The Ely miner., 1926-03-05

upper lip and smile came instead.
You knew my pappy-and have
not forgot how kind you were after
after. Yes, Mr.. Selwood, I'd rather
owe you, whole lot rather, and I'll
work doubly hard to pay you back"
Selwood drew some bills from his
pocket.
How much, McKane?' he asked.
The trader sullenly named the
amount and received it on the spot.
Now, if you'd just as soon," said
the sheriff. "I'll ride out to Nameless
with you. I'd like to take look at
that trampled field"
AS they left the town and rode out
into the trail that led to Nameless,
Nance took off her hat and drew a
long, deep breath.
Selwood laughed.
DO you feel Like that" he asked.
Exactly" said she, ''like a weight
was off my shoulders. That debt to
| McKane was bitter load"
'The trader is getting into deep
water" said the sheriff. II hate to
see him do it"
"How-deep water?"
Hes falling more and more into
| Cattle Kate's power-and all for
nothing, He knows it, but seems help
less. I've seen the like before. She's
bad woman to tie to-"
She's handsome-that's one thing
sure"
"Yes. Her type is always handsome.
But I'm surprised to hear you say So"
"Why?" asked the girl, wonderingly.
Because most women hate to admit
beauty in another, and of all people
on Nameless. you have the least rea-
son to see anything attractive in her."
Nance sighed again. thinking of her
lost cornfield and of her present ap-
palling poverty.
"As near as I'll let myself come to
hate" she said, 81 do hate her. I've
got to fight it mighty hard. Yon know
how hard it is to fight that way-in-
side your own SOUL
Hardest battle-ground we ever stand
on" said Sclwood, with conviction.
'I've had some skirmishes there my
self-and can't say always came off
victor"
"You can't, sometimes, without
lot of prayer" returned Nance sober
ly; "Ive pretty near worn out my
knees on the job"
Selwood wanted to laugh at her
naive earnestness, but caught himself
in time.
They rode for a time In silence,
Nance and Buckskin ahead, the sheriff
following on his lean bay horse.
Presently Nance turned with hand
on her pony's rump and looked at him
speculatively.
"You sort Of lay up something to
Cattle Kate about this rustling, don't
your" she asked.
He nodded.
"Pve watched her for months, but
can't get anything on her-not any
thing tangible"
.I was in Little Blue canyon the
other day." said Nance" and saw Sud
Provine pass it's mouth in Blue Stone
driving a red steer north. I've won
dered lot where he could have been
taking it."
"North in Blue Stone? That's odd.
There isn't enough feed in that canyon
to craze a calf two days."
"And what's at its head?" asked
Nance, "Pve never been clear up"
.sBlue Stone heads high in the Deep
Heart hills,r said the sheriff, "but
about eight miles up from its mouth
on Nameless it's right wall falls abrupt
ly away for a distance of couple of
miles and there one can go out on the
open plain that stretches ever toward
the Sawtooth range and leads out to
Marston and the railroad. There's
some bunch grass there, but mighty
little water. Nothing but the stream
in the canyon itself to come back to.
And cattle driven so far away from
the home range would be poor risk,
it seems to me, for Sky Line"
"Well-I wondered about It, Thought
I'd tell you any way"
"rm glad you did. I shall remem-
Der it."
| Al Tie nOhCotCdO 4NdhCc leu oGl-
wood to the cornfield's lower gate and
| left him.
"Go over it If you want" she said,
'and I'll be out in minute or so."
At the cabin she told Sonny to go
into her room and stay until she came
| for him.
II feel guilty." she thought, ''for l
| can trust the sheriff, but Brand asked
me to keep him hidden. I've got to be
true to my promise"
"You ask the sheriff to supper" said
Mrs. Allison, "Tll kill a fryer an make
some biscuits"
When Nance went out she found
Selwood examining the trampled field
minutely.