Show 1 j N 0 JL t f ti h aa V A A avo joel 0 of f the coq 1 il I HAD TO KILL HIM SYNOPSIS Trans leya s hay cutting outfit after sta stacking citing 2000 tons Is ia on its ita way to the big YD TD ranch headquarters Is a master of men and circumstances under linder foreman Is substantial but not sok asser asier tive george drazic one ot of the men to la an irresponsible chap who proposes to every woman he meets and under linder dine with YD and hla his wife and daughter zen Tra naley resolves to marry zen CHAPTER I 1 continued 2 perhaps you will excuse us now said the ranchers wife you will wish to talk over business YD will show you upstairs and wo we will expect you to be with us ua for breakfast with a bow she left the room followed by tier her daughter linder had a sense of being unsatisfied it was as though a ravishing meal had been placed before hungry a man and only its aroma had reached ills senses when it had been token taken away well it provoked the appetite the rancher refilled the glasses but left his untouched and under linder did the same there were bust busl ness matters to discuss and it was no fair contest to discuss business in the courso of a drinking bout with tin on old stager like YD 1 I got to have another thousand tons the rancher ranc lier was saying cant take chances on any less tind and I 1 want you boys to put it up tor for me suits me said if show me where to got get the liny 11 you know the south YD never been on it well its a branch of the YD which runs southeast from the forks guess it pot got its name from roe me because I 1 built my first cabin at the forks that ivas about the time you was on a milk diet and us old timers had all outdoors to ploy play with you see the YD la is a can tan krous stream like its godfather at the forks na trally suppose is where two branches joined an logged on henceforth in double liar har aass well that aint it at all this alck has modern mode rn ideas an at the forks it divides itself into two an she hikes for the gulf ol 01 0 mexico an him for hudsons Hud sons bay asi was raya W I 1 built my first cabin at the forks a sort 0 peek a boo cabin it was wag where the wolves usta come nn an look look in at nights well I 1 usta look out through the same holes I 1 had the advantage 0 language an I 1 reckon we was about equal seared scared there was no wife or kid in those flays atys the rancher paused took a long draw on his pepo and his eyes glowed with the light of old recollections well as I 1 ilaf was sayin ho he continued presently folk folch got to callan the stream the YD after me what you get for abeln first on the ground a monument for ever aver an ever this abeln the main stream got the name proper rin nn the other branch abeln smallest an running kind ol 01 0 south na trally got called the south YD I 1 run stock in both valleys when I 1 was at the forks but not much since a I 1 came down here well theres maybe lt thousand tons 0 o hays hay over in the 01 i perhaps you will excuse Us no now I 1 said the ranchers wife south south YD an you boys better trail over there tomorrow an pitch into it I 1 that Is it if youre satis satisfied Ded witti the arc price 0 im payin you abb price la Is all right said and well hit bit the trail at sunup sun up therell be no trouble no of interests I 1 mean whose Inte interests reits demanded the mn rancher alier belligerently aint I 1 the father of the Y YD D aint the whole valley named for me when it comes to interests of course agre agreed eil but I 1 just wanted to know how things stood in case we ran up against so something me quite proper 8 said avd rd quite proper an now tile matters under discussion ill jus chow shiow you my hand theres a fellow fello named landson down tile the valley of the south tb Y b by ROBERT STEAD author of afta the coto cabo the re copyright by br ROOERT ROBERT STEAD been flirting with that hay meadow for years but he aint got no claim to it IL I 1 was first anthe on the ground an I 1 tut it whenever 1 I 1 feel like it an im coin to go on cuttin it it if anybody cornea comes out raisin trouble you just shoo le cm al off but an go on cuttin that hay bay spite 0 ii lia 1 on an high water YD 11 ll stand behind you thanks said what I 1 wanted to know CHAPTER 11 II and Linder were so early about next morning after their conversation with YD that there was waa no opportunity of another meeting with the ranchers wife or daughter they aliey were slipping quietly out of the ii house ouse to take breakfasts breakfast with the we men when YD intercepted them breakfast Is battin boys lie he said and led them back into the room where they had had supper th alv evening YD ate with them but tho the meat meal was served by the chinese boy in the yard all wits was jingling excitement the men of the YD were fraternally ter nally assisting Tran gang in hitching up and getting away and there was much bustling activity to nn an accompaniment of friendly profanity it was not yet six but the ahe sun was waa well up over tile the eastern ridges that fringed we the valley and t to 0 the west the snow capped summits of the mountains shone like polished poll shed ivory the exhilaration in the air was almost intoxicating linder quickly converted tile the apparent clinos chaos of horses wagons and implements into order transloy Tran