Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1929-03-28
The
Settling
Of the Sage
By
HAL g. EVARTS
Copyright By Hal 9. 1varts
WNU Service
THE STORY

CHAPTER LAT the Warren ranch.
Cow country" . stranger applies for
c Sars as TiGsT Ans e
known to all as Billie" The girls fa,-
ther. Cal Warren. had been the original
owner of the place. The question
"cow country" or be opened to settle
ment Ia = troublesome one.
CHAPTER u.-cattls "rustlers"
have been troubling the ranch owners,
the Three Bar, with q girl boss. hav-
ing suffered more than others. The
s san hi. syea is Of
"sQuatters" he incurs the enmtty OF a
rider known as Morrow. The will made
by Cal Warren stipulated that half the
old friend, William Harris, under GER
tain conditions. The new arrival Is the
man, and he discloses the fact to Bill
rider and takes counsel with her friend
the ranch cook. "Waddles." He ouiets
her fears.
CHAPTER u1.-Harris' method of
wearing the inevitable "gun" rather
excites the girls derision, though to
herself she admits she is impressed by
his manner. Slade, a ranchman with an
unsavory reputation as bad man."
visits Billie. He has long wanted to
marry her, but she dislikes and fears
Billie. is interrupted by Harris. The
men. on the verge Of gun play. are
quieted by Billie. but mutual enmity
e established, Harris. half testing pro,
settle the matter Of the ranch owner
ship. is Indignantly rejected. but the
man declares he will remain on the
place and restore its prosperity. waning
under Billie's rule.
CONTINUED from last week)
Harris resumed where he had bro
ken off.
sand I'd have tossed it off, as / told
you once, If the Three Bar girl had
turned out to be any except you.
You've had tough problem to work
out, GIRL" he said. II sold out my lit
tie Box L outfit for more than it was
worth-and figured to stop the leak
at the Three Bar and put the old
brand on its feet"
His calm assurance on this point
exasperated the girl.
"How?" she demanded. "What can
you do?" She pointed toward the six
men near the wagon. During the
time you spent prowling the hills did
you ever come across those menu"
"Not to pal round with Them" he
confessed. "But l did cut their trail
now and then. They're not the outfit
that's going to be hardest to handle
when the time arrives"
"What do you mean" she asked.
mo one has ever been able to handle
them up to date"
did 1t ever strike you as queer
that Slade could come into this coun-
try twelve years back, with nothing
but a long rope and a running iron,
and be owning thirty thousand head
today"
HE has the knack to protect his
own and increase" she said. They're
afraid of Slade."
The girl shook her head Impatient
ly and looked across at the six men
who ate her fare.
"Look at Them" she fared. eating
my food; and in few nights they'll
be hazing a bunch of Three Bar steers
toward the Idaho line. Why doesn't
some man that is man kill that al
bino fiend and all his whelps and rid
the country Of his breed? Even Slade
lets them put up at his place."
IF they're Fostering you I'll order
them off," he said.
"And what effect would that have?"
she inquired scornfully.
"The effect of causing them to climb
their horses and ,amble off down the
country" he returned. He sprawled
on the grass, his head propped on one
hand as he regarded them.
'Then probably you'd better order
them off," she suggested. "You have
my permission. Now's your chance to
make good the lordly brag of helping
the Three Bar out Of the hole" She
instantly regretted having said 1t. A
dozen times of late she had wondered
II she were turning bitter and wasp
ish, If she would ever again be the
even-tempered Billie Warren with a
good word and a smile for every one.
Harris was, as always. apparently
undisturbed by her words. Far down
the bottoms she could see point Of
light which she knew for a white sign
that read: "Squatter, don't let sun
down find you here" The man be-
fore her had defied these sinister
warnings scattered about the range
Tho Rodfn Editnr