The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1937-07-29

out" said Old Man Coffee, els what
happened to who, what for, and who
done it. That cover it,"
"And where is the killer now,"
Dunn added.
Old Man Coffee locked bony fling
ers behind his bald head, and sat
staring out the widow. "Who's been
over the ground?" he suddenly de-
manded.
"Walt Amos, the sheriff. Link
Bender. His boy, they call the Kid.
My cowboys here-though I didn't
let them trample the sign. An Indian
deer hunter by the name of Cayuse
Cayetano."
Coffee pricked up his ears at the
last name. ''Cayetano," he repeated.
''How long has this Cayetano been
over here?"
about two years, going on three.
Had relatives among the Pintwater
Piutes; they took him in"
HE used to be over in the Frying
Pan Country" Old Man Coffee said.
What a sweet character he is! Got
run out of the Frying Pan by COM
mon consent. That was about year
after he beat up the Chinese girl.
He"
Can he track?"
'He couldn't track a barrel of tar
through "a" Coffee stopped. He
looked angry and disgruntled. "No,"
he corrected himself, that amt So.
He's a good tracker. He's better than
that-he's a great tracker Maybe
the best I've ever SEEN"
Hes pretty good, is he?" asked
Dunn.
IT think he can smell a cold trail
like a hound" Coffee said grouchily,
and make fool of the hound. Or
maybe he just guesses. But can tell
you this-Cayuse Cayetano will go
through this case a-whistling."
'What's the answer them"
ooh, I suppose I'll have to 60 out
and take a look, and mess around,
and make fool Of myself" Old man
Coffee growled. First thing, I'll get
it all right-if Cayetano hasn't got
it already. After that I'll find out
where the OILERS horse come out of
the crick. That ought to be enough
for one day; when I've done that I'll
come home to supper"
"When you going? Now"
"Sure I'm going now. When did
you suppose?"
we'll go with you as soon as
you're ready to start. I"
''The hell you WILL" said Coffee,
Il only got one dog that won't call
me fool if I tell him to trail a
horse. That's old Rock, and he's
funny. If he thinks people is watch
ing him he flourishes around trying
to look smart, and don't get any
thing done. Give me one cowboy
that's seen the ground-one thatll
come home when I send him. And
you stay here"
ooh, WE'LL" Horse Dun grumbled,
"suit yourself. I'm only the victim
in this case"
"Well, give me a horse, give me a
horse-we going to sit here all
day."
For once Horse Dunn did as he
was told. Glumly he watched Old
Man Coffee go jogging out of the
layout, the black hound logging it
at the pony's heels.
evil he find the saddle?" Wheel
Wheeler said.
II suppose So" said Horse Dunn
gloomily. But damnation Much as
it means to me, I pretty near hope
he won't. The cocky old snort!"
Il guess I'll saddle a pony and
take a look around here myself, -
Hheeler said.
"Wait a minute" Horse Dunn said
There's something different I want
you to do
Billy Wheeler waited, but Horse
Dunn seemed to hesitate. II wish, y
he said at last, slowly, 81 wish you'd
talk to that girl
Wheeler was startled. "Talk to
her? About what, Horse?"
Hell, I'll tell you," Horse Dunn
CROPPED. cts this way" He hesitat-
ed; out among the barns could be
heard the grief-stricken bullabaloo
of the hounds Coffee had left be-
hind.
'You two had some kind of fall
out, didn't your" Wheeler asked.
''You might call it that" Horse
Dunn shrugged. "She doesn't under
stand the way you have to handle
things on this range. And now she's
down on me for blasting Link Ben
der free of his gum"
Marian Dunn had been born in
this house in which they now sat;
she was the daughter of Horse
Dunn's brother who had once run
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