Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-03-25


timid eyes. and instantly the savage
IRE died out OF his eyes and was re-
placed by a wonderful softness.
The bad man. shrilled little Peter
Fancher from his post near the gate.
Hush, PeterF' admonished his aunt
severely. You mustn't say such
naughty things"
But he is bad" whimpered Peter as
the horse and rider disappeared in the
dust. He lives all alone in little
hut over near the big mountain, and he
bites little boys. Manuel has told me-"
Nan related the incident to her broth
er and his wife at the MONDAY dinner.
''Who is the man? He has an interest
ing face" she added.
Its Gay Ransom; that's all we know
about him. He's a sheep herder for
Bleck beyond the mountain. The boys
give him bad reputation, and his ap-
pearance certainly bears them out"
Mrs. Fancher sent the Chinese cook
into the kitchen on some errand and
spoke In q low tone. loo Sing has
told me that he lost fifteen chickens
last night, Dick, and he is positive that
Ransom is responsible for their disap-
pearance."
Anne. dear" expostulated Nan, that
man didn't look like a chicken thief,
somehow"
Hes a terror of the plains. such as
1 used to read about in the nickel nov
els hidden away in the garnet years
no FOL nd
passed a large bronzed hand over his
sisters sunny hair. Its mighty nice
| to see you out here, Nan. wish you'd
/ shake that old school In the east and
settle down here in Texas"
I'd love to, Dick, now that there
are just the two Of US left" said Nan
little sadly. Perhaps l may buy
the next ranch to yours and become
| your neighbOr."
THE next ranch is in the next coun-
ty," grinned Dick teasingly. You
wouldn't be a very near neighbor in
that case. There's plenty of room for
you here for long time to come" and
Anne added such an urgent plea that
Nan was sorely tempted to extend her
summer vacation into a permanent
stay.
IT believe I'll ride over to the herd
er's hut and see if 1 find any chicken
bones" remarked Dick as he left the
room. Good time to investigate while
the chaps away. Want to come
NanT'
YES" said the girl soberly, for the
al f1 Ia ar
She would have preferred that her frs
ride across the brown prairie had {
more agreeable object than the ferret
ing out of a chicken thief, but sht
said nothing as she tossed on a wild,
gray felt hat and drew on soft leathe
gauntlets over her white hands.
As they rode along enveloped in tn,
dust raised by their own progress Dicl
Fancher gave his sister brief sketche
of the neighboring ranches and thei
owners.
And, last OF all, there's Blocks plac
over the mountain. Bleck is an east
erner with notions who came out her
year ago, bought the ranch, place.
a foreman in charge and then wen
of a New York skyscraper."
And this Gay Ransom is one of hi
herders?" asked Nan.
Yes; dropped on the country on
day from nobody knows where. wit
a ready made reputation which wa
chinned far and wide by Blocks fore
man, Peterson. He says Ransom is
EWn nkzr -h
afterward."
How dreadful murmured Nan
"And to think he would steal chicken
= toow
See any festhersr' asked Dick q
they approached the door of the hut.
Mary" sang Nan In the vernaculal
Dick rode close to the hut. suddenI
swoOped from his saddle and picked u
the limp and yellow foot OF a CHECKER
Not so far wrong there, my girl.
!. he said to his sister. dangling the foe
| before her averted face.
The door OF the hut opened suddenl
and the bad man stood before then
He plucked off his hat and held it /
his hand. revealing a white fOrehea
| DClNCCu Tue lDdIEu VI his
dark hair and the tan Of his face.
"Howdy" he said amiably. "Wi
you come In"
mo. thanks drawled Dick. with a
: the insulting emphasis he could sun
: mon. 'Pm Just collecting chicken fee
: that's all. I've found two familiar one
right here Maybe the rest of 'em al
still holding up the chickens eh?"
"If it's a joke I've missed IT." sa
the other quietly. why are you 100
ing for chickeEs around here? tn
isn't a chicken ranch"
~ See here. Ransom, joking aside
- said Dick. with an entire change
manner I've found a pair Of my fe
my chickens feet. I mean-here
your yard. How the dickens did the
10 come thereT He dangled the feet u
pleasantly close to Gay RansOm's fac
n 'Tm not surprised they came fro
"A your place" said Ransom slowly. 81
cause. you zee. I bought them fro
your cook. Loo Sing. There's one mo
around somewhere. | was counting
| having him for my dinner but | do