The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1918-01-25

Since she had closed up on the
cattle and had read OF their sides the
shameful story of theft, Billy Louise
had known that she would eventually
come out at the lower end Of the Cove {;
and that In spite of the fact that the
Cove was not supposed 10 have any
egress save through the gorge. What
surprised her was the short distance ;
she had not realized that the blum
and the upland formed wide curve,
and that she had cut the distance al
most in half by riding next the river.
She seemed in no doubt as to what
she would do when she arrived. Billy
louise was not much given 10 indie
! cision at any time. She drove the
cattle into the corral farthest from the
house, rode on to the stable, and
stopped Blue with his nose against the
fence there and with his relns drag
glng. Then, tlght-lipped still, she
walked determlnedly along the path to
the gate that led through the berry
! jungle to the cabin.
She opened the gate and stepped
through, closing 1t after her. She had
not gone twenty feet when there was
rush from the nearest thicket, and
Surbus, his hair ruffed out along his
neck growed and made leap at her
with barred fangs.
Billy Louise had forgotten about
| Surbus. She jumped back, startled,
and the dog missed landing. When
| he sprang again he met n .30-caliber
bullet from Billy Louise's gun and
dropped back. 1t had been snap shot,
without any particular aiming: Billy
Louise retreated u few steps farther,
watching the dog suspiciOusly. He
gathered himself slowly and prepared
to spring at her again. This time Billy
/ Louise. being on the watch for such a
move, aimed carefully before she fired,
/ Surbus dropped again, limply--a good
/ dog forever more.
Billy Louise heard shrill whistle
and the sound of feet running. She
waited, gun in hand. ready for what
ever might come.
Hey! Charlie! Somebody's come
the bell, she don't reeng." Peter
Howling Dog, pistol in his hand,
came running down the path from the
cabin. He saw Billy Louise and stopped
abruptly, his mouth half open.
From shed near the stable came
Charlie, also running. Billy Louise
waited beside the gate. He did not
see her until he was close, for tan
gled gooseberry bush stood between
them.
what was it, Peter? Somebody in
the Cove? Or was it you"
mo. it wasn't Peter; it was me-"
Billy Louise informed him calmly and
ungrammatically. II shot Surbus,
that's ALL
"Oh! Why, Miss Louise, you nearly
gave me heart failure! How are you?
thought"
"You thought somebody had gotten
into the Cove without your knowing it.
Well, somebody did. l rode up from
below, along the river
"Oh-er-did you? Pretty rough
going, wasn't it? l didn't think it could
be done. Come in; Aunt Martha will
be-
81 don't think she'll be ovcrjoyed to
see me-" Billy Louise stood still be-
side the gooseberry bush, and she had
forgotten to put away her gun. 81
drove up those cattle you had down be-
low. You're awfully careless, Charlie
l should think Peter or Marthy would
have told yOu better. When q man
steals cattle by working over the
brands, it's very bad form to keep
them right on his ranch in plain sight.
It-isn't done by the best people, you
know" Her voice stung with the con-
tempt she managed to put into it. And
though she smiled, it was such smile
as one seldom saw upon the face of
Billy Louise.
whats all this? Worked brands !!
Why Miss Louise, II wouldn't know
how to-"
81 know. You did an awful punk
it was the work of greenhorn. Why
didn't you let Peter do it, or Marthy?
You could have done a better job than
that, couldn't you, Marthy?
Poor old Marthy, with her rheumatic
knees and gray hardness in her
leathery face, had come down the path
and stood squarely before Billy Lou
ise, her hands knuckllng her flabby
hips, her hair blowing in gray, strag-
Cling wisps about her bullet head.
Better than what? Come in, Billy
Louise. I'm right glad to see ye back
and lOOkin' so well, even If yuh do
pear to be in one of your tantrums.
How's yer nav"
Billy Louise gasped and went white.
"Mommies dead" she said. "She died
the ninth" She drew another gasping
breath, pulled herself together, and
went on before the others could begin
the set speeches of sympathy which
the announcement seemed to demand.
"Never mind about that, now. I'm
talking about those Seabeck cattle you
folks stole. was telling Charlie how
horribly careless he is, Marthy. Did
you know he let them drift down the
river? And blind man could tell
mile off the brands have been worked ~
Billy Louise's tone was positively ven
omous in it's contempt, "Why didn't
you make Charlie practice on a cow
hide for while first?" she asked Mar
thy cuttingly.
Marthy ignored the sarcasm. Per
haps it did not penetrate her stolid
mind at all. "Charlie never worked
any brands, Billy Louise" she stated
with her glum dlrectness.