Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1929-09-05
CHAPTER XXI

The freight wagons ratified away
from the Three Bar as the first light
showed in the east, and the grind of
wheels on gravel died out in the dis
lance as Harris and Billie finished
their breakfast.
The hands had come in from the
roundup the night before, prior to
the return of Harris and Waddles
from theil mysterious fwo-day trip in
response the sheriff's message. and
Evans had led them to Brill's for a
night of play. They were due back at
the ranch in the early forenoon and
Harris had allowed the freighters to
depart Def re the others arrived.
What did Alden want?" Billie
asked, referring to the trip from which
he and Waddles had returned late
the night before.
"We made call on Carp he said
"He had some good news we've been
waiting for"
''Then Carp is Three Bar plant,
she said.
Hes U. S. plant" Harris correct
ed. But he's been working i'm with
us to get something on Slade-to
gather proof that he's behind these
squatter raids of the last few years
and the ones they've aimed at us up
to date. He couldn't get d shred that
would hold in court. But Slade is al.
most through. His claws are clipped. u
The girl started to question him as
to Carp's activities but after the first
sentence she became aware that his
attention was riveted on something
other than her words. He had thrown
up his head like startled buck and
was peering down the valley.
Her range-bred ears caught and cor.
rectly interpreted the sound which
had reused him. distant rumble
reached her and the surface of the
earth seemed to vibrate family be.
meath her feet She knew the jar for
the pounding of thousands of hOofs
the drOne for the far-Off bawling OF
frightened cows. A low lack line
filled the valley from side to side
rushing straight on up the gently.
slOping bottoms for the Three Bar fat
They're on u.s." Harris said. 81
might have known. Get back to the
house-quick ]"
AS they l she noticed that his
eyes were not upon the surging mass
of cows i'm the VALLEY but were trained
on the broken slopes back of the
house.
Anyway, they don't want YOU" he
said. "We'll do the best we can. !
made that prediction about clipping
SHADES claws too soon. What with
Slade locked up and Morrow six feet
underground, 1 was OvercOnfident.
might have known it was planned
ahead"
His face was lined with anxiety, an
expression she had never before seen
him wear even in the face of emer-
gency. She had no time to question
him about the assertions relative to
Morrow and Slade.
The front rank of the stampede was
bearing down on the lower fence. The
barrier went down as so much spider
web before the drive; posts were bro.
ken short, wire was snapped and
dragged, and three thousand head of
cows pounded on across the meadows.
The girl had q sickening realiza-
tfOn that the work Of q year would
be blOtted out in space of seconds
under those churning hOofs. 1t seemed
that she must die Of sheer grief as
she witnessed the complete devasta-
ton of the fields she had watched day
by day with such loving care. The
stampede swept the full length of the
meadow and held on for the house.
The foremost cows struck the cor.
rails and they went down with spin.
tering crash under the pressure from
behind. She looked out on a sea OF
tossing horns and heaving backs as
the herd rushed through, the heavy
log buildings shaking from the mass
of animals damned against them and
squeezing past.
The force of the run was spent on
the steep slope back of the house and
the herd split into attachments and
moved off through the hills.
+. The west side of the house was
windOwless, blank wall built against
the standing winds. Waddles was
busily engaged In knocking out patch
of chinking and endeavoring to work
a l0Ophole between the logs. Harris
was similarly engaged.
Continued Next Week.