forearm so as to crush as in a vice the throat of h

eathing gave testimony that the gunman was in trouble. In spite of his efforts to break the hold that kept his head in chancery, the muscles

wn and removed the revolver from the nerveless fingers. The barrel of it was jammed against the head of the m

the saddle, but before the animal had moved two steps some one had it by the bridle. Another man caught Dingwell by the arm and dragged him from the saddle. Before Dave could s

s out of which voices came as from a dist

up," one of the

six-gun, you're liable to need rep

distinctly. He recognized the speaker

You're such a bear for fighting a man can't take an

l like I got to hold it on tight so as to keep

d have it fixed up. Then we'll all

st," cut in B

er of the horse ranch. "How about th

ntention of telling, but if he held the enemy in

how my head aches!" He held his han

nother crack," Buck told him grimly. "Get busy, Da

the answer out of my noodle. Maybe you're thinking of some one el

" ordered Buck

groan. "Gee! I feel like the day after Chri

monkey away any time, boys. String him to one of

learnt that habit of seeing yore neighbors hanged,

Meldrum kicked their captive in the ribs. Hal Rutherford,

ok Meldrum as if he were a child, then flung the gasping

mble fighter with his hands. But Hal Rutherford was one man he knew

him were the gamblers he had driven from the Legal Tender earlier in the evening. The n

itting till you've crossed the border. Don'

their plans some more by dropping in at their back door. Looks like you'd 'a' rumpled up their hair a few if you hadn't been in such a hurry to make a get-away.

grinned amiably at his questioner. "Sounds like you-all been to scho

ng for an an

the imperious ones of the other man in

t, Dave. F

lit the reward with you when I get it. T

"Bring up the horses. We'll get out of here. You ride with me, Jeff. We'll t

would be less likely to meet travelers. It was a land of mesquite and prickly pear. The sting of the cactu

the foothills and the range beyond. It had passed the meridian by the time they were among the summits where they could look back upon rounded hills numberless as the billows of a sea. Deeper and alwa

rs. "I sure am hungry enough to eat a government ma

r, black Rutherford way. "Thi

ce I got up into all this ozone and scenery." Dingwell assured him hardily. "A man

ad ever met. The man was no fool. He must know he was in peril, but his debona