The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1935-05-09
CHAPTER II
P

Joined one of the big groups which
talked Ii over on the sidewalks
Verdict come out same as expect
ed?
"0h. sure, Accidental discharge Of
his own weapon The jury didn't hold
off more than a minute and a half
Say. The sheriff wants to see YOU
'Where Is he?"
lie went along about ten minutes
ago.
All right
Kentucky Jones moved or down the
street In nnhnrried long strides. As he
reached the sheriff's little frame office
Floyd Hopper was in the act of lpas-
Ing, having just elected. with dino-
macy. more worried cattlemen than the
little structure could comfortably hold.
For Kentucky Jones. however. he re-
opened his door.
Come In here, Jones'" Hopper jerked
ragged blind downward over the
doors glass pane and flung himself into
chair
"See you got your inquest over"
The sheriff pulled out his cheeks and
blew an exhausted blast "Damnation.
Can you beat this? In the whole Wolf
Bench country, here was just one man
that couldn't be done wthuut--nne man
that as good MS held the rimrock cat
tie In the hollow of his hand-and
rabbit jumps. and blooeyl He's gone.
Great guns. Kentucky Any other man,
any other time"
Kentucky Jones waited. studying
him. There is certain type Of man
who seems fated to pursue public office,
somehow perversely untitled for any
thing else Hopper was suck man.
Ills straght-elpped gray mnstache. his
flat loose-skinned j0wls and full-fieshed
eyes somehow Enthusiastically advertised
the public office holder-not incompe.
tent. but definitely limited
ANY other man could have been
spared better he raved. Even John
could have been spared any other time
ragged edge of bankruptcy. and the
lowest beef prices since
Does Give rerson-he steps into
Mason's shoes, doesn't he?-does he
know anything about cattle?'
"A little. and maybe d little about
banking. But with Mason dead all con
fidence has collapsed. Give Pierson Is
scared stifT-ready to stampede.
Some think already that he'll break
half the outfits on Wolf Bench. and @he
bank too, If he can save the outfits
he's got his money In. No man knows
where his brand gets Off. Nobody trusts
his neighbour"
Maybe i'll adjust Kentucky Of
fered
The sheriff burst out at him with
something very like fury adjust? It'll
adjust like dogie calf 10 a wolf, This
throws the whole d-n range out Of
balance And yuti stand there und tell
me" lie paused hopelessly, out OF
words. There you have 1t" lie lifted
his hands and let them fall with a
gesture Of morose futility. This Is q
good sample OF the raw edge Of tenn
per the whole rimrock Ii on. | call you
two minutes we're jumping down each
others thruats."
That's all right said Kentucky
IF dsorderly conduct was my held
expect | might be feeling somewhat
ts-in-the-undershIr myself"
"Dsorderly conduct Is right the
sheriff said. Nun. you'll see plent,
now Half the range Is sore at tht
other half already. Take the Circle
Five and the Lazy Deuce. Or The
Three Bar and the Running NJ; today
them two owners MET face to face ant
never spoke Or take-"
Take Bob Eiliot's 81 and Campo
Ragland's Bar look' kentuck,
prompted.
There you are--mayDe the Wors
case Of all. Those outfits hase Away:
tangled And now look ut 1t! clio
don't own fifth Of his range. Th'
rest Is leased Indian land. Now I'll
lots iease Is out Them leases haze
10 be DID f0f-aHu everybody hDoWi
that there's more than one big outfi
will never let that lease 20 cheap
Elliot depended on Mason 10 let hin
take the money for his bid. Now IT,
all over the range already that tn
bank won't back him. Elliot can't &c
any quick price for all that handles
stock he's through"
''And what about Raglandg'
"ltaglaHtrs Bar Hook could prob
ably stand through the storm, If
wasn't for the misfortune To Elliot
But highlands open range Is the ope
range nearest To elliot. What If n
lot turns and Hoods his cutie ont
the Bar Hook gruze"
Jones already knew that the Ba
Hook was at least half on public d,
main. BY the cowman's code Camp
was entitled TO the use Of that rang
because he had developed water upo
it, but he had no legal hold upon I'll
untenced.
Are you convinced in your ow
mind" Kentucky asked him, "thf
Elliot will dare shove his herds ont
the Bar Hook ranger
Il know this" said Floyd Hoppe
heavily, somberly "Ellior don't nee