Chapter 7

CHAPTER 7






     O'Malley woke Nine Mile to watch Brown and went outside to saddle the horses. O'Malley untied Brown's legs and walked him outside in the dark. The dawn was beginning to show in the east, but just barely. It was cool. The three of them mounted up and O'Malley led Brown's horse while Nine Mile and Buck led the way south up Rock Creek toward the West Fork. They did not see anyone on their way out of town. They turned west and followed the West Fork for several miles finally crossing the West Fork and followed Ingles Creek a short distance from the West Fork. On Ingles Creek was a small abandon cabin. 
     "Here she is." Nine Mile reported. "Ain't nobody gonna bother us here." 
     They dismounted Brown and took him inside. They tied him to a post and tied his feet. 
     "Well, I guess it is time for me to go a huntin'. Nine Mile winked at O'Malley. I like to catch them critters when it's cool. It sorta makes them slow to bite." 
     After Nine Mile left, O'Malley made some trail coffee and fixed breakfast. Brown watched every move O'Malley made with evil and contemptuous eyes. 
     After a cup of coffee, O'Malley decided it was time to let Brown know what was expected of him. He did not remove the gag so Brown could listen rather than run his mouth.
     "Just in case you don't know, my name is John O'Malley. I am sure Catman let you and Slade know that though. I am going to ask you who killed my brother. I know Slade had something to do with it, and I know why. When you tell me everything you are then going to tell the sheriff. Now I know that isn't what you think you are going to do. But you will tell the whole story or die." O'Malley said. He had set the rules now what would Brown say? O'Malley removed the bandanna from his mouth.
     "You ain't killin' nobody. When Slade hears about this and finds me missing he'll come a lookin'. Then you will be full of lead. I ain't tell you nothin'."
     "How do you feel about snakes Brown?" O'Malley grinned.
     "What the hell do you mean?" 
     "More exact, rattlesnakes." O'Malley smiled.
     "Rattlesnakes!?" Brown's eyes widened. He looked perplexed and a mite concerned, but only for a moment. "I ain't scared of no damn snakes."
      O'Malley thought to himself. 'I hope for your sake you are deathly afraid of rattlesnakes. No telling what other Indian torture Nine Mile would come up with if the rattlesnake didn't work. He had mentioned "skinned alive" once back at the cabin.'
      O'Malley ate his breakfast and did not share with Brown.

      Nine Mile didn't return until almost noon. O'Malley heard him ride up. O'Malley left the cabin to meet him outside. Nine Mile was grinning from ear to ear and carried a canvas bag tied over the saddle horn. There was no doubt about what he had in the bag.
      "I had to cut the damn rattlers off the snake. The horse wouldn't let me get anywhere near him when he heard this critter 'sing'. Now, mister, this here one is big, about five feet long and big as your arm. A mite mad right now since I whacked a bit of his tail off." Nine Mile chuckled. "I'm hungry as a bear just out of his den in the spring. What's there to eat?"
      They returned to the cabin leaving the "critter" safely stored in a bag hanging from a fir tree. Brown eyed the two with some suspicion, but did not speak.
      Nine Mile ate, and over a cup of coffee spoke in low whispers to O'Malley. "I think we should ask a few questions about the killin' of your brother. If we don't git no answers, I'll tell him what is about to happen to him. Then, if we don't git no answers we will take him outside and introduce him to our sore tailed friend." 
     O'Malley turned and looked at Brown who was sitting on the floor. "This is your last chance; either you talk," O'Malley said solemnly, "or you are going to die a very painful and slow death."
     "They'll hang you, if Slade don't kill you first." Brown sneered.
     "You know a lot of things can kill a man in this country." Nine Mile spoke softly and smoothly. "It don't have to be a bullet or a rope. There are the natural things like being thrown from a horse, a griz catchin' a man, get caught in the open in a blizzard and freeze to death. Yep, lots of things can kill a fellar. You know the worst of all I think is a rattlesnake bite. I saw a fellar die from a snake bite once. He was a looking for something he dropped on the ground and when he reached down to pick it up the snake hit him in the side of his face on the cheek. He screamed and we come a running. We killed the snake right away, but it was too late. There wasn't much we could do for him. This fellar was pukin' his guts out in less than and hour. He was in terrible pain. His face and whole head swelled up so bad that his eyes even swelled shut. His head got so big that the skin begin to split, nasty, big long splits. You could hear his screams for miles. This went on for hours, it sure was pitiful. Finally the swellin'' got down into his neck and throat and he couldn't breath. No tellin' how long he would have suffered if he hadn't choked to death. Terrible, terrible, way to die."
