Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-11-29

The two men examined each other
and liked each other at once.
How are your greeted the cattle
man.
Good evening"" responded the
stranger.
"Sit down." invited Buck Johnson.
The stranger perched gingerly on
the edge of a chair, with an appear
ance less of embarrassment than of
habitual alertness.
You'll take the job?" inquired the
senior.
II haven't heard what 1t is" re-
piled the stranger.
Parker here-?"
said you'd explain"
Very WE'LL" said Buck Johnson;
he paused moment, collecting his
thoughts. There's too much cattle
rustling here. I'm going to stop 1t.
I've got good men here ready to take
the job, but no one who knows the
country south Three days ago
had a bunch of cattle stolen right
here from the home ranch of corrals
and by one man, at that. 1t wasn't
much of bunch-about twenty head
but I'm going to make a starter
right here and now. I'm going to
| get that bunch back and the man
hell to do ii, and I'm going to do
the same with every case of rustling
that comes up from now on. l don't
care If it's only one COW, I'm going
to get 1t back-every trip. Now /
want to know If you'll lead a posse
down into the south country and
bring out that last bunch and the
man who rustled them.'
u don't know" hesitated the
stranger.
at offer you five thousand dollars
in gold II you'll bring back those
cows and the man who stole EN-"
repeated Buck Johnson, and I'll give
you all the horses and men you think
you need"
'Ill do it," replied the two-gun man
promptly.
'Good!n cried Buck Johnson, land
you better start tomorrow"
81 shall start tonight--right now"
Better yet. How many men do
you want. and grub for how long?"
'I'll play her a lone hand"
"Alone!" exclaimed Johnson, his
confidence Wis bly, cooling. "Alone!
Do you think you can make herr"
"I'll be back with those cattle in not
more than ten days"
And the man." supplemented the
Senior.
And the man." argued the
stranger. What's more, I want that
money here when come In. don't
aim to stay In this country over
night"
A grin overspread Buck Johnson's
countenance. He understood.
Climate not healthy for your" he
hazarded. II guess you'd be safe
enough, all right, with us. But suit
yourself. The money will be here"
That's agreed?" insisted the two
gun man.
II want a fresh ihorse-I'lI leave
mine-he's a good one. I want ! tile
grub o
AN right. Parker'll fit you OUT
''Ill see you in about ten days"
Good luck, Senior Buck johnson
wished him. .4t
Iv.--The Accomplishment.
The next morning Buck johnson
took a trip down into the pasture
of FIVE hundred wire-fenced acres.
HE means business" he confided to
Jed Parker on his return. "That
cavallo of his is heap sight better
than the Shorty horse we let him
take"
In the meantime the regular life OF
the ranch went on. Each morning
Sang, the Chinese cook rang the
great bell summoning the men. They
ate, and then caught up the saddle
horses for the day, turning those not
wanted from the corral into the pas
ture. shortly they jingled away In
different directions, two by two, on
the slow Spanish trot of the cow
puncher. All day long thus they
would ride, without food or water for
man or beast, looking over the range
Identifying the stock, branding the
young calves. examining generally
into the state of affairs, looking al
ways with grave eyes on the mag.
nificent flaming, changing, beautiful
dreadful desert OF the Arizona plains
At evening, when the colored atmos-
phere, catching last glow. threw
across the Chiracahuas it's veil OF
mystery, they jingled in again. two by
two. untired. unhasting, the glory
of the desert in their deep-set steady
| eyes.
So the days went by. wonderful
fashioning the ways and the charac-
4 ter OF men. Seven passed. Bucl
Johnson and his foreman began Il
look for the stranger. Eight; they
began to speculate. Nine; they
doubted. On the tenth they CAV,
! him up, and he came.
They knew him first by the sof'
| lowing of the cattle. Jed Parker
dazsled by the lamp, peered from tn.
door and made him out dimly, turn
ing the animals into the corral A
moment later his pony's hcofs i'm.
| pacted softly on the baked earth. HI
dropped from the saddle and entere,
| the room.
I'm late said he briefly, glancinl
I'm here"
! His manner was quick and sharp