White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1928-11-30
The Settling Of the Sage

renS TOOK over the Three Bar rancn
and the little Willamette Ann slept
in the tiny bunk built for the son Of
the Harris household.
For a space of minutes these old
pictures occupied the mind of the man
on the pinto horse. Distant strings
of prairie schooners and ox-bows faded
from his minds eye and he was once
more conscious of the red steer with
the Three Bar brand that had stirred
up the train of reflections. He turned
for another glimpse of the distant
sign as he headed the paint-horse along
t g road.
"All that was quite spell back,
Calico" he said. "Old Bill Harris
planted the first one of those signs.
and It served good purpose then.
It's sign that stands for lack of
progress today. Times change, and It's
been eighteen years or SO since old
Bill Harris left"
The road traversed the bench,
angled down side hill to valley
somewhat more than mile across.
Calico pricked up his ears sharply
toward the Three Bar buildings that
stood at the upper end Of 1t.
Curious eyes peered from the bunk
house as he neared 1t. for the paint
horse and the buckskin we're not with
out fame even II the man himself were
a stranger to them all. For the better
part of year the two high-colored
horses had been seen on the range
south to the railroad, west to the Ida
no line. The man had kept to himself
and when seen by approaching riders
he had always been angling on course
that would miss their own. Those who
had, out of curiosity, deliberately rid
den out to intercept him reported that
he seemed decent sort of citizen.
willing to converse on any known
topics except those concerning him
self.
He dropped from the saddle before
the bunk house and us he stood In
the door he noted half dozen men
lounglng on the hunks. This Incidence
appraised him Of the fact that they were
extra men signed on for the summer
season and that their pay had not yet
started. for the cowhand. when on the
pay roll, works sixteen hours daily
and when he rests or frolics 1t is,
except in rare instances, on his own
time and at his own expense.
A tall, lean individual, who sat
cross-legged on a bunk, engaged In
mending spur strap, was the first
to answer his inquiry for the foreman.
"Billie Warren Is the big he-coon
of the Three Bar" he informed. you'll
likely find the boss at the blacksmith
shop" The lanky one grinned as the
stranger turned back through the lit
tel of log outbuidings, guided by the
kissing squeak of bellows and the
clang of suedge on hot iron Sew.
eral men pressed close to the windows
ir anticipation OF viewing the new
comer's surprise at greeting the Three
Bar boss. But the man did not seem
surprised when a young girl emerged
from the open door of the -hop as he
neared It,
She was clad in a gray flannel skirt
and black angora chaps. The heavy
| brown hair was concealed Der eat h
the broad hat that was pulled low
over her eyes after the fashion OF
those who live much in the Open The
man removed his hat and stood before
her.
"Miss Warrenr he inquired The
girl nodded and waited foi him to
state his purpose.
"What are the chances OF my rid
ing for the Three BARI" he asked.
"We're full handed" said the girl
I'm sorry"
"YouIl be breaking out the remuda
right soor now" he suggested "Tm
real handy round Il breaking corral"
"Thev're all handy at that" she
said Then she noted the two horses
before the bunk house and frowned.
Her eyes searched the strangers face
and found no fault with It; she liked
| his level gaze. But she wondered
what manner OF mar this was who
had so aimlessy wandered alone for
year and avoided all other men.
"Since you've finally decided to
work, how does I, happen that you
choose the Three Barr" she asked
then flushed under his eyes as she re.
membered that so many men had
wished to ride for her brand more
than for another. their reasons In each
case The same.
tTO BE CONTINUED.)