The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1913-03-11
Two Make a
Quarrel
II Just Escaped a Serious
Ending
By D0ROTHEA HALE

Two OF Jne boys from the Lone Bull
ranch were herding bunch of cattle
among the Bow hills, which were not
really hills at all, but bits Of the prai-
rie lifted into little mounds of herbage
Gabriel and Theron Crane had not spo-
ken for three weeks. The reason for
IL cir sudden change from warm friend
liness to bitter enmity was a mystery
to their comrades and a matter for re-
great for the entire outfit.
Now they rode a few hundred yards
apart, silent, taciturn and moody. 1t
hearts to rejoice in the sweetness Of
the spring morning or to feel the pulse
of the new season beating strong with
in them.
A very little matter precipitated the
smoldering passions that lay beneath
the calm exterior Of their sun Drowned
faces. Gabriel In passing his comrade,
who was smoking one Of his everlast-
ing cigarettes, felt the stinging burn of
flying ash against his cheek. Invol-
UNFAIRLY his hand sought his hip pock-
ct, but Crane had already drawn and
was looking coolly at him from behind
his heavy weapon.
"W-e-l-l," drawled Crane after little
startled pause, "did you reckon you
could do for me this way"
"You know better than that. You
needn't chuck your sparks in my face"
retorted Gabriel furiously.
Crane smiled with puzzled look be-
hind his honest eyes. whats eating
you, Gabe?" he demanded after little
pause.
whats eating you, you mean You
been looking for trouble this here three
weeks. l heard all about what you
said down to the canyon" GABRIEL
still sat half turned on his saddle, one
hand on his hip.
Looking for troubled" repeated
Crane incredulously. "Why, l been
trying to keep outer trouble with you.
l reckoned you'd lay for me some"-
Lay for your roared Gabriel. 81
amt that kind. When l have bone to
pick l amt a-going around throwing
cigarette ashes in anybody's face. If
you got anything against me I'll meet
you down to Satan's gulch and We'll
fight it out"
There won't but one 60 home again."
said Crane angrily.
Sure"
when will you be there?"
Tomorrow morning at half past f."
Without another word they sep
arated.
There was certain air Of grim de-
termination in Gabriel's manner that
night which caused Harry Barry and
Tim Lewis to exchange uneasy glances
and later to meet at the gate Of the
corral. Harry Barry was the first to
break the silence.
"Gabriel's cleaning his gun," he re-
marked with assumed lightness.
SOS Crane" said Tim significantly.
what do you think they're going to
do7" asked Harry uneasily.
Tim Lewis shook his head obviously.
mo telling"
"Nary guess. They've never been the
same like brothers as they always was
since they came home from that dona-
ton bee over to the Forks church"
Donation bee! 1 reckon you're
meaning the party they give the new
minister, where everybody took vic
tuals and then stayed to eat up what
they brought"
Harry Barry nodded his handsome
head. II guess was some mixed up
with the quilting bee 1 heard they was
giving to the widder who keeps house
for the minister. Whatever made
them two geeEers get mad at each
other? They didn't have anything to
drink except milk. They paid some
notice to the Widder Padrose."
Tim Lewis shook his head obviously.
And they was always the best of
friends" mourned Harry Barry. per
haps a woman came between EN-" he
added hopefully as one who had dis
covered an elusive clew.
Don't blame everything on the vim
men," chided Tim. There isn't any
use us guessing. We better do what
we can to help keep 'em from manu-
featuring sieves."
you mean to draw the charges from
them guns" observed Harry Barry.
But somehow l don't know as / like
the job of taking Gabriel's gun away
from him while he's sleeping innocent
like. Why, he'd go into the sieve
business right away with me for a
sample. Guess again."
my best guess is that I'll get up
bright and early and trail 'em till I'm
satisfied they're not out for blood"
said Tim.
Long before Harry Barry had thrust
his head from beneath his blanket
Gabriel and Crane had arisen as by
mutual accord and, dressing quietly,
had gone down to the corral and
saught up their horses.
Out in the pale dawn Of a new day
rode the two men who had been close
friends for years. They both knew that
one would never come back and the