Red Lodge daily news combined with Carbon County news., 1931-12-17

that kind of business. He buys
mostly from Preston. An he ships
a good many beeves."
'fShips? Out of town" asked
Rock.
81 should smile. They have
worked into a considerable bust
ness, with prospects"
Rock pondered over his friends
disclosures, trying to reduce them
down to something significant.
They might be and very probably
were perfectly regular transac-
tions. He could never split hairs
over deals pertaining to the cattle
range. Thirty Preston's sad face re-
turned to haunt him. Surely she
was too young, too healthy and
good for marked sadness of ex-
preston, such as had struck him
forcibly.
"Sol, what do you think about
Ash Preston?" asked Rock, coming
out of his reverie.
"Well, son, I'm curious to ask
you that same question:" replied
Winter, with humor. "You know
the range. How did this fellow
strike you?"
Like hard fist, right in the
eye," acknowledged Rock.
"Ahuh. I'm glad your sojourn
in Texas hasn't dulled your edge, y
said Winter. 'The Prestons are all
out of the ordinary. Take Thirty,
for instance. How did she strike
you?"
Trueman gazed at his friend as
if words were useless.
"Well, i wouldn't give two bits
for you if she hadn't. Son, I've a
hunch your comm back means a
lot. ;. Wal, to go on-these Pres
tons are a mighty strikin' outfit.
An Ash Preston stands out even
among them. He's a great rider of
the range in all pertainin' to that
hard game. He can drink more,
fight harder, shoot quicker than
any man in these parts. You used
to throw a gun yourself, Rock. I'm
wonderin' did you get out of prac-
tice in Texas? But Texas, now"
go on interrupted Rock, curt
ly. He was shy on talk about gun
play.
Excuse me, son. Well, to re-
SOON, Ash Preston is sure the
meanest, coldest, nerviest, deadli-
est proposition you're likely to
stack up against in your life.
just want to give you hunch,
seein' you went sweet on Thiry.'
+, Thanks. The man was drunk
when l met him, but / think
grasped a little of what you say
Winter evidently found more in
this reply to worry him.
"You know what the risk is"
"What do / care for risks?"
'True, you always were a sud-
den cuss, but even so, you could
hardly get serious-real serious
over Thirty Preston so quick"
''What you mean serious q
snapped Rock.
"Sweet on her, / mean," answer
ed Winter, hesitatingly.
| "Sweet on that girl! No! I've
been sweet on a hundred girls. This
is different. | don't know what. III
have to dig into myself and see
But it's somethin' terrible. Ter
thousand times sweet"
"Son, you needn't bite my heat
off," protested Winter. eff you
want to know, I'm tickled stiff
an scared to death. love that girl
An if you haven't forgot, was
once some fond of you."
"Sol, / haven't forgotten" re.
piled Rock, with warmth. "Bui
don't you dare ever mention my
my old girl friends. And if you'C
dare to tell Thiry I'd murder you.
| Somebody will tell her, son. Fol
instance, Mrs. John DaIbb. She
likes Thirty. She'll tell her. I see
them together occasionally"
"Mrs. John Dabb. She couldn'
know much"
''I told you she was Amy Wund.
! "Oww!" walled Rock, bending
double.
"Trueman, your trail will sure b,
rough" returned Winter, waggint
his head.
''Listen, old friend. There's onl,
one thing that could stump me.
. don't know what I'm goin' to do
, But there's only one thing tha