Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1918-01-04

been up the gorge nor had any on'
come to the ranch while 1 was gone
So you see, Miss Louise, here's very
pretty mystery"
you think they were driven off
don't you?" Billy Louise asked ques
ton with the words and made state
ment of 1t with her tone, which was 8
trick of hers.
Charlie Fox shook bis head, but his
eyes did not complete the denial. Miss
Louise, I'd work every other theory to
death before I'd admit that possibility
I don't know all of my neighbors SO
very well, but I should hesitate long,
long time"
1T needn't have been a neighbor.
There are lots Of strange men passing
through the country. Did you look for
tracks?"
II did not. 1 didn't want to admit
that possibility. 1 decline to admit 1t
now" The chin of Charlie Fox squar-
ed perceptibly, so that Billie Louise
caught faint resemblance to Marthy
in his face. II saw a man accused Of
a theft once" he said. The evidence
was-or seemed-absolutely unassaila-
BILE. And afterward he was e1onerat-
ed completely. 1t was just horrible
mistake. But he left school under a
cloud. His life was ruined by the
blunder. I'd have to know absolutely
before I'd accuse any one of stealing
those calves, Miss Louise. I'd have to
see them in a mans corral, with his
brand on them-I believe that's the
way it's done out here-and even
| then"
Where have you looked" There
were reasons why this particular sub
ject was painful to Billy Louise. And
are you sure they didn't get out Of
that pasture and wander on down the
Cove, among all those willows? It's a
perfect jungle away down. Are you
sure they aren't with the rest of the
cattle? 1 don't see how they. could
leave the Cove unless they were dry
en- OUT - s.,.s
Eyes, 1 thought of that-strange as it
may SEEM Charles voice was unpf
tended On the contrary, he. seemed
glad that she took so keen an interest
in his affairs. "It has been week,
you know, since they flew the coop. 1
did hunt every foot of that Cove twice
over 1 drove every .hoof of stock up
and corraled them and made sure these
four were not in the herd. Then 1
hunted through every inch OF that will
low jungle and all along the bluff and
the river. Miss Louise, l put In three |
days at it, from sunrise till ii was too |
dark to see. Then / began riding out
side. There isn't trace of them any
where. 1 had just bought them from |
Seabeck, you know. 1 drove them |
home, and because they were tired, |
and so was I, just left them in that |
upper meadow as 1 came down the |
gorge. hadn't branded them yet. L
know I've made an awful botch Of
the thing, Miss Louise" he confessed,
turning toward her with an honest dis
tress and a self-faying humility in his
eyes that wiped from Billy Louise's
mind any incipient tendency toward
But you see I'm green at
this ranch game. And never dreamed
those calves weren't perfectly safe in
there. The fence was new and strong,
and the bars are absolutely bars to any
stock larger than rabbit
81 hate to bother you with this, and
I don't want you to thinkI have come
whining for sympathy" he said after
a minute Of moody silence But, see
Ing they were not branded yet-with
our brandt thought perhaps you had
run across them and paid no attention,
thinking they belonged to Seabeck."
Billy Louise smiled little to herself ,,
If he had not been quite so green at
he ranch game" he would have men
toned brands at first as the most i'm !
)ortant point instead of lacking on the
Information casually after ten minutes
# other less vital details.
.Were they vented?" she asked, sup :
PRESSING the smile so that it was mere :
y a twitch of the lips which might !.
mean anything. :
"I-yes, 1 think they were That's !
What you call it when the former own :,
r puts his brand in a different place !,
o show that his ownership has ceased, n
snt it? Seabeck puts his brand up q
ide DOWN :,
81 know Seabeck's vent" Billy Louise a
ut in. There was no need OF letting s.
UGH a fine fellow display more ig- Fl
ORANGE on the subject "And 1 should
ave noticed it if l had seen four n
alyes vented fresh and not rebranded Y,
Thy in the world didn't you stick your So
rand on at the same timer Billy Q,
ouise was losing patience with his a,
reenness. 81
81 didn't have my branding iron with st
e." Charlie answered humbly. II
ave done that before, when 1 bought I'll
ose other COWS and calves. T."
you'd better pack your iron next NJ
me- she retorted. IF you can't get dc
little bunch OF calves ten miles with lei
It losing them" &c
But you must understand I did. | W
Ok them home and turned them into "a
e Cove. 1 know-Tm an awful chump
this"
The calves may not be absolutely lik