The Delta independent., 1911-05-05

4 can take you part way" he in
stantly declared. But you'd have to
ride horse the last ten miles,
Couldn't do it. Joe." she sighed
''These last few days I've been about
as boneless as an eel. Funny the way
a fellow keeps going when he's go,
something to do that has to be done
I'll tell you what. If you want to take
me and Lee up to Sulphur I'll go YOU
Sure thing. What day?"
Not for a day or two. I'm not quite
up to it just now. but by Saturday IL
be saddlewise again"
Joe turned joyously to Lee. THAT
will be great! Won't you come out foI
4 spin this minute?''
For moment Lee was tempted
Anything to get away from this horri.
BILE little den and the people who in.
tested it was her feeling. but she dis.
trusted Gregg, and she knew that ev.
cry eye in the town would be upon her
IL she went, and. besides. Ross might
return while she was away. No: not
today" she replied finally. but her
voice was gentler than it had ever
been to him.
The young fellow was moved to ex-
plain his position to Lie. You don't
think much of me. and | don't blame
you. l haven't been much use so far,
but I'm going to reform. II l had a
girl like Lee Virginia to live up to I'd
make a great citizen. don't lay my
arrest up against Cavanagh. I'm ready
to pass that by. And as for this other
business-this free range war in which
the old man is mixed up-l want you
to know that I'm against 1t. Dad
knows his day is short: that's what
makes him so hot. But he's a bluff
just u fussy old bluff. He knows he
has no more right to the government
grass than anybody else. but he's GO
ing to get ahead of the cattlemen IL he
can
Does he know who burned them
sheep herders?"
"Of course he knows, but amt 60
ing to say so. You see. that old
Basque who was killed was monopo-
list too. He went after that grass
without asking anybody's leave. More
over. he belonged to that Mexican
dago outfit that every body hates. The
old man isn't crying over that job; it's
money in his pocket All the same,
It's too good a chance to put the hooks
into the cattlemen; hence his Offering
a reward. and 1t looks as II something
would really be done this time. They
say Neil Ballard was mixed up in 1t
and that old guy that showed me the
sheep But | don't take much stock
in that Whoever did 1t was paid by
the cattlemen, sure thing" The young
fellows tone and bearing made IA
vorable impression upon Lie. She
had never seen this side Of him, for
the reason that he had hitherto treat
ed her as a bartender. She was acute
enough to understand that her social
status had changed along with her re-
lease from the cash register. and she
twas slightly more reconciled. although
'she could not see her way to provid-
ing living for herself and Lee. For
all these reasons she was unwontedly
civil to Joe and sent him away highly
elated with the success of his inter-
view.
I'm going to let him take US up to
Sulphur" she said to Lee ~ want to
go to town"
Lee was silent. but keen pang ran
through her heart. for she perceived
in this remark by her mother a tacit
acknowledgment Of Ross Cavanagh's
desertion of them both. His invita-
ton to them to come and camp with
him was only a polite momentary I'm
pulse. 'Tm ready to CO. she an
nounced at last I'm tired Of this
place Let us go tomorrow"