Henderson daily dispatch. (Henderson, N.C.) 1914-1995, 1938-06-24
CHAPTER 40

ON ANY big cattle ranch the
loss of steers, heifers, calves.
horses, mules and colts is a rou-
tine item. One animal may die
every day, ON the average; some
times more. The loss of 20 cows
from the Dale-Durango ranch thus
was Of minor Importance, and
when thieves came and took 10
more it suggested only that a
strict guard should be kept for q
while until the thieves were
caught. Ellen could not under
stand, therefore, why Bill ap-
peared so upset about the rustling.
Maybe the Indians or whoever
did it were just hungry" she sug-
gested, land stole to get food for
their families"
Maybe" Bin agreed. But
that's not enough"
He knew something, apparently,
that he hadn't told. At least he
suspected something. and wanted
TO shoulder the responsibility HIM
self without burdening the girl
who hired him. When he wouldn't
talk much, she ceased to WORRY.
A man can be stubborn, she had
discovered; and she had utmost
confidence In Bill Baron.
He plunged into serious work
for day after his return. With
the more efficient cowboys he out
lined a week or two Of branding.
cuiling, doctoring, fencing, feeding.
all the things that make I'D ranch
routine. He inspected weight rec
ords that Ellen and her secretary.
Reynita Ybarra, had been keeping
on test herds Of animals. He took
ume out to doctor a troubled mare
and help her fine, long-legged
stallion foal to be brought into the
world. He sent a COWBOY with a
broken arm In to see a physician.
he stopped to shake hands and be
nice to some visitors from Nogales
VINO wanted to see the ranch. He
made Buckshot Brown boss of a
crew OF Mexicans throwing up q
dam across their mountain stream
30 that irrigation water could be-
diverted onto an acre-sized plot for
raising table. vegetables which
would help feed the ranch ner-
sonnet. He worked like n sjavo
unuI p. m, then snatched a bite
VI supper and drove hurriedly into
town. In Nogales, he went direct
~ to the night Office Of the TJnitsd
States border patrol.
howdy, Mr.. MCINTYRE. no
greeted the divisional chief Of the
patrol. I've got news"
SIT down! How are YIN,
aaron! Glad you got back safelv
Sie down and tell us What 80,
learned" Two other patrol insnec-
toIs We're present, They listened
attentively. u
That cattle rust1ing, gentlemen.
- as you suspected, blind. # f.
T Teing oone by a band Of smuegIers
1ney are bringing over cutie 8 fe,,,
anens, and some opium. cocains.
mar1huana and heroin. Mos+I,,
aliens. They ride over at n;",,t
VIII tne foreigners. who leave fhs
party one by one. Then the sn,,e 10
gers PICK up cattle to drive hac,r
ana cover the trail. or co,,rs 80
tney md market for the cattIe
TOO. It makes a double nrofit -,
tne nights operation. B,,t ,,,ost, ~.
~ 2 blind to divert attention
..,,,. Exactly" said Officer MCINTYRE,
4ney make it appear to he Vs.;
1ndans, simple cattle thievax..
mat wouldn't attract much etta.Ss
I,on from Uncle Sam. It's a co,,ntv
Sner1n problem. It's a good blin3
59t now cid you learn all IF
Bill grinned at that.
went down there ora -.
slnuggied In! Dressed up ana
posed as q Mexican, and naid ~
agens $3.50 to bring me over the h,
mo! Detective. eh?" Mc1nt,,ro
smiled approvingly.
Yep. They had nearly a dozen
ctner aliens that night. We had
70 walk, but horses followed 30, NJ
and covered our tracks. O,,ite ' :
long hike up to where we stonned
700. They took 10 Of INV nsvr
lows. on the Dale Durango !
mean. and drove them back. Thew
rode horses without shoes. They
dropped q few other clues to MAKE
1t look like Yaqui Indians. Actual.
" there wasn't q Yaqui in the
bunch. Some of the smugglers are