Show G GUNLOCK RANCH I SYNOPSIS Sleepy Sl rpy y Cat t desert deser town of the Southwest U II celebrating the Fourth of July Jane Van T. T beautiful beau ul daughter of 01 Gus GUI Van Tam Tarn hel bel b J. J hated owner of 01 Gunlock ranch has arrived armed arr arre e 1 from fromi the East for the first time She watches the tb Fron frontier ln Day celebration in company with D Doctor Carpy arpy cru crusty y tender hearted tender hearted friend of the community Henry of 01 the Cir Circle Cirtie tie cle Dot ot ranch tricked in a fake horse borse race the day before Core by b Dave McCrossen foreman at Dt Gunlock plans revenue revenge He Ile enters fill Dill Denison a handsome young Texas wrangler in In In the rodeo which McCrossen Is favored to t win win and lays heavy bets ts on him bim Unknown to the crowd Denison is a champion horse horse- ram man McCrossen and the young stranger tie in the various events Denison then drops a cigarette tte carelessly ar Racing down the track fall U tilt he picks PICk up the cigarette The ver ver- verdict dict goes goci to Denison when McCrossen refuses to attempt the stunt Entreated by the crowd Denison agrees s. s to perform another trick Jane JaneVan JaneVan JaneVan Van T m 1 is 18 asked for her hu and throws it It on the track Just as Denison rides to pick it up a yell from Barney Darney a McCrossen McC ossen henchman scares scare the thc pony near nearly ly Iy costing the rider his life lie Gun play is pre prevented vented by the intervention of 01 Doctor Carpy Back Da k on Gunlock ranch after alter two years year ean in Chicago because of 01 her fathers father illness Jane gets lost riding in the hills and meets meets meets' Deni Deni- Denison Denison son lon now a neighbor who nho guides her bel home bome Not knowing her bel identity he be speaks bitterly of Van She tells tell McCrossen who brought her home and he lie denounces Denison as a cattle thief Later she asks Doctor Carpy why her father is unpopular and he tells her ber berIt herIt herIt It It Is because of Van ruthless and unscrupulous character c McCrossen Itri tries to woo 00 Jane but is IS sharply lr rebuffed Once again she loses her way war in the hills and meets Den ison lion On impulse she slit gives him her bracelet bra let letor for or guiding her bel home Their interest in each nth other growing she reveals re her identity to him Jane is distressed to learn from Carpy Car y that her father had wronged Denison The Tex Texan Texan an on had worked at Gunlock as foreman and been n promised a share in the profits When be he quit Van reneged In reprisal Denison has been running cattle off Gunlock ranch Shamed and humiliated Jane avoids Denison but longs to see ace him When at length they thc meet m t. t he be confesses his love CHAPTER V Continued V-Continued 9 9 How v Is McCrossen coming on doctor doc doctor tor asked Jane Hell be up In a u few tew days da s 's now The Infection Is disappearing How are you yon Youre You're the one Im I'm Interested In Following orders like a lamb doc doe tor Dont Don't you see how bow brown Im I'm getting Yes outside But nut what about In Inside side That's where I want you to get brown By the way your friend Bill mil Denison was In to see me the other day lIes lIe's been up north with the fire fighters way fighters way up on the Crazy Wom Worn Woman an at Jim Laramie's ranch Look here girl he continued what are you do do- doIng doing Ing tomorrow We Wp are going to have havea a moose dinner Ever er eat moose Come In la and try It lt It Jane hesitated Oh I dont don't know Imo Come along Therell There'll be nobody else there If Ir that's what youre you're afraid of on Sleepy Cat looked deserted when Jane rode In next day Jane asked McAlpIn at the barn where all ull the men were Up Dp north lire fire fighting Is it as bad as that I never ne saw It so bad In he twenty years Ive I've lived here and at I They brought In a yester yester- yesterday yesterday yesterday day of or the worst burnt men I ever seen in my life liCe The hospitals hospital's pretty near full fuJI Doc Doe Carpy wad was there all night Jane was for tor going borne home She walked up op to the hotel botel and talked with Puss the housekeeper Dont you go counseled Puss If It the doctors doctor's expecting to see you hell he'll be all aU up up- upset upset set If It you dont don't stay sta But with all aU these men In the hos hos- hospital hospital pital Id I'd rather wait walt till he be has a afree afree free tree day suggested Jane The housekeeper laughed If It you wait walt for a free tree day for the doctor you'll wait walt till tIU Judgment day And he might be busier then than he Is now Theres There's a 11 preacher In town this week baptizing folks toUS down in the river Cording to what he says therell there'll be a alot alot alot lot more Sleepy Cat fire Ere fighters ti need need- needing needing needing ing help Judgment day than Is It now Come In here and take oft off of your things When Jane sat down with the doctor doctorIn In his private dining room for tor the of the moose dinner he tie made light fire fare situation as well as of his labors All An of In the days day's work Puss is an alarmist She's always telling me Im I'm working too hard Jane repeated the anecdote of the preacher and Puss' Puss application of or It to