White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1926-01-01
Continued from Last Week.
CHAPTER IL
Dynamite

Dynamite
Taggart broke in upon the group OF
cowboys clustered around Doc Viii
lets back of the barn facing the
corrals.
There's no time to lose," he cried
"You boys rustic that bunch OF steers
across the river while Doc and |
frame up little joke on the girl
The cowboys rose, grinning, and
made for their horses.
Leave me your lariat, Andy"
Taggart shouted to one of them.
The man tossed him his rope.
Then all mounted their horses and
rode off.
Taggart tore open his shirt collar,
ripped one of his sleeves, and hum
pied up his clothes.
Now, then Doc he said to the
laughing Willets, handing him the
lariat. Take this and come in here
with me-"
They both entered the barn. A
few minutes later Willets came out
alone.
Willets mounted his horse, and rode
over to the range where the cowboys
were rounding up the steers, to sup
eryise them. He found them bunch
ing the prime steers, the pick OF the
Marshall herd, and showing them
across the stream at the western
edge of the ranch. One group started
few of the cattle up the bank OF
the stream into small canyon, at
Willets' orders.
Gust ito lead 'em off the track" he
explained to Buck. They'll pick up
that trail and think they all went
that way. They won't dream the ami
mails are across the river"
SLOWLY they began to force the
main herd of steers to swim across
the stream, the cowboys Fastening
them by swimming their horses
alongside and whooping wildly.
Mary was the first to recover her
sense of time and reality, and break
the spell of their afternoon love idyll
She suddenly tore herself from the
arms of Terence, who had forgotten
that there was anyone but Mary and
| anything but love in the whole world
and cried:
Terrence, how long we've been
here. wonder what's keeping Mr.
Taggart."
Thus recalled abruptly from dream
| land, Terence jumped up, and seeing
the uneasiness in Mary's face, said:
Lets go see."
They stepped out the door, and tt
their amazement, the entire ranch
which had been bustling with activity
when they arrived seemed deserted
why, there's not soul in sight,
cried Mary.
They started running and search
ing-for omeone-anyone-t reas
sure them that nothing was wrong
Reaching the barn, they rushed II
the door and found Taggart, lyins
on the floor, bound hand and foot
his clothes torn and dirty, Struggling
to release himself.
"a gang of rustlers laid for me ant
rustled our steers" Taggart gaspet
as Terence bent to cut the ropes ant
help him to his feet.
"They gave me fierce beating,
said Taggart staggering and limping
"And they got the payroll money Of
me-"
Mary looked crushed by the news
Without hesitation Terence shouted
Come, let's get after them a
once"
He made for the door, followed b.
Mary, and by Taggart, who feigne
limp. The three of them mounte'
horses.
It'll be better If we split up" SAT-
Taggart, with a pretended show o
anxiety to be of aid. "You take tina
trail that turns up into the canyon,
he said, pointing a way that led t
the canyon up which Willets and hi
men had run few head Of cattl
to make blind trail. 'Tll go OF
here and scout across the creek"
They parted, Terence and Mar
taking the way they had been d
rected. They soon reached the cal
yon mad found the little bunch {
sequestered cattle.
We're on the wrong trail, Mary,
said Terence, and they turned bacl