The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1911-05-04
Justice of
ThePlains
- ~.
Which Was Never
Executed
By CLARISSA MACKlE
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation. 1911.

Which Was Never
Executed
BY CLARISSA MACKIE

> sseeessssssssssesssssesss
There was not the slightest doubt
that Jim Russell had stolen Harry
Barry's fayorite horse. Every man on
the Lone Bull outfit looked to his own
horse when 1t was learned that the
new cowpuncher had not slept In his
bed the night before.
Its on you. Harry" said Gabriel
with meaning emphasis as they troop
ed In to breakfast.
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 i'll 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 a wiry little
scrub which he had captured and
broken himself and which was utter
" tireless In the chase and followed
a freshly broken trail that led aside
from well defined paths straight into
the prairie.
Once he dlsmounted 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 be muttered as he rode on
ward, his eyes ever on the lookout for
the first blurring shadow Of distant
horse and rider Russell must have
been riding since daylight, and Nelly
would be tired by this time, for Harry
had pushed her cruelty the day before.
It had been hard day, for the cattle
along Saltpeter creek had stampeded
10 o'clock before the restiVe creatures
were composed enough to leave with
the regular herdsman.
After 1t was all over and they 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 about 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.
some day Jest as l would bunch of
cattle, if I was that kind of chap"
said the aggrieved young lover.
Are you asking my advice?" asked
Harry Barry bluntly.
mo, but you are welcome to give
it. 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
IL you arer' he added
"Well," said Jim thoughtfully, 81 reck
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 a 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
l give the signal she'll bring a few
things and go with me. It's fifty
mile ride to Star Lake. where the
parson is and where there's little
I've got to get hold of horse that'll
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 l want to know II
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-
scented 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 a reputation painted
three shades blacker than a crow, but
i to whom good natured Clintock had
vouchsafed a 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 horse with
which to elope 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
romrade.
But the thought of his horse ranked
In his mind, and he was quite deter
mined that when he 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 he would kill two
birds with one stone. He would bring
a long wanted horse thief to justice
and at the same time he would save