The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1924-06-18
CHAPTER II

about next morning after their con
versation with Y.D. that there was no
opportunity of another meeting with
the rancher's wife or daughter. They
were slipping quietly out Of the house
to take breakfast with the men when
Y.D. intercepted them.
breakfast is waitin', boys" he said.
and led them back into the room where
they had had supper the previous eve
ming. Y.D. ate with them, but the
meal was served by the Chinese boy.
In the yard all was jingling excite
ment. The men of the Y.D. were fra
ternally assisting Transley's gang In
hitching up and getting away, and
there was much bustling activity to an
accompaniment of friendly profanity.
1t was not yet six o'clock, but the sun
was well up over the eastern ridges
that fringed the valley, and to the
west the snow-capped SUBMITS of the
mountains shone like polished ivory.
| The exhilaration in the air was al
most intoxicating.
Under quickly converted the ap-
implements into order; Transley had
a last word with Y.D., and the ranch
er, shouting Good luck, boys Make
| 1t a thousand tons or MORE" waved
them away.
Under glanced back at the house.
The bright sunshine had not awakened
it; 1t lay dreaming In its grove Of cool,
green trees.
The trail lay, not up the valley, but
across the wedge of foothills which d.
vided the South I'D. from the parent
stream. The ascent was therefore
much more rapid than the trails which
followed the general course Of the
stream. Huge hills, shouldering to-
gether, left at times only wagon-track
room between; at other places they
skirted dangerous cutbanks worn by
spring freshets, and again trekked for
long distances over gently curving up
lands. In an hour the horses were
showing the strain Of it, and Under
halted them for a momentary rest.
1t was at that moment that Drazk
rode up, his face study in obvious
annoyance.
DANCED If 1 amt left that Pete
horses blanket down at the Y.D.," he
exclaimed.
"Oh. well, you can easily ride back
for it and catch up on US this after
noon," said Under, who was not in the
least deceived.
Thanks, Lin" said Drazk. I'll
beat it down an catch up on you this
afternoon, sure" and he was off down
the trail as fast as that Pete-hOrse"
could carry him.
At the Y.D. George conducted the
search for his horse blanket in the
strangest places. 1t took him mainly
about the yard of the house. and even
to the kitchen door. where he inter-
viewed the Chinese boy.
"You catchee horse blanket around
here?" he inquired. with appropriate
gesticulations.
"You Iosee hoes blanketT'
"Yep."
what kind boss blanket?"
"Jus' brown blanket for that Pete |
horse"
"Whose hoss?"
Mine" proudly.
"Where you catcher
RAISED him.
Good hoss7"
"You betcha."
"IIuhl"
Pause.
you no cstchee horse blanket, hey7"
"Now said the Chinaman, whose
manner instantly changed. In this
brief conversation he had classified
Drazk, ard classified him correctly.
"You catchee him. though-some HI,
too-you stickee lound here. Beat It,"
md Drazk found the kitchen door
closed in his face.
Drazk wandered slowly around the
side Of the house, and was not above
1 surreptitious glance through the
windows. They revealed nothing. He
a path out by a little gate.
His ruse had proven a blind trail, and
here wns nothing to do but go down
o the stables, take the horse blanket
rom the peg where he had hung II.
md set out again for the South Y.D.
AS he turned corner of the fence
he sight of a young woman burst
lpon him. She was hatless and fac
ng the sun. Drazk, for all his ID
niration of the sex. had little eye for
etail "A sort Of chestnut, about
ixteen hands high, and with the look {
( Thoroughbred" he Afterwards de-
cribed her to Under.
She turned at the sound of his foot
teps, and Drazk instantly summoned
smirk which set his homely face I
canning with good humor.
Pardon me, ma'am," he said, with
n elaborate bow. II am Mr.. Drazk- I
[r. Georg, Drazk--Mr. Transley's as
giant. NJ doubt ne spoke of me-" t
ahe was inside the Enclosure formed e
, he fence, and he Outside. Hhs | )