had a last word with YD and the rancher shouting good luck boesl make it a thousand tons or more waved then them away k linder glanced back at the house the bright sunshine had not awakened it it lay dreaming in its grove of cool I 1 green trees the trail lay not up the valley but across the wedge of foothills which divided it the south YD from the parent stream the ascent was waa therefore much more rapid than the trails which followed the general course of the stream huge hills shouldering together left at times only wagon track room between at other places they hey 1 sk skirted tried dangerous cut cutbacks banks worn by spring freshets fresh frei liets ets and again trekked for long distances over gently curving uplands in nn an hour the horses were showing the strain of it and linder halted them for a momentary re rest st it was at that moment mat draak rode up his face a study in obvious annoyance I danged if I 1 aint left that pete forsea blanket down at the YD he exclaimed oh well you can easily ride back for it and catch up on us this afternoon said linder who was not in the least deceived ved thanks lin said draak ill beat it down an catch up on you this afternoon itter noon sure and lie he was off down the he trail as fast as that pete horse could carry him at the YD george conducted the search for his bis horse blanket in the strangest S t places it took him mainly about the yard of the house and even to the kitchen door where lie ho interviewed the chinese boy you catchen horse blanket around here he inquired Inqui fed with appropriate gesticulations you losee boss blanket yep what kind boss blanket just jus a brown blanket blanke t for that pete horse whose W hose boss mine proudly where you catchen ca tchee 1111 raised alsed him good hos boss you batcha r huhl r pause you no catchen catch ee horse blanket blan lct hey nol said the chinaman whose manner instantly changed in this brief conversation he had classified draak and classified him correctly you catches him though some h 1 1 too you lound here beat it and draak found the kitchen door doer closed cloned in his face draak wandered slowly around the side of the house and was not above a surreptitious glance through the windows they revealed nothing lie followed a path out by a little gate ills ruse had proven a blind trail and there was nothing to do but go down to the sta stables bIcs take tile the horse blanket from the peg where he be had bad hung it and set out again for the south YD As he turned a corner of the fence the sight of a young woman burst upon him she was waa hatless and facing the sun draak for all his admiration mi ration of the sex had bad little eye tor for detail A sort of chestnut about sixteen hands high and with the took look of a thoroughbred 11 lie he aftem erds described tier her to linder slip she turned at the sound of oc lils foot steps and draak instantly summoned a smirk which sett seti his homely face beaming arning be with good humor pardon me maam he be said with nn eia elaborate borate bow 1 I am mr air draak sir mr george draak mr Tran assistant si no doubt he spoke of me 11 she was inside the Inc inclosure insure formed by the fence and lie outside she turned on him eyes which set drazka pulses strangely tingle a end and subjected him to a deliberate but not unfriendly inspection no I 1 dont believe lie ho did sho she said at length draak cautiously approached ns na though wondering how near lie ho could como come without frightening her away ile ho reached tho the fence and leaned tits his elbows on it sho she showed no dispost to move he cautiously raised ono one toot foot and rested it on tho the lower rail its a one ano morning ina maam tam ho he ventured rather bather sho she replied why arent you with mr Tran gang tho the question gave george an opening well you sec lie said its all on account of that vote pete horse him down there I 1 rode away this morning and plumb forgot ills his blanket so when mr seen ithe it ho says draak tako take tile tho day oft off an go back for your blanket lie ho says theres no hurry lie says under linder an td mo sit 11 manage lie ho says ohl so here I 1 am lie ite glanced at tier her again she alio was showing no disposition to run awny away she ana about two yards lards from him along the fence drnek won dered how long it would take him to bridge that distance even as lie he looked she leaned her elbows on the fence and rested one 0 of hep feet on the lower rail draak fancied lie he saw sav tho ellb muscles about tier her mouth pulling lier her face into little laughing ceryes but she was gazing soberly into the distance hes els some horse that pete horse he 0 said taking up the subject which lay most mo st ready to tits hla tongue lies iles sure some horse 1 I have no doubt yep 11 drack continued him nn me lias has awn sonie some times whew I 1 things I 1 tell you about at all well arent you going to draak glanced at lier her curiously this girl showed allowed signs of leading him out of ills 1113 depth but it was a very delightful sensation to feel self being led out of ills his depth by such a girl her face was motionless her ees fixed dreamily upon tho the brown prairies that swept up tho the flanks of the foothills to the south far and away on their curving crests tho the dark snake