| Show fi J l i I t t i t u v y w r rBy ri i 1 I By HAL GEVART V ev U SERVICE HAL 6 EVA T p. p J CHAPTER IX 17 17 The two loggers hat han finished cut cut- log Ing their theIl quota of ot timber fur for III th the homestead cabins and the white peeled Ie gs lay piled plied anti ready to fo be snaked gown to the Three Bar on the first bE heavy vy snows of ot fall all The acreage o of plowed ground In iii do day by day and would con till tin rM cl lined the ground As loon Joon as the brush brash was teas burnt the mule mole teams pulled heavy heny log drags across acrus the field eld pulverizing the tle lumps And reveling Inequalities l nt ot the surface Evans had een sent out ul as os fore Ire anti of ot th th beet beef up while Harris remained behind to direct the thc opera lions at the ranch A few ew days before Evans ras rons due with the beef herd Billiee r rode de' de Papoose away ay from the ranch Intending to make le a long loncle de deterred erred to the After covering two thirds ot of the time dis laDe tance alon along the foot o of tit the hills to the V L she saw v H rider r dip vet ver a ridge two o miles away She glasses ses atud dismounted I. I to w I 1 Watch for Cor lips his reappearance When Nhen he came again Into ter Ier field of view another another an nn other DUier m n m-n n was with him and they were driving a few head hend of cows he fore rore then i 1 She mounted Papoose e and angled across to Intersect their course ourse As Papoose topped lI a low luw hll hogback tint that flan ed the tile volley she sow Sit themen the rile themen men wen Iding toward her down the but toms driving twenty or more amore head of ut cows rows hE One of the tile horses threw up his head bead his ears pricked sharply toward her ber and the swift upward tilt If ot ut the rile ha as VInly ti I lowered cd In lu formed ormed her that she site had been sighted The other man mIlD did not lonk up They The lifted the horses from n a walk to 0 a 11 stiff trot J an-J veered leered past the Ille CO cows cops s then looked d up as if f just Jus of ot her het approach and waited for her Tu The a men were were and ln Carp rp Bentley greeted Her lIer cheerily Carp Curp without a word What tare are you jou ou two u doing up here she she demanded wll without hout parley 1 with the Thre Ihre liar Bar was wag wason wagon on and fa p worked with you fur for u spell so 60 we sort of know V the range explained Slade gent enl us to drift any trays strays hack back south Those Thu e you yu were pre driving ure Three ur stuff stuff every every hoof she said Ali Al Alit h t two 11 year year old f he k Bentley enthy turned tuned and nand regard d J t tine the lit Iii littie tie herd they the had Just passed t Their tp 17 Shu She we hl W we wasn wasn't t driving them Bentley denied easily They just drifted ahead of ot us as we rude rode down tb bottoms A cow critter will always muse move on it end of a II min milD We tle rode on Oll past em as soon as JS we de rte decided t tided to amile along i She kner that they were on su suit safe t. t ground round Any cow would drift on be before before fore tore a a horseman 1 The only way to lo convict ron a ran inn on un ona I Ia a case cuse like this tills Is U to shoot Shoat him out JUI oft oi of ll t the saddle before beure he hil tins tills a tJ chance It to pass the cows vs she s said That what will twill happen U lo III the ne next neat 1 Slad- Slad rider that tha I gets gels Dul noticed with It b tJ any ny ihre Bar nr cows ln moving flaying out In front from nt ot him and headed south You eon can curry carry Hun I word fo to Slade 1 She whirled d and t back bark for the ranch the Intended t III 1 JO to the B rand 1 ny postponed 1 MairN rl was piling brush hrush In the lower tr field l when she arrived and she Informed rl him of time the act of time the two nunI nun Illen I wouldn't put II It puss past Carp map he hr said But nul I hadn't sized up just that way way Its It's herd to 10 tell Ill II It Carp shows up here again well nail I him a 8 visit In the hp middle ip ot of Hie Ilie nigh and and he wont won't trouble us OR much that Wed lied better hetter pay my Sloth Slade n a nigh I vl II i too loo she said him Her feeling I t Slade hurl had undergone lIne a Ii complete III f r re i She knew hl a u elI uhl UIO tin that he he hUll hug been re responsible lulI till tor iii 1111 I raid on Three liar hulls halls 11 The bunch would have hll Aid no i 1 In Ito such such n a foray It If fl from m 1111 1111 I iv angle Slade was time the only one olle mai 01 win will I puss posts hi lily i an 11 f mn that hut She had hurt corn c come to see Mm hll 1111 was fighting with hf his hi hack g to In tip the III that call vall that he had I run his ours 4 11 mind mid lilt J 1 come lume to the end ot of II It It I It t se tolled cured ci u a