FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   147   148   149   150   151   152   153   154   155   156   157   158   159   160   161   162   163   164   165   166   167   168   169   170   171  
172   173   174   175   176   177   178   179   180   181   182   183   184   185   186   187   188   189   190   191   192   193   194   195   196   >>   >|  
de?" "Looks that way, if the evidence corroborates what he says," the lawyer replied. "Are you sure he shot first, Tom?" "Better put it he meant to shoot first," McHale responded. "Naturally, I ain't standin' round waitin' for no sightin' shots. It comes close to an even break." "That's good enough," Wade declared. "If his actions left no doubt of his hostile purpose in your mind you were justified in protecting yourself." "They sure didn't," said McHale. "He's out to down me, and I know it. There ain't no Alphonse and Gaston stuff when he comes boilin' out, pullin' his gun. I just sail in to get action while I got the chance." "Exactly," said Wade. "Well, Tom, you'll be arrested, of course. If Cross isn't dead, likely you can get bail. If he is, I'm afraid you'll have to remain in custody till the trial. I'll defend you myself, if you'll let me. Or maybe it would be better to get a man whose practice is more on the criminal side. I'll get the best there is for you." "I'm obliged," said McHale. "I'll stand a trial all right, but I ain't figurin' on bein' arrested for a while." "Nonsense!" said Wade. "You don't mean to resist arrest? That's foolish." "Oh, I dunno," said McHale. "Depends on how you look at it. I ain't goin' to resist to speak of; I'm just lyin' low for a spell. I reckon I'll pack old Baldy with a little outfit, Casey. 'Bout two days from now you'll find him out by Sunk Springs if you ride that way." "I don't get the idea." "It's this way," McHale explained. "This Cross is one of a bad bunch. They'll be out for my scalp. They don't want no law in this. I been hearin' 'bout Cross and this old-timer, Dade. They're great tillikums, and Dade is the old he-coon of the bunch. I ain't takin' a chance on some little tin-starred deputy standin' them off. Furthermore, I figure it ain't unlikely they'll come after me some time to-night. If it was just you and me, Casey, we could stand the hand, and whatever hangin' there was would come off in the smoke. But with women on the place it wouldn't be right. So I'll just point out for a little campin' spot somewheres, and save everybody trouble. If any of these here sheriffs or deputies gets nosin' around, you tell 'em how it is. I'll come in when the signs is right, and not before. Tell them not to go huntin' me, neither, but to go ahead and get everything set for a proper trial. I'll send word when I'll be in." Wade chuckled. "They can't arrange
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   147   148   149   150   151   152   153   154   155   156   157   158   159   160   161   162   163   164   165   166   167   168   169   170   171  
172   173   174   175   176   177   178   179   180   181   182   183   184   185   186   187   188   189   190   191   192   193   194   195   196   >>   >|  



Top keywords:
McHale
 

chance

 

resist

 

arrested

 

standin

 
tillikums
 
explained
 

Springs

 
outfit
 

hearin


deputies

 

trouble

 
sheriffs
 

proper

 
chuckled
 

arrange

 
huntin
 
starred
 

deputy

 

Furthermore


figure

 

campin

 

somewheres

 

wouldn

 

hangin

 

purpose

 

hostile

 

declared

 

actions

 

justified


protecting

 
Alphonse
 

Gaston

 

boilin

 

lawyer

 
replied
 

evidence

 
corroborates
 

Better

 
sightin

waitin
 

responded

 
Naturally
 
pullin
 

figurin

 

Nonsense

 
obliged
 

criminal

 
arrest
 

foolish