News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1911-05-03

Tue utcp lHutHlullOl harry DUTY
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 tall, rawboned white horse
"Old man Snyder and riding like the
devil he muttered. Hope he doesn't
pick me for Russell. I'll have to get a
drop on him first" He flashed out his
pistol and had Mr.. Snyders fat hands
high in the air as soon as he heard the
young cattleman's stern command.
"W'y, Mr.. Barry. think you must
mistake me fer a rustler-eh?" he smil-
ed ingratiatingly at Harry Barry.
"It's best to be sure, you know, Mr..
Snyder" grinned Harry impudently:
"By the way you was lighting after me
l 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 bizness!' 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 l catch 'em III 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 l done
| to him, eh?"
you've taken away his character,
you know"
Mr.. Snyder stared incredulously.
Taken away his character?" he said
slowly. "Wy man, l didn't know Jim
Russell had any character"
Can you prove it?'
The father of Louise scratched his
ear thoughtfully. 81 can't prove it
this mint" he admitted guardedly,
"but reckon could by writing down
to Arizona, where he's from" o.
~ wouldn't do it," advised Harry
Barry. Jim Russell will probably be
married to Louise by that time, and
anything you said against him would
only be a reflection on your own fam
lily. How would you like to have any
body stir up your past?" he asked in
nocently.
Casper Snyder started violently and
looked at Harry Barry keenly. what
do you mean?" he demanded, with
red face.
what I said" returned Harry, flick
ing the reins on his horses neck.
"You going my way, Mr. Snyder?"
The elder man looked down at the
ground and bit his lips thoughtfully.
If he pursued Jim Russell to the death.
as he had planned in his first burst Of
vengeful fury, neutrality-suspicious. this
impudent young Barry-might revive
some of those old rumors which had
preceded his own advent into this cat
tie country. Possibly he might find
a place for Louise's husband on his
ranch and thus keep his favorite
daughter at home. At the same time
he could keep an eye on his sOn-in-law.
81 think III go home,' he said abs
ruptly. IF you should meet up with
my daughter, Mr.. Barry, you kin tell
her that her father says he don't mind
if she takes ride with-with that Jim
Russell, but that he commands her to
come home and get married"
"Pll tell her." said Harry Barry
heartily as he waved farewell at the
old man and went on his way.
When he reached the cool shadows
of the Flower range he eased his horse
and rode with slackened rein. He was
dead tired, and the day was almost
spent. AS yet he had not come up
with the man who had taken his horse
He was riding up little canyon
when the rattle of falling stones
brought him sharply face about, and |
he saw the man he was looking for |
not ten feet to the right of him. Jim |
Russell, white and desperate looking,
stood at bay behind the little black =,
horse Nelly. Louise Snyder was no /
where in sight, but Harry Barry had '
no doubt her fair frightened face was
hidden behind the clump of dwarfed !
pines.
'Well?' he said sharply to Russell |
without making a move to draw his |
weapons, although a six shooter gleam-
ed in the others hand.
Russell drew near until he was close |
beside his pursuer Il took your horse,
Harry" he whispered hoarsely, "but |
1 want you to believe me when | take
my oath that this is the first time l
ever did steal a horse, no matter what
they say about me-"
81 believe YOU" said Harry Barry,
with the old merry look in his eyes,
but I've promised to take you back
with me just the same"
where to-" asked the other, hastily
backing away.
Your pa-in-law wants that you and
Louise should come to the ranch and
be married." said Harry Barry, all re-
sentiment gone from his soul, for some
how he could not blame Jim Russell
for wanting to marry pretty Louise
Snyder, and anyhow, Harry reasoned,
life was hard enough for folks with
out his making it any worse. Very
likely Louise would be disappointed
in her dashing husband, and perhaps
Jim Russell would feel sometimes that !
the tyranny of old Casper Snyder
XvOnIH no In r1Ix- month tho ooo,1icitinY1 |