Nogales international., 1934-01-20
NOW GO ON WITH The STORY

turned to the remains of the old adobe
and was mourning over mess CT mud
and clothes, when she was startled by
the sound of an automobile. She could
hardly believe her eyes when she saw
a 6ne-looking machine climb out OF
the gulch. Visitors were not common
on the Dead Lantern.
There were two men in the car
which approached the ranch house.
Before it stopped and just as Ruth had
started to walk in that direction,
Snavely rode out of the brush along
the southern bank Of the gulch, his
horse on a dead run. Ruth paused and
watched him bring his mount to a
sliding stop by the machine.
"What d'you want?" his voice
shrilied at the men in the car.
One of the men replied, talking for
some time, but his voice was low and
Ruth could not understand.
"Hell, moi We don't want nothin'
to do with that" Snavely swung his
arm back and pointed along the road
There's tn way out of this place,
stranger!"
"Iow do you do?" smiled Ruth, as
she came up to the other side of the
car. The two men turned their heads
in quick surprise, then smiled with
pleasure.
"Are you Mrs. Warren?" asked the
older man, lifting his hat.
"Yes-won't you gentlemen come up
10 the house?"
"Why-er-thank you"-he half
turned his head in Snavely's diree-
tion-"my names Parker of the Tri-
angle T, and this is Mr.. Harvey, our
attorney. Your neighbor, Mr.. Thane,
thought perhaps you people might. be
interested in a cattle proposition
"Oh, I'm sure we should +
The three went to the ranch house
porch where Snavely joined them
after tying his horse to mesquite.
The girl introduced him. He grunted.
did not offer to shake hands and
seated himself at one side.
'You see, Mrs. Warren" began
Parker, "the Triangle I is changing
hands-do you know Of the ranch 2"
"I'm afraid not" smiled the girl.
''Don't make any difference" OBJ
served Parker. 'We're on the Mexi-
can line about twenty-five miles east.
Well, as 1 said, the ranch is changing
hands. The man who bought it is
going to do differently than I've al
WAYS done. He intends to make a
feeder ranch out of it, using Mexican
stock-ah-do you see what | mean"
well, no-I'm rather new to this
business" said Ruth.
"Don't make any difference-he's IS
going to buy cheap Mexican cattle and
feed them to sell. The point is, he isn't
going to breed Herefords and he won't
pay me for the cattle already on the
place. mean he don't want them for
breeding-he'll take all my steers and
beef stuff, but you can see that good
young cows and registered bulls are
worth more than so much pound
they're producers. Now, the man I'm
selling to, Jeshs Traviia, don't care
about that sort of stock. l was telling
Charley Thane about it and he wants
ten Of my bulls and he said you peo-
pie" Parker glanced from the girl tc
Snavely and then back at the girl
"He thought you people might be in.
terested in doing something. So as
was taking Mr.. Harvey, here, back tc
town, I just thought I'd drop in and
see you"
But" said Ruth. Gust now w
haven't much cash. Wed have to ask
for time in which to pay-we'd have
to pay out of the earnings the cattle
bring us"
pens in the cattle business" he smiled
s'But if l can make eight per cent or
my money, I shan't be in too great {
hurry to get the principal. If you like
we can draw the note to come due
next November-after the fall selling
But if you're at all pressed I'll extene
it to the spring selling. Even if l hat
to wait until a year from this mex
November, it would be better for me
than to sell the stock for what | car
get now. The ranch here would bT
my security, Of course"
"I'm opposed to that!" Snavel,
leaned forward. II don't go putting u
my interest on no such proposition a.
that"
For some time no one spoke.
''Well." said Ruth at last, Il have NJ
objection to risking my three-quartel