The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1939-03-09

runway, and Jackson came through.
Together they climbed to the top
log and sat side by side. Breck took
out notebook, reading Jackson's
brand and number. $50. From his
pocket he drew short pine stick
and mechanical counter. Jackson
waved to his punchers and the first
lot of animals moved to the fence,
They punched at the runway,
heads down, holding back. A cow
hand rode in, lashing the first ahead,
and with the leader started, the rest
followed through the narrow space
between the logs. Breck counted
rapidly, reached ten, passed the
stick to Jackson At the same time
he pressed the mechanical trigger.
In time he looked at his recording
instrument Eighty showed there,
meaning eight hundred, for he had
pushed it only once every ten ami
mails. Eighty-five came. He held it
out to Jackson. The old mans face
tightened. Eighty-six; then eighty
seven. Twenty over the limit. Breck
leaped down and dragged the pole
across the runway.
Slowly Jackson descended beside
him. There amt any use talkin',
I suppose?"
Deep concern in the mans face
moved Breck. I'm sorry as the
devil" he answered. "But I've got
to do it. You know what's hap
pened here on this range; you know
we've got to enforce every rule or
quit the job"
Jackson looked beyond the drift
fence to where a hundred steers
stin remained on the wrong side.
The work of cutting out had stopped
and other men were riding in. They
halted off some distance, faces set,
eyes fixed gloweringly. But none
spoke, for Jackson was the appoint
ed range boss, and all outfits must
go by his word.
Breck knew what might be done
He was alone against the lot. They
could easily stampede the whole
drive past him and scatter them
over the range. He saw sudden
gestures among a few of the men,
watched them draw together in
heated talk, and knew they were
arguing of that way. Yet if Jack
son had the same thought, he gave
it little consideration, for next year
would be another story. Grazing
would be closed.
Presently he mounted his horse
and without a word rode over to
the group. Breck saw him shake
his head. In moment the crowd
separated; one coming alone to the
runway. He tied his horse and
climbed to the top log. I'm next. "
The count went on. Most of the
brands were within their limit, only
the larger ones running over. Those
animals Breck turned back were
pushed off to one side, where the
herd began to take size.
In a lull between counts Louise
Temple rode her horse to the fence,
halted and surveyed him intently.
From his position his eyes were
level with hers, meeting them
across the top of handkerchief.
'Do you know what you're do
ing?" she asked
Breck, glad to see her, had
smiled, but now turned serious. "Ii
you mean my job" he answered
Eyes, I know exactly what I'm do
ing"
She jerked down the handkerchiel
impatiently. Breck saw the despera
ton in her face. 81 don't mean youl
job" she said. you've got your
rules and you've probably studied
them. I mean do you know wha
you're doing to these men? They
can't turn their cattle back!"
"Then why did they bring them
here?" Breck asked. "They all hac
warning" He had seen a form let
ter that Cook had sent out in the
spring. 1t had said with emphasis
1.-THE permit rule will be enforced
this year"
why did they do it?" he per
sisted.
The girl shrugged, meeting his
eyes with fash of defiance. "Ev
erybody gets by the Forest Serv
ice!"
She did not mean to insult. L
was simply a statement of fact
Inwardly Breck gasped
| There was something of her de
fiance in his own voice when he an
swered. Sort OF game up here
is it? Putting things over on the
new rangerl"
Don't be foolish"
I'm not; I'm dead serious. Yot
must have received one of Cook.
letters. Do you expect me to si
here and do nothing? A fine egg pc
bel"
For one long moment Louise
searched him, and he believed sht
saw his point But when it came
her turn to go through the count
she sent Palo, the Indian boy, to ST
beside him on the top log. In The
end he refused eighty of her steer.
and they were added to the grow
ing band.
BY noon he had counted thou
sands. Bunches that had beer
passed were vanishing up the can
yons toward their various ranges
Only a few more outfits remained
behind the Rock House fence, ane
of these the greatest number wore
the Tillson brand.
They came up for count almost a
the end of things. 1t was Jud wht
climbed up to check with him. Nei