Argosy, Vol. 118, No. 4 — page 16: what you’re looking at

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

486 will, deadening his muscles, jumbling his thoughts—brought chaos into the man’s brain, and he stood, his mouth agape with wonder over the thing that was happening to him, as Lawler walked steadily to him. He made no resistance as Lawler deliber- ately wrenched the pistol from his hand and deliberately walked to a side wall and placed it upon a shelf. Hamlin stood, nerveless and pallid, for an instant, watching Lawler’s movements— until Lawler turned and faced him again. Then he staggered to a chair and dropped into it, lowering his head dejectedly, sitting with his hands folded, completely sub- jected. | Lawler would hang him, now. Lawler would take him to the Circle L and turn him over to Blackburn and the other men of the outfit. And Blackburn would hang him, for Blackburn had told him he would. Or, if Lawler didn’t take him to Blackburn he would take him to the sheriff. He would not be hanged then, but he would go to the new prison at the capital, and Ruth would have to stay on here to do the real suffering for his misdeeds. “You damned fool!’ came Lawler’s voice into the vacuumlike stillness of the cabin. ‘You haven’t nerve enough to shoot a coyote!” Hamlin knew it; he knew, now, at least, that he hadn’t had nerve enough to shoot Lawler. He cringed under Lawler’s con- temptuous tone. And then he became aware that Lawler was speaking again. “Tm giving you another chance. I’m letting you off, clean. For Ruth’s sake. Look here, Hamlin!” Hamlin’s chin. was caught in an iron grasp and he found himself looking into the terrible eyes. He saw grim pity in the eyes, and he shuddered. ‘Ruth knows you're stealing cattle. Everybody knows it, now. Who is buying them?” 7 “¢ Singleton.” ‘“‘ Singleton!” Lawler’s voice snapped with astonishment. ‘‘ Dave Singleton, Lef- ingwell’s cld range boss?”’ Hamlin nodded. And then the grip of Lawler’s fingers on his chin relaxed. He’ heard Lawler step back, but he did not lift THE ARGOSY. his head for a few minutes, during which a strained silence descended upon the room. Then he covertly raised his head, to see Lawler standing with his arms folded over his chest, watching him. Lawler had not suspected Singleton. Be- tween himself and Singleton there had al- ways been a lack of ordinary cordiality, a constraint closely approaching dislike; but Lawler had never entertained a suspicion that Lefingwell’s range boss was dishonest. Hamlin was a mo-1l weakling, he knew. Everybody in the Wolf River section knew it. Hamlin was lazy and shiftless, seem- ingly contented to drift along in an aimless way, regardless of what happened to him. There was at Hamlin’s feet some of the wealth that other cattlemen of the district were gaining. He had proved on a quarter section of good grass land amid plenty of water, and yet he chose to steal cattle rather than raise them. me Lawler’s pity for the man was stronger than the resentment he felt. Hamlin was Ruth’s father, though looking at him as he sat dejectedly in the chair, Lawler found it hard to realize the relationship. “How long has Singleton been buying cattle from you?” ‘About a year. I sold him what stock I had, before—before I got to runnin’ my brand on other folks’ stock, an’ he hinted he wasn’t particular whose cattle I got, long as he could get ’em under the market price.” “Does Singleton come here?” ‘‘ Sometimes—mostly nights.” Lawler’s quick conclusion was that Ruth must have seen Singleton at the cabin, must have noted that the visits seemed surrepti- tious. Perhaps she had watched, convincing herself of her father’s guilt. Lawler had wondered how she had gained the knowl- edge she seemed ‘to have, and Singleton’s visits must be the explanation. Hamlin had bowed his head again after a swift glance at Lawler. He stiffened when he felt Lawler at his side again, for there had come into the atmosphere of the cabin a premonitory chill which warned him that Lawler was on the verge of action. But he was not prepared for what hap- pened. AMICLOOO@ (C(O) S (C(O)