The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1909-01-03
,cn by tnemss, said Re,, IN.

|
boy couldn't look after a herd Of any
decent size. such as l suppose 'Clt
PEBBLES owned. Did he tell you thei,
Eumber?"
Don't guess he knows" s,rinning
His great dra back is weak head
lie talks big as Il 10000 m1il-'botlt
what they've done an are dom an
are goin' to do an bout their rorlG-
ups an brandin's an sirh b;it one
time when | pinned him down to real
numbers he flung his shoulders back
an looked proud as peacock an
said he guessed as much rs seventy
an spoke like t was printed i'm 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
much of a cattle man an got more an
| more shiftless fore he was gored He
never had only 500 or 600 head, l
guess, an half these slipped away or
died fore his end come Then be-
there the herd must "a thinned CON
sider'ble wouldn't wonder If the
weak herd was reasonably close to
the mark, though mebbe the count III
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
pint. with the only entrance this
way. an it has the best grain I
know. Almost any size herd could
feed there, an n man at this end could
look out for 'em all. If t want for
that the two innocents couldn't "a
herded dozen week without a
stampede. That valleys jest honey
an peaches for the little grille"
Its 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 a 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. I question II even now
any cattle are left on the ranch.
What'd you cay 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 her
schoolgirlie name IS Kitty. Shall l
ride out that away?' -.
mo; I'll go myself. it's time was
showing neighbon1(iness. Besides.
don't mind conf hg I'm alittle anx-
ious. The re- G& visit all the
and invite every man who has lost cat
tie to join in the hunt. l 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
he swept. making rapid
progress, but SO easily as to seem in
no hurry, himself and horse as one. a
for speed.
The v ranch owner was swinging In
4 hammock under one Of the trees
that were scattered about the dug
out. Old PEBBLES had been shiftless
and industrially, but he
had been an artist for beauty and
comfort. Other ranchers had raised
:attle: he had grown trees and ar
ranged hanmocks and seats under
hem and boxes for birds nests In |
hem. Within the dugout he had more |
Easy lounging places and entrances |
'or birds and a profusion of books.
And while he had read and dreamed |
Ind slept the herd had scattered and |
decreased.
To this place had come the girl
rom the east, young III years. but /
With the dfeamines6 Of centuries in !
ler blood. And she had found the
,lace good.
She had scarcely thought Of loneli-
less or visitors. but now, az she saw
he frst one sweep into her valley
md straight on to the d1t6ut, she
bound that interest Of try outside
world surpassed that Of tbs book. III
Yer hand, ind she rooe saai,de stood
his approach with e-sluBh II
Oh her face. -.5s .s'+
ehesw6s -tnore than merely pretty, I
nd the -eouacicusaess Of 4 thrilled +
lam Bell even before he swung Him
elf from his hospe and stood before
Ter with do6cd hat. Since tfs cdiless !
lays he had seen little Of women, 6dt +
his one struck HIN az bkanSe more
uited to drawing room thai to i |
|dg0ut. he had thought I'd f,ly his
And stdtes his esrand
vhiae' FOLDING 10 his bridle reins. but |
efore Z hAf dozen words were spo-
en' he made turn with the reins
bout limb and accepted the camp
hair beside her hammock, which she
oepitably Indicated. Then he pushed
~, chat. ns1.3n AwS c..,,xo.,1rA - \,1,a