The Coolidge examiner., 1932-08-19
CHAPTER IV-Continued

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From his hip pocket he dragged a
sack Of smoking" 81 seen wills
Mccain as come up the road" he
said In carefully casual voice. He
was fixin' the head gates OF that
ditch runnin' along the ridge to his
fathers place."
Right nowT asked Phil instant
~.
We'll, it's a good four-fve miles
from here. Say an hour ago."
Matthew Stark came out from the
house and swung across the yard
toward the stable with his strong
bOw-legged stride. AS usual he car
ried a rifle. He had not covered
twenty yards before Julia ap-
peared.
''Oh Dadl" she called.
Stark stopped, waiting for her.
But before she could frame her re-
quest he refused it.
mo, you can't go to town with
me. don't care how many dofunnys
you got to buy. No use you pesterin
me either. You amt going. That's
settled"
Were out of salt. Dad, and
canned tomatoes, and lots of
things"
You make a list. I'll get 'em.
Now. honey. don't you argue with
me about 1t. 1t won't be a mite of
use
She came up close and took him
by the coat lapels. She had always
been the center of his dearest love.
In his heart he thought her the
most beautiful and wonderful crea-
ture under heaven.
Il want TO go-awfly," she whis-
pered, her deep dark eyes appealing
ly earnest.
Because he found himself weak
ening he took refuge in temper.
"Well, you'll not go. You'll stay
right here at home. I'll show you
whether | can't go off this ranch
without being tagged by you or
some one else. You drop this inter
ferin' in my affairs. julie, an be-
have yerself. l won't have It."
He swung her round by the shoul-
ders and started her toward the
house.
AS he got into the blackboard
Phil gave him information. "Red
says he saw Wills McCann at the
ditch gates above the Three Cotton
woods. He may be alone. Better
let me go, too, Dad"
Matt Stark flung a couple of crisp
questions at the cowpuncher and an
nounced his decision. You'll stay
here, Phil. This is my job, an I'm
going TO attend to it right now II
he's still there. Let co." This
last 70 the wrangler at the head of
the dancing colts.
The young horses dashed down
the road. racing at top speed.
Already Phil was saddling a
horse he found in the stable. He
rode to the house, swung off. and
ran inside.
Julia met him coming out of his
room carrying a rifle.
Where you going?" she asked
breathlessly.
wills McCann is down above the
Three CottonwOods. Pretends to be
tixin' up the ditch gates. When he
came by awhile ago Red saw him.
Likely he's waitin' to get Dad II he
comes along. I've got to get there
before Dad does, so I'm takin' the
hill trail"
Her heart contracted with
swift spasm of fear. Let me go,
too. Phil
mo. What can you do? Besides,
can't wait"
He brushed past her, pulled him
self to the saddle. and was off in
stantly ar a gallop.
For moment Julia stood. palsied
by dread. Then with a strong re-
surgence of courage. she followed
Phll out OF the house and ran to
the stable.
Get my saddle all ready" she
cried TO Sam Sharp the wrangler
rs she snatched up a rope and flew
TO the corral.
Julia led her mount to the gate
where the wrangler was waiting
with saddle. bride. and blanket.
whats all this racin' and hurry
ab0ut?" he wanted 10 know.
That wills McCann is down the