start In hl lips his range e. e mid luul lie hI con 1111 the act wl of of the Three Bar Itu tIt opening wedge wede would throe t open upen tl II II wr wm for fOI I the hl nesters to 10 crowd him out The evening E ol of the di fa the beet beef bl t herd hen trailed 11 Into harm I ih Ihm ht louei t m l lend I etui end of the Three But Bar volley laid lied it'd I ded fur ur the tilE night In III the rhe Itile I the tile trail herd was wits headed for fOi the Iu mil I road under andera a 8 full crew cre rot for Harris I kept all oil Iu on nn he the Job joh t Tie The vp VI p-ns p H It nc or rl lot Int In n I to the steers mind nd drier ilder u I that thu t every e trail hall II herd I the hp I o our oiT If-cui If or bue h had find been culled froll the Harris pointed to the he nation hunch Look that Hint II 11 o over or r well p Billie h i t ml advIsed A tew t nn more with fats fair luck turk and VC rt rJ M wont won't I liik see one ot of these rainbow droves es with Ith every ery dot olor from brindle to ro strawberry ronn roan none o of these humpbacked runts rU they'll I all I bu be u gone gUDe flints flint's almost al nl most the last mon mongrel rel herd willever will ever er wear your brand The They'll run nun better every year until we have hn nil all big hg flat backed bee stock stock stok n straight w white face face run The third morning out out from tram the home borne ranch broke bruke st stormy A nasty drizzle dampened the face Cure of or the world and arid laid Its clammy dummy touch tough on tin all 1111 living things This rids condition prevailed pre pre- all nil through h the lII diy day and shortly after the onus S hind had been heen milled ind 1111 bedded for far the night nh the rhe drizzle turned to rain ruin now nosy falling straight soft again In tierce fierce squalls whipped l by hy varying shifts of wind A A. A saddled nl night ht horse was vas picketed for till e cr every man The wn wagon lIn stood close dose under undera n a hill hili while the he herd was ns bedded on nn f n a broad tint at nl the mouth of t a 0 valley The sn soggy V putter patter t if f the rain on her teepee lulled the girl Irl to 10 sleep but hul she frequently rou roused A dull mut flint m suddenly In InV o 0 I II I I 1 H r rr r h i I SHe Whirled Papoose I. I and and nd He Header d Back Dack for the th Ranch Sharp harp thunderstorm and time the trolls ot of her lher teepee were almost coo con by hy ivi- ivi Mashes The picketed horses fretted rrt 10 ind 1 stamped s h I She SIc di upped to lle i sleep 1 I p again but hui huf a v 0 by voices okes outside u us he lie shifts and she esl I Pel I it II I It t must 1 he neat morning time the f Mirth change ot of gun guards nis The Time sounds sounds ceased ed ns liS the Hie men win Will mad HId Just relieved elJ In iu foi heir sleep A horse neighed a f few w yards ol ul tier her t I mee Audies An Au dies r tuck took It II up tip ii un n nn uti ill n. WI d ml from train the lints ie us a if pl pistol tol shuts shots a 8 rumble ot It he he in ol ut Harris i I. I I hull out Hull toll out omit 1 f h he mulled culled Un 1 Hi 1111 tm ej l' l lC eu It us he lie fouled rill t i tin 1111 1011 1 D ul v ei ib Cin aS HN a. tilt tilt- he men amen nun 1 front I mint theli lied rolls tin lilt i M in v. v ti tI iii time lie ii I 1 I till It thrust her I Irma ll II the it It Iwo pre iee the rhe u M t thet lier het 11 neck i Slime h he sil ty Ila n Is hum liiK JIing III- III licit us uv he tie ran inn unil tit the neSI It I lIu l i. i ho ed him hium mulling to III uHf u nn lIal hulk J limn The ol tl hoofs hoof drew diew n heI i t H C t t m. lo III II the lilt IU H n k lulu t surged singed then Mien hurl hilI oil oft up flit the 4 line Ilse riders riders- lui nt III i in ti 11 In hi I iY two rI them throwing he It VH CH into inh r u IJ 11 ol l I fem Slit She J nw n w Ih- Ih tot for ilder yellow k In 1 ili wind Iet As AI the thin I hl dime he ru till e noi ted rod eat cut lima Hit it imd till I Knew hut hal out mint oi ut hei IWI II M In Ili the t 10 I tor lit ti- tithe the ht rill Hers di III hl his slat l. l hll inn l n hwa I 8 The red splashes of ot answering shot showed on nil all sides of at him hint She tugged tagged on her chaps and boots slipped Pa Pa- Papooses Papooses Papoose's Papooses Papoose's picket rope rove and vaul vaulted ed to his back The scene was once more mOI-e Illuminated ilium as she rodo coda from tram the wagon A horse circled In the flat flut a adark adark adark dark shape sprawled near Dear him and she wondered which one of ot her men had gone down A knot of ot horsemen were turning up Ov an opening gulch on the far for side of ot the valley A hoff- hoff dozen Tl ree liar Bar riders veered their horses for or the spot Harris turned In his bis saddle and ond his voice olce reached her ber the tumult iLet