The Ely miner., 1926-03-05

of her Mammy's day-that girl must
have her chance and clear field when
a man came "settin' up to her,
And so 1t was that presently she
found herself sitting beside Brand
Fair in the doorway, for the man pre-
ferred the inconspicuous spot. while
Sonny sighed with happiness in his
arms and Dirk sat gravely on his
plumy tail at his masters knee.
Diamond stood like statue In the
farther shadows.
A little soft wind was drawing up
the river. the stars were thick in the
night sky, and something as sweet as
fairy music seemed to pulse In the
lonely silence.
'Has old-timer been goodY Fair
wanted to know loosely, rubbing the
curly head which was no longer
tousled.
"Sure / have, Brand" the little fel-
low ventured eagerly. lawful good
haven't /, Nanoe?"
miss Allison, Sonny" said Brand
severely.
"No-Nance. She told me so her
SELF"
.That settles it. No one could go
against such authority. But has he
been good?"
"Good?" said Nance. Hes brought
all the happiness into this house it's
seen for many long day-or is likely
to see"
That's good hearing" returned the
man, land have done lot of riding
this past week. Tell me, Miss Allison
what sort Of chap is this sheriff
of yours?'
Hes the best man on Namsless
river!" cried the girl swiftly, "the
kindest, the steadiest. I'd trust him
with anything
'Does he talk?"
Talk"
"Can he keep still tongue in his
head2
II don't know as to that-but do
know he's been a friend to me in my
tribulation. He probably saved my life
today-and he saved me lot of
trouble"
Saved your life% queried Fair
sharply, Flows thatY'
Il swung Cattle Kate Cathrew out
of McKane's store and she was going
to shoot me. but the sheriff faced her.
l told her some things she didn't like"
Fair drew long breath.
what was the occasion?" he asked.
"My field of corn," said Nance miser-
ably, her trouble flooding back upon
her, last night it was rich with prom
ise-what l was building on for my
debt and my winters furnishing. This
morning it was nothing but dirty
mass of pulp-trampled out by cattle
and we know that Sky Line rider
was behind those cattle. It's some
more of the same work that's been go
ing on with us since before our pappy
died. It's old stuff-what the cattle
kings have done to the homesteaders
for many years in this country.
"If we weren't our pappy's own-Bud
and lived have been run out long
ago. l would, l think, when Bud got
hurt, If it hadn't been for him. He's
fighter, and won't let go. The land
is ours, right and fair, and he says no
bunch of cut-throats is going to take
it from us. say so, too," she finished,
doggedly.
Fair reached out a hand and for q
moment laid 1t over hers clasped on
her folded arm.
Miss Allison" he said admiringly,
you're a wonderful woman Not
many men would stick in the face of
such colossal misfortunes. You must
love your land"
~ do" she said, "but it's something
more than that. It's proving, sort
OLA battle line, you know, and Bud
and 1, we're soldiers. We hope we
cannot rum"
"By Georgei" said the man, you
can't-you won't. Your kind don't.
But it's grim battle, can see that"
"Its so grim," said Nance quietly,
that we couldn't survive this winter
if it wasn't for the hogs that will be
ready to market this fall McKane
wouldn't give me time on my debt
Cattle Kate won't let him. So the
sheriff paid it-he says he can wait
till next year for his money-he's not
so hard pushed as the trader-and he's
rich, they say
For little while they sat In silence
while Sonny, blissfully happy. fell fast
asleep in Fairs arms.
Then the man stirred and spoke
Miss Allison" he said, 1.-THE time
has come when am going to tell you
something-just a little bit that may
give you comfort in this hard going of
yours. / want you to know that more
than one force Is at work against this
woman at Sky Line ranch-against her
and all those with her. Sheriff Sell
wood is not the only one who suspects
her of dark doings-and the other
knows. / am that other"
Nance gasped in the snadows. The
fiickering lamp, blowing in the wind.
had gone low.
Your
"Yes. That's why / have been so
much a mystery In this country-why
| have kept Sonny hidden in the can
yon-why / have spent two years of
nv life riding the back places of the
West. l knew she was somewhere
and knew she was crooked. The men
she has with her are not cattle mem
they are criminals. every one"
"Good gracious r whispered the girl