The new era. (Walden, Colo.) 1906-19??, 1908-01-30

astonisa!nsIy multiplying sign was be.
coming such . veritable and prophetic
writing on the wall for Williston and
his kind.
Who. then, had dared to drive before
him an animal so branded? The bold
ness Of the transgression and the inso-
lent Indifference to the enormity OF at
tendant consequences held him for the
moment breathless. His attention was
once more called to the movements
of the men. The steers with which
they had been working was led away
still moaning with surprise and pain,
and another brought forward from
the reserve bunch. The branded hip.
II 1t was q brand, was turned away
from Williston. The bewildered ami
NAL was cleverly roped and thrown to
the ground. The man who was plain
ly directing the affair, he of the droop-
ing hat and lazy shoulders, stepped to
the fire. Williston held his breath
with the intensity Of his interest. The
man stopped and took an iron from
the fire. 1t was the endgate rod Of a
wagon and 1t was red-hot. In the act
Of Strengthening himself from his
STOPPING position, the glowing iron
stick in his right hand, he flung from
his head with an easy swing the flop
ping hat that interfered with the nicely
Of sight requisite in the work he was
about to do, and faced squarely that
quiet, innocent looking spot which
held the watching man in its brush;
and in the moment in which Williston
drew hastily back, the fear of discov-
cry beating a tattoo of cold chills down
his SPINE recognition of the man came
to him in clarifying burst of COM
prehension.
But the man evidently saw nothing
and suspected nothing. His casual
glance was probably only manifesto
ton of his habitual attitude of being
never off his guard. He approached
the PROSTATE steer with Indifference
to any meaning that might be attached
to the soft swapping Of twigs caused
by Williston's involuntary drawing
back into the denser shadows.
"Y' don't suppose now, do you, that
any blamed, interferin' Officer is
a-loafin' round where he oughtn't to
be?" said the second man with a
| laugh.
Williston, much relieved, again
peered cautiously through the brush.
He was confident brand was about
to be worked over. He must see
what there was to see.
Easy now. boss" said the second
man with an officious warning. He
was big. beefy fellow with heavy,
hardened face. Williston sounded the
depths of his memory. but failed to
place him among his acquaintances in
the cow country.
Gamble on me-" returned the lead
er, with ready good nature. "I'll make
1t as clean as boiled shirt. l take 1t
you don't know my reputation. pard.
well, you'll learn. You're all right,
only trifle green. that's all"
With Arm, quick hand, he began
running the soaring iron over the
right hip of the animal. When he had
finished and the steer. released, stag
gered to its feet, Williston saw the
brand clearly. 1t was ]. r. If it had
been worked over another brand, it
certainly was clear job. He could
see no Indications of any old markings
whatsoever.
Too clean to be worked over a
lazy S." thought Williston, but not
over three bars"
There were six reds" said the
chief. surveying the remaining bunch
with critical eye. One must have
wandered of while was gone. Get
out there in the brush and round him
up, Alec. while l tackle this long
horned gentleman"
Williston turned noiselessly away
from the scene which so suddenly
threatened danger. Both men were
fully armed and would brook no caves
dropping. Once more he crossed the
sand in safety and found his horse
where he had left him, up the ravine
He vaulted into the saddle and gal.
Hoped away into the quiet night.
(TO BE CONTINUED0