Meade County news., 1918-02-14

been up the gorge nor had any one
come to the ranch while l was gone.
So you see, Miss Louise, here's a very
pretty mystery"
"You think they were driven off,
don't your" Billy Louise asked ques-
tiOn with the words and made state
ment of it with her tone, which was q
trick of hers.
Charlie Fox shook his head, but his
eyes did not complete the denial. Miss
Louise, I'd work every other theory to
death before I'd admit that possibility.
don't know all of my neighbors so
very well, but should hesitate long,
long time"
st needn't have been a neighbor,
There are lots of strange men passing
through the country. Did you look for
tracksT"
81 did not. 1 didn't want to admit
that possibility. decline to admit it
now." The chin Of Charlie Fox squar-
ed perceptibly, so that Billie Louise
caught faint resemblance to Marthy
in his face. II saw a man accused of
theft once" he said. "The evidence
was-or seemed-absolutely unassaila-
BILE. And afterward he was exonerat-
ed completely. 1t was just horrible
mistake. But he left school under a
cloud. His life was ruined by the
blunder I'd have to know absolutely
before I'd accuse any one of stealing
those calves, Miss Louise. I'd have to
see them in a mans corral, with his
brand on them-I believe that's the
way it's done out here-and even
then"
"Where have you lookedT There
were reasons why this particular sub
ject was painful to Billy Louise. "And
are you sure they didn't get out of
that pasture and wander on down the
Cove, among all those willows? It's
perfect jungle away down. Are you
sure they aren't with the rest Of the
cattle? 1 don't see how they could
leave the Cove unless they were driv-
en- out"
Eyes, 1 thought Of that-strange as 1t
may SEEM" Charles voice was unof-
Tended. On the contrary, he seemed
glad that she took so keen an interest
in his affairs. "It has been a week,
you know, since they flew the coop.
did hunt every foot of that Cove twice
over. 1 drove every hoof Of stock up
and corraled them and made sure these
four were not in the herd. Then l
hunted through every inch Of that will
low jungle and all along the bluff and
the river. Miss Louise, put In three
days at 1t, from sunrise till 1t was too
dark to see. Then l began riding out
side. There isn't trace of them any
where. 1 had just bought them from
Seabeck, you know. l drove them
home, and because they were tired,
and so was I, just left them In that
upper meadow as l came down the
gorge. hadn't branded them yet. l.
l know I've made an awful botch of
the thing, Miss Louise" he confessed,
turning toward her with an honest dis
tress and a self-haying humility in his
eyes that wiped from Billy Louise's
mind any incipient tendency toward
contempt. But you see I'm green at
this ranch game. And never dreamed
those calves weren't perfectly safe In
there. The fence was new and strong,
and the bars are absolutely bars to any
stock larger than a rabbit
II hate to bother you with this, and
don't want you to think have come
whining for sympathy" he said after
a minute of moody silence. "But, see
Inc they were not branded yet-with
our brandt thought perhaps you had
run across them and paid no attention,
thinking they belonged to Seabeck."
Billy Louise smiled little to herself
If he had not been quite so ''green at
the ranch game" he would have men
toned brands at first as the most i'm
portant point instead of tacking on the
| information casually after ten minutes
of other less vital details.
"Were they vented?" she asked, sup
pressing the smile so that it was mere
ly twitch Of the lips which might
mean anything.
T-yes, I think they were. That's
what you call it when the former own
er puts his brand in a different place
to show that his ownership has ceased,
isn't it? Seabeck puts his brand up
side down.
II know Seabeck's vent" Billy Louise
cut in. There was no need Of letting
such a fine fellow display more ig-
norance on the subject. "And should
have noticed it If 1 had seen four
calves vented fresh and not rebranded
Why in the world didn't you stick your
brand on at the same timer" Billy
Louise was losing patience with bis
greenness.
~ didn't have my branding iron with
me-" Charlie answered humbly. II
have done that before, when bought
those other cows and calves. +"
You'd better pack your iron next
time" she retorted. "If you can't get
q little bunch Of calves ten miles with
out losing them"
'But you must understand I did. l
took them home and turned them into
the Cove. know-Tm an awful chump
at this"
"Tha caIvas NAV MT no ahaoIufplv