The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1930-12-05

SHldit LHluS, IuuHiteiy TelnOVeu from
the stars to which she looked so
bravely. But he realized this conyic-
tion was but for the moment.
He knew that he was what he was,
what the years and environment and
his ancestry had made him, hard
and wilful man, one who would go
his own way at all cost. Men were
not born again, not in this workaday
world. He would make peace, because
circumstances forced his hand, be-
cause the path he wanted to follow
lay that way. But he must continue,
since it was in his horoscope, to tram
pie down those who opposed him on
his road to success.
AS he rode up to the Hughes ranch
he recognized claybank COW pony
at the hitch rack near the house. Sew
eral men were sitting on the porch,
including Harvey, Deever, and Roche.
Leaning against one Of the end posts.
q rifle across his legs, sat Bob Guam
trell, smoking a cigarette insOlently
but warily.
"What are you doing here?" de-
manded Ingram harshly.
The lad took the cigarette from his
mouth and blew out a fat smoke
wreath lazily. "The short an sweet
of it is that I'm here lookin' for job.
I'm through with that other outfit.
I don't like their ways an they don't
like mine"
you've got the nerve to come here,
after what You did the day before
yesterday" Ingram said baclzTy.
"All in the way of business, Dave"
the boy replied airily. "What would
you expect? / was workin' for Steel
mans crowd then. Like said, I've
quit em. If you're needin' top hand,
either with bunch of cows or six
shooter, why just say the word. I'm
yore gooseberry. Any of the boys
here can recommend me-"
The big cattle man did not lift his
eyes from the slim lad with the re-
ceding chin. This youngster grinning
at him with his buck teeth showing
was the most notorious bad man in
the territory. In time men would
come from afar to write books about
his wild career. though none of those
present could guess that his repute
would some day be nationwide.
Ingram was not afraid of him. He
was afraid of no man alive. His pride
was too arrogant and domineering to
leave room for fear.
you're an insolent young devil,
Quantrell," he said, measuring his
words carefully. you've run on the
rope all yore life till you think you're
chief. You're not-not on this range.
Listen. You're through with this
country. Get out. Push on yore reins
an shove. / ought to have you ar
rested right now for murder. If
didn't know you'd break Jail that's
just what I'd do. Serve you right if
we shot you down here on the spot.
But I'm servin' notice on you. If you
stay in this country I'll have you
hunted down like wolf"
you're the big auger, are you?"
jeered Quantrell. big talk. with all
yOre IIlSn SllllH dTOuLlu mere 10 DdCk
yore play. You listen awhile, Dave
Ingram There amt men enough in
all yore wolf pack to drive me out"
The cowboy Roche. standing near
him with coiled rope in his hands,
watched him with eyes that never
lifted He had spent the past ten
minutes hating the young outlaw i'm
potently, for the man whom Quantrell
J had shot as he left the park had been
a close friend of his. They had slept
under the same tarp many a night.
Quantrell glared at Ingram. What
was in the lads mind nobody knew.
Apparently he did not move, but there
was sort of ripple of tensed muscles
that fortold motion of some sort In
the same breath the loop of Roche's
lariat snaked forward. 1t dropped
over Quantrell's shoulders as low as
his waist. Instantly the cowboy drew
the rope tight with savage jerk,
pinning the others arms to his side.
Before Quantrell could free himself
Ingram closed with him. In the hands
of the big cattle man the killer was
like a child. Ingram wrenched the
rifle from his grip and sent it flying