The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1913-05-06

lie rode past Faucher'S place in
cloud of dust from the sun baked prai
ric Nan fanCher, standing in th,
shade Of the wide vcranda. met hi
fierce. dark glance with frightened
timid eyes. aud instantly the savage
fire died o,t of his eyes and was &c
placed 10y u wonderful >urlucSS.
The bad man. Shrillcd little Pete
Fauchcr from his post near The gate
Hush, Peter" admouishcd his aun
severely You mustn't SAY Sucl
naughty things"
"But he is bad" whmpcrcd Peter ~
the horse aud rider disappeared in tn,
dust lie lives I'LL alone in II it'll,
hut over near the biz mountain, aud llo
bites little boys. Manuel has told me
Nan related the incident 10 her broth
cr and his wife IL the noonday dinner
WIN is ia" man: He has IN interest
ing face she added
Its Gay Ransom: that's ~ we know
about him He's II sheep hcrdcr foi
Blpck beyond the mountain. The boys
give him = bad reputation. and his ap
pearancc certainly bears them ont
Mrs. Fanchcr sent the Chinese cook
into the Kitchen on some erraud and
spoke in n low tone. Loo Slug has
told me that he lost Iftrcn chickens
last night. Dick. AMI he is positive that
Ransom is responsible for their diSap
pcarancc
Anne. dear. cXpuStulatcd Nan. that
man diduI look like n chicken thief
somehow
He's II terror of the plains, such rs
| used to read about in the nickel nov
els hidden away in the garnet years
ago Dick arose FROM the table aud
passed large hronzed haud over his
sisters sunny hair. IFS mighty nice
To see YOU ont here. Nan. ! wish you'd
shake that old school IN The east and
settle down here IN Texas
Ia love To- Dick, now that there
are Just the two of us loft" said Nan
little sadly Perhaps may buy
the next ranch to yours aud bccouC
yuur uCighEor'
The next ranch is in the next coun.
~" gruuud Dick tcasinGly. You
wouldn't Lee n very near ncighbor in
that ease. There's plenty of room for
YOU here for II loug time to come. and
Anne added such an urgent plea that
Nan WAS SOrcly tempted 10 extend her
summer vacation into - permanent
stay.
II believe III ride over 10 the herd
crs hut aud see If | mud any chicken
boUcs, remarked Dick rs he left the
room Good time To investigate while
the chaps away. Want 10 come.
Nan?'
YES, said the girl soberly. for the
She would have preferred that her FIRST
ride across the brown prairie had u
more agreeable object than the ferret
lug ont of n chicken THIEF. but she
said nothing rs she tossed ON wide
gray felt hat aud drew on soft leather
gauntlets over her white hands.
As they rode along cnvclopcd in the
dust raised 10y their own progress Dick
fancber gave his sister brief sketches
Of the neighhoring ranches aud their
owners.
And. last Of all, there's Blcck's place
over the mountain. Blcr.; Is AN east.
crncr with notions VIII" came ont here
n year ago. bought th" ranch. placed
n foreman IN charge and then went
home 10 raise sheep from the office
Of New York Skyscraper."
And this Gay Ransom * one ~ his
herderS:" asked Nan.
Yes: droprpd ou the country one
day from nobody knows where. with
a ready made reputation which was
chinncd far Mud wide u, glcrk. fore.
man Peterson. He says Ransom is -
lire eater shoots first aud argues
afterward
How DREADFUL. murmurcd Nam.
And to think he would steal chickens
too
"See any feathers asked Dick as
they approached The door Of the hut.
Nary. sang Nan in the vernacular.
Dick rode close TO the hut. suddenly
swooped from his saddle and picked up
the limp and yellow foot Of n chicken
Not 50 far wrong there, my girl"