The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1918-01-10

THAT fellow is as straight as a
string. Don't you suppose it's some
gang over on the river, Floyd? I'd
try to get line on the unaccountables
There's a lot of new settlers come in
just in the last year or two, and there
might be some tough ones scattered
through the bunch. Better see if there
has been any cattle shipped or driven
through that way, don't you thinkT'
1--WE can try" Floyd assented with
out eagerness. But as near as we
can figure it's too much of a 'drib drab
proposition for that. A COW and calf
here and there, and so on. We got
wind Of it first when we went out to
bring in a gentle COW that the deacon
wanted on the ranch. We knew where
she was, only she wasn't there when
hills for a week and couldn't find a
sign of her or her calf. And she had
stuck down in the creek bottom all the
spring, so it looked kind a funny"
He twisted in the saddle and looked
back at the pine Clotted ridge.
There's a Y6 calf up there that's a
dead ringer for the one we've been
hunting" he observed, "but it's run
ming with a COW that carries Junkins'
old brand, So He looked apologet-
ically into the calm eyes of Billy
Louise. "Of course l don't mean to
say there's anything wrong up there" d"
he hastily assured her. But that's
the reason thought I'd ask you about
that fellow"
"Oh, it's perfectly right to make sure
of everybody" smiled Billy Louise.
I'D do the same thing myself. But
you'll find everything's all straight up
there. We know all about him and
how and where he got his few head Of
stock and everything. But of course
you could ask Junkins if you have any
doubt"
"Oh, Wen take your word for it. l
just wanted to know. He's stranger
to our outfit. I've seen him a few
times. What's his name? Us boys
call him Noisy. It's like pulling wis
dom tooth to get any kind a talk out
of him"
HE is awful quiet" assented Billy
Louise carelessly. But he's real
steady to work"
"Them quiet fellows generally are"
put In Mr.. Birken. "You run stock in
here, too, do you, Miss MacDonald?"
"The big Ds," answered Billy Louise
and smiled family. I've been range
herding them back here in these foot
hills this summer. Do you want to
look through the bunch?"
Mr.. Birken blushed. "Oh. no, not at
all! was wondering if you had lost
any"
Nobody would rustic cattle from a
lady, l hope At any rate. l haven't
missed any yet. The folks down in the
Cove have, though"
Yes, l heard they had. That breed
rode over to see il he could get line
on them. It's hard luck. That Charlie
Fox seems a fine, hard working boy,
don't you thiqk?"
"Yes-s," said Billy Louise shyly, che
seems real nice" She looked away
and bit her lip self consciously as she
spoke.
The two men swallowed the bait like
hungry fish. They glanced at each
other and winked knowingly. Billy
Louise saw them from the tail of her
dOwnCast eye and permitted herself a
little sigh of relief. They would be
the more ready now to accept at III
face value her statement concerning
Ward, unless they credited her with
the feat of being in love with the two
men at the same time.
"Well, I'm sorry Charlie Fox has
been tapped off too. He's a mighty
fine chap" declared Floyd, with trans
parent heartiness, his round eyes
dwelling curiOusly upon the face OF
Billy Louise
"Yes, I must be going" said that
young woman serf-cOnsciously. "Pve
quite circle to ride vet. / hope you
locate the rustlers, and if there's any.
thing l can dO-if l see or hear any.
thing that seems to be clew-I'n LEI
you know right away. I've been keep
ing my eyes open for some trace OF
them, and so has Char-Mr. Fox
Then she blushed and told them good
by very hastily and loped off up the
ridge.
Bark up that tree for awhile, YOU
two" she said, with a twist of heI
lips, when she was well away from
them. "You-you darned idiots. to &c
prowling around Wards place, just a:
If Ward'n take a shot at them II
he catches them nosing through hi.
stock!' She scowled at a big d COW
} that thrust her head out Of an aldel
thicket and sent Blue in after her
Frowning, she watched the animal q,
numbering down the hill toward th,
Wolverine. Just because he's stran
ger and doesn't mix with people ans
minds his own business and is tryin,