The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1924-10-21

my trail ON hts lonEleFgcd hay I
want old silvcrtop under mo" he
had said, Il don't aim 20 decorate ma
records FOR HIM"
Are you saying sou won't oboy
mc7' the boss had asked IN a voice
OF Ice.
Yes ma'am. in this particular IN
stance"
$40 sou know Lawrence Arnold
win soon be here7'
'Wcllg'
"You know what no can do 10
your"
"shore But I'm risk it-for sn
ycrtlp"
So Doe had deliberately mounted and
the woman was thankful that none
OF the other riders had heard tho
characterization.
ProvInc was invaluable and che
held her peace
Caldwell. leading, kept Wen up on
tho slope above tho river and after
two hours hard going they woro well
around the northwest end uf Mystery
Ridge which flared like a lady'a old,
fashioned skirt. and heading down
into the gladss that broke the jun,
blel ridges of the Upper Country
Here n1sglgk a rich man. ran HIS
cattle and had his holding
HIS ranch lAy we'll back from the
river and up. but his stock ranged
down That was why IL had been
easy prey for tho mysterious rus.
tiers 81 Namsless River.
These men ala not talk.
They rode with "A purpose and they
were alert 60 every sound. their
nerves were tau, a. fiddle strings
where the slsntiug Eiadcs came
down toward the river they dropped
TO tho level and presently rode up
along a smooth green floor that led
directly toward B1ssick's place, 5ho
a sharp spine cut IL or a. thu head
The outlet from tho ranch 20 the
river ay over this ridge and par.
ailrl % g.
Al they tTottcd up the glade tho
little wind that drew down from the
canyon ar To- head brought tho scent
OF cattle. ana presently they came
upon a horse and rider standing ike
a statue Ia the shadows
Caldwell drew rein sharply
Dickson be asked Ia a low
voice,
20. X" camo the answer M the
other moved forward 20 Join them
"scycn'y-one head he said quiet.
81. "aud an ready"
Then let's set busy" aid the
foreman. 'and get out n here
With prrarmngvd and concerted
action tho sovrn men divided and
rircicd tho herd. which was hrddsd
and quiet on the further edge they
were Joined by another 8had1wy
rider. and with silence and dispatch
they Eot tho cattle up aud moving
They made little noise. drifting
down the level floor o., the glade In
a close, packed bunch. ~ iis mouth
they beaded south aiouE Tho shore Of
the river and followed along the
the stream Tor n matter % several
miles Where the western end Of.
Mystery turned. NamsleEs curved and
went down along tho ridges zoo, IN
: Wide and placid flow. II WIS here
that the drivers forced tho cattle 20
tbs water and kept them In h. ridlug
In a string along tho edge This
Was particular work and took tinessc
and Dispatch
The bcwildered stock tried az firs,
10 come out, but everywhere along
The shore were met with tho crack
n the long whips. the resistance %
.he string OF horsemcn. 30 that pres.
entity, following the several domiusn,
steers which Travelled IN the lead. The
whole herd splashsd and floundsrrd
along the sandy bottom Of tho river.
knee deep in water.
This was the trick which had
oafled ca;tieland. and Il was both
,asy ana clever. comparatively.
And 10 Boslck'a II head - steers
we're disappearing and Zero was
hone 10 sec.
That Is. a. this stage Of tho pro.
,eedinEs
There was one 20 aec-ono who had
'pent many weary weeks Of night
idlng, Of patient watching which
rad seemed likely 70 BE- unrcwarird
sheriff Price Sclwood sitting high
IN the slope above Kate Cathrsw's
rail. as no had 70 often. dokEcdiy
.ollowIng his "huneh" and tho pros.
rector John Smiths discovery.
Since that ride up Blue Stone can.
ron no had taken turns with Smith
n plcketinR Cattle Rates outfit. but
iothinB untoward had taken place.
Now he sat in tedious silence.
isteuing 70 tho night sounds. un.
,wnro that any ono was out from
Ky Line. since Caldwell and his I
Ind dropped dlagoually |
Iown the slope in their going. pas.
ng FAR above him.
For an hour ne sat. slopehinE eide. I
rise IN his Eaddle. his hat pulled
yer his eyes. The bay horse stood
n hip.dropped rest, browsing com.
ortably.
II was well after midnight. judging
y tho stars in the dark sky. when /
ielwood suddenly held the breath he |
vas drawing into his lungs
lie had heard n cattlc.bruto bavi 1
For moment he was stin as 1
cath
Then he Strengthened up. every /
.cryo taut.
lie heard the pounds ~ cattle. the /
rack Of whips tho unmistakable
ommotion OF moving bodies. As il /
J came nearer below him he caught I
he swish and splash OF water. and |
new he was at last witnessing n
aid OF rustlers, ono OF the mystor.
BUS "dlsappcarnnces" which had