The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1935-05-16

CHAPTER III

Campo Ragland struck Il match, and
az the light Of three or four lamps
filled the room the faces of the riders
likewise Ightened. From Waterman.
Kentucky Jones had pushed his horse
steadily. and rs darkness closed down
me had overtaken the Bar Hook people.
With them he had ridden the long Bar
Hook horse trail acrsTs the Bench. un-
ell they came out at last upon long
rolling reaches. and the rambling build
ings of the Bar Hook doomed before
them. dark and shapeiess
The kitchen wing In which they now
gathered was built of big sqnare-hewn
logs but the interior was neat.
Jean Ragand said. There's no fire
made" And Kentucky noticed the odd
way In which they all fell silent for
moment, as Ii II was strange and
uncommon thing that fire should not
spring Into being and set coffee on IT.
self, at a deserted ranch.
you see.' Campo Ragland said to
Kentucky. 1--WE generally have a cook
around here lately It's been lame
hoy named Zack Sanders. Used To be
rider but his horse fell on him and
turned him into a cook. But this hoy
La kind of gone missing on US, 1t seems.
Been missing long?'
Last week he was supposed to take
j tive DAYS off, and he rode over to see
a girl he has over here thirty. forty
mile" Ragland said. Il didn't notice 1t
80 much Saturday. when he didn't come
In that being the dry that this-this
accident happened to Mason. But In
Waterman today his girl said he left
there Saturday sun-up. That's four
days gone
Hell probably show UP" Lee Bish-
op grunted
.Oh, suppose So" Campo Ragland
1arked himself into activity again, and
t,egan throwing wood into the great
stove. "'rhe way things have been go
Ing around here, 1t gets Teller nerv-
GUS, | guess"
In a little while the big stove began
TO fill the room with a lazy warmth,
and the hot smoky smell of frying
beef and potatoes began to thaw the
riders out. With the heartenng warmth
the mood of the Bar Hook changed
so that for aiittle while It could have
been any ranch house, anywhere-ex-
cent that the presence of jean Rag
land made ii difference here. That girl
could subtly change the time and place
making it different from any other
.anch house and any other night. Per
haps no cowboy ever rode for the Ban
9look without feeling that he was II
some part riding for this girl
Looking at her now Kentucky Jone:
would not have guessed that she hat
today testified concerning death tina
had occurred within fifty yards Of this
door, and that in the midst Of those
proceedings she had felt impeled I,
fhieye the heart out of the evidence o
that death.
jIe had come here to find ont TIL
exact nature of the shadow which ha'
fastened itself on the Bar Hook, an,
upon Jean lsagland as part Of the Bil
Hook and, accordingly. he turned nos
60 studying the others as they ale, lie
bishop. the solid, sqnare-set foreman
undoubtedly would stand steady as
rock in pinch. Evidently he was
man born ut a branding and raised /
the saddle for he would hardly hay
attained fnremanship at thirty had
Aeen handicapped In experience.
The other two cowboys kenttick
Jones classified as couple Of kid
Jim Humphreys, though only tiye year
always be kid. And Billy Ieterse
was the youngster, essential to ever
outfit, Who would be given the nnd
sirable jobs OF horse wranging AT
night herd, and errands which were
nuisance.
Campo I.agland remained sile
throughout the meal, and for the III
ment Kentucky could make out
more dbuhl Hilh iildli i4e hitduy hHu
which was little enough.
"Sure miss Jack Sanders aroui
II here" Campo said al last. getting Il
| "Might's well set out what Wen nee
handy to breakfast. guess"
~ Dad" said Jean, I'll take care
all that"
"you get along to bed" her faith
told her gruffly. Il want you to 1
some sleep
Jean obediently picked up lamp
kentucky Jones moved eiliclen
about making ready for morning. &
in lonely camps upon the, range The
smen would have got their own hre;
<asts effortlessly, without thought |