The Dolores star., 1924-06-13
CHAPTER v

were bpteueu up TO recover lOSt time.
Transley and Y.D. rode about, care
fully scrutinizing the short grass for
Iron stakes, and keeping a general eye
on operations.
Suddenly Trnnsley sat boIt-still on
his horse. Then, In a low voice:
"Y.D.!" he said
The rancher turned and followed
the line Of Transley's 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. "I bet
they haven't plow nearer than the
ranch"
Y.D. seemed fascinated by the sight
He could not take his eyes of It. He
drew n cigar from his pocket and
thrust 1t far into his mouth, chewing
1t savagely and rolling it In his lips,
but, according to the law of the hay
field. refraIning from lighting 1t. At
first there was CLEAN Of vengeance
In his eyes, but presently that gave
way to sort Of horror. Every hon
orable tradition of the range demand
ed that he enlist his force against the
common enemy.
I'll. Transley" he calculated,
1--WE can't sit and look at that! 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.V" he said. T did
you an injustice-I mean. about your
prayers being answered. We haven't
ms much as plow, either, but we can
gallop down with some barrels in a
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.D. gailoped off to
round up the men, some of whom had
already noticed the fire. Transley
dispatched four men and two teams
" iahe puiieiSs SuShS uuu HORSE
blankets to tine 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, Dad" she de.
manded.
"How do know" he returned,
shortly. "D'ye think 1 fired it?"
mo. but 1 just asked the question
that Landson will ask, so you better
have your answer handy. I'm going
to gallop down to their ranch; per
haps l can help Mrs. Landson."
'The ranch buildings are safe
enough, think" said Transley. ''The
grass there is close cropped. and there
ls some plowing."
For moment the three sat, watch
ing the spread of the flames. BY
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 gale, and was al
ready running wildly over the flanks
Of the foothills.
"Well, I'm off," said Zen. Good
bye"
BE careful, Zen!" her father shout
ed. Fire is fire." But already her
horse was stretching low and straight
In hard gallop down the valley.
I'll ride In to camp and tell Tomp
kins to make up double supply OF
sandwiches and coffee" said Trans
ley. II guess there'll be no cooking
| in Landson's outfit this afternoon
After that we can both run down and
lend hand, IL that suits you"
AS they rode to camp together Y.D
drew up close to the contractor,
"Transley," he said, "how do you,
reckon that fire started?"
II don't know" said Transley, "any
more than you do"
II didn't ask you what you knew.
1 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 one guess. Drazk."
"Why Drazk" Y.D. demanded. HE
has nothin' to gain, and this prank
may put him in the cooler"
'Drazk would do anything to be
spectacular" Transley explained. "He
probably will boast openly about 1t.
You know, he's trying to make an I'M
preston on Zen."
Nonsense
"Of course It's nonsense, but Drazk
doesn't see II that way"
"Td string him TO the nearest cot
tonwood II thought he"
Now don't do him an injustice,
Y.D. Drazk doesn't realize that he is
no mate for Zen. He doesn't know