The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1908-01-10

Williston and in the center Of the hin
stood out distinctly the cleanly car
terized three perpendicular lines that
were the identifying mark of the
Three Bars ranch, one of those same
big, opulent, self-centered outfits whose
astonishingly 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 transgressiou 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 hin.
if it was brand, was turned away
from Williston. The bewildered ami.
ma v~s C!overly roped and thrown to
the ~. The man who was plain
ly directing g. ->.~ffair, 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. It was the endgate rod of a
wagon and it 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 it's brush ;
and in the moment in which Willistor
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 a 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 tc
be-" said the second man with q
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 oficious warning. He
was big, beefy fellow with heavy
hardened face. Williston sounded the
depths of his memory but failed tc
place him among his acquaintance in
the COW country
'Gamble on me- returned the lead
er, with ready good nature, ''Ill make
1t as clean as boiled shirt. I take il
you don't know my reputation, pard
we'll, you'll learn. You're all right
only a trifie green, that's all"
With a firm, quick hand, he begar
running the soaring iron over the
right hip Of the animal. When he haG
finished and the steer, released, stag
gered to it's feet, Williston saw the
brand clearly. 1t was J. R. If it hat
been worked over another brand, i
certainly was clear job. He coul(
see no indications of any old marking:
whatsoever.
TOO clean to be worked over {
lazy S." thought Williston, "but no
over three bars"
There were six reds" said thu
chief, surveying the remaining bunc]
with critical eye. "One must hav'
wandered off while I was gone. &c
out there in the brush and round hin
up, Alec, while l tackle this long
horned gentleman"
WillistOn turned nOiselessly ava,
from the scene which so suddenl,
threatened danger. Both men wer
fully armed and would brook no caves
dropping Once more he crossed tn
sand in safety and found his hors
where he had left him, up the ravine
He vaulted into the saddle and ga
loped away into the quiet night.