Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1916-04-27
Pr v.
SHEEP AND MEN.

1t had happened again, and NOT =
man on Workings outfit but took if as
a personal challenge n affront.
Allraln, Buck, Brannon. and others.
riding out n morning before the SIM
was well up, had seen the choicest bit
OF pastufage OF the nearer ranges of
the Loop just beyond the home enclos-
ures white with the detested forms of
thousands of Cardross' sheep. and Tho
land denuded in one night of more
grass than their w cattle would have
in many.
Now wouldn't that make the pages
of your bible shrivel, kilrain?" do
manded the younger man. what self
respectin long'orn is ever goin' to he
Wlllin to Craze on that p'isoned land
LOOK at them Sanctimonious lunches
of wool r%eproNin' us for bein' here with
them church like eyes of theirn, LET
me find a ram what's got some spunk
in him!"
Wait, Buck" called the foreman.
I'm goin' to put a stop to this thing.
Cardoss S been warned over an over
again. I'm goin' to take a big bunch
OF them sheep up to the corral, an if
he wants EN- he can pay ransom for
en-. Cut out a good thick bunch,
boys"
They did it with a will, CARRYING the
bleating flock back to the corrals. while
others of the men drove the larger
number over to the Raccoon river
ranges from which they had strayed-
strayed or been driven. for the ques-
ton was an open one.
Cardoss had done many things of
late to justify the suspicion.
It's funny bout I'M in a man.
amt it, Buck?' said Kilrain, while they
waited for the return of the men who
had driven off the sheep to their own
pasturage. It's just like the DISPOSE
finp cf a h,,ll T1~
yearlin' will make the worst 3-year-ole.
an then keep on gittin' uglier an Gus
seder for every new ring roun' his
horns. Now who'd ha' thought Blass
Cardross would ever turn so peskyw"
The smile left Bucks face. He had
his own reasons for being disturbed
over Cardross' ugliness.
rs you watchin' him careful. Kill
rain?" he asked. He hesitated. II
think you got special cause to, Mar
tin" he added, slowly.
kilrain glanced up, a keen scrutiny
in his regard.
Il know what o mean, Buck" he
answered. with raw concern, but |
think Jess can take care of herself"
level plains, his eyes coming slowly
back to Kilrain's face. Something
grim in the seriousness that was upon
him had dashed the usual b~oyshness
from his bearing.
Martin" he said, 'if he PLAYED her
false-or even II I was sure that he
meant tod kill him sure as hell
holds fire."
Kilrain paled. There was an omin-
Gus suggestion in Bucks tense words
which threw a baleful color over the
other mans unsettled doubts that ac-
tually weakened him for the moment.
He threw off the feeling by an effort.
I want you to ride over to him now.
Buck" he said. AN tell him bout
them sheep. Let him know I sent Won.
hear-not Worthing. Gan I trust YOU.
Buck? Just a cold business roposi-
tion-no hot feelin's."
Sure" said Buck. Frightening.
.You Just soak him hard, Kilrain. an
I'll tell him soft-soft as an April
shower an as penetrating. Wlatlls
Market value" returned Kilrain.
Them sheep is ours. Leastways. he
don't git 'em on any other terms"
But when Buck delivered his mes
sage to Blass Cardross, the owner Of
the Raccoon River ranch flew into a
rage.
Ransom to hell!" he cried. go