Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1934-05-03
CHAPTER VIII--Continued

lie was possessed OF a warm feeling
OF elation al he motored up to the
Circle K and In a field below the
ranch house found Lorry with her cow
boys working in the branding corral
She wore the traditional boots, over
alls, shirt, and hat OF a cowman. She
carried a four-strand t~hIrty-foot calf
rope OF braided rawhide and bestrode
a buckskin horse that knew his bust
ness.
aItchenor climbed up on the fence
and watched her work; he thrilled
with professional pride as her small
loop went under the belly OF each vic
tim and curled up and over the legs OF
the calf as the little animal went for
ward; he observed how gently she laid
him down, saving undue strain on her
RATA, and dragged him through the
soft loose dirt to the fire. Rube Ten
ney. working a calf along the fence
below Nate, said out OF the corner OF
his mouth as he passed.
"Ninety-two calves so far today and
she hasn't missed her cast yet"
1t was long since he had sat on the
top rail OF a corral fence, comfortable
In his shirt-sleeves, and looked At good
stock Long since he had done any
shooting and fishing, long since his
knees had gripped anything save an
academytzaiAed horse.
He resolved definitely not to give It
up. When the world wearied him he
could always come back to Eden VAL
ley and enjoy the society OF people
who had mastered the great art OF
silent companionship.
Lorry had waved her RATA at him
az he took his seat on the fence there
after she paid no attention to him.
She was busy. So he sat on the fence
for an hour, dreaming, remembering,
planning. Finally he saw q horse
standing, with dropping head, outside
the corral. A RATA was colled on the
saddle.
My horse, Lorry?" he called to the
girl.
whenever you get your job of
dreaming done with" she called back.
He climbed down, cinched the saddle
tighter, and swung aboard. "Ride him,
cowboy" Lorry cried ~ioyously,, and as
II this was a signal, the horse went
into action. Tichenor stayed with him
for six jumps, then sailed Off into
space and lit on his hands and knees
In the soft dirt, ~whereupon everybody
laughed long and ~joyously at his dis
comfiture. A dozen feet away the horse
was standing, gazing c~uriously at him.
Lorry rode up to the fence and
looked at him. what happened7" she
asked alphabetically. He picked him.
self up, furious with embarrassment
and Elared at her. ave been away Z
long time. I'm soft. / can't grip 'em
like l used to- he mumbled, and
caught up the horse. The brute tried
to throw him again, but this time
T1chenor stuck, and the horse, decid.
Ing he had had the worst OF the ar.
gument, logged sedately away to the
corral gate, swung into 1t for Nate to
slip the wooden latch. pushed 1t oper
with his shoulder, pushed It shut
again and sided humbly up to the
latch for his rider to slide it home
again. Tichenor shook out his loop
found an unbranded calf and roped Il
neatly around the hind legs. Lorry
smiled her approval and before hel
smile his anger and embarrassment
melted and he smiled back.
Mate, I bet RUDE a hundred dol
lars you'd ride him straight up and
stay with him. You rode him straight
up but you didn't stay with him--st
you lost a hundred dollars for me-"
"Why didn't you bet RUDE another
hundred I'd miss my first calf"
Il did," she confessed sadly. "Tn
out two hundred on you"
go bet him two hundred more
a rope ten straight"
She called her bet to Rube Tenney
Taken" the superintendent yelled
back. And another hundred he misses
calf In the first FIVE.
Take It," Tichenor urged. Lorr,
esek 1t and he won both bets for her.