Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1916-04-26

answered, With grave concern. but I
think Jess a take care of herself"
The OUNCE man looked over the
level plains. his eyes comins slowly
back to kilrain's face. Something
grim il, the seriousness that was upuc
him had dashed the usual b~oyshness
from his bearing.
Martin" he said, If he played her
ialse-or ever il l was sire tina he
meant tod Kill hin sur. as hell
holds fire"
kiirain paled. There was an oinin-
Gus suggestion in Bucks tense words
which threw q baleful color over the
other mans unsettled ubts that ac-
tually weakened sim for the moment.
He threw Oft the feeling by an effort.
II want o to ride over to him now,
Buck he said. AN tell him bout
them sheep. Let him know l sent you.
hear-not Worthins. Can / trust you,
Buck? Just a cold business PROPOSE.
tion-no hot feelin's."
Sure" said Buck. Frightening.
You Just soak him hard. kilrain, am
I'll tell him soft--soir as an April
shower an as peaetrating'. Whatll
it be-"
Market value returned kilrain.
Them sheep is ours. Leastways, he
don't git EN- on any other terms"
But when Buck delivered his mes
.2S>oI " 'ieio . CItC OMIlGl VI
the Raccoon River ranch flew into i
rage.
Ransom to hell" he cred. 80
you turn cattle thieves on the Loop, do
you? And o have the nerve, Bran
non. to come on my place to bring me
a message like that. Clear out with
You, and tell those that sent you I say
they are a gang OF thieves. III come
after my sheep in my own way"
sure replied Buck, smiling pleas
antly. II never come eNpcctin' to stay,
an III just naturally tell what you
said. They'd want to know. AS for
your w way bout them sheep which
MIR. Cardross. We don keep no MUIR
derln, thlevin' sheep dogs on the Loop,
but there's dogs there what bark pow
erful true, six times to a clip. and some
more-if needs be-
Get out with you!" cried Cardross,
III pay for it,"
Having delivered his message and
received his answer, Buck should have
been discreet and ridden Off; but he
fingered. standing by his horses head,
ms disconcerting gaze studying Car
aross With a calm leisureliness. He
had little goodwill for Cardross, dis
trusting nim. fearing him. where fear
gripped hin: with a deadly intensity of
passion that always threatened to
transform him when ie gave it a
thought.
He knew that Jess K.lrain. whom
he loved. loved this man. He knew
with an instinct ~sharpened by his love
that Cardross was not playing fair
with the girl.
Watching Cardross now, the hated
thought leaped into unprecedented
words: He forgot his. mission; he for
got hilrain's admon;tion. He remem-
bered only the unhappiness which
threatened Jess kilrain at the hands
OF the man before him.
An when you come over Cardross,"
ne said, his banner quite other from
the whimsical banter which had
marked, it, don't come by way of the
Skunk Hollow. The airs gittin. p'ison-
GUS in that ravine!"
Blass Cardross flushed and paled.
His breath came sharply.
BY heaven" he cried, but you take
a chance!" With sudden caution he
checked himself. Just what do you
mean by that. Buck Brannon?" he de-
manded hotly.
i reckon you don't have to ask ms
that retorted Buck. coldly contemptu-
Gus. just remember them words of
mine. The Skunk Hollow's gittin'
mighty nnwholesome. Cardross-
plumb dangerous. l might say" His
temper suddenly flared. Keep out Of
it, you snake!"
So impetuously nae the words come
that Blass Cardross fell back, only to
spring as quickly forward, chest al
most to chest With the other. And SO
for an instant they stood while the
alarmed cry OF Nance Cardross, as she
ran rapidly toward them, snapped the
threatening tension. C%ardross, NUT
terlng an oath, stepped back.
Buck turned to his horse.
Another time, Buck Brannon,"
C%ardross murmured. IN not forget
And. il o do" said the other,
swinging on to his horse. "Ill jog your
men'ry pretty lively"
cardross turned impatiently at the
touch of his sisters hand upon his arm,