Connecticut western news., 1920-03-04
The stocKmen had an been banded to-

The SIOCkmen nau all been Dan0eQ tO- l gether in opposition to the forestry ad- ministration of the new regime, and ! Luck regarded Fendrick's action as ! treachery to the common cause. He struck hard. In Arizona the ! open range Is valuable only so long l as the water holes also are common | property or a private supply avail able. The Circle O cattle and those of Fendrick came down from the range to the Del Orc to water at a point l where the canyon walls opened to spreading valley. This bit of meadow Luck homesteaded and fenced on the north side, thus cutting the cattle of his enemy from the river. Cass was furious. He promptly tore down the fence to let his cattle and sheep through. Cullison rebuilt it, put up a shack at a point which command I ed the approach, and set a guard upon it day and night. Open warfare had ensued, and one of the sheep | herders had been beaten because he | persisted in crossing the dead line. Now Cullison was going to put the
 
 final proof on his homestead. Cass knew that If he did so it would prac- tically put him out of business. He would be at the mercy of his foe, who could ruin him if he pleased. Luck would be in a position to dictate terms absolutely.
 Fendrick felt that there must be some way out of the trap if he could only find 1t. Whenever the thought of eating humble pie to Luck came into his mind the rage boiled In him. He swore he would not do 1t. Better hundred times to see the thing out to a fighting finish.
 Taking the broad-brimmed gray hat he found on the rack Oass passed out of the clubhouse and into the sum- bathed street.
 Cullison and his friends proceeded down Papago street to the old plaza where their hotel was located. All along the route they scattered mods of recognition, friendly greetings and genial banter. One of them-the man who had formerly been the hard-rid- Ing, quick-shooting sheriff of the coun- ty-met also scowls once or twice, to which he was entirely indifferent. He had made enemies, desperate and un- scrupulous ones. who had sworn to wipe him from among the living, and | one of these he was now to meet for the first time since the man had stood handcuffed before him, livid with fury, and had sworn to cut his heart out at the earliest chance.
 It was in the lobby of the hotel that Cullison came plump against Lute Blackwell. For just a moment they stared at each other before the former sheriff spoke.
 "out again, eh, BlackwellT he said easily. #... From the bloodshot eyes one could have told at a glance the man had been drinking heavily. From whisky he had imbibed a Dutch courage just bold enough to be dangerous.
 "Yes, I'm out-and back again. just as I promised, MT. Sheriff." he threat ened.
 The cattleman ignored his manner. Then I'll give you a piece of advice gratis. Papago county has grown away from the old days. It has got past the two-gun man. He's gone to join the antelope and the painted In- dian."
 The fellow leaned forward, sneerlng so that his ugly mouth looked like crooked gash. How about the one gun man. Mir. Sheriff?"
 He doesn't last long now"
 "Doesnt he?"
 The mans rage boiled over. But Luck was far and away the quicker of the two. His left hand shot for ward and gripped the rising wrist, his right caught the hairy throat and frightened on it. He shook the con- vict as if he had been a child. and flung him, black in the face, against the wall, where he hung. strangling and sputtering.
 "T-I'n get you yet" the rufTian panted. But he did not again attempt to reach for the weapon in his hip pocket.
 You talk too much with your mouth"
 With superb contempt Luck slapped him. turned on his heel, and moved away. regardless of the raw. stark lust to kill that was soaring this mans elemental brain.
 IuNict rp,.VerPd ais ,.. " .n, siGIR onf of the hotel.
 Billie Mackenzie. owner of the Fid- dleback ranch. laughed even while he disapproved. "Some day. Luck. you'll get yours when you are throw ing chances at coyote like this.