THE GRAVE 24

when they left the court house shug led blake by one arm on the way back to the jail. slaughter with his long tom shot gun followed behind watching the small knot of men who were calling for blakes hanging right then. it wouldnt take but a cough or a stumble to start a lynch riot. both law men knew it. when at the jail and blake saftley locked away slaughter turnned to shug. "i hope some day this hatred of the apache ends. it does no one any good. ime going out to find some carpenters to build the gallows. you be ok here for a while?" " ime good, ill keep the door locked. just holler when you come back."shug nodded toward the front door. a good hour slaughter hollered for shug to unlock the door.when inside he had a face like curddled milk"theres a hand full of those miners down at the saloon, they are talking up the lynching. the booze is running the show. not only are they saying lynch blake but they want to lynch you too. never mind you have done nothing wrong. more indian hatred." " what are we going to do? shoot drunks to protect a murderer? blake isnt worth the dust on one of them s boots!" shug was watching slaughter as he wiped the dust from the long tom. "shooting a lynch mob isnt protecting blake, its protecting the law. i couldnt find a carpenter any where who would build the gallows, we got t wo choices. a tall tree, or take blake to bisbee. i need to talk to the judge before we make a decision." shug had loaded a sawed off shot gun and was watching the front door of the jail from inside. outside the crowd was growing and getting louder. the last thing he wanted to do was shoot a drunk to save blake. but like slaughter said it was saveing the law. slaughter yelled from out side . shug eased the door open and let slaughter and the judge in shutting and barring the door behind them. the judge had a look of determination as he looked at shug."ill stand with you men tonight. if you will have a old conferate at your back." slaughter looked at shug who said" isnt this great? a apache, a sawed off cowpuncher and a old conferate. all standing here to save a murdering bum. who would have thought ?" another knock at the door, two shot guns turned toward it"whos there?' yelled slaughter. " billy foure, let me in."came the voice on the other side of the door. billy foure had a shotgun held across his body. " ill stand with you all if you will have me. just so you know i sent a wire to fort huachcha for some of them bufflo soldiars, they maybe black but they will charge hell with a bucket of ice water." " your welcome billy but you may regrett this choice of actions." slaughter answered , " i couldnt stand by and watch the trash of town lynch the best varmit trapper in arizona. i need him at the ranch! billy almost laughed.