White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1928-12-28

chair and stood facing him. "I'd like
real well to have you, Billie"
"That's the final proof" she said
"rm surprised that you didn't tell me
the first day."
$50 am l." he said.
She found no answer for this but
stood silent, knowing that she had
suddenly become afraid of him.
"And that's the living TRUTH" he at.
firmed. "Other men have loved you
the first day. You know men well
enough to be certain that / wouldn't
be tied to one woman for the sake OF
owning few head of cows-not II
| didn't want her for herself" He
waved an arm toward the door
"Theres millions of miles Of sage
just outside" he said. "And millions
Of cows-and girls"
He moved across to her and stood
almost touching her, looking down
into her face. When Slade had stood
so a few days past she had been cold
ly Indifferent except for SILVER of
distaste at the thought of his touch.
ing her. Before Harris she felt a
weakening, a need of support and
she leaned back from him and placed
one hand behind her on the table.
"You judge for yourself whether a
man wouldn't be right foolish-with
all those things l mentioned being
right outside to call him-to marry a
woman he didn't want for herself, be-
cause she had few hundred head Of
cows" He smiled down at her. Don't
pull back from me, Billie; l won't lay
a finger on you. But now do you think
It's you want-or the little old Three
Barr"
"You can prove It," she said at
last. "Prove it by going away for six
months-or three"
He shook his head.
mot that" he said. "I've told you
was sewed up in right peculiar
way myself-which wouldn't matter
d-n if 1t wasn't for this. I'd have
tossed 1t off in second If the girl
on the Three Bar had turned out to
be any other than you. Now I'm go
ing to see 1t through. The Three Bar
is going under-the brand both our
folks helped to found-unless some
one pulls it out of the hole. Believe
me if you can and If you can't-why,
you know that one remark about my
being unwelcome here will clear the
road for you, like l mentioned few
minutes back"
He turned away without touching
her and she had not moved when the
door closed behind him.
An hour past noon on the following
day a drove Of horses appeared at the
lower extremity Of the valley and
swept on toward the ranch. AS Har-
ris threw open the gates of the big
corral he saw her standing In the
door of the cookhouse watching the
oncoming drove. Riders flanked the
bunch we'll out to each side to steady
it. There was roar of hoofs and
sitting cloud of dust as three hundred
half-wild horses clattered past and
crowded through the gates, scattering
swiftly across the pasture lot back OF
the corral. A dozen sweat-streaked
riders swung from their saddles.
There was no chance to distinguish
color or kind among them through
the dust caked in the week-old growth
of beard that covered every face.
One man remained on his mount
and followed the horses into the pas
ture lot, cutting out fifty or more and
heading them back into the corral {;
for WaddIes had decreed that they
could have the rest of the afternoon
off for a jaunt to Brill's store and
they waited only to change mounts
before the start.
Calico stood dropping sleepily in one
of the smaller corrals and Harris
moved toward him, intending to ride
over with the rest of the men.
1.-THE boss. said for you to ride
Blue" Morrow stated as Harris passed
the group at the gates of the corral.
"Hes clear gentle-broke, Blue is"
The men looked up in surprise. Nor.
row had not been near the house to
receive instructions from the girl The
lie had been so apparent as to con.
stitute direct challenge to the other
man.
Harris stood looking at him, then
shrugged his shoulders.
whatever the boss says goes with
me-" he returned evenly.
rangy blue roam swept past with
the fifty or so others. At least once
every round of the corral he laid back
his ears and squealed as he scored
some other horse with his teeth, then
dashed out with wicked heels.
(TO BE CONTINUED)