Gilpin observer., 1908-11-19
TIL LAW OF
THE RANGE
BY Arch Mackin


warmly on the hundre d-mile ribbon of
green, luxuriant pasture range, there
the word of the law was Force and the
strength of the Stronger Man.
Old Jim Markletol, who in al! the
years his cattle had ranged that slope,
had been the Stronger Man and the
Law, and when Bud Bledsoe and his
sheep outfit came up from the south
there had been dividing line marked
down by the Law which Bledsoe's
sheep were to severely respect. The
dividing line was Hopkins creek and
the price of passing-death. Bledsoe's
sheep cropped the stubby grass above
Hopkins creek until there was none
left to crop, SO they crossed. 1t was
then that the war began.
Martha Markleton, breathing deep
the mountain air, rubbed her eyes and
looked to the dawn-kissed peaks of
the snowy Cascades. Rising white
and blue and straight as a temple col
umn, a thin shaft of smoke ought to
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
COMMIT"
There were four of them when they
rode away, Old Jim, Mat Hicks, Tom
Mcconnell and Martha. The old man
swore at her coming.
1T amt goin to be no picnic, girl
be chided; "therell be some KILN and
reg'lar barbecue of sheep. I'll kill
Bud Bledsoe if can. Likewise he'll
kill me If he can"
Martha Markleton fell to thinking.
Once in her lonely rides she had met
Bledsoe and talked with him. Taught
to despise sheepmen, she had found
it hard to dislike Bledsoe, who had
way" SO different from her own
folks, and kind which she had reaa
about in books. He was a good-look-
ing young chap, good-looking in spite
of his red hair, and, what was greater.
he seemed to have no more fear of
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:
Il believe that | already love you and
will want to marry you some fine
day" Even now her heart beat faster
when she called it to mind.
And now her dad was riding out to
kill Bud Bledsoe and Bledsoe to kill
her dad.
1t 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 up
after the fight was over pale and en-
barrassed. Plugged deep by bullet
from one OF Bledsoe's men, old
Markletou lay cursing and splitting
blood, while his stalwart enemy. Bled-
soc himself, bandaged him up, carried
him into his own shack, and laid him
carefully on his own bed. Then he
left ltm in care of Martha, while he
rode down into Somerset, IA miles
away to fetch a doctor.
Markleton was old. and 1t took him
long time to get well. 1t was very
long time, even before he could be
moved to his own ranch. Disgruntled
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
ther's side and cried when Bud made
love to her, and scolded her father
for terming their host "good-for-
nawthin', murderous sheep-hooker."
But in time old Markleton began to
hold this indomitable young "cuss"
in awe. Hours at a time Bud and he
cheerfully wrangled at politics or
poker, the younger man always COM
ing out modestly victorious in the
end.
One day (the old man was. able to
hobble about Bud broached the ques-
ton.
Il love your daughter, Jim," he
said, "and she loves me. She's never
quite said so, but she does just the
same. Never mind now! Wait until
I'm through talking. I've got prop
osition. The law Of the range is what
say. You're back number, a good.
for-nothing old cowpuncher. Pray
don't get excited. Suppose we make
1t 'Markleton & Bledsoe' You know
the law Of the range is what say"
Dad, dad" said a small, wee
Voice, dol"
The old man thought 1t over Just
one minute and again the small, wee
voice said: Dad. do!"
THE law Of the range is what she
says" old Markleton fared up, and
he again began ctfssing his luck.
Human lie La &ha En&nea