Carrizozo outlook. [volume] (Carrizozo, N.M.) 1910-1945, 1918-07-05

stationed. He was sure he had not
been seen. and 80 he crouched behind
a splinter OF rock and watched. He
had no plan, but his instinct impelled
him to clorely watch Buck Olney.
Another man came into view down
there In the corral. He also stood
plainly revealed, and Ward gave a
little snort OF contemptuous surprise
when lie recognized him. After that
he studied the situation with scowling
brows. This other man either upset
his conclusions or complicated his
manner OF dealing with Buck Olney.
Ward would not have hesltated one
second about putting the sheriff on
the trail OF Buck, but II the second
man were implicated he could not be-
tray n without b%etraying the other.
And if the business down there In the
corral were lawful. then he must think
OF some other means. At any rate, the
thing to do nov was TO make sure.
The two IN the corral came cut and
closed the gate behind them, aud the
first man kicked apart the embers OF
a small fire and afterward busied him
self with the ground, either looking for
tracks or covering them up. They
came n little way along the side OF the
blum. mounted and rode up toward
where the lookout waited. And one OF
them rode n dark bay and was slim
and tall and wore a gray hat.
Ward glanced at RATHER standing
half asleep with relns dropped to the
ground. lie reached out, took the
relns and led the horse farther down
under the shelter Of the ledge. Rat.
tier pricked up his ears nt the sound
Of those other riders, but he did not
show enough Interest to nlcker n greet,
Ing. He was always a self centered
beast and was content to go his way
alone, like his master.
Ward stood up, where he could SEE
the rim OF the blum over the ledge o.
lava rock. lie might get a closer view
and see who was the lookout, and h,
might be seen. For that contingenc,
: he kept his fingers close 10 his gun
. He heard their scrambllng progress
Now and then one OF the horses sen
: a little rock bounding down into tn
canyon, wherent the cattle IN the cora
: moved restlessly around the small Ia
: closure.
They came closer after they Ia,
= gained the top. Ward. leaning agains
the duh gray rock before him, hear
I, the murmur OF their voices. Once h
: caught the u~nmistakable tones OF III
4 man he would like 20 kill. I'm kee
cases and Rit him" Plotting agalns
a some poor devil, as usual, War
= thought and wondered II the man kne,
he lived I'm this part OF the country.
he dld. n might costly be
I'm keep cases some myself, 10
I reptile he muttered under his breatl
You won't get me again. II that
Al what you've got IN mind
They vent on, and presently WA
was looking at their backs as the
\. rode over the ridge. He stood r,
n some time staring after them wit
H. what billy Louise called his giml,
u look. lie was breathing shortly fro.
As the pressure he had put upon his Sc
Is control. and he was thinking, thlnkln
r.. The silence came creeping In on Il
ly heels or the faint, Interrupted sour
lie OF their voices. Ward took u lor
er breath, discovered that he was gri
to ping his gun as though his life Deepen
or ed on hanging TO Il and rubbed h
" numbed fingers absently After a mi
p ute or 80 he mounted and rode dow
ly to the corral.
Five dry cows and two steers snoi
ed NJ his approach and crowded again
ct tho further rails. Ward gave Rattl
~ a touch OF the spurs, rode close to d
'p- fence and stood In his stlrrups VIII
re he studied the bunch.
"Helll" he said when the inspectl
Ms was over and dropped back into I
OIL saddle whie he gazed %unseelngly
TO the canyon wall II was a very n
hell that his mind saw-a hell ma