Let eta era go gol I 1 he shouted Let em go 0 gol I Hold tile the he herd herd I Far Par off otT on the opposite side slit she she made out i r lorn lont horseman riding it t a full run along fhi thi above the cows as us he ninde a 8 supreme effort to 10 reach th him head of ot the run The Three Bar nr men split spilt and ond streamed ur of both bath sties sides of the bol bottoms toms The flashes had ceased ed except for or brief quivering o Mays of ot Ic less s than n u seconds second's duration She hung her spurs Into C and Trusted to 10 his footwork A unit flare I showed the pinto t m hare haie twenty yards abend with whit Harris putting him at the slope to pass the he cows She swung s her own tin ho te Ye after him and she felt time the skid o 0 o. o his feet on the trenCh treacherous rons From th Ih sounds below she knew they were well up on oh the flanks of time the run nearing the peak The flit seemed slowing A long wavering flash revealed re Harris a dozen en In ahead Ii followed the rhe paint horse as put hilt down the slipper y and lifted him round rOil mitt lilt lit point of If the hero herd In the time thes s saume flu h Billie hUll hud seen sen two slick slicker ens er e out oat before the peaks of the time run hipping weirdly In the faces of or the foremost cows This accounted forthe for forthe the tip slowing lIp she had sensed Two or of of her men were before them thEIU and she wondered cJ how haw this hall had come OIne te tl puss pass 1 Tile The U broke forth once more She aw tay Y two riders swinging round the opposite point The I two Iwo slickers iler were working wl In the cr iter I Harris Harris' gun un Hushed six times She Ji Jerked her own and rolled It The two twe IW I tiers filers WK Ind Iad Just rounded the far nr j i point paint Jollied Joined It II t- t Cows In the front ranks held back from this his fearsome commotion out OUI In front The sto ceased nr IU ns itS It II see a stun Irani hud begun au for foi two t mil miles she he rodIn rod In inky Ink darkness Thee The Th run had 1 spent lu force e The fie herd stopped and Imd the cows gazed stupidly lit about standing wll with h dumping heads und and hen heaving heavin In stiles elites Three Bar Har men nien showed ed on nn both holh thinks are in III the rear They had held Ih the drove e Intact and aDd pre t prevented presented Its splitting up in detachments and amid scat I it tile flie night n nl I Moore rode over to them mind for the first 1 time the girl noticed that hat the two IWO men who win hush hurl w led le 1 slickers front of 01 the Ille run were n I n sen n se Who rho rhoa a wits was the pair out ahead Moore lou kerl And Amid A II II what swallowed ed J em tint up Hauls s took his head heul and amid I t WI wen wen- rt the t 1111 t to make the fi floUt mil i lie Ire sold Not ol any stated IIII t I. I I 1 i iv SIw v em emu J rte u you youIt ung t I round II tit the point polut I w VI we 5 on till Jul I 1111 nJ ml nil 11 up lip I the he hi hir r 51 side il Split cur ur tutu tonk ii header h uller with n tre the und rue nie s some onie I 11 He Ile pointer to III III the mud mad crusted on Ills us BillI Knew I he lie w tta lie Ille lone inlet site sill I ml amt uel een on I the Hie JI hook ot nt tin lilt herd as t die h Ile I de ale away n. rie wn oti The lie fall etl fur foi their rounding the point palm nt III hint him Moore lVa wis ws oil off ros nc-ros the country i t iI Ito hlll I ti vou VIIU wan lo lu tell lell me use you YLI didn didn't t tsee st see those two lIil Happing you yul In ln fund froll 7 he lie demanded I I c I 1111 I i erye any sold lour lIr I it re gelling Moine A c nl ill oldie v ht guns S like likey y V. V out ol ut Ilia IIIi rt rest ns t Mimre n him cut III loudly Ala so su II he lit ald silil III II lieu lulL in UI the lilt till al S Suit II lit ot lie Ile gunned I timid mil ruined III hN Iii H K II IIII hl Inn I. I M II lui hUld nl idl that thU hurl out ot of I the lie hI held herd Till The b III liy i. i ninde l n a nice idle dile liar Har HarUs I II Us Mild sui o IJ Hut ne iiii 1101 IJ 1111 IIi I j Ii fl till I III idle tI to III Hie the next I und and tell in i-in I well we'll suns Minn lIi t II n fei U Ill I'll ride mimic ha halI U rpm II time the jp rb rI c faint ifill willi him hi U ns us lit lie 1 time the herd hen mina on lilt Hi n nil J. J i Iva 11 with willi time Hie I two rich ild s lin 1111 linn 1101 IcI the fill run ii I muni ii I i i pi till Ii tp been n c Ashe As I the h. he luid vh-ui-d vh In hi I h In- In l sHush s- s Hush I lit Ilie lUll hud I clu elv rH r leil cI Ii mid mill 1 t ut p Bill slit slit- he dei I thal Hilt ii hIl luid 11 l h t eti It'll bI u a led nl nt h h h. by I the h fuel ful I hili III Ili hi I IWU two IVI VI men amen I bud iii II taen n t een ou nu II hem hei mind n 1 1 lure inte TO FIE HI UC l |