    "Shut up, you damned old fool! What are you running your mouth about?" Brown was clearly irritated and concerned.
    "Well for a fellar to git hung. Someone has to die from other than natural causes. Snake bite is a natural cause."  
    "What in the hell are you talking about?" Brown was clearly disturbed and beginning to get the drift of the conversation.
     "I am not about to get hung for the likes of you." "So you will just have to have a little accident." O'Malley said. "Say a snake bite problem. It will be a natural death. Need I say more."
     "You’re bluffing!" Brown snarled, "You ain't got the guts."
     "Let's just put it this way. If I don't get the answers I want about my brothers murder. You’ll die a slow painful death." O'Malley said with absolute conviction.
     Brown was looking at his options. He had none. It was either talk to save his hide or then again they could be bluffing. He could stall for time. Slade would know by now he was missing and would be looking for him. He just might come looking in this area it wasn't more than five or six miles from town. Then again someone could have seen them leaving town in the morning. 
      "Who killed my brother?" O'Malley demanded.
      "I don't know." Brown answered firmly.
      "I know why he was killed." O'Malley continued.
      "Why?" 
      "In one word; Railroad." O'Malley challenged.
      Brown's eyes narrowed. He looked at O'Malley long and hard. "I don't know what you're talking about. You sound plumb loco."
      O'Malley got to his feet and picked Brown up by the front of his shirt. "Get the rawhide and stakes Nine Mile. We have some work to do."
      O'Malley dragged Brown outside to the rear of the cabin to a level area. He untied Browns legs. He then pushed him to the ground on his back. 
      Nine Mile tied a piece of rawhide to each of his legs and started driving two stakes into the ground about four feet apart. He tied each leg to the stakes. 
      Brown was not at all quiet during these activities. He was struggling, cursing and making threats during the entire time. 
      Nine Mile drove another stake into the ground. One about head high on the left side of Brown 
      Nine Mile tied a piece of rawhide to each wrist then untied the rope for his hands while O'Malley sat on his chest. Nine Mile held Brown's left arm while O'Malley continued to sit on Brown's chest and hold the right arm. 
      Nine Mile tied the left wrist to the stake. Then O'Malley got up still holding Brown's right arm and stretched and pulled Brown's body so the rawhide was tight between the three stakes. O'Malley pulled Brown's right arm straight out from his body to the right at shoulder level. Nine Mile drove the last stake into the ground by Brown's right hand. He then used rawhide to securely tie Brown's right hand to the ground. 
      Nothing was said for a few minutes while Brown struggled to pull loose. He finally realized it was useless and stopped struggling but continued to curse the two of them.
      Once again O'Malley asked. "Who killed my brother?"
      "Go to hell!" Brown screamed venomously.
      "Get the snake." O'Malley ordered and watched Brown's eyes.
      Brown could move his head to the side and lift it up but his body was secured with little or no movement possible.
      Nine Mile returned with the canvas bag. He brought along a forked stick, a piece of rawhide and a stake. Nine Mile untied the canvas bag and poured the contents out on the ground in plain view of Brown.
      The snake immediately coiled and struck in Nine Miles direction, but missed by a considerable distance. However, as a reaction Nine Mile jumped. "I think this one is a little bit upset." Nine Mile said. He took the forked stick and held the snake's head to the ground.
      O'Malley watched Brown as the snake fell to the ground and struck at Nine Mile. Brown began to sweat visibly. He eyes went wild and he began to tremble.
      Nine Mile pleaded. "Give me a hand with this critter, while I put a hole through his tail a tie off the rawhide."
      O'Malley took the head from Nine Mile and was surprised at how strong the snake was. Nine Mile held the snake's tail to the ground using his knife put a slit through the tail, then tied a foot long piece of rawhide tightly through the opening.
       Brown began struggling, and trying to talk them out of the ugly deed which they were about to do.
       They took the snake to the right side and above the head of Brown. O'Malley stretched the head of the snake toward Brown's head. Brown recoiled away as far as his restraints would allow. Nine Mile had a rough estimate of the distance and drove the last stake into the ground. He then tied the tail of the snake with the rawhide to the stake carefully adjusting it so the snake would come within an inch or two of Brown's head. 
