Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1929-04-04
By Hal 6. Eyarts
CHAPTER XI-Continued
Copyright by Hal @. Evarts
wNU Service

tIon that the work of a year would
be blotted out In space OF seconus
under those churning hoofs. II seemed
that she must die OF sheer grlef us
she witnessed the complete devasta-
tion of the fields she had watched day
by day with such loving care Inc
stampede swept the full length OF Inc
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. Size looked out on sea OF
tossing horns and heaving backs as
the herd rushed through, the heavy
log buildings shaking from The mass
of animals jammed against them ana
| squeezing past
| The force of the run was spent Oh
! the steep slope back of the hause ana
the herd split into detaehmenIs anu
moved Off through the hills.
| The west side of the house was
windowless, a blank wall built agaihsl
the standing winds Waddles was
busily engaged In knocking out pateh
OF chlnkIrg and endenvoring to work
| loophoe between the logs. Harris
was similarly engaged.
He pointed down the valley to the
south and she turned mechanically
and crossed to that window. rev
riders showed on the ridges on either
flank of the valley.
aThey were cached up there to PICK
ns Off IL we rode down TO try AMI
turn the rum" he said.
She nodded without apparent inter
est. What might transplre now
seemed matter to be viewed with
Indifference.
1 Its time for me to CO. Harris said.
.rll hold the bunk house. Good luck.
Billie-well hold 'em off.
| He turned to Waddles who still
worked to make loophole through
the blank wall.
"If 1t gets too hot put her outside
and tell her to give herself up. Even
Lang would know that The whole
country would be hunting them tomor-
row II they touched her. They won't
II they can help 1t. But this Is their
last hope--to trust In one final raid.
They'll 90 through with It. Make her
20 outside II 1t comes to That"
He opened the door and leaped
across the twenty yards OF open space
which separated the main building
from the bunk house. barred the door
and looked from the south window.
The riders along the valley rims had
descended to the bottoms. Smoke was
already rising from one homestead
cabin and they were riding toward
the rest. Two men had dismounted
by the head gate. =
Harris cursed himself for not hav-
Ing anticipated this very thing. The
whole plan was clenr to him. Slade
would hdv, known that when the COW
hands came In from the roundup there
, would follow the inevitable night at
BrIll's. Morrow had mapped out the
raid long In advance. engaging Lanf
, 70 gather the cows throughout the
: nrst night the roundup crew was II
! from the range and hold them few
niles from the ranch. Lang could no
), know that Slade was locked up ant
! that Morrow was dead so the raid hat
Q gone through as planned.
0 Smoke was risiLl'. from two NOR
d cabins In the flats and Harris re
a proache himself for another over
= sight In allowing the wagons to pu
d out ',efore the others arrived TIL
t, crop would have been ruined II, IN
n event but with the hands at home the
could have prevented the destructio
IS OF the cabins.
X Hn transferred his attention to tn
l. long line OF log buildings a hundre
Yards TO the east The row affnrde
: perfect cover for any who chose tif
route OF approach. They could wal
IN to them In absointe safety, screene
both from himself and those In I'll
main house.
AS he watched the doors and vii
lows for siIn of movement within
TOlce haleu the from TIE eilop.
!. "You might us we'll com. out"
called. .Were going TO fire the Liant
Harris stretched prone on the tln'
and rested the muzzle of his lie
- A crack between the logs. Ii was hal
shcotlnp. HI was forced to shift Il
or butt end nf the gun, moving with
n himself to line the sights Instead
swinging the free end Of the barre
lie trained It on crack some ~
feet from the door Of the shop. +
hind the aperture the light OF wi
dow on the far side showed faIntly.
.Come outw the voice ordered =
A we'll cook you inside. We've no til
A 10 lose Rusl I'll"
- The light disappeared from I
crack nd Harris pressed the trigg
l. with the roar of his gun a sha
nI,ched do IN across the door OF
shon Some unseen hands caught |
man by the feet and as he y
dragg { back from sight Harris s.
, uT the red handkerchief which b
md served as IA mask.
From all along the row Of bulldlT
of fire was opened on the bunk hou
,WO r1ar~tr throu himself fat uuninsf