The Dolores star., 1924-05-16
imself. Here's where 1 bent the boss

Inc sun nad failen behind the noun
tnins. the valley was filed with
shadow. the afterglow, mauve and pur-
pie and copper. was playing far up the
sky when Transley's outfit reached
the Y.D. corrnls. George Drazk had
opened the gate and waited beside 1t.
"Y.D. wants you an Linder to eat
with him at the house." he said MS
Transley halted beside him. 'The rest
OF US eat In the bunkhouse." There
was something strangely modest in
Drazk's manner.
Had yours handed to you aIreadyf"
Linder managed to banter In a low
voice as they swung through the gate.
Hi" protested Mr.. Drazk. "a
fellow that aln't boss or foreman
don't get look-in. Never even seen
her. Come, you Pete-horse ~
1t was evident George had gone back
to his first love.
The wagons drew up In the yard
and there was n fine Jingle Of harness
MS the teamsters quickly unhitched
f.D. himself approached through the
dusk; his large frame and confident
that group of confident, vigorous men,
"Glad to see you. Transley," he said
cordially. "You done well out there.
so. Llnder! You made a good job of
1t. Come up to the house, reckon
the mlssus has supper waitin'. Wen
find room for you up there. too; It's
different from bein' under canvas"
Sn nd
of the men and the horses over to his
foreman, the rancher led Transley and
Linder along path through grove
of cottonwoOds, across fOotbridge
where from underneath came the
babble OF water, to 1.-THE house"
marked by yellow light which poured
through the windows and lost itself
in the shadow of the trees.
The nucleus of the house was the
| log cabin where Y.D. and his wife had
| lived In their first married years. With
the passage of time additions had been
built to every side which offered n
point of contact. but the log cabin still
| remained the family center, and into
1t Transley and Linder were immedl-
ately admitted. The poplar floor had
long since worn thin, save at the knots,
and had been covered with edge
| grained fir, but otherwise the cabin
stood as 1t had for twenty years. the
whitewashed logs glowing In the light
| OF two bracket lamps and the reflec-
tions from a wood fire which burned
merrily in the stove. The skins of
Urtz1Iy
the floor, and two moose heads looked
down from opposite ends of the room.
On the walls hung other trophies won
by Y.D.'s rifle. along with handmade
bits of harness. lariats, and other In
sigma Of the ranchman's trade.
The rancher took his guests hats,
and mOtioned each to u sent. Moth
err" he said, directing his voice into
an adjoining room, "here's the boys"
In moment Mother" appeared
drying her hands. In her appearance
were courage. resourcefulness. energy
fit mate for the man who had made
the Y.D. known in every big cattle
market of the country. AS Linder's
eye caught fler and her husband In the
same glance his mind involuntarIly
leapt to the suggestion of what the of
spring Of such pair must be. The
men of the cattle country have a
proper appreciation of heredity. :.
my wife-Mr. Transley. Mr.. Lin
der" said the rancher. with a courtli-
ness which sat strangely on his other
wise rough-and-ready speech. II been
tellin' her the fine job you boys has
made in the hay fields, an l reckon
she's got bite of supper waitin' you"
"Y.D. has been full of your praises"
said the woman, as she led them into
another room, where table was set
for five. Linder experienced tang
Of happy excitement as he noted the
number. Linder allowed himself no
foolishness about women, but, MS he
sometimes sagely remarked to George
Drazk, you never can tell what might
happen. He shot n quick glance at
Transley, but the contractors face
gave no sign. Even us he looked Lin
der thought what an able face 1t was.
Transley was not more than twenty
six. but forcefulness, assertion, ability,
StoOu III every line OF MS Clean-cut
features. He was such a man as to
capture at blow the heart of old
Y.D., perhaps of Y.D.'s daughter.
Where's Zen?" demanded the
rancher.
"She'll be here presently" his wife
replied. 1--WE don't have Mr.. Transley
and Mr.. Linder every night. you know"
she added, with smile.
"Dolling up" thought Linder. Trust
woman never to miss bet"
But ut that moment door opened,
and the girl appeared. She did not
burst upon them. as Linder had half
expected; she slipped quietly and
gracefully into their presence. She
was dressed in black, in a costume
which did not too much conceal the
charm of her figure. and the nut-brown
luster Of her face and hair played
against the sober background of her
dress with an effect hat was almost