     Nine Mile nodded to O'Malley and said. "We're ready."
     "Who killed my brother?" O'Malley asked again.
     Brown looked at O'Malley then the snake, but did not answer. He only shook his head.
     O'Malley dropped the snake's head close to Brown's head. The snake coiled and struck at the closest warm object, which was Brown's head. Nine Mile had measured just right. Brown jerked his head back, the snake missed by an inch or so, Brown screamed, "Wait! I'll talk! I'll talk!" The snake struck twice more before Nine Mile could get the forked stick on the snake, both times the snake missed, but that didn't stop Brown from screaming each time.
     With the snake pinned down. O'Malley asked once again, "Who killed my brother?"
     "Catman! Catman shot your brother." Brown watched the snake for fear it would strike again.
     "Why did Catman shoot my brother? O'Malley continued.
     "I don't know." Brown lied.
     "Let our little critter loose." O'Malley said.
     "Wait! Wait! Because Slade paid him to." 
     "Why did Slade want my brother killed?"
     "Because he knew the railroad was coming to Red Lodge. Your brother bought land out from underneath Slade around Fort Rockvale. Your brother was trying to buy the mineral rights to coal. Hell I don't know everything ask Slade yourself." Brown was exasperated. 
     "Now, you are going to tell this story one more time. Next time to the sheriff." O'Malley said.
     "I can't do that Slade would kill me." Brown pleaded.
     "Either you agree to tell the sheriff everything about Slade or this little critter is going to have a few more chances at hitting your face. Who knows the stake could pull out or---"
     "All right, All right! Just don't let that snake strike again." Brown said, resigned to his fate.
     "If I let you up from here and you don't tell everything to the sheriff, I promise you this won't be the last time you see a rig like this. It can be done again."
      "I'll tell the sheriff. Just let me up from here."
      "What do you think Nine Mile?" O'Malley asked. "Do you think we can take him at his word?" 
      "We can always tie him down again. I ain't lettin' the snake loose. I'll just keep him until later, just in case he gits a case of lockjaw." Nine Mile grinned.
      Nine Mile untied the rawhide for the stake which held the snakes tail and put the rattler in the canvas bag for safe keeping.
      O'Malley released Brown and did not tie him up but told him he would shoot him if he made any funny moves.      
      Nine Mile, O'Malley and Brown went back inside the cabin. O'Malley offered Brown food and coffee, which Brown took without a thank you, but the tough, harsh exterior of Brown was gone. 
      While Brown ate O'Malley asked Brown, "Tell me about the murder of my brother."
      In between bites Brown told the entire story. "Well, I don't know how Slade found out about Tom O'Malley, but he did. The first thing he heard about, was the land that Tom had bought around Fort Rockvale, it was right in the path of the railroad spur line. So Slade figured that your brother knew something about the railroad coming to Red Lodge. Tom was real friendly with one of the saloon girls named 'Maggie Stark'. Maggie found out enough from Tom to know that he was going to Billings to get some information from the Northern Pacific Railroad and about how mineral rights were bought and sold. Slade had Maggie try to talk Tom out of going to Billings. It didn't work as your brother was pretty stubborn, he went anyway. When Tom told Maggie he was going to talk to George Grant, Slade knew that Tom was after the mineral rights to the coal. Slade had spent most of his money for the land he bought up and didn't have enough to buy the mineral rights right away. But, he figured if he could keep the news of the railroad coming to town quiet for a while longer he would have enough money to own the mineral rights for the coal too. He had to stop your brother from buying the mineral rights from Grant. Maggie found out when Tom was riding out to Grant's place and Slade paid Catman two hundred dollars to dry gulch your brother. Catman killed your brother when he was on his way to see Grant."
    "Who was it that followed me over to Kate Johnson's house?" O'Malley asked.
    "That was Al Kingsley the kid that was killed when you got the drop on him when we tried to dry gulch you."
    "So you were the one who shot him." O'Malley accused.
    "Nope. Slade went along to make sure the job was done right. "Brown answered.
    "Why did Slade want me out of the way?" O'Malley asked.
    "When Maggie found out you and Tom were business partners Slade figured that you knew about the railroad and the coal. Catman had gone down to Meeteetse got drunk on money from Tom's killing, got thrown in jail for a few days. When Catman got back from Meeteetse he saw you on the street and told Slade you were Tom's Brother. Slade had Al and me keep an eye on you. If you left town towards Grant's place we were to kill you. I saw you getting ready to leave town and told Slade. We followed you." 