line of Tran ouilia could be seen motionless on the rim of the horizon draak changed his toot foot on thu tho rail rall and the motion brought him six inches nearer her well evell fr r instance ho he said spurring his imagination into action there was ns the fellow I 1 run down ans an shot liot in the cypress mils 10 shot 1 she eho exclaimed and the note of admiration icher in her voice stirred him to further flights yep he be continued proudly I she islic an burled him there right by the road where he fell only ma an that pete horse knows the he spot george sighed sentimentally its awful sad havin to kill hill a man he went on an it makes you feol feel strange an creepy specialty specially at nights that Is the first one affects you that way but you soon get used to it you see he insulted the first one nave have you killed more than one oh yes lots lota of them A man like ml what knocks around all over with I 1 all sorts ports of people has ta do it theu then theres the police af after ter you kill a few men naturally na trally tile the police begins to worry you I 1 always liate hato to t 0 kill a policeman it must be an interesting life it itis Is but its ts a hard one ho he said J after j a pause e during which lie he had changed feet again and taken up another six inches of the distance which separated them cewa he was s almost afraid to continue the conversation lie ile was finding progress so much easier than he lefiad had fiad expected it was evident that he had rondo made a tremendous hit with YD s daughter what a story to tell lindell what would say lie he was slinking shaking with excitement 1 its an awful hard life lie he went on an there cornea comes a time miss when a man wants to quit it there comes a time when every decent ma man i n wants to settle down I 1 been ti linkin about that a lot lately what do you think about it draek had gone gond white ile he felt that lie he actually had bad proposed to her might be a good idea she replied demurely ho he changed feet again ne he had gone too far to stop lie ile must strike the iron when it was hot of course lie he had bad no desire to stop but it was all so wonderful ile he could speak to her now in a how about you miss now how about you an ani me ino just jus down she did not answer for a moment then in a A low voice it be fair to accept you like this mr draak you doni dont know anything about me an I 1 dont want to I 1 mean I 1 dont care what about you but it be fair until you know sho she continued there are things id have to tell you and I 1 dont like to she ahe was looking downward now and tie he fancied he could see the color als ing about her cheeks and her frame tre nibling ho he turned toward her and extended his arms tell me tell your own george he cooed coded no slie she said with sudden rigidity 1 I cant confess conf essi 11 4 come on lie he pleaded yell mo me arvo been a bad mno man too she seemed toilie tobe weighing tho the mat ter if I 1 tell tel lyou you you will nevor never mention aitto it to anyone on yono never I 1 11 it to you dra arn mat leally raisins his hand well sho she sald en id looking down bush bash fully nud and tanking making little markiwith marks mark with tier her fanger nair fallt in tile tho polo pole on which they were leaning 1 I never told anyone before and nobody in the world knows it except lie he anti and rue roc and lie ho doe an t know it now either because I 1 killed him I 1 had biad to do it of course you did dear ho he murmured it was wonderful to receive a collians vol lians atko this yes I 1 had to kill him sho she repeated you soc see ho ho proposed to mo me without being introduced Introduce dIll I 1 it was some seconds before draak felt tho the blow it came to him gradually like returning consciousness to a man who has been stunned then anger swept him youre with me lie ho cried y ouro a fool ot of mot mol oh george dear how could I 1 sho she protested now perhaps perli apa you better run along to that pete octo horse ile he looks lonely all right lie ho said striding away angrily As aa ho he walked ills his rago deepened and ho he turned and shook ins ills fist at her ng all right but ill got get you yet see you think youre smart find and thinks lies hes smart but george drnek la Is smarter than both of you and hell get you yet sho she waved her hand complacently V but her compo composure suro had already in maddened ad him ile iio jerked ills hla borso up A 0 1014 but it be pair fair until you know she ahe continued I 1 ro throw himself into tho paddle addle and set lutat out at a hard gallop along tile tho trail to the south YD it was inid auld afternoon when he over i tools took Tran outfit outfit now winding down tho the southern slope of tile the of foothills which divided the two tivo valleys of 0 the YD pete wet over tho the flanks pulled up of his own accord b beside linders wagon 10 lo george 11 said hinder your hurry then glancing at lila fits saddle wheres your blanket dranks jaw dropped but he had a quick wit although on an unbalanced one well lin 1 clean forgot all about it lie he admitted with a laugh but when a fellow spends the morning chatting with old YD s daug daughter liter I 1 guess lies hes allowed to forget a few things oh I 1 reckon you doutt dont believe it t eh ch lin reckon beckon you dont |