Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1898-07-09
"LAZY C" BRAND.


cap'n."
Jase Howard said it emphatically
He was tall, lanky man, with a pro
nounced Yankee type OF counte
nance, and he leaned bis elbow "a
miliarly upon the pommel OF ths
saddle as he talked with the young
owner OF the White River ranch.
Henry Penryn, the proprietor, re
lied no little upon the judgment and
experience of Howard, and the sub
ject of their present discussion was
a serious one.
"Come now; stock doesn't disap
pear, even in Texas, without human
agency" Penryn said reAectively
according to the books, more thar
500 heads have disappeared-totally
evaporated, so to speak-since last
round up, and now that there are &C
many calves TO brand / don't know
what will happen. The leakage
must stop, or ! shall have to give
up the ranch"
"Looks like there were q niger In
the wood pile, don't it?'
Penryn looked at him without re-
ply. His silence evidently exasper-
ated Jase. "See here!" he exclaim,
ed. He used the butt end Of hi,
whip to draw in the red durt of thu
trail the figure used on the White
River ranch as brand, thus q
"lazy G" in the nomenclature OIL
the plains. With q horizontal stroke
the G was converted into D.
"Sweet, pretty little trick, ain'l
it?' be said sarcaslically. "An oul
mark is on the same part o. the crit.
ter too."
"But how does be get 'cm9" de-
manded Penryn; shat is, If he is
the guilty party
"Oh, he's guilty fast enough I've
seen many rustler hung on less
evidence in the old days."
They were speaking of M. Per-
riot. young Frenchmen who had
been for time dealing in cattle in
their neighborhood and was rapidly
growing rich.
M. Perriot was q good looking
besides being a wealthy young
Frenchman. Penryn had met him
several times-usually at Colonel
Dahlgrsen's homestead, which lay
several miles from the White Rive,
ranch. Before ID. Perriot had come
into the country Peuryn had beer
about the only young man visitor al
the colonel's. The colonel's daugh-
ter Josie was the magnet which
drew him. Nowadays he always
found Perriot there before him.
That very afternoon Penryn, TAX
ing what he called his constitutional
saw before him the young lady with
Perriot as her escort. They were
well mounted and his pony had all
he could do to overtake the couple
and might not have done so but that
they drew rein on the verge of . hill
and sat contemplating what was GO
ing on below on the other slope
where Perriot had his little camp.
So interested were they in the cattle
branding that they did not notice
Penryn till he was close upon them.
After saluting Miss Dahlgreen and
exchanging . few grave words with
Perriot Penryn raised his hat again
to the lady and trotted down the
farther side Of the hill. As he went,
however, he turned 10 Perriot, and
said as he pointed to the believing
herd and~the excited Mexicans be.
low them: ave heard of man be.
ing hung for branding . bunch oil
steers like that. Times have changed
10 Texas, but 1t isn't healthy oc-
cupation even now"
"What mean your sputtered Per.
riot.
But Miss Josie turned her back
upon the American. Penryn spurred
his pony on aud rode down into the
midst of the rabble about the camp
wagon and fires. The Mexicans saw
him coming, and somebody recog-
nized him. Those at the fires and
the branders huddled together and
turned black looks upon him as be
rode into their midst.
There was steer on his side near
one of the fires, held by the lariats
of two herdsmen. There was an old
mark-a mark Penryn knew WELL.
on the beasts nigh fore shoulder.
Somebody ran from one of the
fires and laid hot iron on the
steers side. There was sickening
ordor OF burning hair and flesh, and
the astonished steer beloved loudly
The Mexicans gathered around the
American with threatening faces
He looked down upon them con
temptuously. "You know wha,
this means in Texas he said calm
~. aThis range will be too hot fol
you fellows-understandin
He turned his pony about ani
rode out of the group. One mai