The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1918-01-25
CHAPTER VIII.
"You Won't Get Me AGAIN."

"You Won't Get Me Again"
HNE day late in the fall Ward wa
riding the hills off to the nortl
and west of his claim, looking a
the condition of the range there anC
keeping an eye out for Y6 cattle. HI
had bought another dozen head OF
mixed stock over toward Hardup, ant
they were not yet past the point OF
straying off their new range. So, hav
ing keen eyes and the incentive to use
there, he paid attention to stock tracks
IN fhe soft places, and he saw every.
tang within the sweep of his vision,
ard, since the day was clear and fine,
dis range of vision when he reached a
nigh point extended to the Three Buttes
away out in the desert.
By sheer accident lie rode up to the
canyon where the little corral lay hid
len at the end and looked down. And
since he rode up at an angle different
from tile one Billy Louise had taken
the corral was directly beneath him
so directly. in fact. that half of it 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 & horse beyond jutting ledge
sixty yar1s or so away and the crown
of hat showing just above the ledge.
A lookout, he judged instantly and
pulled Raitler 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
Hid 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 Gisagreeable, 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
chance to work out his own salvation |
Or damnation as he might choose. |
don't suppose there was anything he |
hated worse than an informer
He got behind the rock, since he had |
40 great desire to be shot, and he dis
covered that his view of the corral
was much palmer than from where
ne 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.
1 A man walked out into the center of
the corral and stood there in the re-
veaIing sunlight. Wards eyes bored
like gimlets through the space that d.
vided them. Instinctively his hand
went to the gun on his hip. 1t was
Tong pistol shot, and he was afraid he
might miss, for Ward was not a wiz
ard with a gun, much as l should like
TO misrepresent him as a dead shot
He was human, just like yourself. He
could shoot pretty well, great deal
better than lots of men who do more
boasting than he ever did, but he fire.
quently missed. He measured the dis
lance with his mind while the man
stood there talking to some one IN
seen To look at Wards face you
would have sworn that the man was
doomed, but something held Wards
finger from crooking ON the trigger.
The man had his back turned squarely
toward the gun. Ward waited. The
nan did not move. He waited another
minute, and then he opened his lips to
shout. And when his lips parted for
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
shoot when he knew that the bullet
would split a gulf between himself
md the girl-a gulf that would sep
rate him forever from that future
where stood his air castles.
He let down the hammer with his
humb, slid the gun back into its boil v
ter and dismounted, with a glance to-
yard the place where the lookout was
tationed. He was sure he had not Il
cen seen, and SO he crouched behind c.
splinter of rock and watched. He
ad no plan, but his instinct impelled h
i'm to closely watch Buck Olney. OF
Another man came into view down bl
Here in the corral. He also stood ri
nly revealed. and Ward gave a &c
lie snort of contemptuous surprise nj
hen he recognized him. After that ut
& studied the situation with scowling to
s,vs. This other man either upset
Nts'i usions or complicated his ed
.f.1AH.ir u dealing with Buck Olney. th