Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1918-05-24
CHAPTER ".
The Mystery Of the MIssina.

NTHEN Charlie "ox rode down to
wv the Wolverine a month or so
later, tied his horse under the
shed and came up to the cabin as
though he knew Of no better place in
all the world; when he greeted "mom-
mie" as though she were something
precious in his sight and talked with
her about the things she was most in
terested in and actually made her feel
as If he were immensely interested al
so, Billy Louise simply could not help
admiring him and liking him for his
frank good nature and his kindness.
She had never before met a man Just
ike Charlie Fox, though she had known
many who were what Ward once called
"parlor broke"
1t was not until Charlie was leaving
that he gave Billy Louise a hint that
his errand was not yet accomplished.
She walked down with him to where
his horse was tied and so gave him
bloom against the dull brown of the
chance to speak what was in his mind.
"You know, / hate to mention little
worries before your mother" he said.
"Those pathetic eyes of hers make me
ashamed to bother her with a thing
But am worried, Miss Louise 1 came
over to ask you II you've seen anything
Of four calves of ours. l know you
ride a good deal through the hills.
They disappeared a week ago, and |
can't find any trace of them. I've been
looking all through the hills, but can't
locate them"
Billy Louise had not seen them, ell
ther. and she begged for particulars.
II don't see how they could get away
bars were down"
''The bars were ali right. 1t was last
Friday, l think. I'm not sure. They
were in the little meadow above the
house. you see. / was away that night
and Aunt Martha Is a little hard OF
hearing. She wouldn't hear anything
unless there were considerable noise
came home the next forenoon-I was
over to Seaback's-and the bars were
in place then. Aunt Martha had moi
been up the gorge nor had any one
come to the ranch while / was gone
So you see. Miss Louise, here's a very
pretty mystery"
"YOu think they were driven of
don't your" Billy Louise asked a ques
ton with the words and made a state
ment of it with her tone, which was ,
trick OF hers.
Charlie Fox shook his head, but hi
eyes did not complete the denial. mis-
Louise, I'd work every other theory t
death before I'd admit that possibility
/ don't know all of my neighbors s.
very well, but should hesitate a long
long time"
1T needn't have been a neighbol
There are lots of strange men passin
through the country. Did you look 70
tracks?"
II did not. l didn't want to admi
that possibility. j decline to admit
now" The chin of Charlie Fox squal
ed perceptibly, so that Billie Louis
caught faint resemblance to Marth
in his face. 81 saw a man accused {
a theft once" he said. "The evidenC
was-or seemed-absolutely unassail;
BILE. And afterward he was exonera
ed completely. 1t was just a horrib
mistake. But he left school under
cloud. His life was ruined by tt
blunder. I'd have to know absolutel
4 before I'd accuse any one of stealth
n those calves, Miss Louise. I'd have
a see them in a mans corral, with b
brand on them-I believe that's Il
a way it's done out here-and eve
then"
n where have you lookedT The
n we're reasons why this particular su
ject was painful to Billy Louise. "AI
/" are you sure they didn't get out
n that pasture and wander on down Il
Cove, among all those willows? It's
l. perfect jungle away down. Are "
e sure they aren't with the rest of t
o cattle? 1 don't see how they cou
le leave the Cove unless they were dri
ID en- out"
3 "Yes, thought Of that-strange as
le may SEEM" Charles voice was unt
" Tended. On the contrary, he seem
"A glad that she took so keen an intert
IS In his affairs. "It has been a wee
you know, since they few the coop.
I'd did hunt every foot of that Cove twi
IL over. l drove every hoof of stock
ut and corraled them and made sure the
ly four were not in the herd. Then
n. hunted through every inch of that "
le low jungle and all along the bluff a
m the river. Miss Louise, 1 put in thl
90 days at II, from sunrise till 1t was
or dark to see. Then l began riding o
side There isn't n trace of them al