Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1924-06-21
CHAPTER v


Transley and Y.D. rode about, care
fully scrutinizing the short grass for
iron stakes, and keeping a general eye
on operations.
Suddenly Transley sat bolt-still on
| his horse. Then, In a low voice:
"YD. I" he said
The rancher turned and followed
the line of Transleys vision. The
| nearest Of Landson's stacks was
ablaze, and a great pillar of smoke
was rolling skyward Even as they
watched, the base Of the fire seemed
to spread; then. In a moment, tongues
of flame were seen leaping from
stack farther on.
Looks Ike your prayers were an
swered Y.D.," said Transley. 81 bet
they haven't a pillow nearer than the
ranch"
YD. seemed fascinated by the sight.
He could not take his eyes off 1t. He
i drew a cigar from his pocket and
| thrust II far into his mouth, chewing
It savagely and rolling 1t in his lips,
but, according to the law of the hay
field. refralning from lighting 1t. At
first there w9s 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.
HI, Transley" he calculated,
1--WE can't sit and look at thatl Order
the men out 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. p 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
gallop down with some barrels in
wagon and put sack brigade to work.
I'm afraid It won't save Landson's hay,
but 1t will show where our hearts
are"
Transley and Y.Ds 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 stop.
How did it start, DadT she de-
manded
How do l know" he returned,
| shortly. Dye think fired it?"
'No. bur I just asked the question
that Landson wiz ey so you better
have your answer handy. I'm going
to gallop down to their ranch; per-
haps l can help Mrs. Landson."
THE ranc buildings are safa
enough, l think" said Transley. THE
grass there is close cropped, and there
/ is some blowing"
For a moment the three sat, watch
]
this time the whole lower valley was
| blanketed in smoke Clouds of blue
and mauve and creamy yellow rolled
from the meadows and stacks. The
fire was whipping the light breeze Of
the afternoon to a gale, and was al
ready running wildly over the TANKS
of the foothills.
''Wen, I'm off," said Zen. Good
Dyer
BE careful, Zenl" her father shout.
ed. Fire is fire" But already her
horse was stretching low and straight
in a hard gallop down the valley.
an ride in to camp and tell Temp
kins to make up a double supply Of
sandwiches and coffee" said Trans
ley. 81 guess therell be no cooking
in Landson's outfit this afternoon.
After that we can both run down and
lend a hand, II that suits you"
AS they rode TO camp together I'd
drew up close to the contractor.
"Transley," he said. how do you
reckon that fire startedT"
81 don't know" said Transley. amy
more than you do"
Il didn't ask you what you knew.
l asked you what you reckoned."
Transley rode for some minutes in
silence. Then at last he spoke:
"A man isn't supposed to reckon In
things Of this kind. He should know,
or keep his mouth shut. But l al
low myself Just ona guess. Drazk."
"Why Drazk7' Y.D. demanded. He
has nothin' TO galr. and this prank
may put him IN the cooler"
"Drazk would do anything to be
spectacular" Transley explained. "Hs
probably viii boast openly about it.
You know, he's trying 70 make an i'm
preston on Zen"
Nonsense :"
of course it's nonsense. but Drazk
| doesn't see It that way"
"Td string him TO me nearest cot.
tonwood If I thought he"
Now don't do him an injustice.
YD. Drazk doesn't re 4lize that ne Il