Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1929-04-18
BY Hal q. Eydrts
Copyright by Hal G. Evarts
WNU Service
CHAPTER XII-Continued

"a vague dissatisfaction for which
she could not account. She grCped
Tor an answer but the analysis could
not be expressed or definitely cleared
In her mind.
Deane planned with her OF evenings
but the planning was all OF play. No
word OF work crepf into 1t. II only
/ he would accept her as wholly into
that part OF his life as be did into
the rest
And suddenly she longed to sit for
Just one evening before the fire nnd
plum real work with Cal Harris, He
had been the one man SHE had knowf.
Eho had asked that she work With
him--0r that he should work for her.
She had drifted along, expecting tina.
that same state OF affairs would SO
On indefinitely, believing that lie filled
The void left by old Cal Warren. But
now she knew he held that pluce he
had created for himself. They had
worked together and she had deserted
The sinking ship to play the part OF
The tinsel queen.
She was conscious OF a fare-half
II resentment, half Of apprehension
toward Harris for not having sent
word OF affairs at the ranch.
| Judge Cotton entered the room and
Interrupted her reverie by handing
aer q puper. In the first black head.
Inc she saw Shades name and Har.
ris': an announcement OF the last
chapter OF the Three Bar war.
The first line OF the article stated
that Slade, the cattle king, had been
released There was insufficient proof
to convict ON any count. She felt u
curious little shIver OF fear for Har-
ris with Sade once more at large.
The article retold the old tale OF the
light and portrayed Slade, on his &c
lease. viewing the range Which be-
! had once controlled and finding o
squatter family on every available
ranch site.
She had q fash OF sympathy for
Slade as she thought his sensations
| must have been similar to her owr
when size hud looked upon the ruins
| OF the Three Bar But this was b,ot
ted out by the knowledge that he had
only met the same treatment he had
| handed to SO many others; that he
| had dropped into the trap he had
built for her. She found no real sym
pathy for Slade-only fear for Har.
ris since Siade was freed. The old
sense OF responsibility for her brand
| had. been worn too long to be shed at
| Will. She knew that now.
II suppose you'll be surprised TO
hear that I'm going back" she said.
Her fathers old friend smiled
across at her and pulled bis pipe.
| Surprised he said why. I've
known all along you'd be going back
before long. could have told you
TINT when you stepped on the train.
! He left her alone with Deane when
| the younger man arrived She
plunged into her subject at once.
I'm sorry" she said. But I'm
going home. I'm not cut oui for this
not for long al one time. want TO
smell the roundup fire and slip my
| Irvine on Tnree Bar calf; 10 throw
| my leg across horse and ride, and
feel the wind tearing past 1t will al
ways be like that with me-. So this Is
good-by."
Four days later, In the early eve
ming. the stage pulled into Coldriver
with single passenger. Tie boys
were In from hundred miles around
| for one last spree before roundup
| time, AS the stage rolled down the
single street the festivities were In
| full swing. From one lighted door
way came the blare OF mechanical
piano accompanied by the scrape OF
| feet: the sound OF drunken voices
| raised In song Issued from the next
| the shriil laughter OF dance hall
| girl. the purr OF the ivory ball and tile
soft clutter OF chips, the ponies drows-
| lug al the hitch rails the full length
| OF tile street. the pealing yeIp of Some
| oeerenthusiastic citizen whose nigh,
| II was TO howl; all these were evil
| dences of the wide difference between
| her present surroundings and those OF
the last eight months. She gazed
/ eagerly out Of the stage window. II
was good to get back.
As the stage neared the rambling
LOG hotel where she would put up for
| the night a compact group Of ri'iert
swung down the street Her heart
seemed to stop as she recognized the
| big paint-horse at their head. She
had not fully realized how much shs
I ionged To see Cal Harris.
Instead Of dismounting In grouI
they suddenly split up, as II at ,
| given signal, scattering the length Of
the block and dismounting singly
There was something purposeful II
| this act and vague apprehension
superseded the rush OF gladness she
| had experienced with the first unex
| pected view Of the Three Bar crew
Men who stood on the board side
walks turned hastily inside the oper
doors as they glimpsed the riders
/ spreading the news that the Thre.
BAR had come to town The drivel
pulled up Id front OF the one hotel.
| s.Iru cofnp off right now" no said