The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1924-10-13

Two days later Nance again rode
Buckshin 20 The canon. and this time
she went in The afternoon
Tho eager ElldueE uf the child
the yuritrgUug welcome OF the collie
gave her n feeling ~ guilt that sh'
had stayed away 30 long. and hhs
made glowing holiday with her cook
les her SONGS and her laughter. "a
that the hours flew on magic wing
and Brand came home before they
were even beginning 60 look Tor him
he came upon them silently. "a.
BE had done before, and Nance
spuns up in confusion,
"Ilow do you always get hero M
quietlyg' sho asked, never hear a
sound
Look NJ piomand." he replied
smillnsly. 1--WE always follow tho wa.
ter A stream leaves no tell.tale
tracks Even sonny can awim like
"a fish"
Nance sobsred quickly
4 disturbing thought OF Buds re,
mark about ristiors came into her
mind--and she thought Of those 20
steers % nossicka driven into Name
lees and WhiHkcd out OF the coun,
try OF course % head o. cattle
couldn't SO down the big river in
definitely but she didn't like the
suggestion.
mo. she sald. ''li don't That's
what tho rustirrs seem 10 think"
She looked him squiFc IN tho eyes.
and was satisfied.
There was no consciousness On
thovc smiling depths not even ths
faintc-t flicker ~ shadow. What
rVcr mystery might attach 20 him.
this man felt nothing personal IN
her speech.
~ shc sat down again with Sonny
In her lap Brand sat down opposite,
and they fell 70 talking there in the
whispering silence. while tho late sun
Fii1Cd tho high blade or tho rim rock
and the cool shadows dcepencd IN
Tho gorge II was strange fairy,land
90 Nance. and an tho inner country
&c her spirit haono and Bpsrklcd un.
,er q Orc 81 stars. shc had never
f.'t ~ beforc-neScr known tho half
lr mulous excitement which filled
now.
When this man spoke she listened
wildly. her hlur eyes on his face he
emed the visible embodiment ~ All
bad missed In life. the cities. ths
1pcn seas. the diHtant lands and the
1'easurcE Aa he at before her IN
ls worn garments which might have
lrnoted a poverty a. great as hers,
seemed rich beyond compare. a
,oientate ot the world He smoked
mall brown ciFsrcts which he made
rom an old leather pouch and rolled
.tb the dexteriiy Of l0nE usage. and
10 buried each stub carefully in this
4nd.
lie was marvellous person. IN
i"cd ana Nance regarded him In a
OFT OF awe.
1--WE been In TO Cordoya "A time OF
.gc." he said casually. 'nnd have
met the sheriff and several Others
80 them I'm a prosecutor There
seems to DO a lot Of unrest In the
country"
RS tho rustler7.' said Nance
"a lot OF cattle have disappeared
and some folks blame the sheriff
I don't, l think he does all he can
It's great mystery. Wo lost some
ourselves. I've ridden myself down
looking for them, and 30 has my
brother. Bud, and we've never found
a hoofmnrk
Strange. Isn't there any one you
might suspect In these hillS?"
I've heard that Sheriff sclwoot
IS watching Kate Cathrcw, but Ii,
others laugh at him"
Fuir's eyes narrowed just a frac
ton Of mn inch.
"Caihrcw?" he said. who
shc?"
The woman who owns sky Lin,
ranch" returned Nance grimly. "aut
my enemy"
what? Your enemy? How'r
lthst?"
simple as two and two. She.
n cattle auccn-they call her Cnttl,
Kate Cathrcw-and she runs hei
stock on the slopes Of Mystery. shef
rich-lives IN wonderful house NJ
under the edge Of Rainbow cliff. an,
rides q beautiful horse. Her raddl.
alone Is worth my team md harness
my now harness that I had TO bu,
/ 10 take the place OF tho ono ths
somebody cut 20 pieces In the night
She wants our lnnd-our great fin,
/ flats on Nameleps thnt'd feed he0
I cattle thru. She's always wante,
1T She tried 10 scare my father on
and since he was found dead nc IN,
foot OF Rainbow she's tried to scar
us off-Bud and Nanny and !. Bu
we don't scare" sho finished bitter
~. mot worth a cent
Brand Fair leaned forward. an,
this time his eyes had lost thci
pleasant smile. and had narrowed 4
sits. The fingers that held his Gig
aret were tense.
TELL me-" he said. "whrt docs TIL
woman look like. I've heard OF he
/ Il little. but I've never been able
! I've never soon her.
"She's handsome" said Name
I frankly. mot large. hut pretty
made as you find them. She ha
i,lncK hair and black eyes and
mouth as rcd as n flower. and she /
always frowning. She's "A good aho
80 good that I'm not much scare
when she sends ball whining owe
I my head ns ! plow my field"
Good God.' shot out Fair, doc
HE do that2"
Nance nodded
shes done so twice. Shes m
enemy. toll you. And 80 arc an he
riders. Strange things have har
poncd TO us bitter things. Tier
Twas tho rope In tic tran that tire,