Red Lodge daily news combined with Carbon County news., 1931-12-24


81 knowed that hoss. An / shore
knowed you jest from the way yol
straddled him. How air you? This
is plumb a surprise. Get down an
come in"
Haven't time. Adam. I'm rustlin
along to make camp below. 8.
Adams, you're lookin' good. I see
you've made this homestead CO.
Never seen you look any better
Thet's hoss an saddle you're rid.
in. You always was hell ON them
Whar you been?n
Texas
"Reekon you heerd aboot Cas-
Seward bein' popped off, an you
ride back to the old stampin'-
grounds %
Adam, I didn't know Cass was
dead till I got to Wagontongue
Guess l was homesick.s
"Whar you goin' ~
.sSunset Pass
Cowboy, if you want work, pile
right off heah."
Thanks, Adam, but I've got a
hankerin' for wilder country. III
try Preston. Think he'll take me
on?'
"Shore. But don't ask him."
..Why not?s
I'm advisin' you-not talkin', y
returned the raneher, with a sharp
CLEAN in his eye. "You know me,
True"
USED to, pretty well, Adam. And
I'm sort of flustered at your ad-
visin' me that way replied Rock,
keenly searching the others face.
'sStay away from Sunset Pass
Adam, I just never could take
drawled Rock. "Mucn
obliged, tho
Cowboy, you may need a job
bad, an you shore always hankered
for wild range. But it amt that
What you aimin' at, Adam p
asked Rock, with a laugh.
q amt amin, True. I'm tellin'
you. It's thet tow-headed lass of
Preston's."
well, considerin' we're old
friends, 7 won't take offense,"
lrawled Rock. sHow you doin'?"
Been on my feet these two
= returned Pringle, with sat
sfaction. "Got three thousand haid
# stock. An sellin' eight hundred
laid this fall"
I'm sure tickled. Losin' much
tock?'
"Some. But not enough to rare
Iboot. Though I'm agreed with cat
lemen who know the range that
here's more rustlin' than for some
Jears past"
''Is that so?"
"Queer rustlin', too. You lose a
'ew haid of steers an then YOU
lever hear of anyone seem hide
Tor hair of them again.
"Nothin' queer about that, Adam.
hustled cattle are seldom seen
lgain," returned Adam, for the
AXE of argument. But there was
omething unusual about it. Prin-
sle, however, did not press the
,oint.
MANY new cattlemen?' went on |
Rock.
''Not too many. The range is
lealthy an improvin'."
"How's. Jess Slagle? I used to
ide for Jess, and want to see him"
"Humphl Didn't nobody tell you
boot Slagle?"
"Nope. And I forgot to ask. You
zee, l only got to town yesterday"
"Jess Slagle couldn't make it go
n Sunset Pass after the Prestons
.ome."
why not? It's sure big enough
country for ten outfits.
Wal, there's only one left, an
het's Preston's. Ask .Slagle?"
i sure will. Is he still located in
he Pass ?"
mo. He's ten miles this side.
Stone cabin. You'll remember it,"
IF | do, that's no ranch for Jess
'lagle. Marshland, what there was
IT it fit to Craze cattle, salty wa
,er, mostly rocks and cedars."
Your memory's good, Rock.
Drop in to see Slagle. An don't
Mss callin' heah when you come
,ut."
(which you're thinkin' won't be
10 very long. Huh, Adam?'
Wal, I'm not thinkin', but if it |
vas anyone else I'd give him three
replied Pringle, with
! guffaw.
Rocks misgivings grew in pro-
'ortlon to the increasing warmth
md pleasure of this ride toward
Id haunts. The fact that nothing
vas spoken openly detrimental to |
he Prestons was a singular fea-
ure that he had encountered once
r twice before. The real Western
r, such as Leslie or Pringle, was
man of few words. This reticence
prang from consciousness that
e was not wholly free from blame
imself, and that to be loose with
he tongue entailed considerable
lsk. Rock could not prevent his
curiosity and interest, but
e succeeded in inhibiting any sus-