The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1920-12-09


Nls. wauld have been a matter of
course.
II. banks busted just now. boys
Have to ask you to lei ii stand for q
few .lays-say till the end of the
week"
Fendrick laughed behind the paper
he WAS pretending TO read. He knew
quite well that Luck's word was as
good as his. bond, but he chose to sug
gest doubt.
Maybe you'll explain the joke to
Us. Cass." the owner OF the Circle c
said very quietly.
'eOh. ! was just laughing at the
things see. Luck" returned the
younger man with airy offense. his
eyes on the printed sheet. ANY law
against laughing?"
Cullis0n turned his back on him.
"See you IN. Thursday II that's soon
enough. boys" Without looking again
at Fendrick he led the way to the
street.
The young man. left alone. cursed
softly to himself and ordered another
drink. He knew he was OVERRIDING It.
but the meeting with Cullison had an.
noyed him exceedingly. The men had
never been friends. and of late years
Both OF them could be 0verbearing.
and there was scarcely week but
their interests overlapped. Finally
had come open hostility. Cass leased
from the forestry department the land
UPON which Collisions cattle had al
ways run free Of expense. Upon this
he had put sheep. a thing in itself Of
great injury to the cattle interests.
The stockmen had all been banded to-
gether in opposition TO the forestry adj
ministration of the new regime. and
Luck regarded Hendricks action as
treachery to the common cause.
He struck hard. In Arizona the
open range is valuable only SO long
rs the water holes also are common
property or a private supply avail
able. The Circle C cattle and those
Of Fendrick came down from the range
to the Del Orc to water at point
where the canyon walls opened to a
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 1t, put
up shack at point which command
ed the approach, and set 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
legal seal ON the matter by making
anal proof on his homestead. Cass
knew that If he did SO 1t 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 position to dictate terms
absolutely.
Fepdrick felt that there must be
some way out Of the trap II he could
only find it. Whenever the thought OF
eating humble pie to Luck car1e into
his mind the rage boiled in him. Hs
swore he would not do 1t. Better a
hundred times to see the thing out
. q lighting finish.
Taking the broad-brimmed gray hat
he found on the rack Cass passed out
Of the clubhouse and into the sun.
bathed street.
Cullison and his friends proceeded
down Papago street to the: old plaza
where their hotel was located. al
along the route they scattered mods OF
recognition. friendly greetings and
| genial banter. One of them--the mAu
who had formerly been the hard-rid
Ing, quick-shooting sheriff Of the coun
ty-met also scowls once or twice. tc
which he was entirely Indifferent. HI
had made enemies. desperate and un
scrupulOus ones. who had sworn II
wipe him from among the living. and
| one of these he was now to meet fol
the first time since the man had stood
handcuffed before him, livid with fury
and had sworn to cut his heart out 81
the earliest chance.
It was In the lobby Of the hotel thai
| Cnllis0n came plump against Lutte
Blackwell. For just moment they
stared at each other before the f0rmel
sheriff spoke.
''Out. again. eh. Blackwell7' he sait
! easily.
From the bloodshot eyes one coult
have told at glance the man hat
been drinking heavily. From whisk!
he had imbibed Dutch courage JUS
bold enough to be dangerous.
Eyes. TIM out-and back again, JUS
as promised. Mr.. Sheriff" he threat
ened.
i The cattleman ignored his manner
"Then FIJI give you a piece of advice
gratis. Papago county has grow
away from the old days. 1t has go
past the two-gun man. He's gone T
! Join the antelope and the painted In
dian."
/ The fellow leaned forward, sneerini
so that his ugly mouth looked like /
crooked CASH. "How about the one
gun man. Mr.. Sheriff.
"Ho dorS.,'t Inst 1ony now"