The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1918-02-15

hesitation was not by any means q
mental habit with Billy Louise.
81 mean just what I said" Char
lies manner was becoming more nat
ural, more confident. I've been rid
ing through the hills good deal, and
I've seen few things And I've an
idea the fellow got a little uneasy"
He saw her vince a little at the word
fellow" and he wert on, with an
rimpulsive burst of confidence: "Miss
! Louise, have you ever, in your riding
| around up above Jones canyon, in all
those deep little gulches, have you ever
seen anything of a-corral, up there?"
| Billy Louise held herself rigidly
| from starting at this. She bit her lips
so that it hurt. whereabouts is it?"
she asked, without looking at him.
And then: 81 thought you would go to
any length before you would accuse
anybody"
81 would. But when they deliberate
ly try to hand me the blame-and I'm
not accusing anybody-anybody In
particular, am I? The corral is at the
head of a steep little canyon or gulch.
back in the hills where all these bigger
canyons head. Some time when you're
riding up that way, you keep an eye
out for it. That" hs added grimly,
sis where Peter and I ran across
these cattle; right netr that corral"
The heart of Billy Louise went heavy
in her chest. Was it possible? Doubts
are harder to kill than cats or snakes.
You think they're done for, and here
they come again, crowding close so
that one can see nothing else.
"Have you any idea at all, who
it fs?" She forced the words out of |
her dry throat. She lifted her head de-
family and looked at him full. trying |
TO read the truth from his eyes and |
his mouth.
Charlie Fox met her look, and in his
eyes she read pity-yes, pity for her.
"If l have" he said with an air of
gently deliberate evasion, 'Ill wait till
| am dead before name the man. I'm
not at all sure I'd do it even then, Miss
Louise: not unless l was forced to do
it in self-defense. That's one reason
why / brought the cattle down here.
I didn't want to be placed in a posi-
ton where I should be compelled to
fight back"
Baffied and angry and hurt to the
very soul of her. Billy Louise opened
the gate and went out. eff you know
anything to tell, for heavens sake don't
hold back on my account, It's nothing
to me, one way or the other. I'm no
rustler, and no friend of rustlers, if
that's what you're limiting at" She
left them with proud lift to her chin
and very straight back, went to Blue,
and mounted him mechanically. Billy
Louise was "seeing red" just then. She
ode back past the gate, the three were
still standing there close together,
alking.
Billy Louise had ridden but a short
distance when, with sudden impulse
,orn of her stern instincts of justice,
he jerked Blue around and galloped
Jack. Charlie had disappeared, and
Peter Howling Dog was walking sui
emily toward the corraled cattle. Mar
ny was going slowly up the path to
he cabin, looking old and bent and ,
because of her bowed /.
houlders and stiff, rheumatic gait, but
arsh and unyielding as to her face.
BILLY Louise stopped by the fence and
allied to her. Marthy turned, stared {
t her sourly, and stood where she r
yas. +
"Wall, what d'yuh want now?" she O
sked uncompromisingly n
Billy Louise fought back an answer a
lg antagonism. She must be just
he could not blame Marthy for feel
lg hard toward her. She had insulted
lem horribly and killed Marthy's dog. {
81 want to tell you I'm sorry was Il
D mean, Marthy." she said bravely.
haven't any excuse to make for 1t I; 8
My you must see yourself what q T,
lock it would be to a person to ind n
lose cattle down here. But I know
pure honest, and so is Charlie. And
know you'll do what's right. I'm
,rry shot your dog, Marthy." Il,
Apologies did not come easily to fr
lily Louise. She wheeled then and mr.
de away at furious gallop, before ca
arthy could do more than open her h,
i'm lips for reply. fr
(TO BE CONTINUED)