The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1937-04-29
G(JNLOCK
RANCH
BY
FRANK H.
SPEARMAN
Copyright Frank n. Spearman
WNU Service


Yet even resentment at the name
of Van Tambel in Sleepy Cat was
softened somewhat when men heard
of James unremitting attention at
Bulls side in the hospital.
To James infinite relief, Bull re-
covered and went back to Gunlock.
At the ranch there was an air of
cheer when Jane was installed; eve
rybody on tiptoe to render service.
McCrossen was especially eager to
please.
well, Jane, I guess you know
Whatever I can do to take care of
things is goin' to be done, twenty
four hours a day if need be-" he
said. "All you have to do is to leave
it to me-"
81 shall depend on you for every
thing" she returned.
Everything, Jane?" he echoed.
Jane was not caught. Everything
connected with running the ranch,"
she said evenly.
But it became increasingly evil
dent as the days went by that the
energetic foreman still regarded
himself as sutton
One morning they were riding to-
gett2er in the hills when McCrossen
opened up the subject most on his
mind. They had halted in their sad
dies to discuss some plans for strip
of land below them when McCross-
the subject
Its. whale of a ranch, Jane, it
certainly is, an with a thousand
things to look after You're left here
alone now, girl. Why not take on a
mate to help you run it? You an I
have had some little differences, l
know, but nothin' TO amount to any,
thing. Why couldn't you an I settle
down here to run things together?
If you'd say the word, jan"
Jane raised her hand. ooh, I
know, Dave, but I've got too much
to worry about to think about get
ting married.
But know the big ranch so W IL.
I know how your father ran it.
Don't you like me, Jane?"
why, Dave, 1 have only kind
feelings for you-but I can't talk
personal matters now
Look here, Jane" he said aggres-
sively, lis there another man you've
got in your mind?"
She met the onslaught quietly. Il
told you I wouldn't talk pe1sonali-
ties now, and l won't--so let's go
on"
For a fortnight nothing further
occurred to break the routine of
ranch work, and McCrossen said no
more The general impression in
town was that Denison, as far as
Jane was concerned, was out of the
running.
No excitement occurred in Sleepy
Cat until one day John Lefever was
reported arrived at Thief River with
a herd of cattle for the reservation.
SAVOY, who had gone to work at
Gunlock when Lefever left for Tex
as, rode down to Thief River to help
Lefever check the herd in at Gun
lock Agency and to give him the big
Sleepy Cat news.
But Lefever, too, brought news.
The two cronies sat down to COM
pare notes.
II want to tell you somethin' ran
into nearin' Thief River" said Le-
fever. There's a little slaughterin'
ranch a mile south of town run by
our old friend, Clubfoot, the butcher
remember how he skinned us on
the horse race? While our herd was
headin' for the river, I stopped for a
few minutes where couple of his
boys were loadin' a wagon with
hides for shipping. I happened to
know one of the boys. He wrangled
for us, comm up once. And I motto
ed all the hides I saw him tyin' up
had a Gunlock brand.
"'How's this?' I says. Does Van
Tambel peddle his steers down this
way?' He winked at me an laughed
This BUNCH says he, was poker
steers"
ut looks like McCrossen is run
MIN off Gunlock cattle to pay his
poker debts said Sawdy.
When Lefever had made his de-
livery, he marched with Sawdy uI
to the hospital to call on their dis
abled side partner, Denison.
Bill had been promoted from ;
J dark room to a shaded one.
eff I knew was going to lose my
eyes, boys" said he, "that would b.
one thing. I could end it all or settle
down to making baskets for a iv
ing. But Doc keeps telling me he'
going to save my eyes; and tina
keeps me hoping-so the days ant