The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1912-12-03

|AA Days before Morton had told
- Hollis that those men who
were now herding at the RabbitJDas
were the small ranchers who had 70.
FUSED to aid the elder Hollis In his ngh,
against Dunlavey some years before
Therefore Hollis did not answer at once
When he did his voice was dry and
cold He too had heard Of DunIsvsy'i
ultimatum concerning the watsr.
Before I aay anything on that sub.
ject should like to know to whom !
am talking" no said.
Train swept a ponderous hand toward
his fellow visitors. pointing them out In
turn.
There's Truxton of the Diamond Dot.
Holoomb. OF tho Star; Remington, OF
the Three Bar; Ysagsr, of the Three
Diamond; an Clark. Of the Circle Y"
Correct" affirmed Norton. behind
| Hollis.
Hollis smiled grimiy: he had causnt q
benigerent note In Nortons voioa Plain
~. II the range boss were allowed a
voice in the matter. those visitors would
have now received a. little encourage
mont ~ they had received from Dun
lavey. But Hofliss smile showed that he
held different views.
II am Kent Hollis" he said to the
men: Il suppose you know that"
I reckon we know you." said Train;
you're Jim Hollis's boy"
Then you know that Dunlavsy and
my father were not exactly bosom
friends" returned Hollis.
Several heads bobbod afYirmatively:
others sat grimly silent Hollis smiled.
How many OF you offered TO help my
father when he came to you asking for
assistance In his fight against Dun
lavey?"
Train fid.geted.
81 reckon there wasn't much chanoe"-
no began. and then hssftated. looking
around at his fellows
"Of course" returned Hollis quietly,
after an embarrassed pause, there
wasn't much chance for you to win
then. And you had to take a big risk
to help my father. But he had to take
bigger risk to night alone. sun he
fought. And he fought alone. He was
almost ruined. And now you men ara
facing ruin. And you have come to Jim
Holliss son to help you. Do you rhink
he oughtf'
Tho mon sat silent; the spokesman was
without words.
How many men can the six Of you
muster-in case DunlAvey should try
to carry out his decision TO drive your
cattle from the RAbbit-Esr-or shoot
thsmr"
Eighteen. I reckon" returned Train.
looking at the others, who nodded a.
frmAtively TO his question.
Hollis turned to Norton. How many
men does Dunlavey empoyr he aues-
toned.
Thirty" snapped Norton. But IN
~ - - ~ 80 I..r-
dred."
big odds" smiled Hollis why
should / volunteer to help you light
Dunlavey7 My cattle are certain OF
getting enough water. Why should l
not be selfish. as you men wero when
my father went 10 you for asas,ancer'
There was no answer. The faces that
surrounded Hollis IN the semi darkness
showed plainly that their owners had
given up thoughts of assistance. Grim.
hard lines came into them; two or
three sneered. OF course they would
fight Dunlavey. there was no aiterna-
by and see their cattle siGn-Dunlavey
could not drive them from water, they
would have to be shot.
They had reckoned on, securing help
from Hollis. he held one side OF the
Rabbit-Ear and with his support they
were IN a position TO make things very
unpleasant for any OF Duniavey's men
who might from the opposite eide OF
the river. attempt to shoot their cattle,
But with Hollis against them they
would be powerless; with Hollis against
them. Dunlavey's men could swarm
both sides OF tho river and the destruc-
ton OF their cattle would be certain.
All OF che men knew this. Yet they
aid not answer Hollos's question. They
had not come to plead with him; they
know that tho situation had narrowed
down 20 = point whore they could de-
nend anl$ n thsis eva resources They