Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-06-25
THE LAW OF
THE RANGE
" Arch Maokin

On the western slope Of the great
Cascades where the Columbia rolls
blue to the sea and the sun SMILES
warmly ON the hundred.mtle rtbb"lS OF
green, luxuriant pasture range, thTe
the word OF the law was Force and he
strength OF the Stronger Man.
Old Jim Markleton. who In all the
years his cattle had ranged that slope.
had been the Stronger Man and the
Law. and when Bud Bleasoe and his
sheep outfit came up from the south
there had been q dividing line marked
down by the Law which Biedsoe
sheep were to severely respect. Inc
dividing line was Hopkins creek and
the price OF pasSlng-dcath. Bledsces
sheep cropped the stnbby grass above
Hopkins creek until there was non"
left to crop, so they crossed. II was
then that the war began.
Martha Markleton, breathing deep
the mountain air, rubbed her eyes ana
looked 10 the dawn.kissed peaks OF
the snowy Cascades Rising white
and blue and straight as temple col
ann, a thin shaft OF smoke ought 10
tOuch the heavens. The girl choked
IN her deep breathing and turning ran
feet footed To the house, her eyes wild
with excitement.
Dad, Dad, dad" she cried. they're
comm"
There were four OF them when they
rode away, Old lin. Mat Hicks. Tom
Mcconnell and Martha. The old man
swore at her coming.
1T amt goin' 70 be no picnic. girl,
be chided: "therell be some KILN ana
reg lar barbecue of sheep. III XVI
Bud Rledsoe If can. Likewise hell
kill me II he can"
Martha Markleton fell to thinking
Once In her lonely rides she had met
Rledsoe and talked with him. Taught
to despise sheepmen. she had found
Il hard to dislike Bledsoe, who nad
way" so different from her own
folks and kind which she had read
about in books He was cookbook
ing Young chap, gOnd-looking In spite
of his red hair. and what was greater.
her dad than she. when the grass
Is gone up yonder," he had said. then
We will cross the creek. After 'that
he had recited his opinion OF man
who thought he owned the whole state
of Oregon, which made her very
angry. and Immediately following that
he had made her gasp when he said
II believe that | already love you ana
will want to marry you some fine
day" Even now her heart beat faster
when she called 1t to mind.
And now her dad was riding out TO
kill Bud Rletisoe and Bledsoe to kill
her dad.
It was near to noon when they came
across the Bledsoe party. Peg Don
aldson, Markleton's lookout. who had
signaled the march Of the enemy, had
taken TO the woods. and showed mp
after the fight was over. pale and en-
barrassed. Plugged deep by bullet
from one of Bledsoe's men. old
Markleton lay cursing and splitting
blood. while his stalwart enemy. Bed
soc himself. bandaged him up. carried
him into his own shack. and laid him
carefully on his own bed. Then he
left him in care Of Martha. while he
rode down into Somerset, IA miles
away, to fetch a doctor.
Markleton was old. and 1t took him
a long time to get well. II was very
long time. even before he could be
moved to his own ranch. Disgruntied
Of the big. red.headed sheep-herder
and his men, old Jim begged his
daughter to stay with him.
Martha Markieton stayed at her IA
theirs side and cried when Bud made
love to- her. and scolded her father
for terming their host "good-for-
nawthin'. murderous sheep-hooSer."
But in time old Markleton began to
hold this indomitabiar young ''cuss"
in ave. Hours at time Bud and he
cheerfnIly wraaglcd at politics or
poker. the younger man always COM
ing out modcstly victorious in the
end
One day uhe old man was able 20
Robbie about, Bad preached the ques-
ton.
Il love your daughter, jim" he
said. '.and she loves me. She's never
quite said 50. but she does just the
same. Never mind now, Wait until
I'm through taking I've got prop
osifion. The Law Of the range is what
say. You're back number, a good
for-Ro.hing old cowpUncher. Pray
don't &c, excited suppose VIC mike
II 'Markieton 4 BIedsoe.'. You know
the law Of the range Is what I say"
Dad. dad said small, wee