The Jasper news. [volume] (Jasper, Missouri) 1898-1924, 1920-04-29

ION Thursday, the first day the law
allows" Culllson answered quietly.
Flandrau chuckled. II reckon Cnss
Fendrick win be some SORE"
Something In the strained silence
struck the dealer as unusual. He
looked up and showed n momentary
confusion.
Didn't know you we're there, Cass,
Looks like l put my foot in II sure
that time. ce'tainly thought you
we're an absentee" he apologized.
'''or you wouldn't have been talking
about me-" retorted Fendrick acidly.
The words were flung at Flandrau, but
plainly they were meant as a challenge
for Culllson.
Fendrick passed to the rear room
for a drink. His lmpudence needed
terrifying, for he knew that since be
had embarked In the sheep business he
was not welcome at this club, that in
fact certain members had suggested
his name be dropped from the books.
Before he returned to the poker table
the drink he had ordered became
three.
The game was over and accounts
we're being Strengthened. Cullison
was the heavy loser. The settlement
showed that the owner Of the Circle
@ was twenty-five hundred dollars be-
hind the game. He owed Mackenzie
twelve hundred. Flandrau four hun
dred, and three hundred to Yesler.
With Fendrick sitting IN an easy
chair Just across the room, he found
It little difficult to say what other
wise would have been a matter Of
course.
my banks busted Just now, boys.
Have to ask you to let It stand for a
few days--say till the end of the
week."
Fendrick laughed behind the paper
he was pretending to read. He knew
quite we'll that Luck's word was as
good as his bond, but he chose to sug-
gest a doubt.
Maybe you'll explain the joke to
us, Glass;" the owner Of the Circle O
said very quietly.
"Oh, was Just laughing at the
things ! see, Luck" returned the
younger man with airy offense, his
eyes on the printed sheet. ANY law
against laughingf"
Cullison turned his back on him.
"See you on Thursday II that's soon
enough, boys, Without looking again
at Fendrlck 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 1t,
but the meeting with Culllson had an.
noyed him exceedingly. The men had
never been friends, and of late years
they had been leaders of hostile camps
Both Of them could be overbearlng
and there was scarcely q week but
their interests overlapped. Finally
had come open hostility. Cass leased
from the forestry department the land
upon which Cullison's cattle had al
ways run free OF expense. Upon this
he had put sheep, thing in itself Of
great injury to the cattle interests.
The stockmeR had all been banded to-
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
as the water holes also are common
property or private supply avail
able. The Circle @ cattle and those
Of Fendrick came down from the range
to the Del Orc to water at point
where the canyon walls opened to q
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 II, put
up shack IT point which command
ed the approach. and set a guard
upon 1t day and night. Open warfare
had ensued, and one OF the sheep
herders had been beaten because ne
persisted In crossing the dead line.