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Show claim beyond the pine dotted ridge that linked purple in the dial ante. Billy Louise xiirlnd with a vague and turned to look away to the north, t lie Jumble of high hill vv here grew more rugged, with the valley narrower and deeper. two other dots, lar; er and Here inori-clearly deimed as liorseineit. fn mi mere objects that stood burlier than any animal and moved with a the reason I thought I'd ask you about that fellow." "Oh. it's perfectly right to make sure of ever body, smiled Billy lajuisc. "I'd do the same giving myself. But you'll find everythings all straight up there. We know all about him and how and where he got his few head of slock and everything. But of course you tould ask Junkins if you have any " doubt "Oh. we'll take your word for it 1 just wanted to know, lie's a stranger to our oi.l tit. I've seen him a few times. What's his name? I's boys call him Noisy. Its like pulling a vvis- dnm tooth to get any kind a talk our of sonic excuse for her presence there. It was going to la awkward, tier coming l" re on his Leels. one might say. B.itv Louise began to wisli s'ie had I. t come She begun to feel quite .tii, iii.it w ard would tie surprised und j alien be found tier there and (Ts would to..:, at tier with that faint curl of the lip and that fainter lift of the -- in! I al'ive it. which made her go I a nil over vvitli the scOrn in them he lmd ecu him look t! at way on e or twice, and in spite of herself she bewilh that ex-- j gan to picture tiis fa-ress on. Billv Louise was on the point of riding away a good deal more hastily of him. than she lmd come in the hope that "He is awful quis-t- , assented Billy Weld would not discover tier there. Louise carelessly. But he's real Then lu-- own stubbornness came upj steady to work. and sin- - told herself that she 'Them quiet follows generally are," permost. hud a right to ride wherever You run stock in sin- put In Mr. Birkeu. and that if Ward didnt pleased ' r V' rf here, too, do yon. Miss Mael hum Id?" r AAxs Cl'fr'lY like it lit- could do the other thing. liTrtt The big I is. answered Billy Louise; had the I roil hied look. sue we d to tin tloor and stood lAuk-i,.Charlies eyes SYNOPSIS. und smiled faintly. Lv been range out lor a minute, wondering where halt' to think that. Aunt Martha herding them back here in these foot- lie w as. un- - iii'Kts that is what we are up against, ,t, CHAPTEF. hills this summer. h in. a Io you want to Tin re was a little window behind ,m I.O.-ol vt.ee and M n le look through the bunch?" J,i. it limn about more kiiovs she ij.it'. i e, u ill' teik eshinn-.-"Well, the hunk and beside that a shelf tilled f.e I u.u! ..i'v down Mr. Birkeu Mu,shed. Oh, no, not at with hooks and smoking material and you do, believe me. If you'll let oxen at el aie tt e p. "i W wan-ie n 1 nk all! was wondering tf you had lost matches vt.iKuti tirsi foiua Fa . Ute bars. Mr. Cox, I'll bit the trail, She knew by the very are e' I'M t h i h v' I M any and if I find out anvtl ing I'll let you of that shelf and window ,.t l.i.t .M.olt.y in.; s on rangement ki. Know at oin e." ... ..,UllT full lIllSM JeiOlieV Nobody would rustle cattle from a that Ward liked to lie there on the i.xei " tnM.mi, mtl'lial :;oilgh t u U hcfi she rode over the bleak up.i lady. I hope. At any rate.. I haven't bunk and read while t lie light lasted. a "iirnev . jirn lulu e In ti i; t u - - d " that i aught herself missed she any yet. The folks down In the land wishing At the head of t lie lied hung a flour . l.'.i- -, It n i fei. ml ny M.'i in. I'ovc have, though. if le - lee Tidght talk the thing over with 'he sack half full of some hard, lumpy Ik, III il' n FUen l.lt.e I "Yes. I heard they had. That breed Muff which Billy Louise tiafl not no...IM iiml the (limiei a tu lie would know just what Ward, anV n h!i 'll l.a'er lie .ire I"' .,) li.tl t done. But winter was eom-- , to rode over to see if lie could get a line ticed lielore. She felt the bag tentahe might i er ii.tljile who iile luifcee T,. I, Cl on them. Its hard luck. That Charlie iilVelllle amt also In,', ami she would Olive her stock i: l: tively. could not guess its contents and . Ill is bill II a d.tusht' fields she had ready. Cox seems u tine, hard working boy, finally look it down and untied It the into down I. itilse. don't you think?" Wit liiii were irregular