Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1918-01-11
CHAPTER vi.
The Corral In the Canyon.

hOlIB suddenly, just at sundoWn,
" Billy Louise's journeying was in
terrupted in most unexpected
manner. She was dreaming along a
fiat bottomed canyon, looking for an
easy way across, when Blue threw up
his head, listened with his ears thrust
forward and shifted with widened nos
trils. From his manner almost any
thing might lie ahead of them. And
because certain of the possibilities
would call for quick action If any Of
them became a certainty Billy Louise
twisted her gun belt around so that her
six shooter swung within easy reach
OF her hand. With her fingers she made
| sure that the gun was loose In its hol-
ster and kicked Blue mildly as hint
TO go on and see what 1t was all about.
Blue went forward, stepping easily
on the soft side hill. In rough country
whatever you want to see is nearly al
ways around sharp bend; you read 1t
so In the stories and books Of travels
and when you ride out in the hills you
find 1t so in reality. Billy Louise rode
for three or four minutes before she
received any inkling of what lay ahead,
though Blues behavior during that in
terval had served to reassure her some
what He was interested still In what |
lay just out OF sight beyond a shoulder
OF the hill, but he did not appear to be |
In the least alarmed. Therefore Billy |
Louise knew 1t couldn't be bear, at |
any rate.
They came to the point of the hills
shoulder and Billy Louise frightened the
reins instinctiyely while she stared at
what lay revealed beneath. The head
high, hidden from view on all
sides save where she stood, by the
jagged walls OF rock and heavy aspen
thickets beyond.
The corral was but the setting for
what Billy Louise stared at so unbe-
lievingly. A horseman had ridden out
Of the corral Just as she came into
sight, had turned a sharp corner and
had disappeared by riding up the same
ssope she occupied, but farther along
md In shallow depression which hid /,
iim completely after that one brief
glimpse
OF course the gulch was dusky with
ieep shadows, and she had had only
glimpse But the horse was dark bay
Ind this rider was slim and tall and
wore gray hat. The heart OF Billy
.ouise paused a moment from its steady
'eating and then sank heavily under a
'reat weight. She was range born and
ange bred. She had sat wide eyed on
Ter daddys knees and heard him tell of .
osses ia cattle and horses and OF cor
ais found hidden away In strange
laces and of unknown riders who dis
ppeared mysteriously into the hills.
he had heard OF these things; they
'ere part OF the stage setting for
lid dramas OF the West II
With white line showing around =
er close pressed lips and horror in }.
err wide eyed glance she rode quietly a
long the side OF the blum toward =.
here she had seen the horseman dis !,
pDear. He was riding dark bay and "
Q wore gray hat and dark coat, and a
{ was slim and tan. Billy Louise a.
ade a sound that was close to groan
ad set her teeth hard together after -
ard ~
She reached the hillside just above u
lie corral. There were cattle down "
Iere. moving uneasily about In the u'
iadows. OF the horseman there was, r
course. no sign-just the corral and II
few restless cattle shut inside-and II
/ the hilltops soft, rose violet glow n
ID In the Sky beyond blend of pur- II
e and deep crimson to show wheA e
e sun had been. Close beside her IA II
e stood looking down little. gray II
I'd twittered wistfully. II
Billy Louise took deep breath and
de on. angling slightly up the blafr
that she could cross at the head of
e gulch. 1t WIS very quiet, very wi
aoeful and wildly beautiful, this jum- OIL