The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1938-05-26
ly1eaa s5 Cd
by Captain
G. Elliott nightingale
Copyriaht, WNU

1
"CUNBOAT'' INTENTS THE
"SNOWBALL" BRAND
0CUNBOAT" CHARLIE, so
" named on account of his big
feet, sat down by his little branding
fire putting and winded, for he had
just thrown and tied young white
faced bull that would fetch a 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
well 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-fire in the re-
cesses of a gully or coulee. He just
used his head, that's all, and as
long as he did that, he'd be able
to carry on. Moreover, he knew
| just where to find buyer.
A few minutes later, red-hot rod
in hand, he scooted rapidly over to
the PROSTATE young bull and the
bluish-white smoke from burning
hair and hide was coiling upward
into the night. With all the care
and precision Of surgeon doing a
difficult operation, "Gunboat"
moved that red-hot iron over the
original brand until he had made
a nice round spot. when that heals
up it'll be kinda whitish, so Well
| list call it the SNOWFALL Brand"
he muttered as he finished. Within
the hour he had performed a like
operation on the three fat steers,
and then rolled into his blankets
with the satisfaction of man who
had done a real workmanlike job.
Every bit of the original brands had
been burned out, and no one would
ever know the difference. They'd
sell, easy.
Nor was "Gunboat" overestimat-
ing his ability as cattle salesman,
for 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 a Man Of the
Mounted looking for a hot meal and
a nights lodging, CHANGED to meet
up with the four animals carrying
the SNOWFALL" brand.
Bought 'em from teller tibet
passed through here bout month
ago." replied the homesteader, a
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 an as
fer the 'riginal brands bein' burned
out why . . g. say I'm a
law-abidin' man an if We think
they's somethin' wrong I'll git
saddled up an help yer run him
down I amt buying stolen cat
tie if I know it not me-"
''Wen, hang on to those cattle un-
til you hear from me-" said the Man
of the Mounted as he rode off next
morning. Inside of a week he was
back at the ranch.
"The only way we can find out the
original brands is to kill one Of
them"
"Yo're plumb crazy Mr..
Mounted Policeman, how're We 60
in ter find out anythin' by KILN
EN-? Moresoever, what bout me? I
amt gonna take no loss. Paid mon
ey for them animals, I did,"
'I'll see about that part of it. You
won't lose a penny. Let's get busy"
replied the Man of the Mounted as
he dismounted and walked toward
the nearest steer. Inside of half an
hour the homesteader learned a 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. It
was a great day for the dignified
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.
On top of that, the owner of the
original brand was in court, and he
identified "Gunboat" as man who
had worked on his ranch for cou-
pie of days and had then disap-
peared about the same time as four
head of cattle. "Gunboat" was sem
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
region