Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1923-06-14

sdlu. 4 frckOH 4 WONT STAND 10 Ds
classed with Body an Ned. There
amt no cowboy on this range thet's
more appreciatin' of the ladies than
me. but / shore amt ridin' out Of ms
Fway. | reckon I hev enough ridin' 10
do. Now. Bill, II you've SIGH dog-gone
good eyes mebbe you seen somethin'
on the way out2"
"Nels. | hewitt seen nothin'," he re-
piled. bluntiy.
Jest take a squirt at these boss
tracks" said Nels. and he drew Still
we'll a few PAGES aside and pointed TO
large footprints In the dust. Il reckon
you know the boss tibet made them7'
Gene Stewards roam, or I'm a SON
of-a-guD I" exclaimed Stillweli, and he
dropped heavily to his knees and began
to scrutinlze the tracks. Nels. who
ever was straddlln' Stewards boss met
somebody. An they hauled up a bit,
but didn't git down.
"Tolerable good for you. Bill, tibet
reasOnin'," replied the cowboy. "I
reckon you know what boss made the
other tracks?"
I'm thinkln' hard. but I aIn't sure"
ut was Danny Mains bronze"
How do you know thet7" demanded
StlllwelI. sharply.
"Bill. the left front foot OF tibet little
boss always wears a shoe thet sets
crooked. Any of the boys can tell you.
I'd know tibet track If I was blind"
"Nels, you don't think the boys
sloped with tibet little hussy, Bonita p
"Bill. he shore was sweet on Bonita.
same as Gene was, an Ed Linton be-
fore he got engaged, an all the boys.
She's shore chaln-lightnln', that little
biack-eyed devil. Danny might hev
sloped with her all right. Danny was
held up on the way TO town, an then
In the shame Of 1t he got drunk. But
he'll show up soon"
wal. mebbe you an the boys are
right. I believe you are. Nels, there
amt no doubt on earth about who was
ridin' Stewards hoss?"
"Thet's as plain as the boss tracks"
oval. It's all amazin' strange. II
beats me. / wish the boys would ease
up on drinkin'. I was pretty fond of
Danny an Gene. I'm afraid Genes
done fer, sure. If he crosses the bor-
der where he can fight IL won't take
long fer him to get plugged. / guess
Tn gettin' old. I don't stand things
like l used to-"
"Bill. I reckon I'd better hit the Pei
onclllo trail. AIebbe I can find Danny"
II reckon you had. NeIs," replied
Stillw ell. "But don't take more'n n
couple OF days. We can't do much on
the roundup without you. I'm short
of boys" /.
That ended the conversation. Still :
we'll Immediately began to hitch up !,
MS team, and the cowboys went out .
% fetch their strayed horses. Made
Inc had been curiously interested. and :,
The saw that Florence knew IL. !
Things happen, Miss Hammond" 7
he said, soberly. almost sadly. :
Madeline thought. And then straight Z
way Florence began brightly TO hum a !
une and to busy herself repacking '
was left Of the lunch. Madeline =
uddenly conceived a strong liking and !.
for this Western girl. :
Soon they were once more bowling :
long the road down a gradual In :
line, and then they began to climb a "
Dng ridge that had for hours hidden
that lay beyond. That climb was :
ather tiresome. owing to the sun and -
he dust and the restricted view. !"
Presently, at the top Of the steep y
scent, StIllwell got out~nnd walked, .
the team During this long y
limb fatigue claimed Madeline. and "
he drows silly closed her eyes,. to find ~
hen she opened them again that the u
Iaring white sky had changed to a !"
.eel-blue. The sun had sunk behind U
he foothills and the air was growing
lilly. Stlllwell had returned to the as
.rlving-seat and was chuckling to the m
Drses. Shadows crept up out Of the al
blows. nj
"Wal, Flo" said Stillwell. II reckon
better hev the rest of tibet there
nch before dark" .
you didn't leave much Of IT," \
ughed Florence, as she produced the :
lsket from under the seat.
While they ate, the short twilight
aided and gloom filed the hollows. (;
was glad to have the robes :
ose around her and TO lean against :,
There were brewster spells \
which she lost a feeling of where
was, and these were disturbed by
e JOLT Of wheels over a rough place.
came a blank interval. short or
ng. which ended In a more violent
rch of the blackboard. Madeline
Voke TO find her head on Florence's
oulder. She sat up laughing and J
ologizIng for her lazlness. Florence
sured her they would soon reach the :
nch. 4