The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1916-09-04
CHAPTER I.
The island With a Mystery

VI his pony TO ono more effort
before giving up Tor this day
at least the locating OF small
bunch OF cattle. branded Lazy s.
missing these three days
What might never have been
missed from tho vast herds OF
l.angford. his nelghbor OF the
Plains country. Was OF more seri
Gus import to WilllNton than the
setual present loss The existence
OF tho small ranchman was becom
ing preoarious lie was being
bounded by two prolific sources OF
trouble. On the ono hand was tho
wealthy cattle owner. on the 9th
er. the vicious greed OF the cattle
nstlers.
williston was chatting under his
helplessness as tho faded pony
climbed doggedly this last bluff
Williston had struck the river at a
point absolutely new 10 him. II
was the time OF low water. and a
little 20 the north lay what would
have been an island In high water
,hickly wooded with willows and
eottonwoods. Now a long stretch
OF sand reached between bluff and
island.
Dlsmounting. with tho quick
thought that yonder island might
hold the secret OF his lost cattle.
lie crept down the bank and acrcas
the sand.
What was that' Coyotes bark
ing over yonder across the river
That alien sound A mans laugh.
curse. a hearthrcaking below OF
tain. Willlston parted ever 20
slightly the thick foliage OF under
brush that separated him from the
all too familiar sounds and peered
within.
In the midst Of n small clcarins
two men we're engaged In unrop
ing and releasing n red steer. slml
lar In all essential respects To a
bunch OF three or four huddled to
gether n little 10 one side. The
situation was conclusive.
Williston turned noisclcssly away
from tho scene. Once more he
crossed tho sand and found his
horse. He vaultcd into tho saddle
and galloped away into tho quic,
night.
willlston himself came 10 the
door.
I'm glad 10 see you. LanEford, .
hs said. 1T was good OF you %
come. Leave your horse for Mary
She'll give her water when she's
cooled of n bit"
You sent for me. wlllIs,on %
asked the young man.
4 did"
At that moment. Mary W1lliAton
came Into tho open doorway OF the
rude claim shanty set down in the
very heart OF the sun.searcd plain.
Her auburn hair. moro reddish on
the edges from sunburn. was fine
and soft. She looked strangely
grown.up despite her short. rough
skirt and badly scuffed leather
ridins-iegginEs. IAngford stared At
her with a startled look OF mingled
admiration and hatoniahnent She
came forward and put her hand on
the maro's bride. She was not EN-.
barrassed In the least But color
came into the strangers face. lie
swept his wide bat from his head
quickly.
mo indeed. Miss wnlis,on: I'll
water Sadie myself"
But you waited for mo 20 do q. ''
said the girl. looking up at him
curlously.
did II I didn't mean TO. Yes.
did. too. nut bog your pardon.
You see-say. look here: are you
tho little girl who lief, word for
mo this morning.
Yes. Why not7"
We'll. you see" smiling. but
apologize. "one OF tho boys said
her father wanted TO see me rs
soon as could come. SO. you see.
I thought"
Dad always calls mo that. 80
most OF the people around here do,
too. II Ia very silly"
Il don't think so at all I only
wonder why have not known
about you before" with q frank
smile. 1T must be because I've
been away 80 much OF the time late
~. Why didn't you wait for me7'
he asked suddenly. Ten miles Is
sort OF a lonesome run--for a
girl"
Il did walt while" said Mary.
honestly. but you didn't seem In
any hurry. expect you didn't care
70 be bored that long way with the
silly chatter OF n little girl"
Well" said Langford. ruefully
I'm afraid ] did feel at little re,
lieved when I found you had no,
waited. never will again. I do
beg your pardon" he called. laugh.
ingly, over hts shoulder. an he gal
loped away TO the spring.
When he returned there was no
one to receive him but Williston.
Laconlcally Williston told his
story. In the presence OF tho man
whose big success made his own
pitiful failures incongruous, his sen.
sItive scholars nature had shut up
like a clam.
Langford's jaw was set. His
young face was tense with interest.
did you recognize either OF the
rustlers?" he asked as Willlston
finished speaking.
one" was the answer; Jesse
Black"
Jesse Black"
The repeated words were fairly
spit out.
Jesse Black! I might have
known. Who else bold enough to
loot the Three Bars? But his day
has come. Not n hair. nor a hide.
not hoof. not tallow enough to
fry a flapJack shall be left on the
Three Bars before he repents his