The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-05-22

rather LeSleSl business.
While he was yet some distance from
the house he met an old man who was
in service under Colonel Dahlgreen.
Good day, Senior Penryn," was the
old fellows greeting Ride you to our
ranch today"
You are right, old man, do" re-
sporded Penryn.
The Colonel has ridden to the sta
ton, senior"
And Miss Josie?''
The senorita rides with senior, the
| Frenchman," returned the old man,
composedly. See, they go yonder.''
Penryn's eyes followed the direction
in which he pointed. Two ponies, bear
ing a man and a woman, were canter-
ing across the plain The young ranch
man was about to pull his horse about;
then he thought better Of it, drove his
spurs into the steeds scared sides, and
shot after the two distant figures.
But the Coloneps daughter and Mon
sieur Perriot had a long lead and were
well mounted Miss Josie, who was a
fresh faced, robust girl, enjoyed moth
ing SO much as a swift canter over the
rolling prairie, and Penryn's pony was
sorely winded ere he came anywhere
near her and her escort. At length
they halted upon the summit of one of
| those billow-like rises, which often
break the level monotony of the plain,
and Penryn drew rapidly near.
PerriOt and the girl We're gazing at
some scene being enacted upon the 9TH
er side of the ridge, and as he pulled his
laboring horse down to a walk, Penryn
heard the squealing of steers, the neigh
ing of horses, and the general hustle
and hurlyb urly of sound attending a
cattle camp. So interested were the girl
and her escort in the scene that Penryn
walked his horse close to them with
out being perceived.
What a lot of them, Monsieur Per-
riot!'' Miss Josie was saying. And
they are all to be branded?"
Yes. Mees-all. There are two hun
dred head"
your herd must be growing rapidly"
"Eet ess, Mees Josie. l hat many
tousand. 1 am reech. May lay dem
ala poor tribute to your beauty-at
your feet"
20, dear" cried the girl, laughing.
You foreigners, Monsieur, are so ex-
travagant. Why I should have beef to
feed an army if you laid all your cattle
at my feet
You do not belief me serious, Mann
selle!" exclaimed Perriot.
80, it must hurt those poor creatures
dreadfully to be branded" interrupted
Miss Josie. And they are not all
calves. Monsieur Perriot."
"No-not all"
But haven't they been branded be-
fore?"
''Ah, eet ees so-they hat. But not
with my brand, Mees. 1 hat buy many
of them"
Suddenly Penryn Spurred his horse up
beside them. His unexpected appear
ance startled Miss Josie, so that she ut
tered a slight scream. Perriot muttered
malediction upon the young Amer
lean.
Good day, Miss Dahlgreen!" he ex-
claimed Good day, NJ. Perriot!" He
bowed to the girl, but kept his eyes
upon the man. Your men seem busy,
Monsieur"
'Yes-ah, busy" muttered the
Frenchman.
Are they often busy in just this
way?" pursued Penryn pointedly. Il
have heard it said So"
Il know not your meaning, Mon
sieur," said Perriot, uglily.
Penryn pointed to the believing herd
and the excited MeXicans below them.
i've heard of a man being hung for
branding a bunch of steers like that, "
he said sternly. Times have changed
in Texas, but it isn't a healthy occupa-
ton even now"
What mean you?" sputtered Perriot.
But Miss Josie turned her back upon
the American. Penryn spurred his pony
on and rode down into the midst OF
the rabble about the camp wagon and
fires. The MeXicans saw him coming
and somebody recognized him. Those
at the fires and the branders huddled
together and turned black looks upon
him as he rode into their midst.
There was a 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 weldon the
beasts night foreshoulder.
Somebody ran from one of the fires
and laid a hot iron on the steers side.
There was a sickening odor of burn
ing hair and flesh and the astonished
steer bawled loudly.
The Mexicans gathered around the
American with threatening faces. He
looked down upon them contemptuous-
Iy. You know what this means in
Texas" he said. calmly. This range
will be too hot for you fellows-under-
stand?"
He turned his pony about and rode
out of the group. One man made
grab at his bride rein and Penryn
raised his whip and brought it down
with singing force across his face.
Then he put spurs to his pony and rode
off over the raise, expecting every in
slant to hear the report of guns behind
him. But no volley followed him, and
/ he passed over the crest of the raise
unnolested. Miss Josie and her escort
had disappeared IF the fool remains
around here twenty-four hours I won't
answer for the consequences. There
were cattle from ranches other than
mine in that bunch
He struck off for his own range in a
different direction from that by when
he had come. The country was wilder
and more broken There was grove
of stunted trees and branch of the
river in his path. and he stopped to give
his pony an hours rest.
He was still sitting by the side Of the
stream, his steed feeding few yards
away. when he saw a group of haif q
dozen or more horsemen coming out CT
a cody across the brook, apparently
catching sight of him, drew up in an ex-
cited, gesticulating group. Penryn was
quick TO recognize them as NeXIcans
quite evidently herdsmen from Per
riots ranch.