White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1929-01-11
CHAPTER Iv-Continued

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"Our families must have been real
set on throwing us together" he OBJ
served. II was cut off without dime
myself-unless spent two full years
on the Three Bar"
She was angry with herself for be-
heving him sincere, for being con-
vinced that he, too, as he had several
times intimated, was tied in much the
same fashion as herself. The explana-
ton came to her in an Illuminating
flash. The elder Harris must have
nursed lifelong enmity against her
father, who had believed him the most
devoted friend on earth.
She had often heard the tale of
how her parent had, in all friendi-
ness, followed old Bill Harris step by
step from Dodge City to the Platte, to
old Fort Laramie and finally to the
present Three Bar range. Perhaps
the one SO followed had felt that Cal
Warren was but the hated symbol Of
the whole clan of squatters who had
driven him from place to place and
eventually forced him to relinquish
his hope of seeing the Three Bar
brand on hundred thousand cows;
that his friendliness had been simu-
lated, his vindictiveness nursed and
finally consummated by leaving his af
fairs In such fashion that his son
must carry on the work his trickery
had begun.
Harris resumed where be had bro
ken off.
"And I'd have tossed it off, as l told
you once, If the Three Bar girl had
turned out to be any except you
You've had tough problem to work
out, girl" he said. 81 sold out my lit
tie Box l. outfit for more than 1t was
worth-and figured to stop the leak
brand on its feet"
His calm assurance on this point
exasperated the girl.
"How?" she demanded. "What can
you dol" She pointed toward the six
men near the wagon. "During the
time you spent providing the hills did
you ever come across those men?'
"Not to pal round with Them" he
confessed. "But did cut their trail
now and then. They're not the outfit
that's going to be hardest to handle
when the time arrives"
"What do you mean?" she asked
mo one has ever been able to handle
them up to date"
"Did It ever strike you as queer
that Slade could come into this coun
try twelve years back, with nothing
but long rope and running iron.
and be owning thirty thousand head
today?"
"He has the knack to protect his
own and increase" she said "They're
afraid of Slade."
The girl shook her head impatient
ly and looked across at the six men
who ate her fare.
"Look at Them" she flared. eating
my food; and in few nights they'll
be hazing a bunch of Three Bar steers
toward the Idaho line. Why doesn't
some man that is man kill that al
bino fiend and all his whelps and rid
the country of his breed? Even Slade
lets them put up at his place."
"lf they're Fostering you I'll order
them off," he said.
"And what effect would that have?
she inquired scornfully
"The effect of causing them to climb
their horses and amble off down the
country" he returned. He sprawled
on the grass, his head propped on one
hand as he regarded them.
"Then probably you'd better order
them off," she suggested. "You have
my permission. Now's your chance TO
! make good the iordly brag of helping
!. the Three Bar out of the hole" She
instantly regretted having said it. A
dozen times of late she had wondered
If she were turning bitter and wasp
ish, If she would ever again be the
even-tempered Billie Warren with a
good word and smile for every one.
Harris was. as always. apparently
undisturbed BY her words. Far down
the bottoms she could see point of
light which she knew for q white sign
that read: "Squatter, don't let sun
down find you here" The nun be
fore her had defied these sinister
warnings scattered about the range
and publicly announced that he would
put In hay on his filing. knowing that
he was q marked man from the hour
he turned the first furrow. Whatever
his shortcomings. lack Of courage was
not one of them.
II take that back" she said. re-
ferring to her words Of few moments
before. Harris Strengthened to sit