the doctor himself on Judgment day Carpy laughed Panama she's ehe's talking about Puss is powerful afraid of him Who Is 19 he Why a pretty good fellow used fellow used to be on en auctioneer and round all gambler got gambler got converted preaches converted preaches up and down the theline theline line from Medicine Bend to Sleepy Cat But he volunteered for fire fighting Lighting Hes He's one of or the men got burnt yester yester- yesterday yesterday yesterday with the rest of ot em day and hes he's up at the hospital The sheriff ex-sheriff Bill rode out ont to Gunlock two days later and conscripted con con- scripted the men to fight Light fire Lire coming and threaten threaten- threatenIng down the Crazy Woman Ing fag Sleepy Cat The quiet of ot that day and the next was like a calm before a storm After Jane ordered her pony saddled sapper summit of to the and rode clear up Gunlock Knob where she could see seethe seethe for many miles the northern country When she reached the top she was attempted the climb The sorry orry she had inspiring awe but terri terri- spectacle was tying along Far beyond the hills and all the northern horizon she saw patches and slowly rising of or dull silent Bent red Increasing and andi falling at moments again She i subsiding fell asleep early but after mid midnight midnight she woke The sky was fairly night nl ht could hear henr the wind and Ind she clear ranch the g in the tho he pines about by Frank H. H Spearman t copyright Frank H. H Spearman house She was roused from her thoughts by the approaching clatter of galloping hoofs liaising herself herselt to support her head heul on her lien elbow elbo she listened The clatter came nearer the galloping faster In a n moment she heard a man pull his horse sharply up op and spring from the saddle under her window Miss Jane he lie called Wake Wak up please She knew the voice olce Im awake Bull What Is it The boys are ridin In behind me me All of them 7 Everybody They'll be here Inside twenty minutes What time Is it Bull Bum From the moon about two t The want to eat They're ridin right out again Ill I'll call cali Quong the matter Bull what null what are they riding out again for The Lire fire has crossed the river CHAPTER VI Bull Lull Page the messenger of alarm ularm turned In with Quong Quon and Jane to tomake tomake tomake make ready a hasty supper for the hun hun- hungry hungry gry weary ear men McCrossen was in command of the fire fighters and at the head of the Ule table looked his part As he lie rose from the supper table his eyes were never brighter as he walked smoky and cov cow covered covered cowered ered with the marks of the days day's da s hard fight but smiling and fresh over to where Jane was standing While Jane asked questions McCros McCrossen sen lighted a cigarette Not a bit of danger Jane to Gunlock not Gunlock not while I Ican Ican Ican can get out on the fire line anyway an way Ive I've fought these Infernal blazes all my life and I dont don't figure this ones one's goin to beat me The only thing that wor wore worries worries ries me Jane Is to think of your bein here alone at home while were we're fire fire- Of or course I cant can't help some worry now with the ranch threatened she returned thoughtfully Jane he be said Impressively you needn't worry I like to fight for a girl like you ou While Im I'm able to raise an arm Jane Ill I'll be out there of you Ills hands closed firmly on her shoulders She shrugged them and edged un uneasily uneasily un- un uneasily easily away a Saddles boys I shouted McCrossen in his rich hearty voice olce Look alive there everybody Come over to where my horse Is Jane I want you to say good bye e to us I Give the boys a word of ot cheer Where are you going she asked Over O the Divide I want to do some north of the pastures Come along alon girl he lie Insisted taking her arm firmly All at once he caught her ber In a vise vise- viselike viselike like grip of ot his arms and kissed her twice before she could escape She slapped him Indignantly and pushed him violently away McCrossen laughed Slap me again Jane that was worth a string of ot slaps girl But why not take a little prat practice practice tice You'd get to like It same as asI asI asI I do dol l Toward foward the night of or the second day the fire crew straggled back to the ranch house McCrossen at their head The store of ot beer prudently laid In from town was rapidly depleted depleted cir cir cir- circumstances seeming to forbid the re re- restrictions restrictions re- re restrictions that Jane usually Imposed Nest Next morning the sun rose hot and andin andin in an atmosphere without a breath of wind Faces were brighter But after breakfast the mall mail carrier Ignace from the Reservation on his way to town brought disquieting news A tire Lire had broken out in the timber along the eastern boundary and every buck had been called out to fight it McCrossen listened carefully Which way was the wind Ignace when you left From the east Hells bells exclaimed McCrossen Just where we dont don't want It He Tie questioned the carrier closely The big ranch was now threatened on the southeast and McCrossen started with I the freshest of his bis men for the new danger point In the afternoon Jane rode into town to order some supplies sent out onto While she was in