Adventure, December 3, 1920 — page 59: what you’re looking at

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

The Law Comes to Singing River Thornton, riding into the meadow. “‘Is this why you sent me to the Miller cabin on such short notice, father?” “Go back,” ordered Thornton. “No, I guess I’ll stay; and you might as well know now that I was not being bothered— except by Bransom himself. Are you satisfied that this man Lang—this man here—isn’t a cattle-thief, father?” For answer John Thornton started toward , Bransom. with the rope. “Don’t,” said Lang softly. “I think we’ve been taking the law in our own hands long enough. You can let the proper authorities at- tend to this fellow’s case; he’s doubtless wanted in the lowlandsor more than cattle-stealing.” Lang had stepped before Thornton, turning his back upon Bransom, who had started to run. Now Bransom stopped and whirled about with a snarl as his left hand came out from within his shirt, bearing the glint of hard metal, With a cry of warning Condon leaped to Lang’s back just as Bransom’s weapon streamed fire. ~ In another half-second Lang’s gun blazed at Condon’s side. Bransom crumpled to the earth in a grotesque posture, doubled back with his knees caught under him, and was still. Lang ran toward him, stopped, sheathed his _ smoking gun and turned. Condon was swaying as a willow branch sways in the wind. His weapon dropped from the hand that had not been favored with the swift skill demanded by the emergency. He looked at Lang and smiled—an odd, surprized sort of smile it was—and then he sank to the sweet grass that carpeted the meadow. With a cry of pain and rage and horror and infinite compassion Lang dropped on his knees beside him. “Did he hit you Con, old pardner?”’ “IL guess—he—did,” said Condon feebly, still smiling. The girl had dismounted and now knelt by the stricken man and looked across at Lang. “He-saved your life,” she said in a hushed voice. “This maybe squares us a little for—your saving—me from Frued’s gun that—night down —at Kane’s,’” said Condon. “That was squared when you shot from the cliff,” said Lang quickly with tears in his eyes as he opened Condon’s shirt. A. sob broke from his lips as he saw the ugly wound. ~ “Water,” he called; but Thornton already had gone for it. From down the valley®trail came the sharp, resounding clatter of galloping hoofs. Condon tried to raise himself. He gripped Lang’s arm. “The sheriff!’ he exclaimed in a loud whisper. “That man Frank got to a forest telephone before I—knew—what ht was up to. He 49 knew—he knew—he telephoned! The reward, Lang!” He tried to shake Lang’s arm. “The sheriff—the sheriff!’ ze know, old pardner; I’ve been waiting for him.” Condon lay back faint with exertion. Thorn- ton came with the water and they bathed the wound from which the blood kept spurting. As the sheriff and four others rode up the draw and into the little meadow with guns drawn Lang rose and confronted them. “Put up your gun, sheriff,” he said quietly; “T reckon I’ll surrender.” XXXT [ume “WHAT'S been goin’ on here?” de- manded the sheriff as he dismounted, ol “Tt ’pears like a powerful lot that wasn’t exactly called for has been goin’ on,” said John Thornton; “an’ this boy’s hit bad.” If Thornton was taken aback at the appear- ance of the authorities he did not show it. While Lang and Alice tried in vain to stanch the flow of blood in Condon’s side Thornton ose in detail to the sheriff.what had taken place. Lang looked up now and instantly stepped toward one of the men. ‘“‘This is one of Hemp’s men, sheriff,” he said. “That’s the fellow Frank,” called Condon. “He telephoned,” Lang’s gun had covered the man. He had recognized him as one of the men he had seen with Hemp in Bradley. “Take his hardware away from him sheriff, till you’ve had time to question him.” But the man’s face already had given him away. A deputy relieved him of his weapon and took hold of his arm to guard against an attempt to run. “Lean down here, sheriff,” whispered Condon. “T saw that shootin’ down at Muddy—wa sittin’ my horse lookin’ through the door. The short fellow drew on Lang here first and Lang shot in self-defense. Then the other man— _ went for his hip an’ it looked like he was pullin’ a gun too. It wasn’t Lang’s fault—I—I saw it. >] He paused tapget his breath while Lang lifted his head into his lap. ‘Don’t try to talk, Condon; I’m goin’ soar “66 fice the medicmé “T followed Lang out of town,” interrupted Condon, speaking to the sheriff. “Put the posse on the™wrong track because I suspected there’d be a reward and I—I thought—I want- ed it. I followed him to his ranch that night and afterward into the hills and—stumbled on to him—in here.” “Where did you meet Hemp that night?” the sheriff asked Lang. DOOLK (C@