     "Why did Slade shoot Al?" O'Malley asked.
     "Slade didn't want any connection with the shooting. If, Al was dead there would be no connection."
     O'Malley could see the noose drop around Slade's neck, but he had to get the sheriff up to the cabin. It would be too risky taking Brown to town. Slade would shoot Brown as quick as he did Al Kingsley.
      "Nine Mile can you sneak into town and get the sheriff to come up here? I don't think it is a good idea to take Brown into town. Slade would shoot him on sight." O'Malley asked.
      "You bet. But, I think it would be safer to go after dark. Slade had lots of eyes around town. If any one of them sees the direction I come from that might give you away. Less likely to be seen after dark." Nine Mile suggested.
      "OK, we wait until dark."
      "I'm gonna leave Buck here and keep him inside, he'll let you know if anybody comes around." Nine Mile added.
     Time passed slowly. Brown was watched closely by O'Malley and Nine Mile in case he had a change of heart. They knew he would be gone in a heart beat if he was given a chance. They decided to tie him up before Nine Mile left for town. No sense taking any unnecessary chances.
     At dark Nine Mile mounted up, picked up the canvas bag with the rattler in it intending to let him loose along the trail and rode off in the gathering darkness toward Red Lodge.
    O'Malley had not built a fire so as not to expose their presence, and as the darkness came so did the coolness of the night in Montana. O'Malley put on a coat and stood at the window looking out toward town. Brown did not talk and seemed to set and brood over being tied up and the possible fate that awaited him. 
    Time passed slowly. About eight o'clock Buck stood up, with his ears pointed and began to growl. Then came the faint and then distinct sound of horses coming toward the cabin.
    O'Malley had his Winchester at the ready. As the darkness began to release the two riders O'Malley could make out the form of Nine Mile and the sheriff. They rode up to the cabin dismounted and came inside.
    "This better not be a wild goose chase the sheriff complained." as his frosty breath puffed out. "Why in thunderation haven't you got a fire going?"
    "I thought it would be safer without one." O'Malley answered.
    "Then build one and light a candle or two so a person can see where he is walking in here." the sheriff complained.
    Nine Mile and O'Malley build a fire and lit two candles. They untied Brown and had him sit at the table across from the sheriff.
    "I understand you can shed some light on who did the killings over by Bear Creek." the sheriff said looking directly at Brown.
    Brown did not answer right away. He looked at Nine Mile and O'Malley. Nine Mile hissed like a snake and grinned. 
    Brown started by saying, "You have got to promise to protect me from Slade or I ain't talkin'." Brown said flatly.
    "If what Nine Mile says is true, Slade will be dangling from a rope, and no one will need protecting. Now quit stalling. I didn't ride all the way up here to make some sort of a deal to protect your hide." the sheriff growled.
    Brown began by telling the sheriff that he hadn't killed anyone, it was all done by Slade and Catman. He told the sheriff everything he wanted to know. The sheriff asked many questions and got answers to every one. At long last the sheriff leaned back pushed back his hat and asked, "You got any coffee made?"
    O'Malley started to the stove to get a cup when Buck growled. 
     Nine Mile pulled his revolver and blew out the candle nearest him. "We got company! Put out that other candle."
     Everyone except Brown had drawn their guns. O'Malley turned to Nine Mile and said, "Tie Brown up, just in case things get a little wild around here."
     "Sheriff you can't let them tie me up. What if it's Slade. He'll kill me." Brown protested.
     "You let me worry about Slade. Right now you are under arrest, and I ain't about to lose a prisoner. Tie him up." The sheriff said.
     Nine Mile tied Brown's hands and feet and set him on the floor.
     Buck continued to growl and looked around. The first shot went through the thin wooden front door. Everyone hit the ground.
     "Did anybody get hit?" The sheriff asked.
     Everyone answered they were all right.
     It was quite for a few minutes. 
     The sheriff ordered, "You two cover a window and I will cover the door. Stay low and don't shoot unless you see something."
     All hell broke loose! Bullets were coming from all sides of the cabin. It seemed like there were twenty men outside firing at the cabin. The bullets began to chew up parts on the inside of the cabin and every window was broken out within the first two minutes.
     The firing stopped after about five minutes and all was quiet.
     "You inside the cabin. Come out with your hands up." A voice called out from the darkness.
