White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1929-04-05
CHAPTER X-Continued


10
Suddenly, without having sought 1t,
the explanation of her recent content.
ment dubbed to the surface of the
girls consciousness, and she turned
and gazed at Harris Night after
Warren and discussed the details OF
their work and after his passing her
evenings had been hours of restless
ness. Now Harris, the partner, had
crept into the fathers place-had In a
measure filled the void.
Harris rose and clicked the ash from
his cigarette, suppressing the desire
to take he1 IN his arms, for he knew
that time had not yet come. AS be
opened the door to leave an eddy of
steam curled in at the opening as the
warm air of the room battled on the
threshold with the thirty-bel0w tenn
perature of the outside world. She
heard the Kissing crunch of his boots
on the frozen cruSt-and reached for
Deane's Christmas letter to reread-
1t for perhaps the fifth time.
During the night chinook poured
Its warm breath over the hills and
morning found the snow crumpling
before 1t.
Billie rode with Harris through the
lower field as he pointed out the vari.
GUS fence lines and the lay of the
bitches and laterals which would carry
water to irrigate the meadow, all these
to be installed as soon as winter
should lose Its grip.
AS Harris outlined his plans his
words were tinged with optimism and
he allowed no hint of possible disaster
to creep into his speech. But the girl
was conscious of that lowering uncer.
rainty, the feeling that the months of
peace we're but to lure her into false
sense of security and that Slade would
pounce on the Three Bar from all
angles at once whenever the time was
right.
She found some consolation In the
fact that Lang's men no longer rode
through her range at will, but skirted
1t In their trips to and from the
Breaks. She attributed this solely to
Harris precautions in the matter OF
Outguards, for of all those within q
hundred miles she was perhaps the
single one who had not heard of the
sinister rumOr that was cutting Lang
and his men off from the rest of the
world.
Men were discussing 1t wherever
e., CoI
specializing on the possible results, the
same In the railroad towns across the
Idaho line and south into Utah 1t was
the topic Of the day. And the single
patron Of Brill's store found the same
question uppermOst in his mind.
CARSON was one OF the many who
were neitlcr wholly good nor hope
lessly bad, one who had drifted with
the easy current of the middle course
Ind he was wondering If that middle
cours. would continue to prove safe.
he played solitaire to pass the time
His horse and saddle had been lost
In a stud-poker game just. prior to
his catching the stage to Brill's
where his credit had always been
good. He rose, stetched and accosted
Brill.
"Pu. me down for a quart" he
said.
whenever you put down the cash."
Brill returned.
WHATS the matter with my cred
lt?" Carson demanded. 1--WE always
paid"
Brill .eached for book, opened 1t
and slid 1t onto IT, bar. He Tipped
the pages and indicated lumber of
accounts ruled off with red ink.
$50 did Harper he said. "He al.
ways paid; and Canfed-and Magill ;
these others, too. Their credit was
good but they've all gone somewheres
can't follow to collect And t.ey
was owing ne." lie tapped double
account Bangs was into ne little.
Old Rile paid up for him and then got
1t in his turn-with his name down fo1
hundred on my books. Harris and
Billie Warren paid up for Rile. Now
just whoever do you surmise will pay
up for your"
"Me? Carson inquired. "Why,
amt dead I'm clear alive"
$50 was they when charged those
accounts" Brill SAID But 1t looks
like stormy days ahead. sell for
cash."
I'm not on this death list, Ii that's
what you're referring to-" Carson an.
nounced
But It's easy to get enrolled" Brill
said. Your names liable to show up
On IT any time. Seen Lang in the last
few daysY
"Not in the last few MONTHS" Or.
son stated. Nor yet In the next few
years. He's no friend of mine."
II sort OF remember you ,sed to be
right comradely." Brill remarked.
"That's before | really knoweL Lang
intimate" Carson said "He didn't
strike me as such bad sort at first
but now he's going too strong. Folks
are getting plum down on him"
"What you mean Is that folks who
used to be friendly are growing spOoky
about getting their own names on that
list" Brill said. "That's what has
opened their eyes,"
maybe So" the thirsty men con
fused But anyway, I'm through"
"Theyre all thrULghl' Brill said
"A hundred others just like you, scat.
tered here and there It's come to
them recent just what bad lot Lang
ts It's hell what whisper can do"
ut is when that whisper Is hacked
by thousand-dollar reward" Carson
agreed. "1f he re. lily pays up It'll