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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Advance-Times, 1938-09-15, Page 6THE WINGHAM ADVANCE-TIMES By Luke Short O AirrocA»rra The FEUD at SINGLE SHOT Thursday, Sept, 15th, 1938 SYNOPSIS With his partner, Rosy Rand, Dave Turner is on his way to his ranch at Single Shot, Both are returning from prison where they have served sen-* tences for unjust convictions, On the train, which is carrying a large sum of money, Rasy’s quick action and straight shooting foils a hold-up while Dave saves the life of Martin Quinn, a gambler, who is being threatened by a desperado. Stopping at Single Shot, the sheriff tells Dave he is not wanted, Quinn defends Dave but Dave and Rand go to Soledad to meet Mary, Dave’s sister, and proceed on horseback to the ranch. Mary reveals she is married and tells Dave that the ranch is doing poorly, being beset by nesters and involved in a claim dispute. Suddenly a shot from the darkness topples Dave from his horse. Rosy fires and kills the unknown as sailant and they rush to the ranch to treat Dave's severe scalp wound. Next .JPPLmng, at breakfast, Dave and Rosy rr discover that Mary is how cooking for the ranch hands—a bad sign. Af­ ter discussing financial matters with Mary, Dave and Rosy saddle horses and leave for Single Shot to deliver a corpse to the sheriff and see the town banker. Identity of corpse re­ veals him to be ex-employee of Ham­ mond's. Dave, Rosy and the sheriff immediately confront Hammond with facts, Fight between Hammond and Dave prevented by sheriff. Dave plans to raise alfalfa on his land and use money to pay off mortgage. Someone blew up the lake. Hammond thought 5t was Dave, and Dave accuses Ham­ mond. A chance meeting of the two gives them an opportunity to blear .away this false impression. The hunt now turns to Crowell, the mysterious man of means and ambitions. Rosy rushes to Winter’s home to tell Mary of his suspicions about her .husband .and asks her help to- prove his find­ ings. Laredo evolves a scheme to ar­ rest Crowell as a murder suspect in order to hold him for questioning. By a clever ruse, Dave escapes his tors and then frees Dorsey who held prisoner for ransom. He’s paying Crowell for gettin* the ranch an’ mine: Sayres and his gang for the dynamitin’—” A wave of an­ ger swept over Dave, get out like—■” “Yes, Dave “Why, what else should I do, What would any man—” he caught himself, “Here’s the horses,” he said quietly, It was close to dusk when Dave and Dorsey neared the pass, Dave had been scanning the rocky ridge ahead of them that barred their way to the valley. “It’s a prison,” he pronounced. “What will we do?” Dorsey asked. “A little more butcherin’.” “Do you have to?” “We’ve got to get by the guard at the pass,” Dave said, " and he’ll kill.” They pulled in at a small draw and dismounted. Dave took the carbine “I’m goin’ to of here an* track him down that’s your way, isn’t it?” swung around to face her- “Some ranny saw me and is follow­ in’,” he thought savagely, He raised his head above the edge of the rock and waited, Slowly, the man was making his way forward against the skyline, Dave saw him raise up and listen. Dave drew a bead on him, then let his Colt slack. A shot would alarm the guard for sure and give him away, The man was close now. He could hear the quiet breathing of the man as he paused by the rock, apparently listening. Strangely, then, the man seated himself on the rock behind which Dave was hidden. With noiseless effort, Dave hoisted himself out of the crevice, got a toe­ hold on the rock and lunged at the sitting figure. The force of his spring took them both sprawling on the ground. Dave’s hand was on'the oth­ er’s throat, but the force of the man’s great strength was not easy to calm. The force of his spring! took the m both sprawling on the ground. cap- was you"You’re hit,” she cried. “Are ■’ "I forgot,” Dave answered. The last ■shot of the