Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1929-08-15
long in the past as to form no part Of

long in the past as to form no part Of
her present
No man In the field ever strayed far
from the rifle which was part of his
equipment. But even this was an EVIL
dence of vigilance which had met her
eye every day for months and had
ceased to press.
They walked to the near edge of
the field and Harris dropped hand
ton her shoulder and stood looking
down at her.
"Billie, don't you think it's about
time you were finding out what Judge
Cotton wants? he asked. Hes been
right insistent on your going back to
confer with him."
The girl shook her head positively.
Two months before Judge Cotton had
written that he must advise with her
on matters of Importance and suggest
ed that she come on at once. Harris
had urged her to 60 and almost daily
referred to it.
81 can't go now," she said. "Not
till I've seen one whole season through.
When the first Three Bar crop is cut
and in stack I'll go. All other bust
ness must wait til then. You two
can't drive me away till after l see
that first crop in the stack"
'If you'd go now you'd likely get
back before we're through cutting" he
urged. Sand the judge has written
twice in the last two weeks.
Before she could answer this
horseman appeared on the valley
road. The furthest irrigator, merely
a speck in the distance, exchanged
shovel for rifle and crossed to the
fence. The rider, as If expecting some
such move, pulled up his horse and
approached at walk.
Harris saw the two confer. The
hOrseman handed some object to the
other and urged his horse on toward
the house. He was one Of the sheriff's
empty holster.
Zone of your watchdogs lifted my
gum" he said. He handed Harris
note.
After reading it Harris looked at
his watch and snapped it shut,
glanced at the sinking sun and
turned to the girl.
II have to make q little jaunt," he
explained. alden wants to see me.
I'll take Waddles along AS we go
down I'll send Russ or Tiny up to
cook for the rest"
| ! Tho dop,,fv tnrpod h;c hnrco into
the corral and five minutes later Har-
ris and Waddles rode away. Waddles
was mounted on Creamer, the big
buckskin.
swell have to step right along"
Harris said. 'It's forty miles,"
They held the horses to a stiff
swinging trot that devoured the miles
without seeming to tire their mounts.
For four hours they headed south and
a little east, never slackening their
pace except to breathe the horses on
some steep ascent. The buckskin and
the paint-hOrse had lost the first snap
of their trot and it was evident that
they would soon begin to lag. Anoth-
er hour and they had slowed down
perceptiibly.
The two men dismounted and tied
the horses to the brush in q shell
tered cOulee, then started across
broad fiat on foot Out in the center
q spot showed darker than the rest
the old cabin where Carpenter had
elected to start up for himself after
being discharged from the Three Bar.
When within hundred yards of
the cabin . horse, tied to hitch post
IN front, neighed shrilly and Harris
laid restraining hand on Waddles'
arm. They knelt in the brush as the
door opened and man stood sill
houetted against the light. After a
space of two minutes Carp's voice
reached them.
"NOt sound anywheres," he said.
Likely some horses drifting past"
He went inside and closed the door.
The two men circled the cabin and
came up from the rear. A window
stood opened some eight inches from
the bottom. Through the holes in the
ragged flour sack that served as cur
tain Harris secured view of the in
side. Carp and Slade sat facing across
little table in the center of the room.
II want to clean up and co." Carp
was saying. "This d-n Harris put
me on the black list"
"You've been on it for three months"
Slade said. Nothing has happened
yet. But don't let me keep you from
pulling out any time you like"
''But I've got a settlement to make"
Carp insisted. Lets get that fixed
up"
Settlement" Slade asked. Settle
ment with who?"
Carpenter leaned across the table
and tapped it to emphasize his re-
marks.
Listen. Morrow gave me bill of
sale from you calling for a hundred
head of Three Bar she-stock, rebrand-
ed Triangle on the hip"
Slade nodded shortly.
II gave Morrow that for two years.
back pay when he quit. He could sell
out to you If he liked"