New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1918-03-22
CHAPTER VllI
"You Won't Get Me Again"

Nv HdA ldlf III lHt ldll hdlu wa
" riding the hills III TO the north
and west If his claim, looking at
the condition of the raugc there and
keeping an eye ont for ~ cattle. lie
iad hojI.ht another dozen head Of
mixed stock over toward IiMdup aud
they were not yet past the point of
Nlruyiug of their new range, So, hay
ing keen eyes aud tine Incentive to use
them, ne paid attention to stock tracks
in the soft places, and lac saw every
thing within the sweep # his vision,
and. since the day was clear and fine,
his range of vision when he reached ii
high point extended t" the Three ButteS
away out III the desert,
by sheer accident he rode up to the
canyon where the little corral lay hid
der, at the end and looked down. And
since he rode up at an angle different
from the one Billy Louise had taken
the corral was directly beneath him
So directly, in fact, that half of 1t was
hidden from sight. He saw that there
were cattle within it. however. and
two men at work there, And by
chance he lifted his eyes and saw the
nose of "A horse beyond IA jntting ledge
sixty yards or SO away and the crown
OF hat showing just above the ledge.
A lookout, he Judged instantly and
pulled RATHER behind the rock he had
been at some pains to ride around.
Ward was II %cowpunchcr. lie knew
the tricks of the trade 50 well that he
did not wonder what was going on
down there. He knew. lie was tempt
ed to do as Billy Louise had done
ride on and pass up knowle edge which
might he dislgrceahlc. for Ward was
not one to spy upon his fellows, and
the man whom he would betray into
the hands of n sheriff must he guilty
Of "a most heinous crime. That was
his code-to let every fellow have a
chance to work out his own salvation
or damnation as he might choose.
don't suppose there was anything he
hated worse than an informcr.
lie got behind the rock. since Le had
no great desire to he shot, and he dis
covered that his view of the corral
was much palmer than from where
he had first seen il. He looked behind
him for an easy retreat to the sky
line. and then before he turned to ride
away he glanced down again curiOusly.
\ man walked out into the center of
the corral and stood there in the re-
Vcaling sunlight. Wards eyes bored
like gimlcts through the space that d.
vidcd them. InStinctively his hand
went to the gun IN his hip. II was a
long pistol shot. and he was afraid he
might miss. for Ward was not a wiz
ard with IA gun, much as | hould like
10 miSrcpresent him as a dead shot.
lie was human, just like yourself. He
could shoot pretty we'll. a great deal
better than lots Of men who do more
Roasting than he ever did. but he f,e-
Ilently missed. He measured the dis
tancc with his mind while the man
stood there talking to some One uu-
seen. To look at Wards face YOU
would have sworn that the man was
doomed. but something held Wards
finger from croUkiug on the trigger.
fh" man had his back turned squarely
toward the gun. Ward waited. The
IlHl Iil lbl lllbN y. llf Mdllth HHtIiltI
N mute. and then he oprIcd his lips to
shout. And when his lips parted fol
the call that would bring the fellow
facing him Wards tricky brain snap
ped before his eyes the face of Billy
Louise.
He lowered the gun. He could not
shoe, when he knew that the bullet
st..tYll an1tt n y,,ff L., ls,,.aIV
and the girl-a gulf that would sep
him forever from that future
where stood his air castles.
lie let down the hammer With his
thumb, slid the gun back into Ito hol
ster aud ~diSmounted, with a glLnce to.
the place where the lookout was
stationed. lie vas sure ne had not /
II splinter of rock and watched. He !
had no plan. but his instinct impelled |
to closely watch Buck Olney. J
Another man came into view down
there in the corral. lie also stood
plainly revealed, and Ward gave a
little snort OF contemptuous surprise
v hen he recognized him. After that
nv hhNit' NV "ANh b'o"l Ii
,rows. This other man either upset :,
MS conclusions or complicated his '
manner of dealing with Buck Olney.
Ward would not have hesitated one r
second about putting the sheriff on /,
he trail Of Buck. but If the second 4
nan were implicated he could not be- 6
ray one without ~betraying the other. %
nd IL tho busiupSc dowu fhera in tba -
-orral were lawful, then he must think r.
If some other means. At any rate. the a
hing to do now was to make sure. O.
The two in the corral came out and "
losed the gate behind them, aud the +,
irst man kicked apart the embers of Il
small fire ard afterward busted him. f,
with the ground. either looking for
racks or covering them mp. They f,
anne 4 little way along the side Of the -