Scott Burton in the Blue Ridge

by Edward G. Cheyney

He saw Sewall standing up there apart from the others and rightly guessed that he was not in sympathy with what was being done. He glanced at him occasionally for reassurance, for he did not feel at all sure that his plan would be a success.

“If you knew why you were fighting here to-day, you would never have come,” he began.

“If that’s all you have to say, we’ve heard enough,” the same sullen voice interrupted.

Scott paid no attention to it, but continued in an impressive voice. “You think you are fighting for the old feud which has kept you neighbors enemies for forty years, but you are not. You are fighting because there is a coward in your midst who felt his influence slipping and shot an innocent woman to make it appear that you were being attacked. It worked, and you are fighting here to protect a murderer.”

There was a dead silence as they strove to realize the significance of what he had said. He had seen Sewall bring his rifle into a more convenient position when he began to talk. Now he suddenly threw it up to his shoulder and aimed at the woodpile.

There were two shots almost at the same instant, and a bullet plowed up the ground at Scott’s feet and covered him with dust.

“There is the proof of what I say,” Scott shouted. “He is attempting another murder to cover up the first.” He pointed scornfully toward the woodpile and was as much astonished as the others at what he saw.

Foster was crouching on the ground with his hands held high above his head while the marshal stood over him with his smoking revolver in his hand. It was his shot that had spoiled Foster’s aim just in the nick of time. Sewall had been too late.

There was a murmur of resentment among the Waits at the sight of the marshal, whom they all regarded as their common enemy, arresting one of their members in their very midst. Scott saw that he was in danger of losing out.

“I brought the marshal here after that man because I could not get the sheriff. He is wanted for the cold-blooded murder of two women. Do you want to support such a man as that?”