The Dolores star., 1924-05-23
CHAPTER ~

NerSatlon Win 1.D. tnat 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 jingllng excite
ment. The men of the YD. 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.
Linder quickly converted the ap-
parent chaos of horses, wagons and
implements into order; Transley had
last word with Y.D.. and the ranch
er, shouting "Good luck, boys! Make
1t a thousand tons or more" waved
them away.
Linder glanced back at the house
The bright sunshine had not awakened
1t; 1t lay dreaming in its grove of COOL
green trees.
The trail lay, not up the valley. but
across the wedge of foothills which di-
vided the South Y.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, shoulderlng 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 1t, and LInder
halted them for momentary rest.
1t was at that moment that Drazk
rode up, his face study in obvious
annoyance
DANCED If I amt left that Pete
horses blanket down at the Y.D.," he
exclaimed
"Oh. well. you can easily ride back
for 1t and catch up on us this after
nOon." said Linder, 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
herei' he inquired. with appropriate
gesticulations.
"You Iosee hoss blanket?"
"Yep."
"What kind hoss blanket2"
Jus brown blanket for that Pete
horse"
"Whose hoss?"
Mime" proudly.
"Where you catcher
RAISED him..
Good hoss?"
You betcha."
"Huh!"
Pause.
you no cetchee horse blanket, hey?"
mol" said the Chinaman, whose
manner instantly changed. In this
brief conversation he had classified
Drazk. and classified him correctly.
you catchee him. though-some hi.
too-you stickee lound here. Beat it,"
and Drazk found the kitchen door
closed in his face.
Drazk wandered slowly around the
side of the house, and was not above
a surreptitious glance through the
windows. They revealed nothing. He
followed path out by little gate.
His ruse had proven blind trail. and
there was nothing to do but go down
to the stables. take the horse blanket
from the peg where he had hung 1t.
and set out again for the South Y.D.
AS he turned corner of the fence
the sight of young woman burst
upon him. She was hatless and fac
ing the sun. Drazk, for all his ad-
mlration of the sex. had little eye for
detail. "A sort Of chestnut about
sixteen hands high. and with the look
of thoroughbred" he afterwards de-
scribed her to Linder.
She turned at the sound of his foot
steps, and Drazk instantly summoned
smirk which set his homely face
beaming with good humor.
Pardon me, ma'am." he said, with
al elaborate bow. II am Mr.. Drazk-
Mr.. George Drazk-Mr. Transley's as
sistant. No doubt ne spoke of me-"
She was inside the inclosure formed
by the fence and he outside. She