The state herald., 1917-08-10

Lot Imagine why a person of Ed Aus
tins standing should behave In this
extraordinary manner, unless, perhaps,
he was drunk.
swell. / saw the calves, and left
the fellow that was branding them
with wet saddle blanket over his
face"
"Eh? What's thati" 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 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. "How do you
know I did?"
"Your boy saw you.
The ranchmnn's voice wns harsh rs
he said: Look here. my friend, you're
on the wrong track. The fellow was
with had nothing to do with this af-
fair. Would you know your manl Did
you get look at hint"
"No. But reckon Don Ricardo
could tell his horse"
"Humph!" Austin grunted, disagree
ably. $50 Just for that you come
prowllng around threatening my help.
chr Trying TO frame up q cnse. may
be? Well. II don't so. was out with
one Of Tad Lewis men,"
"What was his nameY" Dave man.
aged TO inquire.
"Urblna. lie had sorrel under him.
but there are thousands OF sorrel
horses"
"whnt time did you meet hlmf
II met him at noon. nnd-l'ye been
with him ever since. So you see you're
wrong. ! presume your man doubled
back and Is laughing at you"
Laws first bewilderment hnd given
place to n 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 urbIna were dolngl"
Austin laughed mockIngly. That's
my business" said he.
Dave moistencd his lips. He hltchcd
i 4 H..
ishcd ut his own self-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 MS nm nc-
acknowledgement OF defeat. Ed turned TO
go.N Some tnrdy sense OF duty. how
ever, prompted him to fling back. care
lessly:
II suppose you've come good ways.
If you're hungry. Bcnito 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.
Bcnlto reused himself from his
nmazement 70 sny. warmly: "Sl. com.
padre. You will enjoy cup Of hot
coffee"
But Law ground out fcrccly: "i'm
not used to kitchen hnnd-outs. rcck-
on I can chew my brIdlc rcIns II I get
too hungry" Walking to his horse. hc
vnulted Into the saddle.
Bcnito ibid n hand upon his thigh
md apologlzcd. "Scnor Ed is n strnngc
man. lie In often like this lately. You
understand mel VIII you come 10 my
house for suppcrr'
''rhnnk you. but I think I'll ride on
to T'nd Lewis and see Urbinn."
Al this the Mexican shook his hcnd
ms ir npprchcnsivc Of the result. but no
snId nothing more.
Law hcsitntcd ns he wns nbout 10
spur out Of the ynrd. "By tho wny."
he venturcd. "you needn't mention this
TO Mrs. Austin"
"Shc is not here" Gonzalez told him
"Shc hns gone TO In FERN 10 see nbou,
her nfrnlrs. She would not permit OF
this occurrence n she were NJ home.
She is very 0Dc Indy"
"Ycs. Good night. Bunlio'
Good night. scnor