Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1917-09-08

iob AhdSiIe why PERSON OF Eu AUS
tins standing should behave in this
extraordinary manner, unless, perhaps
he was drunk
"Well, I saw the calves, and I left
the fellow that was branding them
with wet saddle blanket over his
face"
"Eh? What's that?" Austin start
ed, and Gonzalez uttered smothered
exclamation. "You killed him? He's
dead"
Dead enough to skin. l 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 a shrug.
"You rode in with him." Dave per-
sisted.
Ed wheeled quickly. "How do you
know didT'
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 | was
with had nothing to do with this af-
fair. Would you know your man? Did
you get look at him?"
mo. But / reckon Don Ricardo
could tell his horse"
"Humphr' Austin grunted, disagree
ably. 80 just for that you come
prowling around threatening my help,
Ell? Trying to frame up case, may
be? Well, it don't go. l was ont with
one of Tad Lewis men"
what was his nameY' Dave man
aged to inquire
"Urbina. He had sorrel under him,
but there are thousands Of sorrel
horses"
"What time did you meet him?'
Il met him at noon, and-Pve been
with him ever since. So you see you're
wrong. presume your man doubled
back and is laughing at You"
Laws first bewilderment had given
place to black rage; for the moment
he was In danger of disregarding the
reason for young Eds" inclvility 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 mostened his lips He hitched
his shoulders nervously. He was aston
ished at his own self-control, though
the certainty that Austin was drunk
helped him to steady himself Never
theless, he dared not trust himself to
speak.
Constituting this silence as an ac-
acknowledgement of defeat, Ed turned to
go. Some tardy sense of duty, how
ever, prompted him to fling back, care
lessly:
81 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 cup of hot
coffee"
But Law ground out tiercely: I'm
not used to kitchen handouts. reck-
on / can chew my bride 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 a strange
man. He is often like this lately. You
understand me? viii You come to my
house for SUPPER"
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.
Law hesitated as he was about to
spur out Of the yard. by the way"
he ventured, "you needn't mention this
to Mrs. Austin"
"She is not here" Gonzalez told him.
"She has gone to La Ferla to see about
her affairs. She would not permit of
this occurrence If she were at home
She is very fine lady"
@Yes. Good night, Benito."
Good night, senior"