The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1912-12-02
The Coming of the Law
~THE TWO-CUN s" CreoTe.f NoyeI
By Charles Alden Settler

nor did Hollis talk to any stranger
concerning Il.
Aces poem entitled woman" AAA
gone into the paper. causing the post
for many days following the appear
ance OF his compost ion--to look upon
his fellow punchers with n sort Of
condesccnding pity. On the second
day after his discussion with Misc
Hazelton over Aces poem Hollis re-
turned TO the Circle Bar
lie had succeeded In convincing Mel
lie that he had answered thoughtlessi/
wnen he mad Informed her that he tosx
no interest In women, and though she
had denantly assured him that she had
not taken offense. there had been .
light In her eyes upon his departure
which revealed qualification over his
repentance. She stood long on the
porch after he had taken leave Of her.
watching him a. he rode slowly down
the trail and disappeared around
turn. Then she smiled regretfully.
sighed. and went into tho house.
Holns's return TO tho Circle Bar was
unostentAtious and quite In keeping
with his method of doing things With
In the next few days he met several OF
the Circle bar men and there were NUT
tcrings against Duniavey. but Hollis dis
couraEed action. assuring the mutterers
that his differences with Dunlavey were
entirely personal and that he intended
carrying on me hght alone.
His wounds mended rapidly, and
within two weelks-except for the broken
wrist-he was we'll a. ever. Meanwhile
Potter had succeeded IN getting the
Kicker out on tims. though there had
been Q aoticeabas lack OF aggresslveness
IN the articles. Especially was this true
OF the articles tearing upon the situation
in Union County. Hollis had dictated
some of these. but even those which he
had dictated had seemed 10 lack some
thing.
Nothing had been heard Of Dunlavey-
Il seemed that after the attnck upon
Hollis ne had withdrawn from the scene
to await the iatter's NEXT move.
But Hollis was in no hurry; he had
lost eoms Of the enthusiasm that had
marked his aktatuds IN the beginning.
hut this enthusiasm had been re-
placed by determination. He was be-
trimming to rsa1izs that in Dunlavey
he had met Q foe worthy Of his most
serious efforts. He had determined
that there would be no repetition OF
tho attack upon him. and therefors
TO Las Vegas for . repeating r1ne.
and this he carried with him on his
trips TO and from Dry Bottom.
Meanwhile tho drought continues.
The sky was cloudless. the desu1tory
breexes that swept the plains oi4sot-
Cd growing things. raising ntue
whiriwinds Of nne. hinty afkaai est
and spreading II over the fecs Of @c
world. Tho storm that had cennf
Hollis on tho Dry. Bottom tran hnd
covered only q comparatively ema1i
area; II had lasted only n brief t1mA
and after Its passage the cououv
was as dry as before.
Rabbit-Ear Creek OF all the streams -
the vicinity OF Dry Bottom hold Woees.
From all points Of the compass eassc
drlfted to the Rabbit Ear. shaking Sho6
thirst ana refusing TO leave. Broasea
riders on dropping ponies trailsd thR.
cutting them out. trying to keep SAsr
herds intact. but not succeeding. ca
fusion reigned. For miles In both d.
rections Rabbit-Ear Creek became -
huge. long watering trough.
Temporary camps were made; 49,
wagons ratified up TO them. ioadsa vsA
supplies for tho cowboys. and raAeSoA
back 70 distant ranches for moro. T0eEo
mad been other droughts, but this -
was unexpected-unprecede 1S1ee
had always been a little water svaK.
where. Now Rabbit-Ear Creek held ~
there was.
Only tho small cattle owners suRssSa
because of the drought. Riders told ef
the presence OF plenty OF water IA ~
Canadian. the Cimarron. and the Uee.
Carrizo held some. In fact. nearly I'll
the streams held by the large ranchsss
seemed 70 contain plenty. The smaaasr
owners, whose herds were smaller end
whose complement of punchers was nee
essarily limited. had apparently been
selected by Providence for ruin.
There were mutterings against the
large owners. against Providence. Par
ttculArly were there mutterings against
Dunlavey when word came to The
owners of the herds that II the drought
was not broken within the next ten
days tho Circle Cross manager would
drive all foreign cattle from the Rabbit
Ear. He would not allow his own herds
TO suffer 20 save theirs. he said.
On the night following the day upon
which the small owners had received
this word from Dunlavey a number of
found him seated on the lower gallery
OF the ranchhouse.
Lemuei Train OF the Piy-pen outft.
had been selected as their apokee-
man. He stood hetore Hollis, big man,
diffldent IN manner and rough In APP
pearance, surrounded by his fellow
ranchers, bronzed. bearded, serious OF
face. Though tho sun had been down
three hours the heat was frlghtful and
the visitors shuffled their feet and I'M
comfortably wiped the persplration from
their brows.
"St down." invited Hollis He rose
and stood while the men draped them
selves on the edge OF the gallery floor
all except. the spokesman. Iemuel
Train ThsA In tter faced Houis ~