The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1935-06-07
CHAPTER Nv

The climb to the rim was laborious
one,. and the early dusk was no more
than an hour away when they again
reached the home ranch Of the Bar
Hook. They were nearly in before Lee
Bishop had anything to say.
II haven't carried a gun," he de-
clared, "since l was kid, except to
hunt with and l never pulled gun on
a man in my life. But If I'd had so
much as bean shooter-Pd have killed
McCord where he sat"
"Tell me one thing" Kentucky said.
"Do you know any reason why Nc
Cord should want your scalp?"
"That's just what gets me-" Lee
Bishop said. "Doggone it, l hardly
know the man. He knew l had to tell
him to move his cattle back"
Kentucky tried a new shot in the
dark. Lee, how long have you known
| that Bill McCord was mixed up in the
killing of Mason? That man has some
reason for wanting to down you, Lee.
Ask yourself what you know that isn't
good for him."
Bishop did not answer for nearly
quarter Of a mile. 1T beats me, Ken
lucky; can't think of anything 1 got
on him. If I'd only had a gun"
Immediately they sought out Campo
Ragland, whom they found moodily
swallowing scalding coffee in the
kitchen. Lee Bishop briefly told his
boss of the drive Of twelve hundred
head-the prompt, bold beginning Of
Elliot's play for the Bar Hook range.
OF his own clash with McCord he made
little.
"McCord cussed me out good.
would have took poke at him, one
time there, only Kentucky reached out
and kind of steadied my horse"
"Twelve hundred head" Ragland
considered. swell, If that's all of 'em,
I suppose the range can stand it; I've
seen worse years for grass"
Lee Bishop stared at him dumb
founded. "All of 'em!" he finally ex-
claimed. "Of course that amt all of
'em! You'll find out that this here is
only pointer and beginning. It's
the start of a freezeout, that's what
| it is"
Ragland said modify, Hes in no
shape for that"
"Sure he's in no shape for it," said
Lee Bishop spunkily. But it's what
he's after just the same. He's going to
load that range, taking what death
losses he can't get out of. His only
chance of hanging on after he loses his
| lease is to crowd in here before then
| that's what we've got here!"
Its bad, all right" Ragland ad-
mitted.
"Come tomorrow" Lee Bishop said,
81 can take our boys and go down
there and stop that herd; and"
"Elliot isn't going to draw back his
cattle. He'll"
"Then, by Cd, We'll smear into
them and put 'em backl"
They'll pistol-whip you, you start
that stuff"
II don't believe" Lee Bishop be-
gan. Then he changed what he had
started to say. "Well, then, sup
pose," he said, well just have to pis-
| tol-whip 'em back. Me, l don't know
any other way"
Campo Ragland slammed his coffee
cup onto the stove. II don't want any
of that" he said. THAT'S old-time
stuff-it don't go nowadays. Nobody
ever made anything by any such bust
ness yet. After all, you got to make
allowances. That brand is fighting for
its life."
Lee Bishop looked at Kentucky,
turned away, and hopelessly spread his
hands. Kentucky led the way out; 1t
was time to feed hay, anyway.
"What the devils got into him?"
said Bishop as soon as they were out
side. do you suppose he's going to
lay down and quit on us?"
HE sure set up an over-hopeful
holler," Kentucky admitted Does he
/ generally bust out with the shilly-
shallies this way?"
mo! I've never seen him like this
before" Bishop fell into a moody
silence while they walked as far as the
hay racks. "Look here" he said, sud
denly turning on Kentucky. "You know
what's holding him back?"
mo-" said Kentucky honestly.
II know! l know only too darn well.
l tell you" His voice stopped as
sharply as If he had been struck, and
he stood staring past Kentucky Jones.
Spinning on his heel to follow Bish-
ops eyes, Kentucky saw that the fore
man was staring at forlorn dun
horse which stood low-headed before
| the bars of one of the corrals. An
arms length Of broken rein dangled
from one side of Its bride, trailing
the ground; and it stood spread-legged
to avoid the chafe Of saddle that was
no longer on its back. but under its
belly.
$50 lack is dead said Lee Bishop
slowly, at last.
His horse?"
"Yoa"