Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-01-09
The. Ranch
at the
Wolverine
b. B M. BOWER
Observation-Disclosures

uAv ~ - SvOs S0S0 - III
IS s0opy.iaht b. Little. 4rpwn and co~-"rv,
many men would have objected to
tie unconscious patronage Of her tone.
That Charlie Fox did not, but accept
ed the spirit Of helpfulness in her
words, lifted him out Of the small ma
tured class.
.It's awfully good Of you" he said.
'..You know q lot more about the bovine
nature than do, for all put in every
spare minute studying the subject. I'm
taking four different stock journals
now, Miss Louise. I'll bet I know lot
more about the different strains Of va
rious breeds than you do, Miss Cattle
Queen. But I'm beginning to see that
we only know what we learn by ex-
perience. I've q new book on the sub
ject Of heredity Of the cattle. I'm go
ing home and see II ,Seabeck hasn't
stumbled upon q strain that can be
traced back to your native mountain
sheep"
Billy Louise laughed and said good
by and stood leaning over the gate
watching him % he zigzagged up the
hill, stopping his horse often to breathe.
She began to wonder, then, about those
calves. Vented and not rebranded,
they would be easy game for any man
who first got his own brand on them.
She meant to get a description Of them
when she saw Charlie again-it was
like his innocence to forget the most
essential details-and she meant to
keep her eyes open. II Charlie were
right about the calves not being any
where In the cove, then they had been
driven out OF 1t. stolen. Billy Louise
turned dejectedly away from the fence
and went down to a shady nook by the
creek, where she had always liked to
do her worrying and hard thinking.
The next day she rode early to the
Cove and learned some things from
Marthy which she had not CLEANED
from Charlie. She learned that two Of
the calves were deep red except for q
wide, white strip on the nose Of one
and white hind feet on the other; that
another was spotted on the hindquar-
tiers and that the fourth was white,
with large, red blotches. She had
known cattle all her life. She would
know these II she saw them anywhere.
She also discovered for herself that
they could not have broken out Of that
pasture and that the river bank was
impossible because Of high, thick BUSH
es and nifty mud in the open spaces.
She had q tight with Blue over these
latter places and demonstrated beyond
doubt that they were miry by getting
him In to the knees in spite of his vio-
lent objections. They left deep, tracks
behind them when they got out. The
calves had not gone Investigating the
bank. for there was not trace any
where, and the blum was absolutely
'unscalable. Billy Louise herself would
have felt doubtful Of climbing out that
way. The gray rim rock stood straight
and high Ct the top, with never crew
Ice, So far as she could see, and the
gorge was barred 80 that 1t was Inn
possible to go that way, without lifting
heavy poles out Of deep sockets and
sliding them to one side.
eve got an idea about q gate here"
Charlie confded suddenly. There
won't be any more mysteries like this.
I'm going to AZ Z. swinging gate In
place of these bars, Miss Louise.
shall have It swing uphill like this,
and I'll have Z weight arranged 80 that
It win always close itself II one Is care
less enough to ride on and leave It
open. I have It al worked out in my
alleged brain. I shall do It right away
too Aunt Mafthy u rather nervous
about this gorge now. Every evening
she walks up here her6elf to make sure
the bars are closed. =
You may, % well make up your
mind to It," said Bully Louise irreie
vanity IN tone Of absolute certainty.
'Those calves were driven out Of the
gorge. That means stolen. You needn't
accuse any one IN particular. ! don't
suppose you could. But they were
stolen. = II !.
Charlie frowned and glanced up spec.
ulatiyely at the blun,s rim.
rob, your mountain sheep theory lie
no good" Billy Louise giggled. II
doubt Il, 4 lizard even would try to
leave tho Cove over the blum" which
certainly was . sweeping statement
when you consider Z lizards habits.
~ mountain sheep couldn't anyway.
They're ;hummers to climb
ssBut calves Are not, Mr.. Fox. Not