scraps and l.ey would he safe there surely. Still, .HAITEP. IT After "Ves-s,- . Ward would come. She said Billy Louise shyly, he strips of stuff hard as bone, a puzz.le she seems real nice." Sin- - Linked away still to one unfamiliar with the fron-Hew, piled to talk it over with a man who and bit her lip self consciously as she understood and who knew more about Billy Louise pulled out a little f Far Qvey to the Eastward a Black Dot Midi things than slm did. spoke. mhbled a corner aud pronounced: piece, Moved Up. The two men swallowed the bait like The fate of the four heifer calves be-- I Im going to swipe Jerky the in a hungry fish. They glanced at each Mine of that," which she proceeded to came permanently wrapped directness they presently purposeful lank fog of myslery. Billy Louise beta me uicu who rode with the easy other and winked knowingly. Billy do to t he extent of filling lier pocket, watched tor them when she rode out In swing of habit which lias become a Louise saw them from the tall of Her for to those who have learned to like i ha hilU and spent a pood dual pf lime second nature. They must have seen downcast eye und permitted herself a It jerked venison is quite as desirable heretofore given over to dreaming in lu-- r silting still upon her horse lu the little sigh of relief. They would be us milk chocolate or any other liihbly distrying to solve the rhhlle of their midst of that high, sunny plateau, for the more ready now to accept at its tidbit. aided in ClmrllP upon Lot face value her statement concerning appearance. toThe opposite wall had sacks of flour had they turned and rode up the slope Ward, unless they credited her with stacked against it keeping to the theory that they ward lior. boxes of staple Marthy grhmbled of being in love with the two cuimed goods, such iyid in,. nly Strayed as corn and tomaBilly Louise waited, too depressed to the feat Ward-we- ll. and men at the same time. sometimes over the loss, toes mid milk and peaches. A box of wonder greatly who they were. Ward did not put In an appearWell, Im sorry Charlie Fox has canned peaches stood at the head of so tlfey And riders probably. ance again that fall or winter and so proved. At least one of them was a been tapped off too. He's a mighty the bed and upon that a ease of tomadid t)of hear of the Incident. Seabeck man Bloyd I arson, who hud line chap," declared Bloyd, with trans- toes. Ward used them for a table and him In to tin Knees in spi'e ol Ids viohis round eyes set the lantern there when be wanted talked with her at her own gate aud parent heartiness, lent objeetioiis. Tl'ev i f t deep trucks CHAPTER V. lu-the face of to read in bed. lie's got a pretty good upon dwelling curiously the of had told cattle suspected icli. The flellilld Ilietil when i.r) Louise. Billy a stranwas man The other supply of grub; was the verdict of stealing. t!ie ealves had not pine The Little Devils of Doubt. introduced as Mr. "Y'es, I must be going." said that Billy Louise, sizing up the assortment whom Bloyd ger, tra-any bunk, for there was noi.u spring had come, and Ive while she nibbled at the piece of jerky. Birkeu. young woman where, and the bluff wan absolutely canyon, with the sun shilling a circle to ride yet. I hope you "I wonder where he is anyway? And laid linen around," quite prowling They was Loui-would herself unsralahle. Billy down aslant into its depths, g a moment later: He oughtnt to hang locate the and theres see tf what to to rustlers, Bloyd, tryiug according !' have fell doiilii.ul etlud!ug out thal a picturesipie gash in the hills, wild his best clothes up like that. Theyll I can do if 1 see or hear anycould see. , Bloyd was one of, way. The gray rim roelt stood straight enough in all conscience, but to the they round-faced- , be all wrinkled when he wants to put rouml-eys- l a I'll let lie seems to dew that those thing young erev-a mid high at the top, with never normal person not In the least degree fellows vvlm do not believe much in you know right away. Ive been keep- (hem u." e, so far us she eoiiUI see, and tin The jut lng crags were sungloomy. tulk freely when- ing my eyes open for some trace of She went over and disposed of the gorge was burred so that it un hu lit and warm. The cherry thickets secrecy nud therefore anil ever wherever they dare. He them, and so has Char Mr. Fox." best clothes to her liking aud shook out