The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1910-04-23

anyone who did not wish to be in Ma
nessnoorhood had his permission 10
move on to other free grass. Perhaps thew
looked him over q bit more carefullv thsr "a
noticed the peculiarly Of his noss ma ~.
eyea and the handy and casual way be had al
PICKING on the heads Of rattlespakes and auch
tna1es with six-shooter while he talked IN
neighborhood where cattle thieves we're b.
einninE 70 be troublesome man like that
would DO handy to have around They var
to have an example presently Of his v,,l,ns.
ness ana ability to defend the rights Of owner
ship-a small example, but CONVINCING,
was no easy matter to keep herd intact
IN those days. The outlaw pure and simple
was bad enough. but to the newcomer with .
small bunch Of COWS" (csttle reearalesa AZ
eender) the vast. roaming herd guarded b. !
vesitaole army Of puuchers. whose respect tor
any law was small enough. was an even
greater menace Mcdonald knew Of thess
coalitions and when. soon sitter, his arrival
eg9e Of his cattie strayed away be sst ont to
fxepeot The surrounding herds. After riding
soas distance he came upon iares drove.
evidently on it, way to markst It wss about
noon and the men were 'rounding.in" for din
nef. Mcdonald started to address q herder
when the man turned abruptly and started on
Mcdonald Immediately began looking through
the cattle. when the herder wheeled and
roughly asked him what he wanted.
7 was looking for hobbled horses" was the
easy reilly whereupon the punchsr made some
suE1y comment and rode sway.
Mcdonald. presently satisfied that his stray
cattle were not with that portion Of the drove.
continued his search further along and came
up with the "chuck wagon" where dinner was
being prepared Cow-msn arc hospitable and
the foreman invited him to dismount and Join
them. He did % and little later the suriy.
pnncher came IN. giving the camp guest any
thine but friendly look In the course OF
III seal the visitor was asked where he wss
from
.Mineola." hs said. -wood county"
The surly herder spoke up.
'~1'hess id sand lappers feast Tsxans)
arc getting too thick out here"
Mcdonald set down his coffee.
"The id skunks and prairie dogs are A.
ready too thick" no said.
An Instant later the puncher had out his
pistol but the sand-lapper WAS stiil quicker
The punchsr was covered before he could
hssna MS weapon to bear Mcdonald said:
Turn Il Ioossl Drop ft!-
4 ,Ths hsrdsr stiil clutchsd the weapon which
- ~ afraid to raise
H 1As sand lappsr stepped nearer to him and
Nm 4 sudden movement rappsA him smart1y
on the head with the heavy barrel Of his sfx-
ehooter. It was thing that ~ deputy -
had done often and II was always elective.
ne puncher dropped his gun. One ct his
comrades spfang to his Assistancs. but was
covered and disafmsd With amazing sudden
moss. The foreman interfsrsd now. and The
beginner OF the disturbance was led away 70
\ brook 70 have his head bathsd and ban.
Aaeed whereupon the sand lapper quietly I'M
is1,ed his dinner thanked his host. continued
Tho search for his missing stock and when hs
found tham set out for home. Nesting
S,isns Nth now banAased head. hs expect
a further trouble. Nothing happened The
anna lappef and his missing cows had tbe
right OF way