The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-09-04

strange ladfes.
He strolled outside and down
the tracks. He found himself
wishing the train had been on
time. Had 1t been SO, 1.-THE
impending meeting-would now
have been a thing of the forgot
ten past. He must needs fortify
himself all over again. But
sauntering down the track to-
ward the stockyards, he filled his
cob pipe, lighted 1t, and was COM
forted. He had 40-minute re-
prieve.
He was approaching the stock
yards. There was movement there.
Sounds of commands, blows, pro-
fame epithets and worried bawl-
ings changed the placid evening
calm into noisy strife. 1t is al
ways a place interesting to cow
men. Jim relegated thoughts of
the coming meeting to the back
ground, while he leaned on the
fence, and, with idle absorption,
watched the loading of cattle into
a stock car.
"Gee!" he swore gently under
his breath, "ef that amt Bill
Brown! Yep! 1t is for a fac. Won
der what he's shippin' now fort"
He scrambled lightly over the
high fence of the pen.
"Hullo, there, Bill Brown" he
yelled genially, making his way
as one accustomed through the
bunch of reluctant, excited cat
tie.
"Hullo yourself. Jim! What you
dom in town." responded the
man addressed.
Jim looked up idly. Occasion
ally, he condescended to head a
rebellious street chute-wards.
Here, Bill Brown he ex-
claimed suddenly, where did you
run across that critter?" He
slapped the shoulder of big,
long-eared steer as he spoke. The
animal was on the point of be-
ing driven up the chute.
what you want to know for?"
asked Brown in surprise.
Reason 'nough. That critter
belongs to us, that's why; and
want to know where you got him,
that's what | want to know"
You're crazy, jim! Why,
bought that fellow from Jesse
Black t. other day. I've got bill
of-sale for him. I'm shippin' a
couple of cars to Sioux City and
bought him to send along. That's
on the square"
81 don't doubt tits far as
you're concerned. Bill Brown,
said Jim, "but that's our critter,
Jest the same, and I'll jest tote
i'm along f you've no objections"
well, l guess mott" said
Brown, laconically.
Look here, Bill Brown" Jim
was getting hot-headedly angry,
didn't you know Jesse Black
stands trial tomorrow for rustlin'
that there very critter from the
Three Bars ranch?"
mo, l didn't" Brown answer
ed, shortly. ANY case?"
"I guess. yes! Williston O. the
. Lazy S saw this very critter or
that island where Jesse Black
holds out" He proceeded to re-
late infinitely the story to which
Williston was going to swear or
the morrow.
maybe you're right, Jim, but
] don't propose to lose the price
o. that animal less'n l have to
You can't blame me for that.
paid good money for 1t. If It's
your'n, why, of course, it's your'n
But | want to be sure first. Sure
you'd know him, Jim? How
could you be SO blamed surei
Your boss must range 5000
head"
Know him? Know Mag? I'd
know Mag eff my eyes were full
o. soundin' cataracts. He's an ole
and tried friend o. mine. The
meanest critter the Lord ever lei
live. and that's a fac. But the
Boss calls i'm his maggot. Seems
to actually churish kind o. fec
ton for the ornery critter, and
says the luck o. the Three Bars
would sort O. peak and pine eff he
should ever get rid O the pesky
brute"
Bill Brown thoughtfully sur
veyed the steer whose ownership
was thus so Unexpectedly dis
puted.
"You hold him." insisted Jim.
"Ef he amt ours, you can send
him along with your next ship
ment, can't your"
well, I can't help myself, l
guess" said Brown, in a tone of
voice which told plainly of his
laudable effort to keep his annoy
ance in subsection to his good fell
lowship. "You send Langford
down here first thing in the
morning. II he says the critters
his'n. that ends it,"
Now that he had convinced the
present shipper, to his entire sat
isfaction, Jim stepped off brisk
ly and vaulted the fence with as
lightsome an air as though he
we're bent on the one errand his
heart would choose. But he had
a viselike grip on his cob pipe.
His teeth bit through the frail
stem. 1t split. He tossed the
remains away with a gesture of
nervous contempt. A whistle
sounded. He quickened his pace.
IL he missed har-Well the Ross