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

amount or hum0r SnOWeu III Lne ndru-
scanned lines of McCords face, but 1t
was the kind of humor that starts
trouble; and in his green eyes there
was no humor at all.
Moving right on through, I see,"
said Bishop.
"Some day, maybe" said McCord.
"Not this year."
"NoT
"No," said McCord, his voice casual.
"Wouldn't be surprised If we'd stop
and turn free, up here ten mile"
NO." said Bishop. His voice, too,
was casual, as if he were answering
a question. mo, these cattle aren't
going to stop and scatter up here ten
mile. Not anywheres near it."
"You don't mean to tell me?" said
McCord. "Why, heard this was open
range"
"Open," said Bishop, "from your
nearest water half way over to our
nearest water; and not one calf jump
more!"
Two cowboys had left the loafing cat
tlC WSlS Wdlhlh5 LhCiA hOA0NS
toward the parley with studied de-
tachment. McCord now signaled them
with a motion of his head, and they
came up to range themselves a little
behind the SO foreman. Both were
armed; but Kentucky recognized
neither.
"So?" McCord said to Bishop.
$780," 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 punches are working
down off the Bench. There'll be an
other four thousand head on this range,
right SOON"
McCord grinned, his eyes unwavering
from those of Lee Bishop. II amt in
terested," he concluded dispassionately.
II got my orders-and I'm carrying 'em
out"
Kentucky stirred uneasily in his
saddle, sorry to see that Lee Bishop
was getting mad.
"Save yourself trouble" Bishop was
saying. "This herd is going back into
the Craze it belongs in; and it's going
deep back, son!"
The half grin suddenly dropped from
Bill McCord's face, and in its place
flashed an i'll temper exceeding Bishops
own. He kicked spur into his horse
so that it 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 that swung behind Bill
McCord's right thigh, below his short
coat. Until now the SO foreman had
kept his right hand in his pocket; but
he now brought it to the reins beside
his left, and they saw that his right
hand was ungloved.
"Why, my short friend" said Bill
McCord, his voice hard and even; and
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 it
was hard-bitten, personal, and direct,
and its slow evil-toned syllables car
ried enough efficient ugliness 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 home!"
For a 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
unaccountably sudden had been the
break. Tt22 the blood rushed to
Bishops heal. With wrench of his
bit he put his horse staggering against
Kentucky's; the animal danced crafty,
mouth high and open to the raw jerk
of the curb. Bishop thrust a wide
spread shaking hand at Kentucky.
"Gun," he suffered. "For G-d's sake
give me gun"
Il haven't got any gun, Lee"
For an instant Bishop hesitated,
rigid in the saddle, his horse dancing
under him. Then an inarticulate curse
broke in his throat; he slashed the
spurs into his pony and it bounded for
ward at the horse of Bill McCord.
Kentucky swung himself half out of
the saddle in a wild snatch at Lee
Bishops rein, and managed to catch it
near the bit. AS the pony whipped to
its launches, Kentucky struck Bishop
a 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
ue?"
Abruptly Lee Bishop quieted. straight
ened in his saddle, ran his gloved hand
uncertainty over his eyes. The color
was draining out of his face again,
leaving IT gray. For a moment the
man had been insane.
"rll take it," Lee Bishop said at last.
sand you'll like it." said Bill Nc
Cord
"I'll take 1t, and like It," said Bishop.
his eyes expressionless on McCord's
face. Enjoy it, you'll Because you'll
never see the like Of 1t again"