The Lamar register., 1917-11-28

ed perceptibly, so that Billie Louise
caught faint resemblance to Marthy
In his face Il saw man accused Of
theft once" he said. The evidence
! was-or seemed absolutely unassailu-
BILE And afterwurd lie was eNoncrut-
/ ed completely. II was JuSt II horrible
mistake But he left school under a
cloud His life was ruined 10y the
| blunder I'd have to know absolutely
before I'D accuse any one of stealing
those calves. Miss Louise. I'd have to
see them in Il mans corral, with his
brand on them-I believe that's the
way it's done out here-and even
then
Where have you looked?" There
were reasons why this particular sub
ject was painful to Billy Louise. "And
are you sure they didn't get out Of
that pasture and wander on down the
Cove. among all those willowsf It's a
perfect jungle away down. Are you
sure they aren't with the rest Of the
caftleE l. don't see how they could
leave the Cove unless they We're driv-
en- out"
Yes, | thought OF that-strange as it
may seem" Charles voice was unof-
Tended. On the contrary, he seemed
glad that she took so keen an interest
in his affairs. 1T has been n week,
you know. since they flew the coop.
did hunt every foot of that Cove twice
over. l drove every hoof Of stock up
aud cOrraled them and made sure these
four were not in the herd. Then 1
hunted through every inch Of that will
low jungle and all along the blum and
the river Miss Louise. ! put in three
days at IT. from sunrise TIL II was too
dark to see. Then began riding out
side There isn't trace of them any
where | had just bought them from
Seabeck, you know. | drove them
home, and because they were tired,
and so was /. just left them in that
upper meadow as | came down the
gorge. | hadn't branded them yet. /
| know I've made an awful botch OF
the thing, Miss Louise" he confessed,
turning toward her with an honest dis
tress and self-ilaying humility in his
eyes that wiped from Billy Louise's
mind any lncipient tendency toward
contempt But you see I'm green at
this ranch game. And never dreamed
there The fence was new and strong,
and the bars are absolutely bars to any
stock larger than rabbit.
Il hate to bother you with this, and
| don't want you to think have come
whining for sympathy" he said after
a minute OF moody silence, But, see
ing they were not branded yet-with
our brandt thought perhaps you had
run across them and paid no attention,
thinking they belonged to Seabeck.'
Billy Louise smiled a little to herself
II he had not been quite 80 green at
the ranch game" he would have men
toned brands at first as the most i'm
pOrtant point Instead Of tacking on the
information casually after ten minutes
Of other less vital details
We're they yented?'' she asked, sup
pressing the smile 50 that It was mere-
" twitch Of the lips which might
mean anything.
"I-yes, | think they were. That's
what YOU call 1t when the former own
er puts his brand In Il different place
to show that his ownership has ceased,
isn't It? Seabeck puts his brand up
side DOWN
Il know Seabeck's vent" Billy Louise
cut In. There was no need Of letting
such fine fellow display mere ig-
nOrance ON the subject. And should
have noticed 1t n / had seen four
calves vented fresh and not rebranded.
Why In the world didn't you stick your
brand on at the same timer Billy
Louise was losing patience with his
greenness.
II didn't have my branding iron with
me-" Charlie answered humbly. Il
have done that before, when | bought
those other cows and calves. I"
You'd better pack your iron next
time" she retorted. IF you can't get
little bunch Of calves ten miles with.
out losing them"
But you must understand | did.
took them home and turned them into
the Cove. know-Pm an awful chump
ut this"
"The calves may not be absolutely
lost, you know Why. | lost a big
steer last spring and never found him
TN / was going to sell few head.
Then he turned up. the biggest and fat
test one In the bunch. You can't tell .
They get themselves In queer places
sometimes. I'll come over tomorrow
If cap and take look at that pasture