      "This is Sheriff Collins from Red Lodge. Stop your shooting. Who's out there?"
      No answer at first. "Send out Brown and the rest of you can go free." The voice offered.
      "Brown is my prisoner. He ain't for trade Slade." answered the sheriff.
      "How do you know Slade is out there?" O'Malley asked.
      "Who the hell else would want Brown, except Slade. If Brown can't testify and he can get the rest of us, Slade has just slipped the hangman's noose off his neck." the sheriff reasoned.
       "This is your last chance. Send out Brown or you will all die." the voice warned.
       No one in the cabin said a word. Then as before the bullets began to assault the cabin from all sides. Everyone inside was lying on the floor. Nine Mile had Buck under his body to protect the dog. 
       Once again, after more than a hundred rounds had been fired, it was quiet. 
       "They may try to rush the place." The sheriff warned. "You two take a look out of your windows and watch for movements. I'll take a look out the front door, and be careful." The sheriff cautioned.
        The night was pitch black with no moon and low hanging snow clouds. The trees around the cabin were thick and numerous. The chances of seeing anything move was not good. They could get close to the cabin before anyone could see them. Buck growled and looked at the side of the cabin where O'Malley was standing. O'Malley heard a small sound and knew someone was slipping up to the cabin and to his window. O'Malley flattened out against the wall of the cabin by the window frame and pointed his pistol in the direction where he last heard the sound. There was an unexpected blinding flash of flame directly in front of O'Malley as someone fired through the window. O'Malley returned the fire immediately. There was a moan from outside and then the sound of a heavy object falling to the ground.
     "I hope that was Slade." O'Malley said. "Did anyone get hit in here?" 
     Everyone answered, except Brown, he continued to whimper in the corner. O'Malley figured if he could make noise he was still alive. 
     Time dragged on no more shots and no other sounds could be heard from outside the cabin. Buck even stopped his growling but remained attentive.
     "Do you think they pulled out?" Brown asked.
     "Sure! Why don't you just step outside and have a look around to make sure." suggested the sheriff.
     Brown didn't answer.
     Another hour passed. Nothing.
     Everyone was beginning to think Brown might have been right. They could have pulled out when one of them got hit. It was getting colder as time went on. Then Buck stood up and growled at the front door. Everyone waited expectantly. Nothing happened.
     "They're still here." Nine Mile said. "Buck knows it, and they are just waitin' us out."
     No one slept and was expecting at any moment something would happen. It never did. The dawn began to break in the east just as the water was freezing in the cabin.
     "We will wait until good daylight before we make any move." The sheriff ordered. "Then we will be extra careful. O'Malley you and me will go outside and take a look around. Nine Mile you cover us. I ain't so sure they have left yet."
      O'Malley held the door and prepared to open it. O'Malley would go to his left to a wood pile about ten feet to the side of the cabin, the sheriff would follow and go to his right and use a large pile of rocks for cover. The sheriff nodded; and they were moving hard and fast. 
      O'Malley held his breath as he dove for the woodpile expecting to hear a whine of a bullet. The sheriff got to the rock pile, then there was two quick shots which hit the rock he was behind. O'Malley could not tell exactly where the shots had come from but it wasn't far. He peered over the wood pile and saw the smoke floating away from a stand of fir trees. O'Malley saw a small ravine to his left. Nine Mile fired several rounds at the shooter. O'Malley moved to the ravine and hit the dirt as a bullet struck a tree uncomfortably close. O'Malley flattened on the ground. The sheriff and Nine Mile opened fire on the shooter. O'Malley looked around to see if he could see any others in the area. His vigilance paid off; he spotted a man circling around to the back of the cabin. He had not seen O'Malley. O'Malley moved to cut the man off before he got to the cabin. O'Malley picked a large fir tree to hide behind. The man came running past O'Malley without seeing him.
     "Drop the gun!" O'Malley ordered.
     The man turned in O'Malley's direction.
     O'Malley fired one shot which hit the man square in the chest. The man dropped his gun grabbed his chest as blood began to flow, he dropped to his knees, looked at O'Malley and fell forward without saying a word.
     More shots were being fired at the cabin. O'Malley quickly looked around. He decided he would back-track the man to where he had come from and try to get behind the shooter in front of the cabin. Slowly and cautiously O'Malley worked his way to where he could see a man with a rifle lying on the ground occasionally firing in the direction of the cabin.
