PAGE TWO
HEPPNER GAZETTE TIMES, HEPPNER, OREGON, THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 1927.
at m
Clay
Chimney
Trail
Edwin Legrand Sabin
Illustration Paul obinson
What's Gone Before.
Frank Rwen, from Albany, New York,
reaches Benton, Wyoming, then 1868
western terminus of the Pacific Railroad.
He had been ordered by physicians to Beek
a climate "high and dry," He is robbed of
moat of his money in hit hotel and loses his
last twenty dollars at monte in "The Big
Tent," a dance hall and gambling resort in
ths "roaring" town of Benton.
Edna Montoyo, companion of a gambler,
is believed by Frank to have cajoled him
purposely into the game. Broke, disconso
late over his discovery that "the lady of the
blue eyes," as he calls her, is what she is,
and finally humiliated over his glaring
"green neas," Frank repulses Edna when
she begs him to go away with her, sobbing
ly telling him that she had made a mistake
in letting him lose his money. He goes to
take a job with
Gsorge Jenks, a teamster in a wagon
train about to leave for Salt Lake City.
Capt. Adams, a Mormon, Is in charge o
the wagon train.
Rachael Adams, an attractive young wo
man, one of bis wives, is in the train, as
is
Daniel Adams, his loutish Bon. When
Edna, wbo has shot, but not killed the
gambler, Montoyo, comes a fugitive in
"britches" to join the train, Daniel tells
his father that she is seeking Jenks and
Beeson. Capt. Adams shouts, "No hussy
in men's garments shall go with the train."
Daniel, by a spectacular gun play,
x'cils Montoyo's attempt to take Edna
back with him.
CHAPTER IX.
I Don't Want to Kill Him
One night after we had gone on
some time, the sound of revolver
shots burst flatly from a mess beyond
us, but the shots were accompanied
by laughter.
"They're only tryin' to spile a can,"
Jenks reassured. "By golly, we'll go
over and l'arn 'em a lesson." He
glanced at me. "Time you loosened
up that weepon o' yourn, anyhow.
Furty soon it'll stick fast."
I went with him, glad of diversion.
The men were banging, by turn,
at a sardine can set up on the sand
about twenty paces out. The heavy
balls sent the loose soil flying but
amidst the furrows the tin can sat
untouched.
"What you thinkin to do," Jenks
smiled. "Hit that can or plant a
lead mine?"
"Give him room! He's made his
brag," they cried. "And if he don't
plug it that pilgrim sure will."
Mr. Jenks drew and took his stand;
banged with small preparation and
missed by six inches a fact that
brought him up wide awake.
"Gimme another try, bojw," he
growled, but they shoved him aside.
"No, no. Pilgrim's turn!"
Willy-nilly I had to demonstrate
my greenness so I drew, and stood,
and cocked, and aimed. The Colt's
exploded with prodigious blast and
wrench jerking, in fact, almost
above my head; and where the bullet
went I did not see, nor, I judged, did
anybody else.
"He missed the 'arth!" they clam
ored.
"No; I reckon he hit Montany "bout
the middle. That s whar he scored
center!"
"Hold down on it, hold down, lad,"
Jenks urged. "To hit him in the
heart aim at his feet! Here! Like
this " and taking my revolver he
threw it forward, fired. The can
plinked and somersaulted, lashed into
action.
"By George," he proclaimed, "when
I move like it had a gun in its fiat,
' I can snap it! But when I think on
it as a can, I lack guts!"
i Now somebody else shot, and some
body else, and another, and the can
gyrated, spurring us to haste as it
constantly changed the range. Pre
sently it was merely a twist of rag
ged tin.
Then in the little silence, as we
paused, a voice spoke irritatingly.
"I 'laow yu fellers ain't no great
GILLIAM
&
BIBEE
Our inventory shows an
over stock of
Sperry's Mill Run
Linseed Oil Meal
Alfalfa Meal
which will be sold at re
duced prices.
Machinery and repairs
for all kinds of farm
work.
We Have It, Will Get It, or it
is Not Made.
GILLIAM & BISBEE
HEPPNER, ORE.
shucks at throwin' lead."
Daniel stood by, with arm akimbo,
and beside stood My Lady. He tower
ed over her in a maddening atmos
phere of proprietorship.
She smiled at me at all of us;
at me, swiftly; at the rest, frankly.
And I knew that she was afraid!
Daniel laughed boisterously, his
mouth widely open.
Set me up a can! That thar one
wouldn't jump to a bullet."
A can was produced.
"How fur?"
"Fur as you like."
It was tossed contemptuously out;
i,nd watching it I heard Daniel glee
fully yelp, "Out o' my way, yu-all!"
half saw his hand dart down and
up again, felt the jar of a shot, wit
nessed the can jump like a live thing;
and away it went, with spasm after
spasm, to explosion after explosion,
tortured by him into fruitless capers
until with the final ball peace came
to it, and it lay dead, afar across the
twilight sand.
