HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY

1937

PRINTED IN THE U.S.A.

CONTENTS
I.[TAKE-A-CHANCE KENDALL]
II.[SHEEP-FLOOD]
III.[THE MORTGAGED VALLEY]
IV.[CULTUS COMES TRAILING]
V.[UNCLE JIMMY GETS THE LOW-DOWN]
VI.[CULTUS MEETS THE FOLK]
VII.[BLAZE INTERRUPTS A LADY]
VIII.[“THE GITTINEST SON-OF-A-GUN!”]
IX.[CULTUS CRACKS A TEN-MINUTE EGG]
X.[MISBRANDED]
XI.[THE GUN ON THE WINDOW SILL]
XII.[CULTUS SWINGS A MEAN GUN]
XIII.[TIGHTENING ROPES]
XIV.[BAD NEWS GETS UP SPEED]
XV.[LOOTING AND DEATH]
XVI.[BULLETS AND BLAZES]
XVII.[THE CANYON OF DEATH]
XVIII.[JUST “BAD NEWS” HENNERY BUKER]
XIX.[’TWIXT SKY AND DEATH]
XX.[EVIDENCE]
XXI.[A RUNNING-FOOL HORSE]
XXII.[BARTER AND DOUBLE-CROSS]
XXIII.[THOROUGHBRED]
XXIV.[THE MAN WHO PLAYED ’POSSUM]
XXV.[CLEAN SLATE]

CHAPTER I: TAKE-A-CHANCE KENDALL

Blaze Nolan, otherwise James Blair Nolan, came slowly up the driveway from the big wrought-iron gates, where the moonlight filtered through the flowering eucalyptus trees. The air was redolent of many flowers spread over the spacious sloping lawns of this beautiful Beverly Hills estate.

Ahead of him loomed the huge pile of steel and masonry, which constituted the home of Kendall H. Marsh, capitalist, sheep king, “Take-a-Chance” Kendall, as he had been dubbed. Some said that Kendall didn’t take chances; that he played a cinch game. None would deny that he was cold-blooded in his dealings.

Nolan came up the broad steps and rang the bell, which was answered in a few moments by a dignified butler, who flooded the porch with light before opening the door.

“I’m here to see Marsh,” said Nolan shortly.

“Yes, sir,” nodded the butler. “The name, please?”