     O'Malley quietly and cautiously moved toward the shooter scanning the area for any others who might still be in the area. The man was so intent on trying to hit the sheriff or Nine Mile he did not know O'Malley was behind him until O'Malley pushed the barrel of his gun into this back and said, "Drop the rifle, or you won't have a backbone left." 
     The man froze. He slowly lowered the rifle to the ground.
     O'Malley took his six gun and put it in his belt. "Get up real slow and easy like." He ordered.
    The man slowly got to his feet.
    "How many of you are out here?" O'Malley questioned.
    The man did not answer.
    O'Malley prodded the man in the back with his revolver and asked again, "How many?"
    "Two."
    "You and one other?
    "Yea."
    "Well your partner is dead. I shot him and you will get the same unless you do as you are told." O'Malley picked up the rifle and ordered the man to walk toward the cabin. "Hold your fire! We're coming in!" O'Malley shouted.
    The sheriff watched as O'Malley and the man walked toward the cabin. 
    O'Malley shoved the man through to cabin door. Buck attacked the man. It took Nine Mile a minute to get Buck pulled off. 
    "He ain't exactly neighborly to anyone who shoots at me. Bad, Bad dog." Nine Mile faked an apology. 
    The sheriff grabbed the man by the front of his shirt and pulled him close looking him in the eye. "Where's Slade?" 
    "I don't know, he pulled out last night. He took Billy back to town to get him patched up, he took a bullet in the shoulder. Slade told us to keep you pinned down and kill Brown if we could. He said he would be back."
     "How did you know we were up here?"
     "We followed you and the old man up here from town. We were watching you to see if you had Brown or you might know where he was. When the old man came and got you Billy followed you up here to the cabin, then he came back to town to get the rest of us and Slade."
      "Why did Slade want Brown killed?" the sheriff asked.
      "Slade said, 'he knew too much to be talking to the sheriff, that he could get hung'."
      "Well that cinches it. Let's round up our horses and hunt down Slade. Tie this one up for now."  the sheriff ordered.
      Star was easy to find, he would not wander far from his master. It took over an hour to round up the other horses. 
      "Nine Mile. You and Buck take the lead and keep a good lookout we don't want to be ambushed on the trail. We could meet Slade and his bunch coming back." The sheriff ordered.
      "Why don't we take an old trail on the north side of the West Fork close to Nichols Creek? That way we would have less of a chance of meetin' up with Slade." Nine Mile suggested.
      They rode north along Ingles Creek and crossed the West Fork. They continued north until they hit the base of the mountains and then turned east toward Nichols Creek. Past Nichols Creek they turned north again toward the Palisades and Drainage Creek across the West Bench to Red Lodge. They did not see anyone along the trail.
      The sheriff locked Brown in a cell and with O'Malley in tow the two went to the Four Kings Saloon to arrest Slade for Tom's murder.
     "There will be no more gunplay unless Slade makes the first move. Is that clearly understood?" The sheriff said solemnly.
     "Understood."
     The saloon was quiet and Slade was no where to be seen.
     "Where's Slade?" The sheriff asked the barkeep.
     "Said he had some business to take care of. Said he would be out of town for a few days. I'll tell him you were asking about him when he gits back." the barkeep said disrespectfully.
     "When did he leave?"
     "This morning about ten, I guess."
     "Where was he headed?"
     "Didn't say. I didn't ask."
     The sheriff turned and walked out of the saloon.
     "Where to?" O'Malley asked.
     "Livery stable."
     The sheriff found old man Jones and ask, "Did Sam Slade take his horse out this morning?"
     "Sure did sheriff, and a pack horse too."
     "Which way did he go out of town?"
     "He took the road south."
     "Did Slade say where he was headed?"
     "Nope, but he had enough grub on the pack horse for several days and carried a heavy coat."
     "He's headed to the high country. Maybe the Line Creek Plateau or the Silver Run Plateau. He wouldn't need a heavy coat if he was going down the Meeteetse trail or into the Clark's Fork valley. And there would be several places in the valley he could get grub. Yep. It's the high country and beyond my jurisdiction. I’ll send out some telegrams to the law in areas near here. He won’t get too far. He is a wanted murderer." The sheriff almost seemed relieved that he wouldn't have to face Slade right away.
     "He ain't beyond my jurisdiction." O'Malley stated.
     "Don't do anything stupid." The sheriff said.
     O'Malley didn't answer, he turned and walked to the Silver Grill.
Proceed to Chapter 8