The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1925-02-04

There will be none" ne said quiet
ly. IF you come over the hills to cut
the South Y.D. next summer / will per
sonally escort you home again"
Y.D. stood open-mouthed. II was
preposterous that this young upstart
foreman on second-rate ranch like
Landson's should deliberately defy
him.
you see, Y.D," continued Grant,
with provoking calmness, I've seen
the papers. You've run a big bluff In
this country. You've occupied rather
more territory than was coming te
you. In a word. you've been a good
bit Of bully. Now-let me break IT
10 you gently-those good old days are
over. In future you're going to stay
on your side Of the line. If you crowd
over you'll be pushed back. You have
no more right TO the hay in this valley
than you have to the hide on Land
sons steers. and you're not going TO
cut ii any more, at all"
Y.D. exploded in somewhat ineffec-
tive profanity. He had wide vocabu-
larry OF inyective. but most of 1t was OF
the stand-and-hght variety. There is
some language which is not TO be
used, unless you are willing 10 have II
out on the ground, there and then.
Y.D. had no such desire Possibly a
curious sense Of honor entered into
the case. 1t was not fair to call a
young man names. and although there
was considerable truth in Grants re-
mark that Y.D. was bully, his bully
| ing did not take that form. Possibly,
also, he recalled at that moment the
obligation under which Zen's accident
had placed him. At any rate ne wound
up rather Iamely.
Grant," he said, IF I want that hay
next year I'll cut 1t. spite O. HI an
high water"
'All right, Y.D," said Grant, cheer
fully. Wen see. Now, if you can
spare me a horse to ride home, I'll
have him sent back Immediately"
Y.D. went to find Transley and ar
range for a horse. and in a moment
Zen appeared from somewhere.
You've been quarreling with Dad"
she said, half reproachfuliy. and yet in
tone which suggested that she could
understand.
mot exactly that" he parted. 1--WE
were just having a frank talk with
each other
81 know something of Dads frank
talks. I'm sorry.
would have liked to ask you TO come
and see me-to see us-my mother
would be glad TO see you. 1 can hardly
ask you to come If you are going to be
bad friends with Dad"
mo, suppose not" he admitted
you were very good to me; very
decent" she continued.
At that moment Transley, Under
and VI appeared, with two horses.
hinder will ride over with you and
bring back the spare beast" said Y.D.
Grant shook hands, rather formal
". with Y.D. and Transley, and then
with Zen. She murmured some words
Of thanks, and just as he would have
withdrawn his hand he felt her I'm
gers tighten very firmly about his He
answered the pressure, and turned
quickly away.
Transley Immediately struck camp,
and Y.D. and his daughter drove
homeward, somewhat painfully, over /
the blackened hills.
Transley lost no time in finding /
other employment It was late in the /
season to look for railway contracts. /
and continued dry weather had made .
grading. at best. a somewhat difficult
business. Influx of ready money and
of those who follow il had created con-
siderable activity in a neighboring
center which for twenty years had
been the principal cOw-town Of the
foothill country. In defiance Of all
tradition. and. most of all, in defiance
of the predictions of the ranchers who
had known ii so long for a cow-town
and nothing more, the place began TO
grow. No one troubled TO inquire ex-
actly why it should grow. or how. As
for Transley. il was enough for him
that team labor was in demand He
took a contract. and three days after
the fire in the foothills he was exca-
waiting for business blocks about TO be
built in the new metropolis.
II was no part of Transley's plan
however TO quite lose touch with the
people en- the Y.D. They were. in fact.
the center about which he had been
doing some very serious thinking. His
with Zen and her IA
Their had had in il a good deal o.
bravado Of man VINO
could afford 10 lose the stake. and
smile over it. In short, he had not
Jared whether he offended them or
not Transley was a very self-reliant
contractor: he gave. even TO the mil
iOnaire rancher. no more homage than
lie demanded in return. Still.
Zen was very desirable girl. As he
urned the matter over in his mind
rransley became convinced that ne
wanted Zen. With Translev. to want
thing meant to get it. He always
ound a way And he was now quite
ure that he wanted Zen. He had not