The Huttig news., 1917-03-24

% Don't Know Anything About You.s trailed him from where he and his partner cut into your south pasture
 Benito stirred and muttered an oath, but Austin was unmoved 'T reckon you must be bad trailer" he laughed We've got no thieves here. What makes you think Guzman lost any calves2'
 Daye's temper, never too we'll con. trolled at best. began to rise He could not imagine why a person of Ed Aus tins standing should behave in this extraordinary manner, unless, perhaps, he was drunk
 Well, saw the calves, and I left the fellow that was branding them with wet saddle blanket over hls face"
 "Eh? Whats that?" Austin start. ed, and Gonzalez uttered a smothered exclamation. You killed him.? He's dead?"
 Dead enough to skin. I caught him with his irons in the fire and the calves necked up in your pasture. Now ] want his companero."
 "I-hope you don't think we know anything about him." Ed protested.
 Where's that man on the sorrel horse?"
 Austin turned away with shrug.
 You rode in with him." Dave per sisted.
 Ed wheeled quickly. How do you know I did?"
 Your boy saw you"
 The ranchmans voice was harsh as he said: Look here. my friend, you're on the wrong track. The fellow I was with had nothing to do with this af- fair. Would you know your man? Did you get look at him?'
 No. But I reckon Don Ricardo could tell his horse..
 "Humph !" Austin grunted, disagree ably. "So just for that you come proving around threatening my help. eh? Trying to frame up case, may be? We'll. 1t don't go. was out with one of Tad Lewis men,"
 What was his name?p Dave man. aged to inquire.
 "Urbina. He had sorrcl under him. hut there are thousands of sorrel horses"
 What time did you meet himT
 "i met him at noon, and-Fve been with him ever since. So you see you're wrong. l presume your man doubled back and is laughing at you.'
 Laws first bewilderment had given place to a black rage; for the moment he was in danger of disregarding the reason for Young Eds" incivility. and giving rein to his passion, but he checked himself in time.
 "Would you mind telling me what you and this Urhina were doing?"
 Austin laughed mockingly. That's, my business" said he.
 Dave moistened his lips. He hitchetf. his shoulders nervously He was aston ished at his own selfcontrol, though the certainty that Austin was drunk helped him to steady himself. Never theless, he dared not trust himself to speak.
 Construing this silence as an ac- acknowledgement of defeat, Ed turned to So. EoonC tuiuN Sthst ol uuAt, ever, prompted him to fling back, care lessly:
 q suppose you've come good ways If you're hungry, Benito will show you the way to the kitchen" Then he walked away into the darkness. fol- lowed by the shocked gaze of his range boss.
 Benito reused himself from his amazement to say, warmly: "Si, com padre. You will enjoy a cup of hot coffee"
 But Law ground out flercely: "rm not used to kitchen handouts. I rs~k- on can chew my bridle reins if get too hungry" Walking to his horse. he, vaulted into the saddle.
 Benito laid hand upon his thigh and apologized. "Senor Ed Is strange man. He Is often like this lately. You me? Will you comesto my house for supper?' 7.
 "Thank you, but think I'll ride on to Tad Lewis and see Urbina."
 At this the Mexican shook his head as ir apprehensive of the result, but he said nothing more.
 Continued Next Week)