The Monticellonian., 1918-04-19

could the better take in her surround ings and the possibilities of getting down.
 Blue had caught sight of the moving specks far down next the river and up the stream half a mile or more. He was a cow-horse to the bone. He knew those far-off specks for cattle, and he knew that his lady would like closer look at them.
 Blue chose his trail and erumpled at the knees with his hoofs on the very edge of the ledge; went down with q at-jump and landed with all four feet planted close together. He had no mind to go on sliding in spite of him. self and the bluff was certainly steep enough to excuse bungle.
 It was with q distinct air of triumph that Blue reached the bottom, even though he slid the last forty feet on his launches and landed belly-deep in q soft snowbank. It was with triumph to match his perky ears that Billy Lou ise leaned and slapped him on the neck. I've made it !" she cried, "and I didn't have to walk a step, did |, Blue? You're there with the goods, all right!"
 Blue scrambled out of the bank to firm footing on the ripened grass of the bottom, and with a toss of his head set off in a swinging lope, swerving now and then to avoid q badger hole or a f-sunken rock. They had done something new, those two; they had reached q place where neither had ever been before, and Blue acted as if he knew it and gloried in the escapade quite as much as did his lady.
 The cattle spied them and went trot- ting away up the river, and Blue quick after. Billy Louise left the reins upon his neck. Blue could handle cattle alone quite as skillfully as with a rider, If he chose.
 The cattle began to swerve away from them, closer to the river. Blue pulled ahead little, swerving also, and as Billy Louise frightened the fly until they huddled on the steep bank, uncertain which way to go. Billy Louise pulled Blue down to walk as she drew near and eyed the cattle sharply. They did not look like any of hers, after all There were five dry cows and two steers.
 One of the steers stood hroadsde to Billy Louise. The brand stared out from his dingy red side, the most con spicuous thing about him. Billy Lou ise caught her breath. There was no faintest line that failed to drive its message into her range-trained brain. She stared and stared. Blue looked around at her inquiringly. reproach- fully. Billy Louise sent him slowly forward and stirred up the hoddled little bunch. She read the brand on each one; read the story they shouted at her. of bungling theft.
 Finally she swung Blue on the down. stream side and shouted the range cattle cry. The animals turned awk- wardly and went upstream, as they had been going before Billy Louise stopped them. Blue followed watch fully after, content with the game he was playing. Where the bluffs drew close again to the river, the cattle climbed to narrow, shelving trail picking their way carefully along the bluff. Below them it fell sheer to the river; above them it rose steeply II hlackened tumble. save where the snow of the last storm lay drifted.
 Billy Louise had never known there was a trail up this gorge. She eyed r. critically and saw where boulders had .eeen moved here and there to make Fits passage possible. Her lips were set close together and they still bore the imprint of her contempt.
 She thought of Ward. Mentally she abased herself before him because of her doubts. How she had dared think him a thief? Her brave buckaroo !