possible to go that wav without lifting whispered in a light breeze and slid- - t had turned them Then she blushed and told them good-b- the dust. She had to own to herself heavy poles out of deep eitckets and tered birds that sang la perfect con- said that Seabeck eases aud see if thev to loose very hastily and loped off up the that for a bachelor Ward was very orkeep sliding them to one side. tent. Not a gloomy place surely wheil derly, though he did let his trousers Ive pt an idea about a pale here, the peace of a sunny morning laid its couldn't pl k up the trail of these rus- ridge. off a rich to were who tree for get tlers Bark that hang down over the flour sacks lu a you awhile, trying "There up eoulkled siuldeui. Charlie spv 11 upon the land. and a long rope. (If you two! she said, with a twist of her ,vay to whiten their hems. She hung iron running won't be any more mysteries like tills. rehowever, did not are of the West you know what that Ups, when she was well away from them in a different place. I'm going to ti x n swinging pate lu 'Billy Louise, enticements. She the to canyon's spond But where was Ward? Billy Louise You you darned Idiots, to go means, and If you are not you ought to them. pline of these bars. Miss Louise. brooded over her own discouragements guess that it means stealing cattle and as !etliotight Her that Blue deserved around Ward's place, shall have it swing uphill like this, just prowling liltle puzzles which Wardll take a shot at them If something to eat after that hard ride at that.) It was not until he tf Id and 1'U have a weight airaueetl so that ami the tantalizing not lend themselves to had talked for would somehowor so that he catches them nosing through his and led him dow u to the stable. There minutes s ten it will always close itself If one is cate-leseonviiu ing solution. She was in She scowled at a big I cow was no sign of Battler, and Billy enough to ride on and leave it any condition of nervous depression liilly Louise became more tliun mildly stock! that In the conversation. her head out of an alder Louise wondered anew at Ward's abInterested thrust that have it all worked out lu my open. bv where she saw her rinest cows 'lead , humid, Plo.vd asked thicket and seut Blue In after her. sence. it did not seem consistent with Miss Mad Bay. bloat In the alfalfa meadows ami how by way of beginning a uew paragraph, Browning, she watched the animal go his haste to leave the Wolverine aud would she pay that machinery note how about that fellow over on Mill lumbering down the hill toward the his frequent assertion that he must get i then? She saw John Pringle culling creek? lie worked for you folks u Wolverine. Just lieeause he's a stran- to work. Brorn the stable door she unexpectedly and insistently for his year or so hgo, didn't he? What does ger and doesn't mix with people and could look over practically the whole time." and where would she And an- lie do?" minds his own business and is trying ertg-- bottom withiu his fence, and she other man whom she could trust out He has a ranch," said Billy Louise, to get a start theyre suspicious, as if could see the broad sweep of the hills of her sight? John Pringle was slow, with careful calm, Well, I think on eitbei side. On her way back to lies been work- a man lias no right to and lie was stupid and growled at poor ing on It this summer, 1 believe." Ike cabin she tried to track Battler, to head them off anyway." I managed lhoobe till Billy Louise wanted to . We were over there this satisfaction lasted while she rode hut there were several stock trails Her shake him. but he was steady, and morning. Them AT! cattle up above to the uext ridge. Then the little leading in different directions, atii the that one virtue covers many a mini's his place are his, I reckon?" and soil was too dry to leave any distindevils of doubt caine faults and keeps him drawing wages She had said she knew guishing marks, "Yes. said Billy Iconise. "Hes been regularly. She- waited for an hour or two, sitputting his wages into cattle for a year all about Ward. Well, she did to a Her mother lmd been more and more or so. He worked for .Tonkins last greater extent than others kuew. Bu( ting in the doorway, nibbling jerky and weather inclined to worry as the hot she wondered if she did not know too trying to read a magazine. Then she winter. Why?" came ou. Lately her