The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1916-09-04

" bffn NO. li~ih' lhll'nhlnk NEW
ing would now have been n thing
OF the forgotten past lie must
needs fortify himself all over again.
Hut aauntering down tho track TO.
ward the stockyards. he filled his
cob pipe. lighted II. and was com.
forted. lie had Commute re.
rieve.
lie was approaching the stock.
yards. There was movement there.
Sounds OF commands. blows. profane
epithets and worried Rawlings
changed the placid evening calm
into noisy strife II In always n
place interesting TO cowmen. Jim
relegated thoughts OF the coming
n Getting 10 the background. while
he leaned on the fence. and. with
Idle absorption. watched the load
Ing OF cattle into stock car.
"Gee," he swore gently under his
breath. of that Amt Bin Brown
Yep. IL Ia for n fac. Wonder
what he's shippin' now for" lie
scrambled lightly over tho high
fence Of the pen.
"Hullo. there. Bili Brown," he
yelled genially. making his way as
one accustomed thru tho bunch OF
reluctant. excited cattle.
'Hullo yourself. Jiml What you
doin' IN town. responded the
man addressed.
Jim looked on idly. Occasional.
~. he eondeEcended 10 head re-
belilous steer chute-wards.
Here. Bill Brown" he erclaim.
ed suddenly. where did you run
scroaH that critterY' He slapped
tho shoulder OF a biz. Ions cared
steer as he spoke. The animal was
on the point OF being driven up the
chute
What you want 20 know for7"
asked Brown In surprise.
Reason 'nough. That critter
belongs 10 uH. that's why: and !
want 10 know where you got bin.
that's what want to know"
You're crazy. Jim Why. I
bought that fellow from Jesse
Black 4 other day. Two got n bill.
ofsalo for him. I'm shippin' n
couple OF cars 10 Sioux City and
BE- nght him 20 send along. That's
on the square"
don't doubt It's far "a
you're concerned. Bill Brown"
said Jim. but that's our criiier.
jest tho same. and I'll jcs, toto Ia
along Z you've no objections"
Well. ] guess not" sald Drown.
iaeonicaily.
Look here. nil Brown" Il,n
was getting hotheadcdly angry.
didn't you know JcaEo Black
stands trial tomorrow for rusilln
that there very cr.t,er from the
Three Bars ranchT'
no. didn't" Brown answered.
shortly. ANY ensor"
Il guess ycr' wiliiston o. the
Lazy s saw this very crltter on
that island whcro Jcsss Black
holds out" He proceeded 20 relate
minuteiy the story 10 which Willis
ton was going 10 swear on the NOR.
row.
Maybe You're rirht. Jim. but I
don't propose 20 lose tho price o.
that animal less'n I have to. You
can, blanc mo for that. paid
good money for a. n IT'S your'n.
why. OF course. It's your'n. But I
want TO be surc first. Sure you'd
know him. JIM How could you
be 30 blamed surc7 Your boss
must range 5000 head"
Know him. Know Mar' ia
know Mag ef my eyes wero fun o.
soun6in' caisrncts. He's nm old
and tried friend o. mine. Tho
meanest critter the Lord ever 10,
live. and that's fac. But the
Boss calls i'm his mnggo,. Seems
to actually churish kind o. fec.
tion for the orncry critter. aud
says tho luck o. the Three BARS
would sort o. peak and pine cf he
should ever get rid o tho pesky
brute"
Bill Brown thoushtfully survey
ed the steer whose ownership was
thus so Unexpectedly disputed
You hold him." insisted Jim.
"Ef he amt ours. you can send
him along with your next ship.
ment. can't your"
We'll. can't help myself. I
guess" said Brown. in n tone OF
voice which told plainly OF his
laudable effort to keep his annoy
ance in subsection 60 his good fel.
lovship. You aend Langford
down here first thing in the morn.
Ing. II he says the critters his'n.
that ends IT,"
Now that he had convinced the
present shipper. TO his entire salts.
faction. Jim stepped off hrlskly
and vaulted the fence with rs
liRhtsome an air AZ tho he were
bent on tho one errand his heart
"ould choose. But he had a wise.
Ike grip on his cob pipe. His
teeth bit thru the frail stem. II
split. He tossed the remains
away with gesture OF nervous
contempt a whistle sounded. lie
cuickened his pace. II he missed
hsr--well. the Boss was n good
fellow. took a lot OF nonsense from
the boys. hut there were things he
v ould not stand for. Jim did not
need TO be told that this would be
one OF tham.
CHAPTER III.
Unlike most or those who ride
much. her escort WAS fast walk.
or Louise had trouble IN keeping
mp with aim. tho she had always
considered herself n good pedes.
TRAN. But Jim Munson was red.
facedly conscious OF the attention
he was attracting striding up tho
street from the station with the
pre- ttiest girl who had struck
Vclpen this long time.
Not that he objected 10 alton
ton under Normal conditions. Not
he! He courted IL. But girls
we're far from normal conditions
There were no Wompu al fhp Ibraa