Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1929-04-11
CHAPTER XI-Continued

range. When some ten miles from the
Three Bar Harris dsmonnted on
ridge and sh. joined him. listening
with entire indifference to his OPP
tI-listic plans.
We're only scratched" he said. at
won't matter In the end"
"This IL the end" she dlssented
1.-THE Tree Bar is done"
tits just the start" he returned
TITS the end for them Don't you
see? They staked everything on one
big raid that would smash the re
Bar and discourage the rest from
duplicating our move That would
give Slade q new lease Of lfe--delay
the Inevitable for few more years
They made one final attempt and lost.
They're through" he asserted posi-
lively. That's their last shot We're
only delayed-thaf's ALL The home
stead cabins are only charred The
old buildings al the ranch are gone
I'll put crew In the hills getting
out new logs and therell be enough
out-of-joh peelers riding grnb-line TO
rebuild tn. whole place. We've goi
our land. The hay is tramped fiat
right now hut the roots aren't hurt.
Next spring will show the Whole fiat
coming up with heavy stand of hay"
You're good partner CAL" she
said. you've done your best But
the whole thing would only happen
over again. Shades too strong for us"
SHADES through u he asserted
Hes locked up and when he gets
out his hands will be tied inside OF
q month the law will be In the saddle
for the first time In years Once All
den gets a grip on things. with folks
behind him, he'll never lose II again.
He painted the future of the Three
Bar as the foremost outfit within a
hundred miles. but her mind was
busy with a future so entirely differ.
ent from the one be portrayed fhat
she scarcely grasped his words AL
ways she had heard her parents
speak OF the day when they should
go back home; dnu she had always
felt that the day would come when
she, too, would live In the place from
which they had come-with frequent
trips back to the range The love fur
the ranch had delayed her departure
from year to year. But now the old
familiar buildings were gone and
there were no ties To hold her here
or even to call her back once she was
gone.
Harris rose and pointed. rousing
her from her abstraction Down In
the valley below them filed long
une of dusty horsemen.
There is the law |" he said
That's what brought you here to
see. It's what we've been waiting
for. That little procession stands for
organized Iawl'
She turned and looked behind her
as her ear caught the thud Of hoofs
and jungle of equipment The Three
Bar men were just topping the ridge
Harris knew that action, not mae.
tion was the best outlet for her ener
giles, temporarily smothered by the
shock Of the raid.
II thought maybe you'd like to GO
he said THE jaunt will do you good :,
She showed the first sign Of inter.
est she had evidenced.
And we're going to the Breaks"
she stated
That's where" he said. "Well or
der them to give up and stand trial
They won't. Then well cleun them
out Hunt them down like ratsl'
The little band In the valley was
drawing near. She recognized Carp
Bentley and another Slade man rid
Ing with the sheriff AT their head
Whats Bentley doing there?" she
asked
"One of Carp's men," Harris said
If any Of them get away from us
Carp will hound them down. He
wears the u. s. badge and won't he
stopped by any feeling about cross.
Ing the Btah or idaho lines. Rushing
| Is of no interest to him. That's the
sheriif's job. But Carp will round
them up for obsiructing the home
| stead laws"
The Three Bar men came up and
halted. HarriS and the girl changed
mounts and led their men down TO
join fhe file of riders below.
Ii was well after sundown when
they halted In sheltered valley
| Waddes cooked meal over an open
fire. Bed rolls were spread and the
men were Instantly asleep. Three
! hours before sunup the cook was once
more busy round fire.
The meal was bolied and each man
! lasled a generous lunch on his saddle
before riding off.
Daylight found them twenty miles
| from camp and the horses were
breathing hard They turned into {
coulee threaded by well worr
trail Three miles along this Bentle,
| turned to the right up branching
gnlch with eight men, Another mils
ind Carp led sitniiar detaehmen
OFF to the left Billie rode With th,