The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1911-09-25
The Rustler
A rona1cs Of ihs old tins GOV country
By CHARLES ALDEN SELTZER
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Meanwhile Ferguson vas -sking his
tine Cerz.n things Ve-e puzz!ng
him Where did Levistt sand IN this
matter That was part Ct the mys-
rery. stafford had told him that he
had Leyiat,s zord ina, Rzif1rd was
The thief Eho had been sealing the
Two Diamond cattle. Lev-stt had
suggested employing . sU1fghrer had
even gone 70 Dry Bottom with the
manager 70 help HIN 20 md one
Levia-t VAS in the habit % Tisirius
me Rsdford cabin The g.rl had told
him that the range boss Ezs n!
brothers. friend. II be Ess q friend
Of The brother. Why had be suggested
that Stafford employ 4 gllhghrer 20
shoot him. Here was more mystery.
Only one solution occurred 70 LIU
Was Leyistr planning 70 get Rstto-G
our Of The way 50 that he might .sy
siege % Ire sister
For txo weeks he watched -he Rad
ford cabin carefully. ana 2 that time
there were no cattle stolen But :.
course this proved nothing u Rad
ford stole cattle he would steal them
In his own N4y and in his 0Tn time
He met Radiord frequently. Once
he had talked with him for all hour
in a little basin near Bear Flat. where
Radford had been watching his cattle
aHe saw Mary Radford often. Sew
eral times she had accepted invita-
tions 20 ride with him. Twice while
riding with her he had met Leyiatt.
On these occasions the range boss's
manner had caused him some amuse-
f.. L
no, wish him well.
Suspicious that the latter enyied
him these rides with MARY Radford
Ferguson took A keen delight in con
tinuing them. His first meeting with
the range boss in Dry Bottom had
convinced him OF their mutual dis
Ike And Ferguson had no regrets
50 he continued his rides, thoroughly
enjoying the situation.
One day, %hile riding the river trail,
returning from a short gallop the girl
suddenly drew rein on a little knoll
overlooking the river. Ferguson :
pony came 10 a halt a few feet dis
tant The girls face was serious.
MY brother and | were talking
about you last night" she said in a
low, hesitating voice, her eyes on the
pony's name.
Il didn't think l was that impor-
tant," he returned.
"But you are" The girls face red
dened. You're bothering US a whole
lot"
I'D like TO think that | was bother
~ YOU he said. significantly.
She raised her eyes suddenly and
ga2ed straight at him. Ben didn't
want me 10 say anything about IT,
He said he'd talk 10 you himself But
I've got 10 say It. II Stafford has
hired you, why don't you work
II was out now. and she sat red OF
face in the saddle. showing her en-
barrassment.
Ferguson smiled He had expected
this long before He had determined
TO make no move in the game until
matters so shaped themselves that he
could see his way clearly. And now
! that the question had come he sat
quietly in his saddle, his face grave,
his eyes steady and alert
Stafford hired me 10 look for
rustlers.' he said slowly. He watched
her furtively. 10 see how she received
this He thought her surprise quite
natural.
II thought So" she returned. again
looking squarely al him Where do
you expect to find them There was
defiance in the question.
That's the puzzle he said. so
far | amt seen any rusllers."
How far have You looked?' she
questioned with a steady, amused
glance.
He laughed 81 reckon know whar
. you mean" he returned I've beer
hanRin' around here quite bit. But
! don't reckon to prove you're a
rustler"
She smiled and sat suddenly erect.
touching the ponys fauks with the
spurs Wed better be going, /
think" She urged the pony about
lie followed her down the trail.
taking his leave at The edge OF the
wood near the cabin
During the next few days he did
not go near Bear Flat passing his
time riding the Ute trail penetrating
10 the farthermost limits Of the Two
Dismong range. returning 10 The
ranch house al odd hours Of The
morning. talking 10 no one. and wear
ing an air of preoccupa'ion.
Towards the end OF the week he
sought an interview with Stafford
The latter had begun TO worry about
him When Ferguson came into the
Office the managers manner was &
trie anxious
You seen anything Of Radford?'
he asked
Il amt got nothin' on Radford "
was the reply
His tone angered the manager. 90
ain't askin' You to get arytbing on
him" he returned II hired you 70
do certain thing an I'm waitin' for
you TO do IT,"
Ferguson smiled coldly Il aim
shcotin' no one unless ! got a pretty
good case he replied II my WAYS
don't suit YOU
Take your own time advised
Stafford in a sab&ed voice. Il ain
hurryin' yoI none
Ferguson smiled There sin't no
other hester around here that you
know of-beside Radfc~d2' he ques-
toned