White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1929-02-01
CHAPTER V-Continued
10


The old man was gloomy and silent
his face set in sorrowful lines as he
went about his work, and II was evi.
dent that he was continually brood
ing over the fate of the youth he had
loved.
Billie could not shake off the re.
membrance of the boys adoring gaze
as his eyes had followed every move
she made and In some vague way she
felt that she was responsible for the
accident. She often rode near Rifle
Foster. knowing what was in his
mind. He spoke but little and in
common with the rest, he never once
mentioned Bangs.
At the end of week Slade rode
up to the wagon as the men were
working the cows gathered in the sec.
ond circle of the day. He terked
his head to draw her aside out Of
range of Waddles' ears.
"How's the Three Bar showing up
this spring." he asked abruptly.
"Better than ever" she retorted and
he caught note of defiance in her
voice.
You're lying, Billie" he asserted
calmly. 1.-THE Three Bar will show
another shrinkage this year"
"How do you know? she flashed !;
and the distrust of him fha; Harris
had reused in her, lately submerged
heEenih the troubling thoughts OF
Bangs, was suddenly luckened and
thrown uppermost In her mind.
II know" he asserted ITS my
business to know everything that gues
on anywhere near my range. You
say you want 10 run the Three Bar
brand yourself. There's not man
In this country that would toucn u
Three Bar COW Ii you was hooked ur
with me-"
And then the Three Bar would h.
only one out of dozen or more Sladp
brands" she said
For nc reason at all she was snd
denly convinced of the truth of Hair
ris suspicious concerning SIade. She
nnfed that his eyes travelled from one
man to the next till he had scru
tinted every one that worked the
herd.
Are you looking for Morrow" she
demanded, and instantly regretted her
remark. SHADES face did not change
by so much as the bat of an eve and
he failed to reply for a space-t0o
long space, she ref1ected-ther
turned to her.
Morrow who's hep he asked
And why should look for him?"
HE rode for you last year." she
said.
"Uhl That fellow. recall him
now Beak-looking Citizen" he said
And what about hin?"
"You tell me-" she countered.
THAT new foreman of yours-the
fellow that was scouting round alone
for few months-has been talking
with his mouth" Slate said "Tf he
keeps that up ri have to ask him To
speak right out what's on his mind"
Hell tell YOU" she prophesied.
What then?"
"Then III kill him." the man stated
The girl motioned to Lanky Evans
md he rode across to them.
"Lanky, want you to remember
this" she said. "Slade has just prom
lsed to kill Harris And If he does
III spend every dollar own seeing
that he's hung for It," she turned 20
Slade. You might repeat what you
iusi told me-" she suggested.
Slade looked at her steadily.
"You misunderstood me-" he stated
II don't recall any remark to that ef
feet or even to mentioning the name
Vt Harris. Who is he. anyhow"
Evans souched easily In the SADDLE
and twisted smoke.
Now let's get this straight wha,
I'm to remember" lie said. mir. Slade
was saying that he planned to down
Cal Harris the first time he caught
him out alone. heard him remark
to that effect" He turned and grinned
at Slade. "That's his very
wOrds-nnd I'd swear to II as long as
my breath leld out. III sort of repeat
1t over 'to myself so that can give II
to the Judge word for word when the
time cOmes."