Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1909-02-24

ranch BY Themselves said Bell In.
credulously. why, a veteran COW.
boy couldn't look after a herd of any
decent size, such as I suppose old
PEBBLES owned. Did he tell you their
NUMBER
Don't guess he knows" grinning.
"His great drawback Is weak head.
He talks big as 10000 man-'bout
what they've done an are dom an
are goin' to do an bout their round.
ups an brandin's an SIGH. But one
time when pinned him down to real
numbers he flung his shoulders back
an looked proud as a peacock an
said he guessed as much as seventy
an spoke like t was printed in big
letters. Ye. see, at home he'd never
been used to but one.
Nov, my idee's this" looking about
the group which had closed in to lis
ten. "Old PEBBLES himself want
much Of cattle man an got more an
more shiftless fore he was gored. He
1ever had only 500 or GOO head,
guess, an half these slipped away or
died fore his end come. Then be.
tween the gorin' an the girl reachin'
there the herd must "a thinned con.
sider'ble. l wouldn't wonder If the
weak herd was reasonably close to
the mark, though mebbe the count II
run to a hundred or more. One man
could look after that many in any
place an up where they are could
care for most any number. The v
ranch is jest long valley that ends in
a pint with the only entrance this
way. an 1t has the best grain !
know. Almost any size herd could
feed there, an man at this end could
look out for 'em all. If t want fol
that the two innocents couldn't "a
herded a dozen a week without q
stampede. That valleys Jest honey
an peaches for the little grille"
''1t's one of the most exposed ranches
in the whole country" declared Bell
with considerable uneasiness in his
voice. IF there are cattle stealers in
the mountains, as seems q sure thing
now, the V ranch is right at their
hands, and, from what you say about
the owners, there wouldn't be much
opposition. question If even now
any cattle are left on the ranch
What'd you say the girls name was?
didn't say. But guess it spells
out katherine, for the man spoke Of
her as Mees Kat'in', though likely hel
schoolgirlie name Is Kitty. Shall
ride out that away?"
mo: I'll 60 myself. It's time l wal
showing neighborliness. Besides,
don't mind confessing I'm a little anx
ious. The rest of you visit all The
ranches within thirty or forty miles
and invite every man who has lost cat
tie to join in the hunt. l will covel
the territory in my direction"
There were two ranches on the way
| out, and these he visited. But the
owners seemed incredulous as to his
loss. The year had been the most
prosperous in their experience, they
declared, and neither Of them had
missed a hoof. And yet their cattle
had strayed in all directions, many
even penetrating into the foothills.
On across the plain with long, easy
fluctuations he swept. making rapid
progress, but so easily as to seem In
no hurry. himself and horse as one, 9
machine for speed.
The V ranch owner was swinging In
hammock under one Of the trees
that were scattered about the dug.
out. Old PEBBLES had been shlftless
financially and industrially, but he
had been m artist for beauty and
comfort. Other ranchers had raised
cattle: he had grown trees and ar
ranged hammocks and seats under
them and boxes for birds nests In
them. Within the dugout he had more
easy lounging places and entrances
for birds and profusion Of books
And while he had read and dreamed
and slept the herd had scattered and
decreased.
| To this place had come the girl
from the east, young in years, but
with the dreaminess of centuries In
her blood. And she had found the
place good.
She had scarcely thought of loneli.
hess or visitors, but now, as she saw
the first one sweep into her valley
and straight on to the dugout. she
found that interest of the outside
world surpassed that of the book in
her hand. and she rose and stood
awaiting his approach with a flush Of
anticipation on her face.
She was more than merely pretty
and the consciousness Of it thrilled
Sam Bell even before he swung him
self from his horse and stood before
her with dotted hat. Since his college
days he had seen little Of women. but
this one struck him as being more
suited to drawing room than to q
dugout. He had thought to pay his
compliments and state his errand
while holding to his bride reins, but
before half dozen words were spo'
ken he made turn with the reins
about limb and accepted the camp
chair beside her hammock, which she
Hospitality indicated. Then he pushed
The chair aside and sprawled at full
length upon the ground, which custom
had made more natural and com.