Verily, by his cries and utter sav
agery, and malevolence of his bom
bardment, one would have thought
that he took actual lust in fancied
cruelty.
I 'laow thar's not another man
hyar kin do that," he vaunted.
There was not, judging by the sil
ence again ensuing. Only
A can's different from a man.
.lenks cooly remarked. "A can don't
shoot back."
I don't 'laow any man's goin' to,
neither." Daniel faced me in turning
away. "That's somethin' for yu to
l'arn, young feller," he vouchsafed.
His gaze shifted.
Come along, Edna, he bade.
"We'll be goin1 back."
A devil or was it he himself?
twittered me, incited me, and in a
moment, with a gush of assertion,
there I was, saying to her, my hat
doffed:
I'll walk over with you."
Do," she responded readily. "We're
to have singing."
The men stared, Daniel whirled.
"I 'laow you ain't been invited,
Mister."
If Mrs. Montoyo consents, that's
enough," I informed. "I'm not walk
ing with you, sir; I am walking with
her. The only ground you control is
just in front of your own wagon."
"Thar ain't no 'Mrs. Montoyo'," he
snarled. "And whilst yu're l'arnin' to
shoot yu'd better be l'arnin' manners.
Yu comin' with me, Edna?"
'As fast as I can, and with Mr.
beeson, also, if he chooses," said she.
I have my manners in mind, too."
"By gosh, I don't walk with ye,"
he jawed. And he flounced about,
vengefully striding on as though pun
ching her for a misdemeanor.
She dropped the men a little curtsy.
"The entertainment is concluded,
gentlemen. I wish you good-night!"
let underneath her raillery there
lay an appeal, the stronger because
subtle and unvoiced. It seemed to
me every man must appreciate that,
as a woman, she invoked protection
by him against an impending some
thing, of which she had given him a
glimpse.
So we left them somewhat subdued,
gazing after us, their rugged faces
sobered reflectively.
Daniel was angrily shouldering for
the Mormon wagons, his indignant
figure black against the western glow.
She laughed lightly.
"You're not afraid, after all, I
see.
"Not of him, madam."
"And of me?"
"I think I'm more afraid for you,"
I confessed. "That clown is getting
insufferable. He sets out to bully
you."
"I'm afraid, too," she breathed. "I
never have been afraid before. I
didn't fear Montoyo. I've always
been able to take care of myself."
"You have your revolver?" I sug
gested. "No, I huven't. It's disappeared.
Mormon women don't carry revol
vers." "But you're not a Mormon woman."
"Not yet." She caught quick breath.
"Do you know," she queried with
sudden glance, "that Daniel means
to marry me?"
"But you're not free; you have a
husband! '
"Oh!" she cried, "why don't you
learn to shoot? Won't you? Let
me have your pistol, please."
"You must grasp the handle firmly;
cover it with your whole palm, but
don't squeeze it to death; just grip
it evenly tuck it away. And keep
your elbow down ; and crook your
wrist, in a drop, until your trigger
knuckle is pointing very low at a
man's feet if you're aiming for his
heart!"
"At his feet, for his heart?" I stam
mered. The words had an ugly sound.
"Certainly. We are speaking of
shooting now, and not at a tin can!
You have to allow for the jump of
the muzzle. Unless you hold it down
with your wrist, you over shoot; and
it's the first shot that counts. Of
course, there's a feel, a knack. But
don't aim with your eyes. You won't
have time. Men file off the front
sight it sometimes catches, in the
draw. And it's useless, anyway. They
hre as they point with the finger, by
the feel. You see, they know. Some
men are born to shoot Btraight; some
have to practice a long while. I
wonder which you are!"
"If there is pressing need in my
case," said I, "I shall have to rely
upon my friends."
"Those gentlemen of yours ar
Gentiles with goods for Salt Lake
Mormons," she retorted. "Are they
going to throw all business to the
winds?"
"You yourself may appeal to his
lather, and to the women, for pro
tection if that lout annoys you," I
ventured.
"To them?" she scoffed. "To Hy
rum Adams' outfit? Why, they're
good Mormons, and why should I not
be made over? I'm under their teach
ings; it's time Daniel had a wife
or two, for replenishing Utah."
She paused. Then resumed.
"But now if I lend you a little
something to keep you from being
Central Market
C. W. McNAMER, Proprietor
FRESH AND CURED MEATS, FISH
AND POULTRY
Call us when you have anything in our
line to sell.
Phone Main 652
shot like a dog, I'll feel as though
I had wiped out your score against
me. Tako your gun." I took it.
"There he is. Cover him!"
"Where?" I asked. "Who?"
"There, before you! Oh, anybody!
Think of his heart and cover him."
"See that little rock? Hit it!"
I fired. The sand obscured the rock.
She clapped her hands, delighted.
"You would have killed him. No
he would have killed you. Quick!
Give it to me!"
And snatching the revolver she
cocked, leveled and fired instantly.