anxiety ovei (h, nothing, I guess, only hes the much or if she knew enough. There found a stub of pencil, tore out an admall things had rather got upon vert King page which had a wide mur- stranger In the country, and his were some things only of Billy Louise. She felt ill prosperity aint accounted for ", She headed Blue down the slope and Used Mint downhearted and as If noth"Oh. but it Is!" laughed Billy Louisp. as straight for the Bfg Hill as she ing matter-- d min-- anyway. She passI only wish I had Imlf as clear a tick, could go. There was no trail that way. ed her cave with a mere glance and et. When lie Isn't working out hes and the ridges were steep and the can scowl for the memories of golden days wolfing, and every dollar he gets hold yons circuitous. But Blue was a good ia lu r lonely childhood that clung of he puts into that ranch. We've horse, with plenty of stamina and around it. known him a long time. He doesnt much experience. He carried his lady Slip was in this particularly dissatisfblow Ids money, you see, like most fel- safely, and he carried her willingly. ied mood when she rode out of the lows do." Even her impatience could Hud no anyoii at its upper end. where the Bloyd found occasion to have a fault with the manner in which he hills folded softly down into grassy slight argument with his horse just climbed steep pitches, slid down slopes yalleys where her cattle loved best to then. He happened to lie one of the as steep, jumped narrow washouts and Since t lu grass had started In "most" fellows, and the occasion of picked his way through thickets of graz.e the spring she had kept her little herd Ills last "blowout was fresh in his quaking aspens or over wide stretches up here among the lower hills, jtnd by mind. of shale rock und lava beds. He was the higher ridges every Well, of course if you know he's all wet to his ears when finally lie shufIf Ycull Let Down the Bars, Mr. Fox, riding along dav or so and turning hack a wanderstraight that settles it. But It sure fled Into Ward's trail up the creek botIll Hit the Trad. t ing animal now and theu she had held seems queer tom, but lie breathed ejenly, and he tln-in a comparatively small area, fellow is as straight as a carried his head high and perked hl alleged brain. 1 shall do It right away That too. Aunt Marthy is rather nervous where they would be easily gathered In string. Iont you suppose it's some ears knowingly forward when the corabout this gorge now. Every evening the fall. A few bead of Seabeck'a stock gung over on the river. Floyd? Id ral and haystack came into view she walks up here herself to make sure hud wandered In among tiers and some look around over there, 1 believe, and around a sharp beml. He splashed of Marthy' s. And then- - was a big rouu the bars are dosed." try to get a Hue on the uiiueeoimtables. both front feet into the creek just bethat bore the brand of Johnson, Theres You may as well make tip your a lot of dpw "settlers come in fore the cabin and stopjied to drink, uiiud to it, said Billy Louise Irrele- over on Snake river. Billy Louise just in the last year or two. and there, while Billy Louise stared at the silent knew them all, as a housewife Knows vantly In a tone of absolute certainty. her tloek of chickens, and if she missed might be some tough ones scattered place. through the bunch. Better see if there By the tracks along the creek trail "Those calves were drhri out of the seeing cert alu leaders in the sent tered 1ms been any cattle shipped or driven she knew that Ward liud come home, gorge. That means stolon You needn't groups she rode until she found them, through that way, dont you think?" and she urged Blue across the ford and 1 don't iccuse any one in particular Two old cows ami out hig rod steer We can try, Bloyd assented with- up the hank to the cabin. She slid off But they were that seemed 'Uppose you could. always to have a follow- out eagerness. Tint as near as we and went in boldly to bide her inward doled." wore belW that tinkled pleasant can ing it's too much of a drib drab embarrassment -- and she found nothing Charlie frowned and glanced up specfigure little sounds in the alder thickets along proposition for that. A cow and calf but emptiness there ulatively at the bluff's rim. the ere k ns she passed by. here ami there, and so on. We got Billy Istuise did not take long to in- This She Folded