The Daily Alaska empire., 1932-02-11

might any cowboy. M - !' ne yelled, lustily. He took my new white horsel And my saddle that I wouldn't lend to the King of Eng land! Never had that happen to me. Doggone Boys, was it sup posed to be a joker"
 Joke nothin'. Ash was just mean like he always is when we get a new rider. But reckon you'll have to take it as joke"
 Huhl I will-like the old lady who keeps tavern out Westl" re- piled Rock, with a short laugh.
 saHow's that ,Boss?" inquired Al, hugely delighted.
 Like h--," answered Rock. .Boys. I reckon I'm the maddest cowpuncher that ever was. think I'll get a horse and saddle from you, and go after my own"
 eIf you take my advice you'll swallow it = leastways till Ash comes back. Chances are he wont do Egypt no harm. If you follow Ash now, mad as you are, thereu only be another fight.
 .sTake it as a joke. Or better be nice about it,' added Harry. That always stumps Ash. If he can't make you mad he let's up-for while, anyway"
 sFThanks, boys. I'll think it over, reioined Rock, grateful for their solicitude. But I-ereckon the good Lord himself couldn't keep my mouth slnut--after that"
 Lets get to work suggested Harry. Were late. And Ash ain't the only one Pa can cuss."
 While Rock and Al gTeased the wagon wheels, Harry hitched up. and by the time this task was done Tom rode in, leading horse. It was a bay that instantly took Rocks eye, and which would have made up for tine loss of most any horse, except one like Egypt.
 @Where's Ash's saddle?" he asked.
 Its hangin' there" replied Al. But, gee! you won't ride his, will you7"
 @rll be alarmed if I won't" re- turned Rock, with a grim humor. @You boys rustic along. I'll catch up.n
 Come down the road by the pasture, boss" said Al. Then take the right hand road. You can't miss the slaughter house, for the rtink will knock you down
 After the boys left, Rock pro- ceeded to put Ash's saddle and bride on the bay horse, but he was not in any hurry. This first trick of Ash Preston's ranked ir Rock. Wonder what Thiry will say" he soliloquized. She must have seen Ash on my horse. That's what upset her. Damn him!-- He must be one of those people who make the angels weep. And
 
 here I am with my hands tied
 When Rock rode around the barr he espied the wagon far ahead down the gentle slope. He came te the forks of the road, and taking the left one he entered the cedars climbed the ridge, and descended to a grassy open meadow, only < mount another cedar ridge. Rocl rode up sparsely cedared slop' to a level bench. and soon came upon the site that had once beer Slagers ranch. The boys wer' halting before the several cabins As Rock rode up. the stench un' uaistakably heralded slaughter house. Cabins, corral fences, barn and sheds, and even the trees bor' Qhastly evidence of the nature O what this old Slagle ranch hat sunk to. Skins of cattle hunl everywhere.
 The horses were turned loose t eraze, and Rock, with the, thre' boys, set to work. It was no eas! task for one man, or even two men to fold a stiff hide and compress i into small space. But that was wha they had to do. The Preston boy might have been skillful and dili rent at other kinds of ranch work but at this particular job they wer lazy. They made no bones of say iur they hated it and particulaFl the unacceptable smell. Rock di not drive the boys, but he drov himself. He heard Al say to hi hrothers in an aside, Sure he's