The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1924-07-09
CHAPTER v

chimes filed the valley; the horses
u,ore speeded up to recover lost time.
Transley and YD. rode about, care
fully scrutinizlng the short grass for
iron stakes. and keeping a general eye
on operations.
Suddenly Transley sat bolt-stlll on
his horse. Then, in a low voice:
'Y.D.!" he said.
The rancher turned and followed
the line of Transley's vision. The
nearest of Landson's stacks was
ablaze. and great pillar of smoke
was rolling skyward. Even as they
watched the base of the fire seemed
70 spread; then, in moment, tongues
Of flame were seen leaping from
stack farther on.
Looks like your prayers were an
swered, Y.D.," said Transley. Il bet
thew haven't a plow nearer than the
ranch"
YD. seemed fascinated by the sight.
He could not take his eyes off it. He
drew cigar from his pocket and
thrust IL far into his mouth, chewing
If savagely and rolling 1t in his lips,
but. according to the law of the hay
field. refraining from lighting it. At
first there was a CLEAN of vengeance
in his eyes, but presently that gave
way TO a sort of horror. Every hon.
orable tradition of the range demand
ed that he enlist his force against the
common enemy.
H. Transley!" he calculated,
1--WE can't sit and look at that Order
the men outl What have we got to
fight with?"
For answer Transley swung round
in his saddle and struck his palm into
YD.'s.
Good boy, Y.D" he said. 81 did
you an injustice mean, about your
prayers being answered. We haven't
as much as a pillow, either, but we can
gallon down with some barrels in
wagon and put a sack brigade to work.
I'm afraid it won't save Landson's hay,
but it will show where our hearts
are"
Transley and Y.D. galloped off to
round up the men, some of whom had
already noticed the fire. Transley
dispatched four men and two teams
to take barrels, sacks and horse
blankets to the Landson meadows.
The others he sent off at once on
horseback to give what help they
could.
Zen rode up just as they left, and
her fine horse seemed to realize the
tension in the air. His keen, hard
strung muscles quivered as she
brought his gallop to a stop.
How did it start, Dad?" she de-
How do I know" he returned,
shortly. Dye think fired it?"
mo. but just asked the question
that Landson will ask, so you better
have your answer handy. I'm going
to gallop down to their ranch; per-
laps 1 can help Mrs. Landson."
''The ranch buildings are safe
enough, I think" said Transley. 1.-THE
grass there is close cropped, and there
S some plowing"
For a moment the three sat, watch
ng the spread of the flames. By
his time the whole lower valley was
'lanketed in smoke. Clouds of blue
md mauve and creamy yellow rolled
rom the meadows and stacks. The
ire was whipping the light breeze of
ne afternoon to a gale, and was al
eady running wildly over the TANKS
f the foothills.
well, I'm Off" said Zen. Good
yer
BE careful, Zenr' her father shout
d. Fire is fire." But already her
orse was stretching low and straight
/ hard gallop down the valley.
I'll ride in to camp and tell Temp
ms to make up a double supply Of
and coffee" said Trans
". 81 guess there'l be no cooking
Landson's outfit this afternoon.
fter that we can both run down and
nd hand, if that suits you"
AS they rode to camp together Y.D.
rev up close to the contractor.
Iransley," he said, chow do you,
'ckon that fire started?"
Il don't know" said Transley, "any
ore than you do"
I didn't ask you what you knew.
asked you what you reckoned."
Iransley rode for some minutes In
lence. Then at last he spoke:
A man isn't supposed to reckon in
lngs of this kind. He should know,
keep his mouth shut But l al
w myself just one guess Drazk."
why Drazk?" Y.D. demanded. "He
Is nothin' to gain, and this prank
ay put him in the cooler"
"Drazk would do anything to be
ectacular," Transley explained. HE
obably will boast openly about it.
~ know, he's trying to make an i'm
ession on Zen"
Nonsense! ="
OF course it's nonsense, but Drazk
esn't see it that way"
I'D string him to the nearest cot
1wood If thought he"
Now don't do him an Injustice,
ID. DraZk doesn't realize that no ia