The rock split into fragments.
"1 would have killed him," she
murmured, gazing tense, seeing I
knew not what. Wrenching from the
vision she handed back the revolver
to me. "I think you are going to do,
Sir. Only, you must learn to draw.
I mustn't stay longer. Shall we go
to the fire now? I am cold."
We walked almost wtihout speak
ing, to the Hyrum Adams fire. Dan
iel lifted his upper lip at me as we
entered; his eyes never wandered
from my face. I was distinctly un
welcome. Accordingly, I said a civil
"Good-evening" to Hyrum and rais
ing my hat to My Lady left for my
own bailiwick.
Friend Jenks joined me.
"We were keepin' caseB on you, and
so was he. He saw that practice
damn, how he did crane! She was
givin' you pointers, eh?"
"Yes; she wanted amusement."
Jenks rocked to and fro, as we sat
by the fire. "Hell! Wall, if you. got
to kill him you got to kill him and
do it proper. For if you don't kill
l.im he'll kill you; snuff you out like
a well, you saw that can travel."
"I don't want to kill him," I plead
ed. "Why should I?"
Jenks sat silent; and sitting silent
I foresaw that kill Daniel I must. I
was being sucked into it, irrevocably
Hosiery
CUT TO SELL
GENUINE HOLEPROOF
Women's $4.00 hose as low as $1.50. Off -color
lots only to be closed out to make
room for new stock.
SPECIALS "
TUESDAYS - THURSDAYS - SATURDAYS
On these clays each week we will offer for spec
ial selling quality goods in both groceries and
dry goods at lowest possible prices.
Watch our window for each day's specials.
Hiatt & Dix
This modern age likes the
mellow mildness of Camels
TRY Camels and you'll know why they win the modern
world. Mildness and mellowness. The smoking wish of
this exacting age is realized in Camels. Such taste and
fragrance as never came before from a cigarette. A mellow
mildness that can result only from superb blending of
the choicest Turkish and Domestic tobaccos.
This age demands the best of everything and it finds
its ideal smoke in Camels. Nowhere else can you find such
smoothness, such ever-dependable goodness as here
"Have a Camel!"
1927, ft. J. Btrnold. Tobacco
Company. WiBMenSalm. N. C
STOCK SALT
Contract your salt early and
you save money.
FEED - SEED - FLOUR
Brown Warehouse Co.
Phones: Warehouse 643, Residence 644
willed by him, by her, by them all.
If I did not kill him in defense of
myself I should kill him in defense of
her.
Could this really be 1? Frank Bee
son, not a fortnight ago still livinn
nt a jog-trot in dear Albany, New
York state? It was puzzling how
detached and how strong I felt.
(Continued next week.)
' Copyright by Edwin L. Sabin.
Miss Ona Gilliam, graduate nurso
of Heppner, has been assisting at
the Morrow General hospital during
all of the pnst month.
A HOUSE Cannot
. be a HOME-
But it is a big factor in
making one.
CALL and see our house
illustrations the kind
that make real homes. Il
lustrations of barns, machin
ery sheds, etc. Full specifi
cations of all illustrated
buildings available.
THIS SERVICCE FREE
TUM-A-LUM
LUMBER CO.
Heppner, Lexington, lone
lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll
NEW STOCK MUNSING MORE COMES
HERE! WWC(ir DAILY!
Hosiery for Milady
INCLUDES MANY NEW COLORS
AH Silk Chiffon - Semi Chiffon - All Silk Extra Fine, (full
fashioned) - 59c - $1 .00 - $1 .50 - $2.00 - $2.50
PEARL BLUSH-SHELL GRAY FRENCH BEIGE FLESH
PINK SEA SPRAY ROSE TAUPE-MAUVE TAUPE-also
OAK BUFF, NUDE, GRAIN, CHAMPAGNE, ALESAN and
DORADO.
Brand New
RAYON BRASSIERES PEACH CORAL NILE GREEN
Vests reduced to $1 .25 - Step-in Chemise reduced to $2.00
Slips, Nightgowns - Adjustable Brassiere Top
Step-in-Chemise in Rayon
Malcolm D. Clark
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIH
BUYERS' WEEK at
THOMSON BROTHERS
To introduce our GOLD BAR and SILVER BAR Brands of
canned goods we are giving 1 CAN FREE with every dozen,
March 1 9th to March 26th inclusive. Now is your opportun
ity to get a real bargain.
We guarantee the Gold Bar Brand equal in quality to any brand
on the market. You will recognize these prices as bargains:
GOLD BAR ASPARAGUS TIPS .. 45c
SILVER BAR DILL PICKLES .... 20c
pi5
2S3
SILVER BAR TOMATOES, 2y2
Size
15c
Then 1 Can Free with every dozen he
sides special price by the dozen !
CATSUP
25c
Pineapple
No. 2 size 25c
Fancy pack
Gold Bar
Pumpkin
20c