The Monticellonian., 1918-03-15

string. Don't you suppose it's some l gang over on the river. Floyd? I'd l look around over there, I believe, and l try to get line on the unaccountables There's lot of new settlers come in | just in the last year or two, and there might be some tough ones scattered l through the bunch. Better see if there has been any cattle shipped or driven through that way, don t you think?''
 I've can try Floyd assented with out eagerness. But as near as we can figure it's teo 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 it looked kind funny" He twisted in the saddle and looked 1 back at the pine ciotted ridge
 There's Y6 calf up there that's a dead ringer for t4e one we've been hunting" he observed, but it's run hing with a cow that carries Junkins old brand, so"- Fte looked apolocet- ically into the cslm eyes of Billy Louise. "Of coslr&e I don't mean to say there's anything wrong up there," he hastily assured her. But that's the reason I thought I'd ask you about that fellow"
 "0h, it's perfectly right to make sure of everybody" SIT lied Billy Louise I'd do the same fhing myself. But you'll find everything's all straight up there. We know al about him and how and where he got his few head of stock and everythins But of course you could ask JunkiEs if you have any doubt"
 "Oh, we'll take your word for it. I just wanted to know. He's a stranger to our outfit. I've seen him a few times. Whats his game? Us boys call him Noisy. It's lie pulling wis dom tooth to get any %ind talk out of him
 He is awful quiet" asscnted Billy Louise earelessly. "Eut he's real steady to work"
 Them quiet fellows renelally are" put in Mir. Birken. "Yo;, IT n stock in here, too, do you, Miss Mae Oonald?"
 "rhe big Ds,' answered. Billy Louise and smiled faintly. I've been range herding them back here h. these foot hills this summer. Do you want to look through the buneh?"
 Mir. Birken blushed. "Oh, no, not at all! l was wondering if you had lost any
 Nobody would rustic cattle from lady. l hope. At any rate, I haven't missed any yet. The folks down in the Cove have, though"
 "Yes, I heard they had That breed rode over to see if he could get line on them. It's hard luck. That Charlie Fox seems fine. 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 hungry fish. They glanced at each other and winked knowingly. Billy Louise saw them from the tail of her downcast eye and permitted herself q little sigh of relief. They would be the more ready now to accept at it's 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 mighty fine chap" declared Floyd. with trans. parent heartiness, his round eyes dwelling curionsly upon the face of Billy Louise,
 Yes, l must be going" said that young woman self-consciously. Eve quite circle to ride yet I hope YOU locate the rustlers and if there's any thing I can do-if I see or hear any thing that seems to be clew-rU let you know right away I've been keepe 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! the said, with twist of her lips, when she was well away from them. .You-you darned idiots. to 20 prowling around Wards place, just as if Ward'n take shot at them if he catches them nosing through his stockf She scowled at a big D COW that thrust her head out of an alder thicket and sent Blue in after her. Browning. she watched the animal go numbering down the hill toward the Wolverine -Just because he's a stran- ger and doesn't mix with people and minds his own business and is trying