The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1923-09-12
CHAPTER VI-Continued.

"How did you know?" she ques-
toned, susplciously.
"Oh, It's part of my trade to learn
the country I'm working In"
"Your trader"
"Sure; you never supposed 1 was
here for my health did you? I've got
a trade, all right, and perhaps I'll tell
you about 1t some time. It's enough
now for me to say that 1t has taught
me as much about this desert as any
Indian ever knew. I've rode 1t alone,
east, west, north, and south, and one
of the strange places I stumbled into
by good luck, not more than two days
ago-was this Devils gulch I'm head
Ing for now. If we get there by day
light we'll have this game blocked"
"You believe no one else knows the
placer"
"Sure, someone does, but not this
outfit. | doubt if old Tom Meager ever
knew of it, but have some reason to
believe Bob may. 1t has been a thieves
den in its day, no doubt, IL the story
was known"
"A thieves DEM"
'Likely-yes. You do not know this
country very well, Miss Deborah, but
1t bias been the headquarters for cattle
rustlers and smugglers for years, cen
turtles, Tor all | know. In some re-
spects 1t is as bad today as 1t ever
he made an expressive gesture with
one hand, land this desert stretches
along both sides the line; on every
side mountains and wild country. The
Meager ranch is the only oasis in
hundred miles. | don't know how the
place was ever found, but I'll bet it
was held by the rifle"
1T was she said, eagerly. "Old
Tom told me the story. He came in
here,s young man, prospecting, and
discovered these hundreds of acres,
with water, grass, everything, even a
considerable bunch of wild cattle.
There was no one in the country then,
and the cattle were not even worth
stealing. He lived here alone for
years, found gold somewhere, and got
enough to develop this property. The
Indians never troubled him much, but
rustlers did, both Yank and Mexican
They had n regular trail through those
hills to the east. 1t is used yet occa-
sionally; l rode out there with Tom
Meager once, and it is like road"
"Yes, I've seen It," Kelleen inter-
rupted, running through Glorietta
canyon. There's another trail also
down Box creek"
Thousands upon thousands of stolen
cattle were driven along there north
and south, and oftentimes they tried
to pick up some of the Meager stock
In passing. For years they were fight
ing almost all the time. Then soldiers
came and patroled the border and
broke the trade up very largely"
you have pretty clear idea of the
situation, young ladyl" the man said,
quietly. Tom Meager ran this ranch
straight and fought for his rights like
Il man. Everybody along the border
knew that, and respected the old man.
ton. The whole border brood contains |
nothing worse than Bob Meager. He |
Is low-down mean, and has been a |
thief, and an associate of thieves, all |
his life. 1t doesn't make any differ |
ence how l know all this-I do know |
It, There was a bitterness to KEEL |
Ieen's voice which startled the girl
you hate him?"
He laughed lightly.
"Oh, no; cannot afford to do that,
but you have got me started, and |
might as well finish up. | reckon you
know the fellow fairly well yourself.
get him from another angle. 1t is not |
clear in my mind yet exactly how he
got possession of this property. OF |
course, l know he is old Toms son,
and the natural heir, but / met the |
father once or twice, and cannot be- |
ieve he ever put the ranch unreserv-
edly into Bob's hands, giving his
widow nothing. I'd like to see that
WILL for I'll bet all I'm worth it's
phony. Clarity drew it. as | under
stand, and still holds it. The instru-
nent is duly recorded, but the orig
nal remains safely in possession Of |
he Judge"
is that reeular?"
Perhaps so; not being a lawyer, /
Nh only guess at the regularity. OF |
purse il will have to be produced In |
~ for iunl settlement of the estate; |