The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1926-03-19
By vINCIE z. ROE
Copyright by the Mccall Company
wNU Service.

vine, which you'd better heed. You
can take the word to Kate Cathrew,
too. Her high-handed methods don't
set any too well with us-and we don't
care who knows it."
ITO HI with you and your warn
ings!" fiared Big Basford, his ugly
temper rising. "Sky Lines too strong
for any id bunch of backwoods
buckaroos, an don't you forget til
We're"
"Shut upi" snapped Provine, and
rode away.
"Selwood's right" unused Bossick as
he looked after them, they're a pre-
cious lot of cut-throats."
AT Sky Line ranch there was ac-
tivity.
Kate Cathrew was gathering beef.
Riders were coming In daily with
little punches of cattle, all In good
condition, which they herded into the
corralS.
Day and night the air was resonant
with the endless bawling.
1t was little early for the drive
but then Cattle Kate was always early.
And this year she had a particular
reason for precipitancy. One Of those
New York letters had said. would
like to come little sooner, If pos
sible, so let's clean up promptly"
The word of those letters was law
to her. If they had said "ship" in De-
cember, she would have tried to do so.
Now she was out on BIuefire from
dawn TO dark herself, and there was
little or nothing escaped her eyes.
She knew to nicely how many year
lings were on the slopes of Mystery,
the number of weaving calves, the
steers that were ready for shipping
and those that were not.
When Provine carried her Bossick's
message verbatim the red flush of
anger rose in her face again, and she
struck the stallion vicious cut with
her quirt.
Bluefire rose on his hind legs, paw
ing, and shook his head in rage, the
wild blood struggling with the tame in
him.
IF Bossick ever speaks to you
again." said Kate, "you tell him to
go to III and that Kate Cathrew
said So"
II did," said Basford, grinning, "and
Sud objected"
where's your allegiance to Sky
Line" she asked Provine instantly.
must Basford show you loyalty?'
Il can show him discretion" said
Provine, evenly, IAN hit don't take
much brains to see that. Do you want
these ranchers t begin ridin' hard on
us-nights, for instance, an nowY'
Kate frowned and tapped her boot.
1.-The devil his due" she said pres
emily, you're right, Province" and
turned away.
The corrals were choked with cattle.
Sky Line was ready for its drive.
On the last night before the start
there was peculiar tenseness in ev-
erything about the busy place. Kate
Cathrew was everywhere. She saw
what horses were ready for use, spoke
sharply with every rider. to make sure
he knew what he was to do, and told
Rod Stone once more to get out of the
kitchen.
The boy laughed, but Minnie Pine
glanced after her with smoulderine
eyes.
"She's a devil-the boss" she told
! Josefa, 81 hate her."
After the early supper CALDWELL
Provine, Basford and four Others
! saddled fresh horses and rode away.
1t was dark of the moon-as it was
always when Sky Line gathered beet
Ia soft windy dark, ideal for the con
cealment of rides, the Disgusting OF
sounds.
They dropped down the mountain
at an angle, heading northwest to
circle the end of Mystery, and they
| followed no trail.
They were all armed and all wore
dark clothing.
Caldwell, leading, kept well up on
the slope above the river and after
two hours hard going they were well
/ around the QOTluW6SI euQ OF mystery
ridge which fiared like lady's old
fashioned skirt, and heading down into
the glades that broke the jumbled
ridges of the Upper country.
Here Bossick, rich man, ran his
cattle and had his holdings.
His ranch lay well back from the
river and up, but his stock ranged
/ down. That was why 1t had beer
easy prey for the mysterious rustlers
| of Nameless river.
These men did not talk.
/ They rode with purpose and they
were alert to every sound their nerves
were taut as fiddle strings.
AS they trotted up the glade the
little wind that drew from the can
! yon at its head brought the scent OF
cattle, and presently they came upon
horse and rider standing like q
statue in the shadows.