The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1911-05-02
Justice of
ThePlains
Which Was Never
Executed
By CLARISSA MAcKIE
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation, 1911.

| IVY Ak5nI Wy EIutcTlCdu EE69B A96O- =
ciation 1911. .
eseeessOOOeOsOesOoOSOeSOOs
There was not the slightest doubt
that Jim Russell had stolen Harry
Barry's favorite horse. Every man on
the Lone Bull outfit looked to his own
horse when it was learned that the
new cowpuncher had not slept in his
bed the night before
IT'S on you, Harry" said Gabriel
with meaning emphasis as they troop
ed in to breakfast. t
"And can take care Of it." an
nounced that gentleman impressively.
| All the merry light had gone out of
his brown eyes. and his pleasant
mouth wore an ugly. determined look
which his comrades had never seen
before
They fell to discussing Jim Russell
and the Ill reputation which he had
borne in Arizona, whence he had drift
ed northward to the Lone Bull ranch.
Many horses had been laid against his
reputation. but there had never been
any proof
After the meal was concluded Harry
Barry, who had maintained for him
an unusual silence. obtained from Boss
| Clintock leave Of absence to hunt his
stolen beast Declining all offers Of
assistance. he mounted wiry little
scrub which he had captured and
broken himself and which was utter.
~ tireless in the chase and followed
freshly broken trail that led aside
from well defined paths straight into
the prairie
Once he dismounted to examine the
clean imprint Of small hoof, and he
grunted as he recognized the little tri-
angular nick made by Nelly's notched
fore foot
Cur" he muttered as he rode on
ward. his eyes ever on the lookout for
the first blurring shadow of a distant
horse and rider. Russell must have
been riding since daylight. and Nelly
would be rired by this time. for Harry
had pushed her cruelty the day before.
1t had been hard day. for the cattle
along Saltpeter creek had stampeded
and the cattlemen had worked untl
10 O'Clock before the FESTIVE creatures
were composed enough to leave with
the regular herdsman.
After 1t was all over and thev had
partaken of hot coffee before going
to bed Russell had come and sat be-
side his bunk and yarned to Harry Of
the Arizona country and told him
much abour girl who was willing to
marry him. only her father had heard
so much about his bad reputation that
he had forbidden his daughter to see
Jim Russell
1--WE got a mind to rustic her of
some day jest as | would a bunch of
cattle. If | was that kind Of chap"
said the aggrieved young lover.
Are you asking my advice?" asked
Harry Barry bluntly
''No. but you are welcome to give
1t. Fire away" said the other good
naturally.
why don't you prove to the old man
that you amt what you're said to be?
It's easy to prove you're In the right.
If you are!' he added
well" said Jim thoughtfully. ~ reclx-
on I've got to tell somebody. It's this
way, Harry. We want to get married
and go over TO Star Lake, where can
get foreman job with the lumber
company and cut out the cattle bust
ness forever. | haven't got $40 to my
name. but Louise is willing to go with
me. and she promised that any time
! give the signal she'll bring a few
things and go with me. It's a fifty
mile ride to Star Lake, where the
parson is and where there's a little
house waiting for us-only, you see,
I've got to get hold of horse that'n
take me the whole distance without
stopping much. for old man Snyder
will hot foot it after US with his whole
outfit as soon as he discovers we've lit
out Louise has got her own horse.
the fastest critter on the range except
your Nelly, and | want to know If
You won't let me have your critter for
the purpose-eh. Harry?"
Mary Nelly" said Harry Barry fret
fully. for he was half asleep and re-
sented being kept from his well earned
slumbers by any mans love affairs.
Jim Russell had gone quietly away,
and the next morning Nelly had been
missing. and so had been the handsome
young scapegrace who had come to the
Lone Bull with reputation painted
three shades blacker than crow, but
to whom good natured Clintock had
vouchsafed trial.
Harry Barry riding across the plain
In the direction Of Star lake found him.
self plying Louise Snyder. who was
throwing her life away on the repro
bate who had stolen a horse with
which to eIope with her. OF course
Harry Barry realized that Jim Russell
had tried TO borrow Nelly for the occa-
sion. and that showed a degree of de-
cency he had not attributed to his late
comrade.
But the thought of his horse ranked
in his mind. and he was quite deter
mined that when be met with Jim Rus
sell. as he undoubtedly would before
noon. as the girl would have to rest at
intervals he would show no mercy to
that horse thief and be would kill two
birds with one stone. He would bring
long wanted horse thief to justice.
and at the same time he would save
Louise Snyder from marriage with
most INSCRIPTIONS rogue.
1t had rained the night before, and
there still remained a certain spongi-
ness of the soii that held the telltale
traces of Nelly's hoofs. Now, there
was the trail Of another horse. and by
the deep indentation Harry Barry
knew that they had been hard ridden.
He looked ahead where the haZy out
line of the Flower ranges might afford
refuge for the clippers He looked
behind him and saw man pounding
along on a tall rawboned white horse.
''Od man Snyder and riding like the
devil" he muttered. Hope he doesn't
pick me for Russell. I'll have to get
drop on him first" He flashed out his
pistol and had MIR. Snyder's fat hands
high in the air az soon as he heard the
young cattleman's stern command.
wy, Mr.. Barry. l think you must
mistake me fer a rustler- eh p he smil-
ed ingratiatingly at Harry Barry.
Its best to be sure. you know. Mr..
Snyder" grinned Harry impudently.
"By the way you was lighting after me
got the idea you was trying to run
me off the range, and you know us
Lone Bull fellows don't let nobody do
that"
.Oh, no, far from such biznessI' ex-
planned Mr.. Snyder impatiently. 81
gotta more important matter. That
blamed scoundrel of Jim Russell, he's
run away with my daughter. my Lou
Use! If catch EN- I'll skin him alive"
IF he don't skin you first" said
Harry Barry coolly.
why should he skin me. eh?" sput-
tered Mr.. Snyder what have | done