| Show I fl BEEF I lI ji HAROLD CHANNING CHAN NINO WIRE WIRE Ii k F 0 Q I i t LEW BURNET has hal been engaged nc td by II I TOM rOll ARNOLD owner of the Croll T I to 0 act ae at II trail ball boil boat on the drive from southern Texas Teul to 0 Ogallala In the Ule sprint o of 1875 1873 Tom with hit bus ton son and i STEVE and JOY are art to Wyo ming mla Tom mast deliver to b 0 the Indian agent by September S 7 1 1 or lose Iou a profitable contract eo L Lew w kai bas II too tea r. r ion son to b 0 henrys belter that the Indian Supply C Ce c. l U trying to delay dela the th Cross Croll T herd rt and he II that tUt clay hove sad lid ED am ar are an In III lealI leage WIth the th company Low Lew beads west welt mid aid rum tuns lab Into a o dust doit storm orm that au chokes and aDd blinds blind i men and tattle alike all The herd II It near death eath from hem thirst when whee the storm torm endi and Ind a I milt rate rain tails laU CHAPTER VII Far off oft in what he knew now lOW was wu south louth Lew picked out the first col col- column of his scattered herd Two othera oth others era ers were separated from it by per per- perhaps perhaps haps three miles On behind them he found the white tops of the wagons But as he moved his gaze on slowly around the sharp horizon there was no sign of water nor the double butte to set him on his course Ills moments moment's gratefulness sank to a heavy dread They had come too far from the last watered camp The cattle couldn't go on Another day would bring its killing heat for clouds that followed a dust storm never held long lie He was staring east he gave his head a sudden Jerk to clear It He lie wiped one hand across his swollen eyes They weren't tricking him As U If from the grass roots smoke moke twisted upward over there It rose roseand roseand roseand and shaped a pillar pUlar broke and rose roseand roseand roseand and broke again Willy Nickle sending up his talk ta 1 He spurred his tired horse south Halfway toward the scattered col col- columns columns he be drew his gun again and andr r fired it He pulled his horse around into short fast tast circles 1 They heard his shots that time f and saw his signal Little figures ligure of ot otmen men started out toward him He lIe Herode Herode rode on and met John first The old mans man's beard was mud mud- muddy muddy muddy dy white his eyes puffed almost closed Boy he said we got here Wherever that be Theres There's some some- someone's someone's ones one's camp though yonder Willy Nickle I think Lew said Im Jm going to look Ill I'll leave you to gather up The creek was still two miles mites off and end before he reached it the smoke ended Riding into a little grove of trees he found only the embers no sign of Willy Nickle at first un un- until un- un until til he saw the forked stick It had been thrust into with onea one a prong like a thumb pointing down down- stream He followed in the sticks stick direction Sheltered from tram wind and rain a snug ug retreat Willy Nickle sat con con- contentedly contentedly contentedly smoking his black clay pipe He threw up his left hand in a silent salute and dropped it His gentle face was was brown and smooth from a recent shave i Lew grinned and shifted over into 1 one stirrup halting Well Well he said we had a wind Willy nodded So you did didI I 1 guess Lew said we clean missed the tJ e double butte Came too far fay north maybe But a riv riv- river er South branch of the Pease said laid Willy He took the cherry pipe pipe- pipestem pipestem stem from his mouth and pointed with it If a man heads out of here east of north hell he'll hit a creek of the Red Hell He'll follow that to the Red herself ten miles above Doans Doan's store Two days may may- maybe maybe maybe be if f his men have made it ll In three days they were still crawling through low hills bills south of the Red Blindness healed slowly in both animals and men Three had ridden in the cooks cook's wagon Clay and Steve rode with Joy They both had bandages smeared with axle grease over their eyes and sat 1 up with her on the seat He had a queer feeling sometimes 1 seeing them in a row like that When he dropped back along the herd he could t uld see their fun and hear them laughing together They sang sanga a 1 lot Old songs that he used to sing with her It took him back to Three Little Apaches only it was Clays Clay's big shape ther now lOW instead of his But today all aU of his crew were in their saddles eager to reach the Red That meant something It was halfway to Dodge It was the thelast thelast thelast last of Texas soil soL Beyond the Red ned River lay the Indian Nations and the north Every trail drive marked it with a celebration of some kind He rode the point with Quarter Quarter- night and could see sec old Rebel John Johnj was WIS feeling what he felt A man maD would never feel this lonesomeness about leaving any place up north j He was