White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1938-05-27
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by Captain
6. Elliott nightingale
Copyright, WNU
"GUNBOAT" INTENTS
THE SNOWFALL BRAND

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fire putting and winded, for he had
just thrown and tied young white
faced bull that would fetch hand
some price once he met up with
anyone who really knew anything
about that sort of animal. And, as
he regained breath and poise, he
gave some attention to the iron rod
in the fire, moving the end of it
we'll down into the red Goals, for it
must be plenty hot for the job he
had on hand And, as he waited,
hemmed in by the blackness of a
cloudy Saskatchewan night, he pat
ted himself on the back for the way
in which he had escaped detection.
They were all plain dumbbells, even
the Men of the Mounted, or they'd
have caught up to him long ago.
On the other hand, he was right
smart, was "Gunboat," for he was
willy and cunning, and he knew how
to hide a branding-fre in the re-
cesses of a gully or coulee.
A few minutes later, red-hot rod
in hand, he scooted rapidly over to
the PROSTATE young bull and began
moving that red-hot iron over the
original brand until he had made
nice round spot. when that heals
up it'll be kinda whitish, so we'll
jist call it the SNOWFALL Brand"
he muttered as he finished. Within
the hour he had performed like
operation on the three fat steers,
and then rolled into his blankets
with the satisfaction of a man who
had done real workmanlike job.
At the end of a month he had
turned the deal at top prices and
had a belt full of good Canadian
cash. Well-heeled, "Gunboat" dis
appeared into the nowhere whence
he had come. Buyer and seller had
parted good friends, and everyone
was satisfied until Man of the
Mounted looking for a hot meal and
nights lodging, CHANGED to meet
up with the four animals carrying
the SNOWFALL" brand.
Bought EN- from a Teller tibet
passed through here bout month
ago." replied the homesteader,
newcomer, to the Mounted Mans
inquiries.
"Those scars look mighty suspi-
cious partner" opined the Man of
the Mounted. "It wouldn't surprise
me if you had unwittingly bought
some stolen cattle looks like
the original brands have been
burned out. Did he say where he
bought them?"
"Yep -. sed he got 'em in the
Willow Bunch country I amt
buying stolen cattle if know it
not me-"
"The only way we can find out the
original brands is to kill one of
'en," said the Mountie. Inside of an
hour the homesteader learned lot
about cattle-brands. In spite Of the
very thorough job Of burning and
soaring "Gunboat" had done on the
outside of the hide, the original
brand showed up all too plainly on
the flesh side.
Several weeks later "Gunboat"
Charlie was apprehended in another
province, and was soon on trial. 1t
was great day for the dignifed
and bewigged judge as the Man of
the Mounted, spreading the steer
hide over the Judges bench, proved
his point, that "Gunboat" had dis
figured the original brand by the
outside burning, but had failed to
go more than half way through the
hide and thus spoil the original
brand that now showed up all too
plainly on the flesh side of the skin.
"Gunboat' Charlie was SEN
fenced to two years at hard labor
and, needless to say, from that time
on no cattle or horse thief used the
Snowfall" brand in that particular