Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-01-14
The Ranch
at the
Wolverine
BIZ B M BOWER

| -
| tCopyrisht BIZ Little, Brown ana Company
Floyd found occasion to have a
slight argument with his horse just
then. He happened to be one OF the
| most" fellows, and the occasion OF
his last blowout" was fresh in his
mind.
"Well, Of course If you know he's all
straight that settles it. But 1t sure
seems queer"
THAT fellow Is as straight as a
string. Don't you suppose It's some
gang over on the river, Floyd? I'd
look around over there, believe. and
try to get a 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 think"'
1--WE can try" Floyd assented with
out eagerness. But as near as we
can figure it's too much Of 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
we went after her. We hunted the
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 1t looked kind funny
He twisted in the saddle and looked
back at the pine clotted ridge.
There's a Y6 calf up there that's 4
dead ringer for the one we've been
hunting" he observed, 'but it's rum
ming with q COW that carries Junkins'
old brand, so''- He looked apologet-
ically into the calm eyes Of Billy
Louise. "Of course I don't mean to
say there's anything wrong up there"
be hastily assured her. But that's
the reason I 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 Junlins If you have any
doubt"
"Oh. Wen take your word for 1t. I
Just wanted to know. Hes stranger
to our outfit. I've seen him few
times. What's his name? Us boys
call him Noisy. It's Ike pulling wis.
dom tooth to get any kind 4 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 d." 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 tho bunch?'
Mr.. Birken blushed. "Oh. no, not At
all! was wondering II you had lost
any"
Nobody would rustic cattle froq a
lady, I hope. At any rate, I haven't
missed any yet. The folks down in the
Cove have, though"
Yes, heard they had. That breed
rode over to see II be could get a line
on them. It's hard luck. That Charlie
Fox seems q nne, hard working boy,
don't you think?"
"Yes-s," said Billy Louise shyly, "he
seems real nice" She looked away
and bit her lip self consciously as she
spoke.
The two men swallowed the bait like
q hungry fish. They glanced at each
other and winked knowingly. Billy
Louise saw them from the tail Of her
1owncast eye and permitted herself a
little sigh Of relief. They would be
he more ready now to accept at Its
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 of too. Hes a mighty
nne chap" declared Floyd, with trans
parent heartiness, bis round eyes
dwelling curiously upon the face OF
Billy Louise.
"Yes, 1 must be going" said that
young woman self-consciously. tive
quite a circle to ride yet. hope you
locate the rustlers, and II there's any
thing I can do-if see or hear any
thing that seems to be q clew-Iu let
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 or up the
ridge.
Bark up that tree for awhile, you
twov' she said, with q twist Of her
lips, when she was well away from
them, "You-you darned idiots. to 60
prowling around Wards place, just al
IT, ward'n take shot at them II
he catches them nosing Though his
stockw She scowled at big D COW
that thrust her head out Of IN alder
thicket and sent Blue in after her.
Browning, she watched the animal 60
numbering down the hill toward the
Wolverine. Gust because he's q stran'
ger and doesn't mix with people and
minds his own business and IL trying
to get 4 start they're suspicious, as Il
man has no hight to- Well, think
I managed to head them of anyway"
Her satisfaction lasted while she rode