The Irish standard., 1907-12-07

band, Jim, now doesn't 1t, how you
people scare at petticoats. They
amt pizen-honest."
Jim looked on idly. Occasionally
he condescended to head a rebellious
steer shutewards. Out beyond it was
still and sweet and peaceful, and the
late afternoon had put on that thin
veil Of GOODNESS which is God.given
refreshment after the heat of the
day. But here in the pen all was con-
fusion. The raucous cattle.calls of
the cowboys smote the evening air
startlingly.
Here, Bill Brown!" he exclaimed
suddenly, where did you run across
that critter?" He slapped the shoul-
der of big. raw-boned, long-eared
steer as he spoke. The animal was
on the point Of being driven up the
shute.
What you want to know for? asked
Brown in surprise.
Reason 'nough. That critter be-
longs to us, that's why; and want to
know where you got him, that's what
] want to know
You're crazy, Jim! Why, bought
that fellow from Jesse Black t. other
day. I've got a bill OF sale for him.
I'm shipptn' couple of cars to Sioux
City and bought him to send along.
That's on the square,"
II don't doubt its far as you're
concerned Bill Brown" said Jim, "but
that's our critter jest the same. and
Ill jest tote i'm along T you've no OBJ.
jections."
'Well, guess not!" said Brown, Ia.
conically.
Look here, Bill Brown" Jim was
getting hot headedly angry, didn't
you know Jesse Black stands trial to-
morrow for rustlin' that there very
critter from the Three Bars ranch?"
"No, ! didn't Brown answered
shortly. "Any case?"
II guess yes! Williston O. the Lazy
s saw this very critter on that island
where Jesse Black holds out" He
proceeded to relate minutely the story
to which Williston was going to swear
on the morrow. "But," he concluded,
"Jesse's goin' to fight like hell against
bel. bound over.''
well, WE'LL" said Brown, perplexed-
ly. "But the brand, Jim, it's not
yours or Jesse's either
'"Quainted with any R ranch in
these parts?' queried Jim, shrewdly.
II amt"
well, neither am T." confessed
Brown, "but that's not sayin' there
amt one somewhere. Maybe we can
trace it back"
"Shucks!" exploded Jim. ).
Maybe you're right Jim, but 1
don't propose to lose the price O. that
animal less'n I have to. You can't
blame me for that. paid good money
for it. It it's your'n, why, of course,
it's your'n. But want to be sure first.
Sure you'd know him, jim? How
could you be so blamed sure? Your
boss must range 5000 head"
"Know him? Know Mag? I'd know
Mag eff my eyes were full O. soundin'
cataracts. He's an old and tried friend
O. mine. The meanest critter the
Lord ever let live and that's a fac.
But the boss calls i'm his maggot
Seems to actually churish kind O.
'fection for the ornery critter, and
says the luck O. the Three Bars would
sort O. peak and pine ef he should
ever git rid o the pesky brute. Maybe
he's right. Leastwise, the critters his,
and when a things yours, why, it's
yours and that's all there is about it.
BY crack, the boss is some mad!
You'd think him and that wall.eyed,
cross-grained son-of-a-gun had been
kind and lovin' mates these many
years. Well, amt met up with this
ornery critter for some time Hullo,
there, Mag! Look kind O. sneakin' j
now, don't you. wearin' that outland-
tsh and unbeknownst R ?"
Bill Brown thoughtfully surveyed
the steer whose ownership was thus
so Unexpectedly disputed.
"You hold him." insisted Jim. "Ef
he amt ours, you can send him along
T. with your next shipment, can't you?
What you wobblin' about? Amt afraid
the boss II claim what amt his, are
you, Bill BROWN
well, I can't hep myself, guess" :"
said Brown, in tone of voice which
told plainly Of his laudable effort to
keep his annoyance in subsection to
his good fellowship. "You send Lang
ford down here first thing in the morn.
ing. II he says the critters his'n that
ends it,
Now that he had convinced his
quondam acquaintance. the present
shipper, to his entire satisfaction,
Jim glanced at his watch with os-
tentatious ease. His time had come.
If all the minutes of all the time to
come should be as short as those 40
had been, how soon he, Jim Munson,
COW puncher. would have ridden them
all into the past. But his get away"
must be clean and dignifled.
Likely bunch you have there" he
said, casually, turning away with un.