outlaw had seared his arm. Dorsey bandaged it expertly. “How did you get here?” he asked. ‘“I heard ’em talk about a girl and I thought it was Mary.” “I went home a little after dark. I put Pancho in the stable and went in- the house. In the kitchen a man grab­ bed me and told me not to make a noise. There were two of them and one asked the other if they’d left the note. Then they put a sack over my head and tied me on my horse and we rode all night, it seemed. They treated me all right.” She looked at Dave, her eyes puzzled. “What’s this all about?” Il' forced to sign over my half of ranch to Crowell.” “Crowell? The man you and are looking for? The one behind dynamiting?” “Yeah/’ Dave nodded. “I thought he was behind it but there’s someone else. Some one they all call boss. ‘I dunno,” Dave answered. “I was our dad the a from the saddle-boot. Dorsey came close to him and laid hand on his sleeve. “Isn’t there any other way besides blood?” she asked quietly. He shook his soberly. “It’s us or them. It’s gone too far to settle with words—or with law. “I didn’t make this war. When I got out of prison, I swore it would take plenty to rawhide me into goin’ for my gun.” His eyes narrowed and he looked off to the far horizon. “But that’s not the way the world gives a man what belongs to him, I reckon. It’s fight or die. I died for eight long years. I’m goin’ to live now for a little while.” Dorsey caught her breath. “Then it is true,” she said slowly, “you are You’re cruel and ruthless. You’re a —murderer!” Dave flinched as if struck with a whip. “Dorsey,” his voice was pleading, “can’t you see?” “Please■go,” she said quietly. Dave’s lips were a grim line as he turned on his heel and strode off into the gathering dusk. Dave paused to remove his boots. In the stillness, they seemed to make the noise of an army on the march. Paused, he suddenly jerked erect and listened. Behind him, farther down the ridge he could hear the crunching of bootsoles on rock. Suddenly, the man ceased strug­ gling and Dave eased off his hands. Then: “Dave Turner, jug-headed, murderin’ fool!” “Rosy! My God — I thought you’d be dead.” “I near am,” Rosy muttered. “How’d you know it was me?” ask­ ed Dave. “When you lowered your head, I hit that place where the bushwhack­ er slammed you, but you was hanging on to me like a burr. I aimed to play dead so’s you’d take your hand off my throat.” “Did the guard see you?” "I don’t think so.” “And he’s on this rock?” Rosy said he was. They sat a mo­ ment listening to see if they had al­ armed the guard, but the night was souhdless. “Dorsey Hammond’s here,” Dave said tonelessly. "They kidnapped her.” “Dorsey Hammond?” Rosy asked incerdulously. “Why—I never heard about it. Are you sure?” He check­ ed himself. “Let’s get on. We got some work ahead of us. Near as I can make out, this here rock’s he’s on is cup shaped, and a little higher than the rest of the hill.” They decided that Dave was to go down the slope, circle around, hide, himself and open fire. Rosy was to approach the rampart from the ridge. I “Then let’s go,” Rosy said. Dave disappeared down the side of the scarp and Rosy continued ahead. Worming his way forward for nearly twenty minutes, pausing to listen oc­ casionally, he finally achieved a round knob of rock which he had noted from below as being close to the ram- part. He could smell cigarette’ smoke, hear the slight movement of the man on top of the cup, A veering of the wind carried the smell of cedar smoke to him and he guessed the man had built a fire. He smilecl. “Fool,” he thought, “If he looks out into the night from that fire he couldn’t see a cavalry troop,” A shot from below electrified him and he knew Dave was cached cosily behind a rock, shooting at * random, [ Rosy heard the loud hiss of water on coals as the guard extinguished his ‘ fire, The answering shot, was loud and close.. Rosy hoisted himself up. With a stifled curse he heard his gun butt scrape