The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1917-05-10

not imagine why a person of Ed Aus
tins standing should behave ir this
extraordinary manner, unless, perhaps,
he was drunk.
"Weli I saw the calves, and I left
the fellow that was branding them
with a wet saddle blanket over his
face"
"Eh? What's that?" Austin start
ed, and Gonzalez uttered a smothe:cd
exclamation. "You killed him? Hes
dead?"
Dead enough to skin. I caught him
with his irons in the fire and the calves
necked up in your pasture. Now I
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 a shrug.
you rode in with him." Dave per-
sisted.
Ed wheeled quickly. GLOW do you
know 1 did?"
Your boy saw YOU"
The ranchman's 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 a look at him?"
mo. But I reckon Don Ricardo
could tell his horse"
"Ilumph !" Austin grunted, disagree
ably. $50 just for that you come
prowling around threatening my help,
CHI? Trying to frame up a case, may
be? Well, it don't 60. I was out with
one of Tad Lewis men,"
what was his nalne?" Dave man.
aged to inquire.
"Urbina. He had q sorrel under him,
but there are thousands of sorrel
horses"
"What time did you meet him?"
II met him at noon, and-I've been
with him ever since. So you see you're
wrong. I 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 i'll danger of d~isregarding the
reason for "Young Eds i~ncivility and
giving rein to his passion, but he
checked himself in time.
would you mind telling me what
you and this Urbina were doing?"
Austin laughed mockingly. "That's
my business" said he.
Dave moistened his lips. He hitched
his shoulders n%ervously. He was aston
ished at his W %sclf-control, though
the certainty that Austin was drunk
helped him to steady himself. Never
thelcss, he dared not trust himself to
speak.
Constituting this silence as an ac-
acknowledgement of defeat, Ed turned to
80. Some tardy sense Of duty, how
ever, prompted him to fling back, care
lessly:
II suppose you've come a 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: Isl, COM
padre. You will enjoy a cup Of hot
Coffee"
But Law ground out fercely: "I'm
not used to kitchen handouts. I reck-
on I can chew my bride reins If 1 get
too hungry" Walking to his horse, he
vaulted into the saddle.
Benito laid a hand upon his thigh
and apologized. "Senor Ed is a strange
man. lie is often like this lately. You
understand me? Will you come to my
house for supper?"
"Thank you. but I think I'll rice 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.
Law hcsitated as he was about to
spur out of the yard. "By the way
he ventured. "you needn't mention his
to Mrs. Austin"
"She is not here" Gonzalez told him
"She has gone to La Feria to see about
her affairs. She woulu' not permit of
this occurrence If she were at home.
She is a very fine lady"
"Yes. Good night, Benito."
"GOod night, senor."