sure of that not a Texas man There was Tom Arnold rid rid- ing ng back behind the horse herd herd herd- what must this crossing the Red River mean to one like him It must go hard lIe He was leaving leavin the biggest part of his life down here bere the best bet part What was Tom look look- looking looking lookIng ing ahead to in Wyoming Not much so 10 far if he was counting en on Steve That had been his hope bope at the start Well what was he be looking ahead to himself Nothing that he could see Not the ranch hed he'd planned there on the Powder when he had bad he was going to build it t up alone You didn't pen two buns bull in tn the Ule same pasture Get this herd to Ogallala Beyond that he be didn't know Its His head bobbed to the slow walk of his hb horse He lIe let It nod peace puce peacefully peacefully fully drowsy until quick voice came across to him There she he 1st Is I He lie looked up The fold between the hills hill hid had widened Beyond Its Us mouth lay liy q a mile five level shelf helt of grass r. r Far ort red bluffs marked mark the river high and nd shining in the sun un He grinned and said A mans man's glad lad to set see that old girl somehow Glad Clad when hes he's across her Well sure ure he said ald that right Men had hid reason to want this river behind them No other ex ex- except except except perhaps the Canadian with Its farther north had tak tak- taken taken en so many lives In a little while he was pointing out upon the open shelf as IS nat flat as a floor and he could look far tar east along Its great bend No other herds swarmed across its grass Doans Doan's store and the ilie main trails trail's crossing were ten miles downstream Were alone here John he said Thais good Behind them the crack of or rope ends against leather sounded like pistol shots Swing men were crowd crowd- crowdIng crowding Ing the longhorns on But even the cattle had sensed the river and walked at a faster pace of their own accord Ills His plan had been to cross at once and go into camp on the north side Ide There would still be time for an aft aft- v I t t I r v 1 r lie He let the herd spread out ut Io to drink rest and the nights night's fun tun But riding ahead he reached the lower bluffs of the south shore hore and looked down upon an angry churning churn churn- churnIng Ing stream The Red fled was full from bank to bank There had been heavy rains somewhere west He Ile swung back and met the point and told up John Too high to swim Well We'll have to hold over He shook his hi head I 1 dont don't like it much We may get some ome neighbors we dont don't want want He waved his swing awing men up ups No use worrying about that now Ill I'll ride down to Doans Doan's after we water and see what herds are on the trail Under the added pressure of swing riders he bent the point west toward a creek He let the herd berd spread out there to drink and after after- afterward afterward afterward ward left them standing drowsily under a two man two man guard Lew Is h this a holiday asked Clay Part Then Im I'm riding down to Doans Doan It was an ordinary enough re reo request re- re request quest a man aman man could get a few things at the store But that was not the reason he be felt teH with Clay He lIe shook his head None Nona of the crews crew's go- go goIng goIng going Ing there I dont don't figure Its It's It safe s Clays Clay's stare sharpened on him Kind of high-handed high arent aren't you Maybe you'll find it hard to make that order stick He lIe didn't answer But afterward standing ankle deep in the water shaving in front of a mirror propped against a willow fork he went back to find Clays Clay's meaning It wasn't clear If Ua Hs a man deserted against the trail boss boss' order he be might as II well quit Clay wouldn't do that He continued his shave The scar car made his cheek stiff He had bad forgotten about Clays Clay's threat and he felt good cleaned and dressed once more walking back into the shady grove of the camp Then he saw Ed had not been at the river and he had wondered Only Jim Hope and Tom Arnold were on guard with the herd But he was here bere in camp now with his horse hore saddled His Ills clothes that he be bad had worked and slept in for a week hadn't been changed Thought Id I'd tell ten you he be stated bluntly Im ridin down to Doan Deans You wont won't w t need me till night right I Lew walked past him and tossed his war bag bac into the cooks cook's wagon He lie turned back and said uld Not this trip and Ind started on surly growl Jerked him around What the hell heli kind of a I aboss aboss boss bo art are r you He lie walked up close his bl high shape hape coming above Ed broader and more powerful build He could f feel ft el the scar car burn bum hot bot and andred red hut But there were times time like this when he h. let hi bl his voice mice come com out of him In a slow low drawl My friend he said uld Ill tell