The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1935-05-23
CHAPTER III-Continued

amount Of humor showed In thp hard
scanned lines of Mccords face. but It
was the kind of humor that starts
trouble; and In his green eyes there
was no humor at all.
Moving right on through, see"
said Bishop.
"Some day, maybe" said McCord
mot this year"
"No?'
NO said McCord, his voice casual
Wouldn't be surprised II we'd stop
and turn free, up here ten mile"
NO." snId Bishop. His voice, too,
was casual. as If he were answering
a question. mo, these cattle aren't
golIS to stop and scatter up here ten
mile. Not anywheres near It"
"You don't mean to tell me7" said
McCord. why. heard this was open
range."
Open" said Bishop, from your
nearest water half way over TO our
ne6rest water, and not one calf jump
more!"
Two cowboys had left the loafing cat
tie and were walking their horses
toward the parley with studied de-
tachment. McCord now sgnaled them
with a motion of his head. and they
came up 70 range themselves little
behind the So foreman. Both were
armed; but Kentucky recognized
neither.
"SoT' McCord said to Bishop.
So" said Bishop I'm sorry to
have to set you right on these few mis-
takes Well spare you feed when
we've got feed to spare But Just now
the Bar Hook lunches are working
down of the Bench. There'll be an
other four thousand head on this range.
tight soon"
McCord grinned. his eyes unwavering
from those Of Lee Bishop. Il amt in
feresled.' he concluded dlspasslonately.
i got my orders-and I'm carrying EN-
OUT
Kentucky stirred uneasily In his
saddle sorry to see that Lee Bishop
was getting mad.
Save yourself trouble" Bishop Was
saying '-rnis herd Is going back into
the Craze II belongs in; and It's going
deep back, son |"
The half grin suddenly dropped from
Bill McCord's face, and In Its place
flashed in III temper exceeding Bishops
own. He kicked spur into his horse
so that 1t spun and brought up with
the right side of horse and man toward
the Bar Hook riders. This move
brought squarely into view the hols
tered forty-five that swung behind Bill
McCord's right thigh. below his shor.
coat. Until now the SO foreman had
kept his right hand In his pocket: but
he now brought II to the relns beside
his left. and they saw that his right
hand was ungloved.
-Why. my short friend" said Bill.
he began to swear. slowly and dis
tinctly, his green eyes ugly on Bishops
face. The cursing OF Bill McCord was
neither varied nor picturesque, but II
was hard-bItten, personal, and direct,
and Its slow evIl-toned syllables car
rled enough efficient uglness to raise
welts on the hide Of mule.
PUT your scabby pony up that rim
Bill Mccord finished; go tell your old
man that ! put your proper name to
you, and sent you homei"
For moment no one spoke. The
foreman of the Bar Hook sat his horse
like a. frozen man, apparently unable
to believe his ears, SO unexpected, so
uEaccountably sudden had been the
preak. To- the blood rushed to
Bishops ill.,. With wrench OF his
bit he put his horse staggering against
kentHclsy s..=the aninlal=dancnd crafty
mouth high and open to the raw jerk
OF the curb. Bishop thrust wide
spread shaking hand at Kentucky.
"Gun,n ba suffered. For G-d's sake
give Inc gun"
II haven't got any gun, Lee"
For an instant Bishop hesltated.
rigid In the saddle, his horse dancing
under him. Then an inartIculate curse
broke In his throat. he slHshed the
spurs into his pony and 1t bounded for
ward at the horse or BIZ McCord.
Kentucky swung himself half out of
the saddle In a wild snatch al Lee
Bishops rein. and managed to catch Ii
near the bit. AS the pony whipped tn
Its launches. Kentucky struck Bishop
q terrific wallop on the back with his
open hand, seized his foreman's shout
der, and shook him hard.
Hold 1t. Lee--d-n 1t, you hear
me?"
Abruptly Lee Bishop quleted, straight.
ened In his saddle, ran his gloved hand
uncertainty over his eyes, The color
was draining out Of his face again.
leaving Ii gray. For moment the
man had been Insane.
~Tll take It." Lee Bishop said at last.
"And you'll like It," said Ylll Mc
Cord.
"I'll take 1t, and like It," said Bishop,
his eyes expresslonless on McCords
face. Enjoy II, youl Because you'll
never see the like of 1t again"