loudly on the rock. - The guard whipped around, raised his rifle and a lance of orange licked out. Rosy fanned the gun desperate­ ly, waiting for a bullet to pick him off and send him careening down among the rocks below. He saw the limp body of the guard inch down the wall until it rested in the smoking fire. Rosy pulled himself over the rim and h’ullooed loudly. Dave answered him dimly from’’ below. Then he turned the body over, struck a match and saw the man was dead, three bul­ lets in his chest. . He loaded his Colt thoughtfully, shrugged and let himself down the slope. Dave was waiting with Dorsey at the pass when he reached it. * * * It took Laredo three minutes to get a saddled horse from the livery stable after he had left the sheriff’s office. He rode slowly north up the valley, leading the horse. When he was out of sight of the town, he left the road and started up the mountains to the east. Where the mountains broke for the railroad tracks in a deep pass he paralleled the tracks for three miles or so. When he heard the freight train come slogging up the grade he watch­ ed it quietly. As the last three cars disappeared, Laredo saw a man swing off the caboose. Then the man turned and surveyed the country around him. Laredo stood up and Waved an arm and the man walked over to him. The newcomer was dressed in laced boots, clean but faded khaki breeches and an open- • necked khaki shirt. He was a middle- : aged man, broad of face and quiet of eye. He smoked a pipe set comfort- : ably in a wide mouth. He greeted Laredo quietly, a glint of amusement in his deepset eyes. “Hullo, cowboy.” “Howdy, Chuck.” They mounted and started back ov­ er the same trail Laredo had come. Laredo’s companion studied him. Finally, he spoke. “When are you goin’ tq tell, me what this is all about, Laredo? Why all the secrecy?” “It’s a long story, Chuck. A lot of it I don’t know, and I’m dependin’ on you to tell me.” “What about?” “I dunno,” Laredo persisted. “That's what I got you up' here for. All we got. to do now is to ride for a while and then you can tell me.” “Ride how far? Iv should catch the night train out,” And after that Laredo did not talk. Business and Professional Directory * I Wellington Mutual Fire Insurance Co. Established 1840. Risks taken on all clashes of insur* ance at reasonable rates, Head Office, Guelph, Ont. ABNER COSENS, Agent. Wingham.• - - ...-■ -• ......- .... Dr, W. A. McKibbon, B.A. PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON Located at the Otffice of the Late Dr. H. W. Colborne. Office Rhone 54, Nights 107 HARRY FRYFOGLE Licensed Embalmer and Funeral Direct©? Furniture and Funeral Service Ambulance Service. Phones: Pay 109W. Night 109J. /.................... " ......................■ ,HU.......... j . DR. R. L. STEWART PHYSICIAN Telephone 29. ! J. W. BUSHFIELD Barrister, Solicitor, Notary, Etc. Money to Loan, Office — Meyer Block, Wingham THOMAS FELLS AUCTIONEER real estate sold a Thorough Knowledge of Farm Stock. • Phone 231, Wingham. <• ' Dr. Robt. G REDMOND M.R.C.S. (England) L.R.C.P. (London) PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON J. H. CRAWFORD Barrister, Solicitor, Notary, Etc. Successor to R. Vanstone. Wingham Ontario I!.,.. 1 ■ - ■ It WiH Pay Yop to Have An EXPERT AUCTIONEER to conduct your sale. See T. R. BENNETT At The Royal Service Station. Phone 174W. DR. W. M. CONNELL PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON Phone 19. R. S. HETHERINGTON BARRISTER and SOLICITOR Office — Morton Block. Telephone No. 66. J. ALVIN FOX Licensed Dxugless Practitioner CHIROPRACTIC - DRUGLESS THERAPY - RADIONIC EQUIPMENT Hours by Appointment Phone 191. Wingham W. A. CRAWFORD, M^D. Physician and Surgeon Located at the office of the late Dr. J. P. Kennedy. Phone 150. Wingham F. A. PARKER OSTEOPATH All Diseases Treated. Office adjoining residence next to Anglican Church on Centre St Sunday by appointment. Osteopathy Electricity Phone 