you what whit kind of a aboss aboss boss bOil I 1 am No man in my outfit out fools tools me any You dont He lIe let it I hang there ere watching weigh it behind his pale eyes I They narrowed coolly You think i you know something What Youve got rot no warning coming I he sad ard his voice still atilt held to that quiet way but Ill I'll warn you this much Id I'd as IS leave have a I rattle rattle- rattlesnake rattlesnake snake In my bed as a spy and traitor I In this camp You dont don't need to ride to Doans Doan's Ill I'll see your friends for I you Is that tha t clear clea r A wicked brightness leaped Into eyes You talk tough You got anything to back It up Show or lay down Burnet Ive I've called your hand handl He lie didn't underestimate this man I There was the experienced gun fighters fight fight- fighters fighter's ft ht- ht ers er's arrogance about him He lie let lethis lethis I his hll muscles go slack and ready and felt only that cool alertness as II ashe ashe he said IBid Anytime Any time Ume He Ite could almost see ee the huge huea right shoulder houlder begin its It lift that I would bring the gun up out of ot its holster His Ht own fingers rs curved 1 when Spann eyes went past put his hiI and swung back A subtle change came over him He lie leaned forward i ia a little mUt confiding Burnet you stay clear Youve You've You get a lot to learn some ome things thines you dont don't want to know i And Ald youve you've got at a lot to lose His HI eyes eyel moved again Footsteps crackled in the dry leaves and then thed Joy called gayly Levi Lew Come and Ind look She passed beyond them looking pleased with something bundled in ia her arms She was barelegged and her ber long hair hah washed and dried was wu soft lOft around her head eyes followed her through the trees Then they came tame back backwith backwith backwith with a knowing shrewdness You take my advice and you'll get Cd your pay pal pa One thing about you aint hard to read He ne wheeled and led his hi horse hone toward the picketed mounts Joy was up on her bed in the wag wag- wagon on titling cro l ged ed with both hands band covering her lap Lew eggs I She lifted her hands hand Tur Turkey Turkey key eggs egg I found a nest He leaned in to her and turned them with mock gravity Real teal eggs Think of that But It was washer washer her scrubbed fragrance he was wai aware of ot her soft sott hair and skin that was warm and glowing It put a tight quietness in him that was not mockery Then she laid both of her ber hands on his The laughter was gone from her eyes She looked up soberly Lew lAw Ive I've been sorry orry about something Dreadfully sorry I mean back there when Steve went blind I wasn't hating you It was only that every everything thing seemed so wrong I under under- understand understand understand stand what youre you're going through these days I shouldn't make it any harder He pulled his hand from under hers Ive never asked for pity pit Joy not from anyone Let me pity myself if I 1 want to We all do that sometimes But I dont don't want it from outside This isn't pity Dont Don't you under under- understand stand tand Something turned her lips soft oft and gentle parting them with a slow low and even breath Her dark eyes eye searched his face Weve meant so 0 much to each other Nothing must end It I want you to know that She stirred him with an irritable violence That past Joy We W. arent aren't children any more Youve You've grown Irown up and what I 1 have is I. not a brothers brother's feeling I know it It Her voice was wai hushed bushed Look here herel He put his hands hand roughly on her arms and pressed them against her sides Ide He hurt burt hurther burther hurther her and wanted to hurt Youve got one man What do you ou think You can still sWI offer some little part of you to another No Its It's It only only- She Bhe faltered His grip tightened Joy this U is nothing you can play with You'd better not try I Her breath was quick He could feel the tremble of her ber body beneath be be- beneath beneath neath his hard bard hands bands He ne let her ber hergo bergo hergo go and stepped back bade Anything you want from Doans Doan's store She didn't answer but only or shook hook her head staring at him Ha H. U wheeled from her her shaken by the vi vi- violence violence olence of the feeling she he he bad had aroused roused In five Ave miles he be reached the bend of the river shelf and end saw aw an un unexpected unexpected expected tight sight beyond Far on east eat of the bend a dozen trail traD herds berd good flood bound south lOUth of the Red made dark blots against the grass That was wai athe the crowd he be had bad missed by taking an unknown route He could not Judge the number from this dis db- distance tance anywhere up to forty thou thou- thousand sand a bare fraction of at the long long- longhorns horns borns pouring north ITO TO BE EE CONTINUED |
