Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1918-06-14
CHAPTER VIII.


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''You Won't Get Me Again"
NNE day late In the fall Ward was
riding the hills OF to the north
and west Of his claim, looking at
the condition OF the range there and
keeping an eye out for Y6 cattle he
had bought another dozen head OF
mixed stock over toward Hardup and
they were not yet past the point of
straying or 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 fine,
his range of vision when he reached
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 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 1t, however, and
two men at work there. And by
chance he lifted his eyes and saw the
nose OF a horse beyond a jutting ledge
sixty yards or so away and the crown
OF a 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 a cowpuncher. He knew
the tricks Of the trade so well that he
did not wonder what was going on
down there. He knew. He was tempt
ed to do as Billy Louise had done
ride on and pass up knowledge which
might be dlsagreeable, for Ward was
not one to spy upon his fellows, and
the man whom he would betray into
the hands Of a sheriff must be 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 inforner.
He got behind the rock. since he had
no great desire to be shot, and be dis
covered that his view Of the corral
was much palmer than from where
he had first seen it. 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.
vealing sunlight. Wards eyes bored
like gimlets through the space that di
vided them. Instinctively his hand
went to the gun ON his hip. 1t was a
long pistol shot, and he was afraid he
might miss, for Ward was not a wiz
ard with gun, much as chould like
to misrepresent him as a dead shot
He was human, just like yourself Hs
could shoot pretty well, a great dea
better than lots Of men who do NOR,
boasting than he ever did. but be fire.
Quently missed. He measured the dis
tance with his mind while the mar
stood there talking to some one un
seen. To look at Wards face yoJ
would have sworn that the man wa,
doomed. but something held Ward
finger from croolxing ON the trigger
The man had his back turned SQUARED!
toward the gun. Ward waited. Thu
man did not move. He waited anothe
minute. and then he opened his lips I,
shout And when his lips parted 70
the call that would bring the fellow
facing him Wards tricky brain snap
ped before his eyes the face of Bill.
Louise
II. 1,.,,.,.,,a A.. ..,,. H.. co,ta 40
shoot when he knew that the bulle
would split a gulf between himsel
and the girl-a gulf that would ser
arnte him forever from that futur
where stood his air castles.
He let down the hammer with hi
thumb. slid the gun back into its no
ster and dismounted. with a glance Il
ward the place where the lookout wa
stationed. He was sure he had nC
been seen, and so he crouched behin
a splinter Of rock and watched. II
had no plan. but his instinct impelle
him to closely watch Buck Olney.
Another man came into view dow
there I'm the corral. He also stoc
plainly revealed, and Ward gave
little snort Of contemptuous surprii
when he recognized him. After tn
he studied the situation with scowlir
brows. This other man either ups
his conclusions or complicated h
manner OF dealing with Buck Olne
Ward would not have hesitated ol
second about putting the sheriff
the trail OF Buck, but II the secor
man were implicated he could not /
tray one without betraying the 9th.
And n the business down there In 1
corral were lawful, then he must thil
OF some other means. At any rate, t
thing TO do now was to make sure.
The two I'm the corral came out Al
closed the gate behind them, aud [
first man kicked apart the embers
n small Gre and afterward busted hi
self with the ground, either looking I
tracks or covering them up. Th
came a little way along the side Of {
bluff, mounted and rode up towa
where the lookout waited. And one
them rode a dark bay and was 81
and tall and wore a gray hat
Ward glanced at Rather standl
half asleep with reins dropped to
ground. He reached out, took
reins and led the horse farther do
under the shelter of the ledge. r
tier pricked up his ears at the sou
OF those other riders, but he did
show enough interest to nicker a gre
ing. He was always a self cente
beast ard was content to go his v
alone. like his master.
Ward stood up, where he could
the rim OF the blun over the ledge
fnr.a rorr He minhf cot n cloaar vi