Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1929-03-07
CHAPTER IX-Continued


1.-THE boys held them punched In good
shape"
hatred OF Slade was growing With
In her. Here, too, was case where
no other would benefit by the sense
less stampede. Ii the beef herd could
be broken up II would cause delay
to round I. up In strange range. with
the certainty Of many cows being
missed-a case o. .vweakening The
Three Bar.
She had been SO absorbed In learn
Ing The details OF the new work, 81
elated at It's progress, TINT she had
come to believe In It's ultimate sue.
eesk And they had been unnolested
for so long time. Then had come
tile wanlUn slaughter OF Three Bar
bulls and now the stampede OF tile
trail herd. II was conclusive proof
that Slude had Abandoned his former
wearing-down process us tho slow
nnd was out to crush the Three I,nr In
the speetlest possible way through
any available means
Harris, TOO, was bordering over
Slides change OF tactics. lie felt as
sured thai Shades own men bud not
participated In surfing the run Sude
would not lei any considerable number
OF his boys know that much abc.it Fin.
Some Of Langs mel had undoubtedly
peen hired tn stampede the Three Bar
herd
The very fact thut Shade is so bald
with II is proof that he sees the he
cessity OF croWdlng us FIST Hurts
sud. If We get too big d start he's
blown up-in1 he hasn't llld anything
to work 0 but piowed ground lies
0. now to worry us at odd ends We
can expect sieady run # mishaps
now. for he'll work fast-but we'll win
out In the end"
She NODDED a little wearily for she
knew that with Sude throwing all his !.
forces against her the Thrre Bar
would be hard pressed In addition
To this worry her mind was concerned
with the RE rless horse she had seen
as she rod away from the wagon, the
huddled igure ~-rnwled In the ilut
Every Three Bar rider was q friend
and she heslated 10 hear Which one
OF her men hud gone down In the
raid.
WHO wsz 1T" size asked al last,
md HUI. Is OWNED thui SHE wal hark.
Ing buck to the fallen night guard who
had tried u head The raiders aone.
'.I've bee1 trying not to think about
that" he said "Lnnky was a good
pal OF mine. | saw him go down. hui
] couldn't stop right then"
Evans occupied q pluce in her re
gard that was perhaps q notch higher
ia- that OF any other Of the crew.
Cant we ,~prove anything on Slade
do anything to stop hlln?' she de-
manded. If they've Killed Lanky, IN
perjure myself II it's the only way. III
have Alden pick bin up and I'll swear
saw him do the thing himself. He's
as guilty as, II he actually had"
i've bait or two for Slale,' liar.
ris said but that way may prove
too slow. Ii Lanky's gone under, ! |
expect I'll have To- pick quarrel with
Slade and hurry things along"
Don't your she objected For all |
OF her confidence In Harris efficiency |
In most respects, her implicit belief in |
his courage. she could moi forget the |
awkward swing of his gun and she
had swift vision Of him facing Slnde /!
without chance
crash OF wagon wheels and the |
voice OF Waddles admonishinI the |
horses interrupted her.
'How is Lanky?" was Harris first I
query.
Waddles jerked thumb over his
shoulder. Evans. shot once through
the arm and second time through
sthe shoulder, recllned on the triple
thickness bed roll the cook had spread
Tor him on the floor Of tile wugof.
Hell come round tine in q few
Guys If we can keep him often horse
and riding comfortable In the wagon
I've give him orders to that effect
Evans groaned,
lie drives over places | wouldn't
cross afuot,' he complained. did
you hold the rum" ss=s-~l
Reassure on this point he Hattened
out on his pallet and the wagon hel,
on toward the herd
The weary cows were held over for
day Of rest. The night guards were
doubled ald this prenautIon was main
tained d-ring the succeeding two
stops before reaching the shipping
point
Harris and Billie sat on the top
rail- of the loading chute while the
last few Three Bar steers were being
prodded on ard the cars.
Hurts slipped from his perch and
motioned to Moore and Horne.
"you can 60 uptown now and take
ON few drinks. Hunt up an old
friend or two and wag your chins
Make II right secretive and conhden.
tInl and make each one promise faith
full not to breathe syllable to an
other living soul. That way the news
Is sure to travel rapid"
He returned 10 the girl as the stock