Golden Valley chronicle. (Beach, Billings County, N.D.) 1905-1916, 1909-02-05

second cnapter goes on to say that |
when old PEBBLES was gored last
spring the only heiress an legatee an
kin was this same picter girl, who
was studyin' books in village high
school. But she was Jest as plucky e
inherent, an stead o. sellin' she come
straight on to run the ranch herself
an brung this German, who greed to
look out for everything for one-third
the profits. He told me all this him
self, Jest like q baby would"
"And these two are running the v
ranch BY Themselves said Bell in.
rredulously. "Why, veteran COW.
boy couldn't look after herd of any
decent size, such as suppose old
PEBBLES owned. Did he tell you their
number?'
"Don't guess he knows" grinning.
!" Ellis 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 sich. But one
time when I pinned him down to real
numbers he flung his shoulders back
an looked proud as peacock an
said he guessed as much as seventy
an spoke like It was printed in big
letters. Ye see, at home he'd never
been used to but one.
"Now, my idee's this" looking about
the group which had closed in to lis
ten. "Old PEBBLES himself want
| rn,,c1, ~ n ootflo ,,,o,, o,,s mt ,,,oro nm
more shiftless fore he was gored. He
never had only 800 or 600 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. I wouldn't wonder If the
weak herd was reasonably close to
the mark, though mebbe the count II
run to 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
q pint, with the only entrance this
way, an It has the best grain I
know. Almost any size herd could
feed there, an man at this end could
look out for 'em all. If It want for
that the two innocents couldn't "a
herded a dozen week without a
stampede. That valleys jest honey
an peaches for the little grille"
cts 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 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 wasp
Didn't say. But guess It spells
out Katherine, for the man spoke of
her as Mees Kat'in', though likely her
schoolgirlie name is Kitty. Shall I
ride out that away?'
"No; I'll 60 myself. It's time I was
showing neighborliness. Besides,
don't mind confessing I'm 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. will cover
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 hoof. And yet their cattle
had strayed in all directions, many
even penetrating into the foothills.
) On across the plain with long, easy
undulations he swept, making rapid
progress, but so easily as to seem in
no hurry, himself and horse as one, a
machine for speed.
The v ranch owner was swinging In
a hammock under one Of the trees
, that were scattered about the dug.
, out. Old PEBBLES had been shiftless
financially and industrially, but he
, had been IN 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
E easy lounging places and entrances
for birds and profusion Of books
i And while he had read and dreamed
! and slept the herd had scattered and
decreased.
To this place had come the CIR
q from the east, young in years, but
e with the dreaminess Of centuries ir
r her blood. And she had found the
t place good.
: She had scarcely thought Of loneli
r ness or visitors, but now, as she saw