The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-03-10

cause of her doubts. She hurried
the cattle along the dangerous
trail. impatient of their cautious
pace.
| Since she had closed up on the
cattle and had read on their sides
the shameful story of theft. Billy
Louise had known that she would
eventually come out at the lower
end Of the Cove; and that in spite
of the fact that the Cove was not
supposed to have any egress save
thru the gorge.
She seemed in no doubt as to
what she would do when she ar.
rived. She drove the cattle into
the corral fartherest from the
house, rode on to the stable and
stopped Blue. Then, tight-lipped
still, she walked determinedly
along the path to the gate that
led thru the berry jungle to the
cabin.
"Hey! Charlie! Somebody
comet" Peter Howling Dog, a PTS
toll in his hand, came running
down the path from the cabin. He
saw Billy Louise and stopped
abruptly, his mouth open.
From the shed near the stable
came Charlie, also running.
"Why, Miss Louise. How are
you? l thought"
"You thought somebody hat
gotten into the Cove without your
knowing 1t. Well, some one did
rode up from below, along the
river"
"Oh-er-did you? Pretty
rough going, wasn't it? I didn't
think 1t could be done. Come in
Aunt Martha will be"
81 don't think she'll be over
joyed to see me-" Billy Louise
stood still.
81 drove up those cattle you
had down below. You are awful
careless, Charlie! When a man
steals cattle by working over the
brands, it's very bad form to keer
them right on his ranch, in plain
sight" Her voice stung with the
contempt she managed to put into
lit.
whats all this? Worked ovei
brands! Why, Miss Louise, II
wouldn't know how To-"
81 know. You did an awful
punk job. Why didn't you lei
Peter do it, or Marthy? You
could have done a better job than
that, couldn't you, Marthy?"
Poor old Marthy, with her rheu-
matte knees and a gray hardness
in her leathery face, had come
down the path and stood squarely
before Billy Louise, her hands
knuckling her flabby hips. her
hair blowing in gray, struggling
whisps about her bullet head.
Better than what? Come in
Billy Louise. I'm right glad to
see We back and lookin' so we'll,
even II yuh do pear to be in one
of your tantrums. How's yer
maw?"
Billy Louise gasped and went
white. NOMINEES dead" she
said.
She pulled herself together and
went on, before the others could
begin the set speeches of sympa-
thy which the announcement
seemed TO demand.
Never mind about that, now.
I'm talking about those Seabeck
cattle you folks stole"
Charlie never worked any
brands, Billy Louise" Martha
started with her glum directness.
well, who did, them" Billy
Louise faced the old woman pitt
lessly.
That's it, Miss Louise" broke
in Charlie. That's the point we
would like to settle ourselves. I
know it sounds outrageous, but
it's a fact. Peter and I found
those cattle up in the hills, with
our brand worked over the v. On
my word of honor. not one of us
knows who did it."
"But you've got them down
here"
we'll" Charlie threw out
a hand helplessly. I'VE couldn't
rub out the brands; what else
could we do? 1t seemed to me
they'd be safer here than any
where else. l had it sized up that
the fellow who worked those
brands would never dream we'd
bring the stock right into the
Cove"
Billy Louise glanced uncertain
ly at him and then at Marthy,
facing her grimly. She did not
know what to think, and she
showed it.
He went on, with an impulsive
burst of confidence: Miss Louise,
have you ever, in your riding
around up above Jones canyon, in
all those deep little gulches, have
you ever seen anything of a.
corral, up there?"
Billy Louise held herself rigid
ly from starting at this.
Whereabouts is it," she asked.