Neatly and Put Into oh, your mountain sheep theory is She rode up the long ridge which of it first when we went out to vestigate. wind 10 good." Billy The coffee pot was still I Louise giggled. the Cigar Box. the surround-- I a in a gentle cow hut the deacon warm o.i the stove when she laid her loubt if a lizard even would try to gave her wide view of bring she while warned on the ranch. We knew where palm against it, and she immediately gin and wrote: I don't think youre a cave the Cove over the hluff, which ing hills and stopjHal Blue, stared moodily at the familiar, shadow she was, a was only she wasn't there when poured harseif a cup of coffee. A plate hit nice. Why dont you stay home statement ertainly sweeping expanse of high piled ridges, we went after her. We hunted the and a .hen you consider a lizard's habits. splotched cup on the table Indicated that when a fellow comes to see you? This vv ith deep, green valleys and dee nor hills for a week aud couldn't find a Ward iail eaten a hurried meal and she folded neatly and A mountain sheep couldn't anyway." put in the cigar lined canyons between. Slip loved of her or her calf. And she had had not taken time to clear away the tiox of tobacco over Ward's pillow. sign They're hummers to elimh fail-I one. But today they stuck down in the creek bottom all the litter. Billy Louise ate what was left, She resaddled Blue and rode away But ealves are not. Mr, lox. Not them, every ed to steep her senses In that deep eon- kind a funny. and mechanically she washed the more depressed than ever, because her ke that. Y'ou know yourself they were spring, so it looki-the tent which life with oldy great toteu. Why not admit it?" lie twisted in the saddle and looked dishes and made everything neat tie depression was now mixed with a discan give to one who has learned back at the Would that do any g.vod- - bring fore she went down to look for Battler appointment keener than she would pine clotted ridge. bow satisfying Is the draft and how "There's a Yti calf up there that's a She had thought that Ward was out have cared to acknowledge, even to iem back?" he countered, looking up soothing. t her. dead ringer for the one we've been somewhere about the place and would herself. over to the eastward a black dot N-but I do bate to see a person mov ed limiting. he observed, but It's run- return very soon probably. Blue she a slid out and of up green slope ning with a vow that carries J unkins had left standing lu plain sight tiefore ellberatel.v shut Ills eyes in front of a laCHAPTER VI. That might Ward old lie looked apologet- the eubiu so that Ward could see him brand, so let We may as well admit to our-- ' sight hill across cut short the a to his Ives that there is a rustler in the taking ically Into the calm eyes of Billy and know slu- - wusTTere a fact which The Corral in the Canyon. Louise. "Of course don't- mean to she rpgretti-d- . uiitry. Theu we cau look out for U1TE suddenly, just at sundown, say theres anything wriug up there," - :m." dishes and While she vva- Billy Louise's journeying was inbe hastily assured her. "But tlmt' weeping she had hecu trying to think terrupted in a most unexpected he RANGA OH WOLVERINE -- 1 j j j hmdower. 0' - g 1 i s -- ' . ' ' I . l -- ..'-,- 1 i vv I i a- i H i 1 wi-li- , r. , : Sea-bec- - r TIIK a unj-thln- 1 I y 1 It-g-o 1 Th-huli- - t out-vbhi- rs j 1 :g Q a manner. She was dreaming along a for looking canyon, flat bottomed Blue threw up easy way across, when ears thrus his with listened his head, noswidened with forward ami sniffed anyalmost muiiiier his From trils. of them. Aud thing might lie ahead because certain of the possibilities of would call for quick action if aL.v Louise them became a certainty Billy twisted her gun belt around so tliut her six shooter swung withiu easy reach of her hand. With her liugers she made hosure that the gun was liaise in its hint a as lster aud kicked Blue mildly to go on auii see what it was all about. Blue went forward, stepping easily on the soft side hill. In rough country alwhatever you want to see is nearly It read ways around a sharp bend; you so "in the stories aud books of travels aud when you ride out in the hills ou find it so in reality. Billy Louise rode for three or four minutes before she received any inkling of what lay ahead, inthough Blue's behavior during that somher reassure terval had