Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1913-04-19
Two Make a
Quarrel
II Just Escaped a Serious
Ending
By D0ROTHEA HALE

Two Of the 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-
RTE lifted into little mounds of heritage.
Gabriel aud Theron Crane had not spo-
ken for three weeks. The reason for
their sudden change from warm friend
illness to bitter enmity was mystery
TO their comrades and n matter for re-
great for the entire outfit.
Now they rode few hundred yards
apart. silent. taciturn and moody. II
was not for them with hatred In their
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
a flying ash against his cheek. lnvol'
unfairly his hand sought his hip peck.
OF, but Crane had already drawn and
was looking coolly at him from behind
his heavy weapon.
"w-e-l-l." draw Crane after little
startled pause. did you reckon you
could do for me this wayT"
"you know better than that. You
needn't chuck your sparks In my face. '
retorted Gabriel furiously.
Crane smiled with puzzled look be
mind 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. heard all about what yot
said down to the canyon" Gabrie
still sat half turned on his saddle. one
hand on his hip.
Looking for troubled" repeated
Crane incredulously. why. | beer
trying to keep outer trouble with you
reckoned you'd lay for me some
Lay for your roared Gabriel. Il
amt that kind When have bone &c
pick I amt a-going around throwing
cigarette ashes In anybody's face. II
you got anything against me III meet
you down to Satan's gulch and well
fight 1t out"
There won't but one 90 home again.
said Crane angrily.
Sure"
when win you be theref"
Tomorrow morning at half past A.
without another word they sep
arated.
There was a certain air of grim de
termination In Gabriel's manner tina
night which caused Harry Barry ant
Tim Lewis TO exchange uneasy glances
and later to meet at the gate OF ths
corral. Harry Barry was the first e
break the silence.
"Gabriel's cleaning his gum" he re
marked with assumed lightness.
"So's Crane" said Tim significantly.
what do you think they're going tc
dor" asked Harry uneasily.
Tim Lewis shook his head obviously
mo telling"
Mary 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. reckon your,
meaning the party they give the new
minister. where everybody took vic
tuais and then stayed to eat up wha
they brought
Harry Barry nodded his handsome
head. Il guess was some mixed III
with the quilting bee heard they wa'
giving TO the widder who keeps hous'
for the minister. Whatever mad,
them two geezers get mad nc cacl
other? They didn't have anything /,
drink except milk. They paid SOM
notice 10 the Wilder Padrose.''
Tim Lewis shook his head obviously
And they was always the best o
friends" mourned Harry Barry. Per
haps a woman came between EN-" h
added hopefully as one who had dis
covered an elusive ciew.
Don't blame everything on the win
men," chided Tim. There isn't an,
use Us guessing We better do wha
We can to help keep 'em from manu-
featuring sleeves"
"You mean to draw the charges from
them guns" observed Harry Barry
But somehow ! don't know as ! lik,
the Job OF taking Gabriel's gun AVA,
from him while he's sleeping innocent
like. Why. he'd 20 into the slew
business right away with me for |
sample. Guess again"
MY best guess II that I'll get al
bright and early and trail 'em till In
satisfied they're not out for blood.
said Tim.
Long before Harry Barry had thrus
his head from beneath his blnnke
Gabriel and Crane had arisen as b,
mutual accord and. dressing quietly
had gone down TO the corral an,
caught up their horses.
Out In the pale dawn OF n new da!
rode the two men who had been clos
friends for years. They both knew tina