Cavalier County farmers press. (Langdon, N.D.) 1920-1921, 1921-01-13
veaIlng his features, and the indistinct
outlines Of others idling near by.


struck out; amt morn a dozen bucks
left, l reckon. They tell me they're
raisin' h-l already over Ponca way;
maybe yer heard about it"
Laud nodded, wiping his lips with
the back of his hand. "Whar's Matt
Hanley"
"Oh. he an Slagin cum in bout five
hours ago, l reckon, an went on up
to the cove"
"Have enything with 'em?"
."Not tibet / see-they didn't, did
they, Jim?-just travelin' light"
Didn't say enything about another
gazabo?"
"Not that 1 know about. They act
ed like they was both plum tired out,
and wanted ter go asleep. Just took a
drink apiece, and mosied along"
Laud let fall an oath.
"All right then. but ID if I'll
ride doWn to the owe tonight. Wen
go up to your shack, Juan. and bunk
down. Come on. both O YER"
Shelby rode away silently between
the two, conscious that this brief con-
versation had in no way improved his
| position. To be sure he had escaped
an immediate meeting with Hanley,
u the fact that the latter had entire.
i ~ tailed to mention his probable ar.
, rival must have left an unpleasant
suspicion in Laud's mind. The fellow
sa1d nothing, however, and apparent
~ took no precautions, but Shelby
was nevertheless fully aware that the
other watched him cautiously, and
would be quick to detect the slightest
movement. They rode at a walk
through a darkness so profound that
ne could not be sure they were even
Following a trail. The sound of
bolsterous voices rang out occasion
ally, but they bore off steadily toward
the left away from the noise, and he
noticed the Mexican had grasped the
bride of the buckskin, and was firm
iy guiding the animal.
HI" said Laud suddenly, II
forgot all about the Kid. Wanter see
him, Churchin?'
Not specially ternight," Shelby adj
mitted hastily, "mornin' will be soon
enough"
Cali right, then; faint much far
Their, enyhow. There's the high rock,
Juan; the light'l show round the
next turn"
1t did, shining out like a star, and
they drove up in front of a log shack,
an odd-shaped,' rambling affair, built
ntOCn in aoainSf n rro11 90 .1o1x NJ
door opened in response to the sound
of the horses hoofs, and a. young
woman appeared in the entrance, peer
ing forth.
"That you, Juan?' she asked in
Spanish.
Isl; there are three Of us, Pancha,"
replied the Mexican, and we would
eat quickly. Is the senior here?"
Not since noon, Juan. He said
little when he rode away, yet there
has that occurred I would talk with
you about"
Iii well, little one-after we eat
there will be time"
Laud swung heavily down from his
horse, holding up his rein to Juan,
VINO remained in the saddle. He
moved like one whose limbs were stiff
tened by being long in one position.
Holy Smoke! 1 can hardly walk"
ne muttered. II will go along with
you to the corral to teach my legs how
to behave And as for you, Church
ILL., his voice deepening on the word,
go on into the cabin, and wait there
till we come"
There was nothing for Shelby to do
but obey. Suspicion caused him to
feel a thrill of apprehension from In
dlan Joes curt manner, vet there was
nothing in the words to resent, and
his ONLY chance of safety lay in an
outward appearance of satisfaction.
Inc girl drew aside, and he stepped
forward into the room. An instant
n fingered. as he glanced hastily
ABOUT at the plainly furnished inter
Tor, then closed the door, and began
busylng herself in arranging the ia
bic. III was young, not over six
teen. he judged, with dark hair and
eyes, decidedly pretty, and with a
QUICK movement, like the flight of a
bird. Twice she passed him on her
journeys to the fire place, without even
glancing in his direction !; then sudden
ly their eye met, and she laughed out
right.
You vera dull, Americana. 1 not
see a man like you BEFORE" she de-
clared positively. you not care talk
with me?'
"Sure | do" and he Strengthened up.
Il thought maybe you couldn't talk my
language"
"Oh. that Get; you not speak Span
ish. senor?"
well. hardly. l kin make out in a
way what anybody says, but when it
comes to talking the lingo, Pm a bit
rusty
Where you learn?s
when I was in the army, in Ari-
zona."
I in Arizona once-Tucson; you
there? Good. You not soldier now?'
"Oh, no; that was quite a while