The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1920-02-03
CHAPTER III.
A Master Of Brands

/
On tho grassy expanso known as
Injun Greek. fifteen hundred head OF
cattle were milling restlessly. Other
cattle came lowing, trotting now and
then when the riders pressed close.
From Devils Tooth they came. from
Lava Bed way. and from the rough
sandstone ridges of Mil Creek.
Red cattle. black cattle, spotted
and dingy white. with handy legged
flat bodied calves keeping close to
their mothers. A dozen brands were
represented In that foregathcring
The MI brand. OF Tom Lorrigan. on
most. with its various amendments
which differentiated the property OF
other members OF the family, since
all OF the Lorrigans owned cattle.
There was the MI Block of Belle
Lorrlgan. tho ANIL. which was Ais
brand. the DNL OF Duke and the
LNL which belonged To Lance. mono
grams all OF them. deity constructed
with the fewest possible lines.
Ilis rifle shcathed in a saddle
holster under his thigh. Tom Lori.
gan rode to the roundup. lord OF the
range. Beside him rode Al. and the
two OF them were talking while they
rode.
He amt safe. tell you" Al was
I saying. And you needn't ask me
| how | know. | know II. that's all.
Maybe he's too damn agreeable. or
something
"a man that wasn't safe wouldn't
dare come into the Black Rim and
make the play he's maxim" Tom
contended. i've had my eye on him
ever since he come. l can't find
nothing wrong"
well, watch out for Cheyenne.
You're pretty keen. all right. but take
a tip from me and watch him.
Takes n kid 10 tell his dad where
to head In at" growlcd Tom
Now. what's eaun old scotty
| Douglas. do yuh rcckonf That's
him. all right. could tell him on
horseback ten mile off. He rides like
n Mormon"
Tom grunted. Al pulled up his
horse and spurred off In the direc-
ton OF the ranch.
Up Hoped Aleck Douglas then. riding
suff.legged. his bony elbows jerking
awkwardly with the motion OF his
horse. That the Douglas wrath rode
with him, Tom saw from the corner
OF his eye. and gave no sign.
Hello" said Tom casually.
You're quite stranger"
Mister Lorrigan. 'tis ABBOTT spot
ted yearlin' that I've come to speak
with We. I've found tho hide OF her
| in the brush beneath yon hill. and
the brand is cut from IT. But I wad
swear 10 the hide wi'out the brand.
Twas a yeariin' l ken weel. Mister
Lorrigan." Douglas rode alongside.
and his closest little eyes regarded
keenly Toms face.
II have no got the hide WI me. but
| ken weei whaur IL lies. Mister Lor-
rigan, and ! thinkit so do you"
Hmm. You'd ought to of brought
Il along" Toms glance went out to-
ward the herd and the cattel lumber
| ing toward II far and near. THE
range is plumb lousy with spotted
yearlings. Scotty. What do you ex.
pect me TO do about it?''
Tho Douglas face worked spasmod-
ically before he spoke. II expect ye,
Mr.. Lorrigan. TO pay for yon beastie.
I ken weei We could name the mon
that stlclit the knife In her throat
An she made fine eatin'. ] have ma
doot But It's the law. Mister Lori
gan, that a mon should pay for the
meat he consumes"
Meaning. of course. that you think
| t,.
fit. Don't you think you're kinda
hasty? Humpin' hyenas! Amt | got
cattle enough OF my own, without
rustlln' off my neighbours"
AYE. Ye ha' cattle. Mister Lori.
gan: / ken weel We should no be put
to It for a wee bit meat-but / ken
weel yon spotty yearlin' was mine,
ken ye've been campin' there
about"
The downright foolhardiness OF
the Douglas wrath held Toms hand
tho, of a truth that hand trembled
and crept backward.
Toward them clattered two riders
hotly pursuing a lean, long-legged
steer. Tom wheeled mechanically
and gave chase. leaving the Douglas
wrath to wax hotter or to cool II II
would. It was harsh accusation
that Aleck Douglas had made. and
Tom did not take the matter so in
differently as Douglas believed.
Duke and Mel Wilson, riding hard,
came upon Tom just as he had roped
and thrown the steer in shallow
draw that hid them from the level.
where Aleck Douglas waited.
Hey" Tom beckoned them close.
"Old Douglas says there's n hide in
the willows this side Of Squaw Butte,
with tho brand cut out; a spotted
yearling, and he claims it's his and
he can swear to II without the brand.
I don't know darn thing about It.
Nobody does in this outfit; III stake
all i've got on that But he's on the
Highland mules a sheep along
side him when he's got his back up.
He left the hide where he found II.
Haze this steer and ride over there
and sec what there Is to his talk. IL
you find hide cached In the willows,
put IL outa sight. We don't want
any rustling scraps started on this
range, that's bad medicine always. II
he can't produce any hide, he can't
start anything but falkland talks
cheap"
A few minutes later they came
tearing out OF the draw. the steer
running strong, the three riders still
hotly pursuing. Duke and Mel