Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1908-02-21

face was clean shaven, round ana JOY
full. lit by a pair Of steel gray eyes
that twinkled continually In harmony
with the genial smile which sometimes
CA used the careless to lose sight OF the
firmness Of the clean cut lips and the
square, resolute java man who was
known and honored In seven states
and loved by every ranchman within
radius OF thousand miles. Rem
wyck was ice, Williams fire. so that
au fond there was not great deal OF
difference between their methods, for
heat and cold both burn.
Mr.. Williams. who. like all Texans.
was the soul OF hospitality, offered his
guests the best his ranch afforded, and
neither Miss Renwyck nor her father
found cause to murmur. When supper
was over and Miss Harriet, who was
sleepy from her long ride, was shown
to simply furnished but clean, fire.
room, the two magnates sat down t.
discuss their business differences. Al
the outset they locked horns, and mid
night found them as Ear as ever from
an amicable settlement.
Good Lord. Renwyck," the Texan
laughed, tits after II o'clock. and
we're losin' a sight OF beauty sleep.
Let's stop buckin' an take a drink.
That's somethin' no honest man can
squabble over unless the whlsky's bad,
which this amt Here's how! Turn
In, but don't thrash around your bunk
all night. We can do our wrastlin' in
the daytime"
But Mr.. Renwyck did thrash
around his bunk" all night, and not
once did he close his eyes. On several
crucial points he was In the wrong,
and no one knew II better than him
self, yet with bulldog tenacity he
clung to his false position. With loss
OF sleep his irritation increased. and
morning found him eager for the fray
and more insistent than ever in his
unjust claims.
Breakfast over. the two went at II
hammer and tongs. but without ADJUST
ment Of the difficulties. The New
Yorker's craft and legal knowledge
were wrecked on the rocks Of the
Texans common sense and humor,
and at last Mr. Renwyck's temper
burst all bounds. In one short angry
speech he severed every business In
terest with his host and former partner
and turned that gentleman into calm
but remorseless enemy.
The horses were ordered without de-
lay. and. greatly to Miss Hsrriets re
gret. for there was much that she
wanted to see on the ranch. they left
the place at once. In order that the
angry Mr.. Renwyck might get to the
distant railroad by 2 o'clock and
his hope Of vengeance could carry him.
However. they were not TO reach that
point without experiencing another
phase Of Texas life. with its infinite
possibilities OF excitement and sur
prise.
Their wagon had broken down, and
the outfit. with the guide and the 9TH
ers, had been left behind at the ranch,
with Instructions to follow after 30
soon as things were put in shape. A
guide was hardly necessity. for the
route 70 the railroad station lay straight
south over the prairie. There was a
range Of hills TO the right. and with
that and q pocket compass even such
tenderfoot as Jacob Renwyck could
scarcely lose the way.
The two csatsred along In N. pleas
ant morning The enjoyment OF the
ride greatly Modified MIR. Renwyck's
exacsrbatsd temper, although II In no
wise altered his determination to make
Williams suffer ON account Of the rup-
ture. As for Miss Harriet she thor
oughly enjoyed Il and only regretted
that the expericnce would soon tormi-
nate in the luxurious monotony OF her
fathers private car. From time to
time her father left her and rode TO
the top Of one OF the hills to the right
to survey the country and 10 make
sure, In SO far as he could, that they
were going In the right direction
About midday they overlook, great
herd OF cattle drifting along the prairie
as they fed. Mr.. Renwyck was ON the
hin az the time. SO far as the girl
could see, the rolling prairie was dotted
with hundreds OF steers, There were
perhaps 2,OOo In the bunch They were
grazing pesceahly enough ON the short
/ grass. Here and there steer had lain
down for midday rest aud was quiet
ly chewing the cud Of ths morning
meal Remembering the assurance ot
the day before. she fearlessly cantered
along threading her way through the
animals, supposlng her father would
Join her In few moments, She was
thinking carelessly of the great dif-
ference between her situation then and
her ordinary environment which might
be typlhcd by upper Fifth avenue, New
| York.
Her reveries were broken by sud
/ den Commotion. one OF those myste-
rlouS impulses which are felt without
being seen or heard suddenly awoke
the great mass % steers 70 action. One
lazy old fellow, lying down for noon.
day slesta perhaps half q mile ahead.
unfortunately had his tail stepped ON
oy a fellow brute bcel'css % where he
j y,.a- ...In.. mis-, F,-... q .f... ID ..- .-.