Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-02-25

ranch were herdlng a bunch OF cattle
among the Bow hills, which were no,
really hills at all, but bits Of the prai
RE lifted into little mounds of heritage.
Gabriel and Theron Crane had not spo-
ken for three weeks. The reason for
their sudden change from warm friend
illness to bitter enmity was Q 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
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 everl6St-
ing cigarettes, felt the singing burn Of
a flying ash against his cheek. Invol-
unfairly his hand sought his hip peck
ct but Crane had already drawn and
was looking coolly at him from behind
his heavy weapon.
Well" 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. What's eating
you, Gabe?" he demanded after little
| pause.
What's 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 troubler' repeated
/ Crane incredulously. why, l been
trying to keep outer trouble with you.
1 reckoned you'd lay for me some
Lay for your roared Gabriel. 81
amt that kind. When l have bone to
pick amt a-going around throwing
cigarette ashes in anybody's face. II
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 go home again."
said Crane angrily.
Sure"
when will you be there?'
Tomorrow morning at half past A."
Without another word they sep
arated.
There was q certain air Of grim de-
IN, 70 y,,annoy. =
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.
"Gabriels cleaning his gum he re-
marked with assumed lightness.
SOS Crane" said Tim significantly.
What do you think they're going to
do?" 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 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 Dodded his handsome
head. 81 guess l was some mixed UP
with the quilting bee l heard they was
giving to the wilder who keeps house
for the minister Whatever made
them two geezers get mad at each
other? They didn't have anything tc
drink except milk. They paid some
notice to the Wilder 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 win
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 | don't know as I like
the job Of taking Gabriers gun away
| from MIN WHlle he = sleeping innocent
like. Why, he'd go into the sieve
, business right away with me for +,
, sample. Guess again"
My best guess is that I'll get VI
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 blanke
, Gabriel and Crane had arisen as b!
: mutual accord and, dressing quietly
had gone down to the corral ant
J caught up their horses.
Out in the pale dawn Of a new da,
rode the two men who had been clos
friends for years. They both knew tina
) one would never come back and tn
other would be fugitive from justice
' Which one would be the fugitive an
which the other thing?
Perhaps they were asking themselve
these questions as they rode swift
2 and silently across the dewy grass
= Large and brown. with strongly mars
3 al features thew might have bee