272. Hours, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. A. R. & F. E. DUVAL CHIROPRACTORS « CHIROPRACTIC and ELECTRO THERAPY North Street — Wingham Telephone 300. ■ When they had passed the lake on the way to the D Bar T, Laredo left the trail that angled down to the ranch and picked his own. The two horse­ men skirted the base of Old Cart­ ridge which jutted down to the lake and headed nortlv'toward the moun­ tains. ' As dusk settled into dark. Chuck gave up trying to keep directions and let his horse have his head. With the precision of years of practice, Laredo went deeper.and deeper into the can­ yons. They had ridden an hour in this when Laredo drew up. > He dismounted and Chuck heard him go off a short distance. When he returned, something clanged at his side. “Here’s a lantern,” he said. “Light up and come with me.” Chuck did as he was bid and in the flickering circle of light cast by the lantern he followed Laredo. The can­ yon narrowed until its width could be spanned by stretching the arms, and a cool dank smell of wet rock sur­ rounded them. Suddenly they stepped out of the bottleneck on to the sparse grass ofa little ampitheater. “Here’s the place,” Laredo said. He squatted on his heels by the lan­ tern and rolled a cigarette carefully. “For a month, off and on, I been Watchin’ a hombre dig here. What I want to know is, what is it he dug?” He picked up the lantern and mov­ ed over toward one of the walls. A MADISON AVE. AT GRAND CIRCUS PARK HOW MUCH COMFORT (B A wonderful bed; • clean, quiet room; plearant, efficient rer- vice; and a friendly atmosphere •» these are what you get, and all you pay for, at the Madison-Lenox. No Frills-Just genuine comfort and consequently, genuine economy. • An excellent location, with garage nearby. tight-mouthed tunnel appeared before them and Laredo motioned Chuck in­ side, Chuck set his lamp on the floor at the end with a smothered oath. A single, short-handled pickaxe lay on ON HUDSON BAY, THE FOOD PROBLEM IS BEST SOLVE D BY ROD OR GUN over Hudson Bay forced When supplies rah low* “Sell ‘Em” the base for food and water. They Millionaire JT« P» Bickel, CENTRE, to at Seal river they were two hungry captain leads the party.Storms < the polar bear expedition to seek Ben Smith, LEFT, William Kim- were dissuaded by the captain be- catch his own meals when oh one of shettef in the cove where Henry mond and Guide Russell Cockburn cause of dangers involved, Hudson was set adrift by his crew, volunteered to walk 30 miles back to sometimes a case of necessity for ada, When he and Ben Smith arrived shooting a few ducks for supper. The It is his tours of remote eorners of Can- men. Caph Papp’s wife, RIGHT, soon remedied their deficiency after CANYOUBUYi the floor. he‘‘^v® y£M1 been lookin’ at the walls believingly. LarCd° S1°Wly’ “HLppreid° in°,dded‘ Chuck nkk fl ’6 d°n 1 ”eed a pick- Yo« can knife.” nUSgCtS °Ut With a pOcket“ “So it’s gold?” Laredo asked. Jars’ XuPaSSed /fty thousand dol- stens” O1 i" the last tweniy-five steps. Chuck said slowly, ^body’s so rich they can. ft ki f°r every horse stable.^ Who owns it?” ciS^ve'''°N„ht00k hi® head a"d Spat pre- cisely. Not me. Not the jasper that was minin’ it either.” P * owJ-|Ui1Pea,n somebody that doesn’t n it has done this work?” n0?ded' "He figsered !t’d me day, so it wasn’t wasted.” , (Continued Next Week) To Play Hockey in Scotland ,C rl’ce Thomson, of Kincardine, who has been in the Old Land for the past year, has been signed to play goal for Dundee Tigers in the hewly- orgamied Scottish Hockey League. ■Last year, along with another Kincar- f PiayS Munro’ he Per­ formed with Bristol, ■ “Man! use solid in their Listowei May Build High School d J/JL u Board of Nation’, hbS? V° 1COne6ntrate oh building a W fr1 mher than ite bujldmg which has been under ^nsideratiofi for some months. This reached Scptem- a? and ^’several months Of divided opinion as to which would fun4”0 m°St ecoIlomlcal in the long ( * J