Carrizozo outlook. [volume] (Carrizozo, N.M.) 1910-1945, 1918-07-05
VIII.
aYou Won't Got Ne Again"

NNE day late In the fall Ward was
~ riding the hills Oh to the north
and west OF his claim, looking at
the condition OF the range there n
keeping an eye out for 70 cattle. He
Ind bought another dozen head OF
mixed stock over toward Hardup, and
they were not yet past the point OF
straylng OF their new range. so. hav-
ing keen eyes and the incentive to use
them, he paid attention to stock tracks
IN the soft places. and he saw every
thing within the sweep Of his vision,
and. since the day was clear and hne.
his range OF vision when he reached n
high point extended to the Three Buttes
away out In the desert.
By sheer accident he rode up TO the
canyon where the little corral lay hid
den at the end and looked down. And
since he rode up at an angle different
from the one Billy Louise Ind taken
the corral was directly beneath him
40 directly. IN fact, that half OF II was
hidden from sight. He saw that there
were cattle within II. however, n
two men ut work there, And by
chnrce he lifted his eyes and saw tie
nose OF n horse beyond n juttlng ledge
sixty yards or 40 away and the crown
OF n hat showing just above the ledge.
A lookout. he Judged instantly aud
pulled Rnttlcr behind the rock he had
been nj some pnins to ride around.
ward was a ~cowpuncher. He knew
the tricks Of the trade SO well that he
did not rnnder what was going on
down there. lie knew. lie was tempt
ed to do as Billy Louise had done
ride on aud pass up knowledge which
might be dlsngreeable, for Ward was
not one to spy upon his fellows, and
the man whom he would betrny Into
the hands OF n sheriff must be guilty
Of a most hoinous crime. That was
his code-to let every fellow have q
chance to work out his own salvation
or damnation as he might choose.
don't suppose there was anything hi
hated worse than an informer.
lie got behind the rock, since he ha,
no great desire To be shot, aud he dis
covered that his view OF the cora
was much palmer than from wherl
he had flrs' seen Il. He looked behin'
him for an easy retreat to the sky
line. and then before he turned to rid
AWAY he glanced down again ~curlously
A man walked out into the center o
the corral and stood there In the RI
veallng sunlight. Wards eyes bore
like gimlets through the space that d
ylded them. lnstinctively his han
went TO the gun on his hip. II was
long pistol shot. aud lac was afraid b
might miss, for Ward was not a VIII
ard with q gun, much as | rhould lik
10 m%isrepresent him as n dead sho
lie was human. just like Yourself. II
could shoot pretty well u great del
better than lots Of men who do MOI
boastlng than he ever aid. hut he m
qncntly missed lie measured the dl
lance with his mind while the ma
stood there talking 90 some n nj
aeen. To look at Wards face 20
would have sworn that the nan WI
doomed. but something held Ward
finger from crooking on the trigge
Tho man had his back turned square,
toward the gun. Ward waited, III
man did not move. lie waited anothl
minute. aud then he opened his lips
shout Aud when his lips parted q
tuc call that would bring the fello
facing him Wards tricky brain sna
ped before his eyes the tace OF Bil
Louise
he lowered the gun Tie could q
shoot when ne knew that the hull
would split a gulf between hlms'
and the rirl-a gulf that would sc
nrhip him forever from that futu
whore stood his air castles.
He let down the hammer with !
thumb. slid the gun back into ita h
ster and %dismounted, with a glance
ward the place where the lookout "