Red Lodge daily news combined with Carbon County news., 1932-01-14

Chapter 20
EGYPT

IOuDt OF TINS!
Perhaps the father was, too, and
some of the brothers. But Mrs.
Preston was ignorant of it; so were
Alice, and the younger brothers.
Thiry bore this burden alone. That
was the secret of her sad eyes and
lips. That was the power Ash Pres
Ton had over her-love for him and
fear. 1t did no longer seem unnat-
ural. That was why no cowboys
ever got a fair chance to win Thirty
Preston's friendship.
Gage Preston was getting rich
a little bit swiftly for a rancher on
an ordinary scale. How? Rock an
severed the query in many ways,
but only one way seemed tenable.
Preston sold cattle on the hoof, the
same as other ranchers. None but
~rustlers ever sold cattle that did
not belong to them. And certainly
Preston could not be a rustler. 1t
was inconceivable that Ash Pres
ton could be a rustler, either, at
least without his father knowing.
But Rock secuted the rustler idea.
Some of the P~restons, with Ash
at the head, and the father either
in with them or unable to prevent
it, were killing cattle not their
own, burning or hiding the skins,
and selling the beef at near and
/. distant points.
Good Lord" muttered Rock, I'M
der his breath. Give hit it plum
center. The damn fools, thinkin'
they-can hide that long! -. Gage
Preston ought to have more sense.
He struck me queer, tho. But it's
that rattlesnake son who's got this
outfit buffaloed. No wonder poor
Thirty has sad eyes. Well, by
Heaven, I'll stay at Sunset Passl'
A bell awakened Rock from late
SAUNDERS. The sun was up, and as
he peeped out over his blanket COW
ering he saw the grass shine gold
under the cedars. He had oversight,
which was not a remarkable fact,
considering how long it had taken
him to get to sleep. In the sober
light of day the task before him
seemed tremendous. He had to
prove his suspicious, which had lost
mo strength during sleep, and i'll
they were well founded, then he
must somehow stop the illicit pro-
ceedings before the Prestons were
overwhelmed by catastrophe.
Briskly he strobe toward the
double cabin, conscious of the
heart : beating anticipation, and
when he thumped upon the porch
Alice Preston came out of the
kitchen, carrying plates and cup,
which she set upon the table.
Mrs. Preston looked out of the
kitchen and greeted Rock with
pleasant smile and words.
"Are the boys up, too?" he asked
as he fell upon the ham and eggs
and hot biscuits.
LANDS sake! They're up an
gone long ago." she replied. "They
were sure funny. Tom said: Let
him sleep, Ma. The longer the bet
ter An All said: Don't wake
the new boss, Ma. He won't never
get no sleep when Ash is here, so
let him get some now An
Harry said: 'Ain't Thirty up yet,
either? Reckon settin' up in the
moonlight is bad for some folks"
at sure is, Mrs. Preston"
laughed Rock. "I'm sorry, tho, if
I'm to blame"
ooh, Thirty was up hours ago."
Alice informed them. "Saw Pa and
the boys ride away. / know she had
a run-in with Ash, because she had
been cryin'."
That's too bad" said Rock,
bending over his plate and eating
fast. He had seen the mothers face
change very slightly, almost i'm
p.rceptibly. Ash Preston was a
thorn in the flesh of this whole
some family.
Rock made short work of his
breakfast, and glad somehow that
he had not encountered Thirty, he
hurried down toward the corrals.
AT the barnyard Rock found All
Preston leading in some horses;
and one of his brothers was jack
ing up a hind wheel of the green
wagon.
"Morning', boss. Hope you're not
sick" drawled Al.
'fBoys, / was plumb dead. I'll
sure let you punish me for bein'
lazy"
The other boy nodded at Rock.
"Are you Tom or Harry?" asked
Rock, suddenly reminded of the
twins.
"I'm Harry"
GAIL right, Harry, TIL know you
tomorrow or bust. Where's Tom?"
"He left us to grease the wagon
and went off after a horse for
you"
'For my white horse, Egypt?"
asked Rock.
"No-I'm-sorry to say" rel
turned Harry, haltingly, as if he
had bad news.
"Did Egypt jump the pasture
fence?"
"No. Ash saddled him and rode
~Ff - him