Red Lodge daily news combined with Carbon County news., 1931-12-24
Continued from last week)

tSonllnueu from ldSl week
"All right, Sol. Then I'll need a
pack-horse and outfit. In the morn
in We'll pick out a tarp and blan-
kets, grub and campin' outfit. I've
got saddle, bride, spurs, riata-all
Mexican, Sol, and if they don't
knock the punchers on this range,
I'll eat them. My Texas pardner
gave them to me. And last, I
reckon I'll require some more
hardware"
This last came reluctantly with
smile not quite grim from Rock.
"Ahuh! An with all this out
fit you're headin' for Sunset Pass
asserted Winter, wholly grim.
"Yeah. I'm goin' to ride down
slow and easy-like, renewin' old
acquaintances and maxim new
ones. Then III end up at Gage
Preston's and strike him for a
job"
"Son, it's a bold move, if it's all
on account of Thirty" returned
Winter. "Gage Preston can't hard
ly refuse you a job. He needs rid
ers. He has hired about every cow
puncher ON the range. But they
don't last"
"Why not"
ash gets rid of them, sooner or
later. Reckon about as soon as
they shine up to Thirty"
"How does he do that?" queried
Rock, curiously.
sWal, he scares most of them.
Some he has bunged up with his
fists. An several punchers he's
driven to throw guns
Kill them?"
"Nope. They say he just Grip
pied them. Ash shoots quick an
where he wants.
''Most interestin' cuss - Ash
Preston" said Rock, lightly.
"Son, this is what worries me, y
went on Winter, with gravity
"It'll be some different when Ash
Preston butts into you"
"How you mean, pardner?"
oval, no matter how easy an
cool you start-no matter how
clever you are-it's bound to wind
up a deadly business
"Thanks, old-timer. I get your
hunch. I'm takin' it serious and
strong. Don't worry unreasonable
about me. I've got to co.
Trueman Rock was not one OF
the cowboy breed who cared only
for pitching, biting horses. He
could ride them, when exigency
demanded, but he never loved g
horse for other than thoroughbred
qualities. And sitting on the CORA
fence watching Leslie's white fa-
vorite, he was bound to confess
that he felt emotions Of his earliest
] days on the range.
"I1l take him, Leslie, and con-
slider the deal a favor" Rock said
'Reckon I'm glad. Dabb said yes
terday he'd buy him an send out
today. But you beat Dabb to it
Somehow | didn't want Dabb to
have him. But today there was g
girl here who loved him, an I'c
shore have liked to let her have
him"
"Who was she, Jim ?" asked Win
ter.
"Thiry Preston. She passed here
today with her dad"
'AWhat did Miss Preston do?'
queried Rock, casually.
"She just petted the hoss while
the other Prestons walked around
talkin' a lot. Miss Thirty never sale
word. But I seen her heart il
her eyes.
'TSpeaks well for her." replied
Rock, with constraint, as he sliC
off the fence and approached thu
: animal. 'LesIie, I'll come out il
the mornin'. 1 want pack-horse.
@G1l throw the pack-hoss in tx
) boot" replied Leslie.
! "Sol," said Rock, thoughtfully
: as they retraced their steps towar'
town, "I'lI hardly have time to lool
! up folks I used to know. I can leav
( that till | hit town again. D,
the Prestons come in often?"
"Some of them every Saturday
shore as it rolls round. Thirty come
in about twice a month"
"Pretty long ride in from Sunset
Sixty miles by trail. Reckon tn
S Prestons make a one-night stop a
S some ranch?'
"No. They camp it, maxim Ceda