Rocky Ford enterprise., 1916-08-25


cattle. II you'll take 'em and feed
'em through to the rains I'll give you
ten out of the hundred. Some are too
far gone to save, I'm afraid"
Gerry looked at his tiny plantations
which showed up meanly in the great
expanse of waste pasture. I'm sor-
ry," he said, "but I'm afraid l can't.
You see. can't afford to fence"
Lieber looked around and nodded:
"That's all right" he said, 1--WE got
lot of old wire that's no use to me and
lot of loafers to tear it down and
put 1t up. I'll fence as much pasture
as you say and throw In the fencing
on the deal"
''That's mighty fair" said Gerry:
"I'll take you" He dropped his hoe.
won't you come down to the house
and have bite to eat?" He turned
and Lieber. started to follow. by
the way" said Gerry over his shoul-
der, you're not German, are you?'
Lieber stopped his horse. His eyes
wavered. NO" he said shortly, I'm
not. I'm an American. After all, l
don't think l ought to waste any time.
just get back in hurry, If you don't
mind. My men and the wire will be
here just that much sooner"
Gerry frowned again but this time
at himself. He felt that he had
stepped on another mans corns while
defending his own. "All right. Mr..
Lieber," he said. 1.-THE sooner the
better. I'll do all l can to help"
The next morning the men came ac-
companied by oxcarts loaded with
fencing, posts and all. Lieber was
with them. He sat his horse through
the hot hours and drove his men stead
lily. Gerry threw himself into the work
as foreman. The fence grew with
amazing rapidity. From the bridge
they carried it in a straight line past
the house to the river. 1t cut Off n
vast triangle whose two other sides
were held by the ditch and the river.
BY night the work was almost done.
Gerry was tired and happy, but he
sighed. How many weeks of toll
would not he and Bonifacio have had
to put in to accomplish that fence!
Lieber stayed the night with them
older mans impersonality. Lieb0r
kept his eyes on his plate or in the
vague distance while the women at
tended them and as soon as the busi-
ness of eating was over he retired to
the room that had been allotted to
him.
He was up early in the morning and
away to meet the coming herd. First
came the horses, neighing and quick
ening their weak trot at the smell of
grass. Far away and like distorted
echo sounded the lowing Of the slower
cattle. The little herd of Fazenda
Flores caught the moaning cry and
lifted lazy heads. One or two lowed
back.
The horses We're rounded up Mt the
bridge to await the cattle. They
stretched thin necks toward the call
ing grass and moved restlessly about
with quick turns of eager heads and
low impatient whinnies. Lieber sat his
stable-fed stallion stolidly, but his eyes
grew moist as he looked over the bony
lot of horses. "They must wait for
the CATTLE" he said to Gerry. "a fair
start and no favor. Cad, IL you could
have seen them three months agor'
The cattle came up in rapid sham
BILE that carried them slowly for they
| were staggering In short. quick steps.
Their heads hung almost to the ground.
They had no shame. They moaned
pitifully-contlnuall
Gerry opened the wire gap. The
horses gave an antlclpatory whirl and
then dashed through. They forgot
their weakness. They galloped down
the slope, spurning beneath their feet
the food they had Ionged for. They
| did not stop till they reached the rich
bottoms. Lieber smiled affectionately.
There's spirit for you" he said.
The cattle followed but the men had
to beat the first through away from
the gap. They had stopped to eat and
had blocked the way. At last they
were all I'm and the gap closed. One
or two stood with stsnddled feet and
continued to low. their lips ,ust brush
ing the lush grass. "Poor beasts" said
Lieber, the smile gone from his face.
'they are too weak to eat
He and Gerry went back to the
house for breakfast. The herders sat
and smoked. They had had coffee: 1t
would see them through half the day.
Before Lieber left, the horses were
herded once more and with much trou-
bic driven out upon the desert. Lie
Der turned to Gerry. Don't let them
back in until tomorrow. please" he
said. "If you do. they'll founder"
what about the cattle?" asked Ger
ry.
"The cattle are all right They
haven't enough spirit left to kill them
selves eating. They'll begin lying
down pretty soon. Good-by, and re-
member. you'!l get warm welcome