SINGLE TREE 19

when kosterlinsky and his rurales swept into the yard single could see they were leading two horses with body s drapped over the saddles.it was plain the body s had numerous bullett wounds in their backs. " are these the bad men your sherriff was looking for?"kosterlinsky point to the bodys. single dropped the bag he was holding and walked over to the bodys he picked a head up to where he could see the face. it was one of the two who had camped on the water hole on the trail" yep, thats them. they must have put up a fight when you arrested them.we will take care of them here and ill pass the word to the authorities in tucson when i go in the morning." " is there a reward for their capture?" kosterlnsky asked. " i dont know but if there is one ill bring it to you when i return."single promised. the capitan rode over next to the wagon and reached inside and pulled out a chunk of the ore. singlee couldnt see a vein in it but held his breath until the capitan put it back.. " copper , does it have a value?" " some not much its a liveing." hanford answered. the rurale capitan nodded and reined his horse around and told the men leading the dead men s horses to leave them then they started back south. hanford stood rooted" do you think he saw the vein?" he asked. " i dont know, but i better pull out of here tonite. i dont trust that ole pirate." when the rurales were out of sight hanford had the indians bury the outlaws. single was busy hooking up the teams. he glanced down at the temts and could see clara standing outside her tent. single went to hanford" do you have enough to pay these guys off? if so i would pay them and tell them to go home for a few days. then come back. i dont trust that law man down there. i dont think he needed to kill these guys, but it was easier to bring back dead men than live ones." hanford stood there a minute. i think your right. ok ill do it." when single rolled his wagon out of camp clara rode next to him. she had simply told hanford she needed some woman things in tucson he didnt argue. he had payed off the indians and they walked off into the desert. that left just hanford and the mexican cook at the mine. single thought if they stayed out of sight kosterlinsky might leave things alone.