story store a white man from the Reservation came in The clerk who waited on him asked him about the fires down his way Not uN ot so good said the man Anew A Anew Anew new one broke out this morning be be- between between between tween the Reservation Umber and Bill nm Denison's ranch Bills Bill's In getting men together now Jane In another aisle and unobserved unobserved unobserved served walked walled quietly outdoors and down the street for tor McAlpIn's livery barn lose Mose Iose she said to the hostler on duty Is Bill Bm Denison in town He is His Ills horse Music Is here here here- Bill Bm rode In pretty fast an I been rub- rub rubbin rubbin rubbin bin Music down Bill BUl says says to says says- hose Mose 4 lose I want to see Bill nm Go ap up the street and see If you yon can find him Tell fell him I want to see him and Ill I'll be beup beup beup up at ut the hotel UnIt Half an hour later Jane sitting with the door open In Doctor Carpy's office olice off orr the hotel lobby heard beard footsteps ap ap- approaching approaching ap- ap approaching and turning saw Denison She rose quickly extended extend ell her hand took tool his without a greeting and spoke rapidly and nervously ner I heard beard you were In town she said and that you were in danger at the ranch I ranch I sup sup- suppose suppose suppose pose for that matter we all are But they said you were taking out men and 1 I wanted to see you Bill and ask what we could do to help belp You wont won't take that amiss Im I'm sure sure t How flow could I take anything amiss amis from you YO In n a common danger dan cr she said Bald eal 1 flushing In some confusion and Inter inter- Interrupting interrupting him to hide it t we ought to help one another In Jn the hills What Is there these I can do What Is the situation Bill Well I suppose I might say Its It's like the situation of a man with a ft loaded loa ed pistol pointed at his head bend he I answered Im all nil right as long as ns the gun doesn't go oft off The winds wind's got Its Linger finger on the trigger and you yon know how these hill winds are blamed are blamed un on uncertain un- un uncertain certain when they get going going- But nut what can cnn we do at the ranch to help make you ou safe Is there th re any any- anything anything thing Bill BlIn Anything to help Both were vere conscious of slight strain Denison shuffled awkwardly Why Miss lIss Jane Jane Jane- Since when Miss lIss Jane she asked with asperity I didn't know know- he began n. n Neither did I know Bill Bm Now an an- answer answer answer my question If It youre you're In danger dan dan- danger danger ger tell me what I can do Have the boys bo s 's keep l a close eye e e on the two Reservation fires If It either of em cm get gel g t around Gunlock Knob it'll be kind of bad for tor both ranches ranch s Yes but Bill how am I to know when or whether they do get around the Knob now How am I going to know whether you yourself need help She was beginning b to realize that it was Impossible to t get anything but evasive generalities out of ot him Tell me this If you ou need help from us will you send me word Right away He ne thought for a n moment Ill send word over o to you at the ranch house Jane She could not escape the significance of his Ws tone in uttering her name But she kept her balance and spoke stead stead- steadily steadily ily lly Keep your our promise Bill I shall shaH be waiting for the word when It comes comes Along the hill hili trail as Jane rode home the air was heavy with smoke e drifting slowly vly up from the south It was laden with the pungent smell of ot brush fire and acrid with the creosote of burned from over cut-over lands landson on the Reservation Reaching home she was not sur sur- surprised surprised surprised to find everything there abnor abnor- abnormally abnormally abnormally mally quiet McCrossen with most of ot the men was up op in the hills The sole exception to the general atmos atmos- atmospheric atmospheric atmospheric gloom was Quong Nothing had yet daunted the busy China boy When Jane dressed at daybreak and looked out the wind had shifted and was blowing fresh tresh from the south McCrossen and his men were up betimes He reported to Jane that they had checked the fire up toward the pass He lIe was in good spirits Jane went to her breakfast feeling reassured She was finishing her cof cof- coffee coffee coffee fee when Quong stuck his head through the kitchen door into the din- din dinIng dinIng dining Ing room and said Man Inn to seel see I IJane Jane walked to the front door and found a man on horseback What can I do for tor you Ive I Just come from Bill He says If you can spare a dozen men quick he be can maybe save his ranch buildings Tell TeU him Ill I'll do everything I can canto canto canto to get them over right away awny What's your name Scott mam Jane ran over to the corral where McCrossen was closing dosing the wire gate Bill Bm Denison has sent a 11 messenger over over over- I saw him interjected McCrossen curtly asking for tor help Jane went on rapidly If we can get n a dozen men over to him quick he can save his ranch buildings buildings- I A lot of gall aint it Bill Bm Denison look in to Gunlock for tor help I INo No matter what differences there have lla have been Insisted Jane firmly In Inthe Inthe inthe I |