White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1928-12-21
CHAPTER iii

Billie Warren heard the steady buzz
Of saw and later the ringing strokes
of an ak. The men had departed three
hours before to be gone for week
on the horse roundup but she had not
yet issued from her own quarters. The
music of ak and saw was ample evil
dence that her new and undesired
partner was making valuable use of
his time. She went outside and he
struck the ak in cross section of
pine log as she moved toward him.
"We'll have to get along the best
we can" she announced abruptly.
'''Of course you will have say In the
management of the Three Bar and
draw the same amount for yourself
that do.
He sat on log and twisted a ciga-
rette as be reflected upon this state
ment.
I'D rather not do that" he decided.
II don't want to be drain on the
brand-but to help build It up. Sup
pose just serve as an extra hand
and do whatever necessary turns up
in return for your letting me advise
you on few points that happen to
have worked out while was prowling
through the country"
"Any way you like" she returned.
''It's for you to decide Any money
which you fail to draw now will re-
vert to you in the end, so 1t won't
matter in the least"
His reply was irrelevant, a DELHI
crate refusal to notice her ungenerous
misinterpretation of his offer.
"Do you mind If gather a few
Three Bar colts round here close and
break out my own string before they
get back?" he asked.
Anything you like" she repeated.
'sI'm not going to quarrel. I've made
up my mind to that I'll be gone the
rest of the day."
Five minutes later he saw her rid
ing down. the lane. She was not seek.
ing companionship but rather solitude
and for hours she drifted aimlessly
across the range, sometimes dismount.
ing on some point that afforded
good view and reclining in the warm
spring sun. Dusk was falling when
she rode back to the Three Bar. She
heard the sound of saw and ak as
Harris worked up the dry logs into
stove lengths. At least he was max
ing good his word to the cook. The
sounds ceased when the sun was an
hour high and when she looked out to
determine the reason she saw him
working with four colts In one of the
smaller corrals.
He had fashioned a hackamore for
each and they stood tied. to the corral
bars. He left them there and repaired
to the big gates of the main corral
The two swinging halves sagged until
their ends dragged on the ground
when opened or closed. necessitating
the expenditure of considerable ener.
gy in performing either operation
She watched him tear down the old
support wires and replace them with
new ones, stretching double strand
from the top of the tall pivot posts
to the free ends of the gates. Placing
short stick between the two strands
of heavy wire he twisted until the
shortening process had cleared the
gate ends and they swung suspend
ed, moving so freely that a rider could
. lean from his saddle and throw them
, open with ease.
This completed to his satisfaction
he fashioned heavy slabs of wood to
serve as extra brake-blocks for the
chuck wagon. Between the perform.
ance of each two sef-appointed duties
ne spent some little time with the
colts. handling them and teaching
them not TO fear his approach. cinch
ingshis saddle on first one and then
the next, talking to them and handling
their heads
For three days there was little com.
munication between the two. 1t was
evident that he had no intention, of
forcing his society upon her. In the
afternoon Of the third day she saw
him swing to the back Of big bay.
easing into the saddle without jar,
and the colt ambled round the corral.
rolling his eyes back toward the thing
clamped upon him but making no eff.
fort to pitch He dismounted and
stripped off the saddle, cinched 1t on
second horse and let him stand,
leading third out to snubbing post
near the door of the blacksmith shop
where he proceeded to put on his first
set of shoes.
The girl went out and sat on the
sill of the shop door and watched
him. The colt pulled back in an eft.
fort to release the forefoot that the
man held clamped between his eath,
er-clad knees. then changed his tao.
tics and sagged his weight against
Harris.
"You, Babel" the man ordered.
Don't you 60 leaning on me-" lie
pared down the hoof and fitted the
shoe but before mailing 1t on he re-