served to ewhat He was interested still in what lay just out of sight beyond a shoulder of the hill, hut he did not appear to be in the least alarmed. Therefore Billy Louise knew it couldnt he a hear, at any rate. They came lo the point of the hills shoulder aud Billy Louise tightened the reins instinctively while she stared at what lay revealed beneath. The head of the gulch was blocked with a corral small, high, hidden from view ou all sides save where she stood, by the walks of rock aud heavy aspen juggi-thickets beyond. The corral was but the setting for what Billy Louise stared, at so unbelievingly. A horseman had rjdden out of the corral just as she came Into" sight, had turned a sharp corner and hail disappeared by riding up the same slope she occupied, hut farther along and in a shallow depression which hid him completely after that one brief glimpse. Of course the gulch was dusky with deep shadows, aud she had had only a glimpse. But the horse was a dark hay aud the rider (as slim aud tall aud wore a gray hat. The leart of Billy Louise paused a moment from its steady beatiug aud theu sank heavily under a great weight. She was rauge boru aud range bred. She had sat wide eyed oa her daddy's knees and heard him tell of losses in cattle aud horses aud of corrals found hidden awajr in strange places aud of uukuowu riders who disappeared mysteriously into the hills. She had heard of these things; they were a part of the stage setting for wild dramas of the West. With a white line showiug arouud her close pressed lips aud a horror in her wide eyed glance she rode quietly along the side of the bluff toward where she had seen the horseman He was riding a dark bay aud he wore a gray hat aud dark coat, aud he was slim and talk Billy Louise made a souud that was close to a groan aud set her teeth hard together afterward. She reached the hillside just above the corral. There were cattle down there, moving uneasily about in the shadows. Of the horseman there was of course, no sign just the corral amt a few restless cattle shut inside amt on the hilltops a soft, rose violet glow and in the sky beyond a blend of purple and deep crimson to show where the sun had been. Close beside her as she stood looking down a little, gray bird twittered wistfully. pilly Louise took a deep breath and rode on, angling slightly up the bluff so that she could cross at the head of the gulch. It was very quiet, and wildly beautiful, this jumble of hills and deep gashed cau von-;- . But Billy Louise felt as though some-- , thing precious had died. She shvul.lt have gone down and investigated and; turned those cattle loose that is, if she dared. Well, she dared; it was not fear that held her to the upper slopes She did not want to know what hrarnl they bore or whether an iron had seared fresh marks. Oh, God!" she said once aloud, anJI there was a prayer and a protest, at curse and a question all in those two ' words. So trouble trouble that sickened her very soul and choked her Into duwb-ne- ss and squeezed her heart so that the ache of it was agony cauw- - aud rode with her through the brooding-dusof the eanyous aud over hilltops. Billy Louise did not remember anything much about that ride except that she was glad the way was long. Blue carried her steadily ou and on and needed no guiding, aud though Wolverine canyon was black dark in most places she liked it so. John Pringle was stauding by the gate waitiqg for her, which was unusual, if Billy Louise had been normal enough to notice it. He came forward! and took Blue by the bridle when which was still more unusual, for Billy Louise always cared for her own horse both from habit and; preference. Yor momrnie, shes sick," he announced stolidly. Shes worry you maybe hurt yoreself. To better go, maybe. Billy Louise did not answer, but ran up the path to the cabin. Oh, has everything got to happen all at once? she cried aloud, protesting against the implacahleness of misfortune. Yor mommie's sick, Phoebe announced in a whisper. Shes crazy cause you been so long She's awful bad, I guess. Billy Louise said nothing, but went In where her mother lay moaning, her face white and turned to the ceiling Billy Louise herself had pulled up her reserves of strength and cheerfulness, and the fingers she laid on her mothers forehead were cool and steady. Foor old moimnle ! Is It that nasty (To be Continued.) d r. r |