The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1916-03-10

which the announcement seemed "a
demand
Never mind about that, now
I'm talking shout those Heabeck
I cattle you folks stole
Charlie never worked any
brands. BILLY Louise" Marthy stated
with her glum directness
well, who did. them" Billy
Louise faced the old woman pitt
icgTly.
= That's g., Miss Louise" broke IN
Charlie. That's the point we'd like
20 settle ourselves. | know n
sounda outrageous. but It's fact.
I Peter and I found those cattle 40
IN the hills. with our brand worked
over the v. On my word OF honor,
not one Of us knows who did ~"
But you've got them down
here"
we'll" Charlie threw out a
hand helpleaaiy. "We couldn't rub
out the brands what else could We
dof II seemed 10 mo they'd be
safer here than anywhere else.
had II sized up that the fellow who
worked those brands would never
dream we'd bring the stock right
into the Cove"
Billy Louise glanced uncertainty
nj him and then az Marfhy. facing
her grimly, She did not know what
20 think. and she showed H.
lio went on. with an ifnpulaiyc
burat OF confidence; "Misn Louise.
have you ever. IN your riding around
up above Jones canyon, In all those
deep little gulehes. have you ever
seen anything OF a--corrai, up
fheref"
Hilly Louise held herself risidiy
from starting at this
Whereabouts IL ~" she asked.
without looking ~ him. And then
Il thought you would 10 10 any
length before you would accuse any.
body"
Il would But when they deiibcr.
a'ely try 20 hand me the blame
and I'm not accusing anybody-any
body In particular. arm ~ Tho cor.
raj II nj the head Of steep little
canyon or Enlch. back In the hills
whore all thos. bigger csnyors
head. Some time when You're rid.
lng up tina, way. You keep 81 eye
out for II. That." be added grfmiy.
la where Peter and ! ran across
there cattle; rishi near that corral"
The heart OF Billy Louise went
heavy IN her chest.
Have you any iden nj all who
~ lA7" shc forced the words out OF
her dry throat.
Charlie Fox inc, her look. and IN
hls eyes she read pl,y-yes -pliy
for her. III have" he said. with
an air Of gently deliberate evasion.
IN wait ilil nrn dead sure before
] name tho man
Billy Louise left them with n
proud lift Ca her chin aud 4 very
straight back. went 90 Blue ard
mounted him mechanically.
Frightened. worried. sick si heart
because her crnwdinw doubts and
raaplclons had suddenly developed
into black certainty just when she
lad thoaght them dead forever.
niily Louise rode up tho narrow
rocky rorxs.
How could she help ~ She had
seen tho corral and had seen Ward
fde away from u In tho dusk of
evening. or ahs believed she had
seen him. which was tho same
thing. She know that Wards PROS.
reriiy WIS out OF proportion with
his visible resources. And she
knew shat lay behind him. Was
his version Of the past. after all. the
correct one7
a. the ford. when Blue would
have Crossed and taken the tran
home. Bully Louise refined him Inn
puisiyely the other way. untll tina,
Instant she had not intended TO seek
Ward. but ono. her fingers had
twiiched the reins against Blues
neck. she did not hesitate.
The two mares fed dlspirltedly al
the lowest corner 81 the field. their
ribs showing. A few head 81 cows
and calves wandered almleHsly
among the ,hinnext fringe of vii.
ows along the creek: they showed
more rios than did the mares.
Farther aiong came Rather. thin.
lznked and rough.coated. tro;tine
down a shallow gully TO meet Hue.
Blliy Louise rode with puckered eye
brows. Ward might neglect HIS
stock. but he would never neglect
Rather Hike this And he must be
al home. since there was his horse.
or else
She struck Blue suddenly with !
her rein ends and went Gathering J
up the trail whore the snow lay IN |
shaded. crusty patches trimmed with
dirt Tho trail was untracked save