The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1939-04-27

call without waking Temple and
Louise.
But as he cranked four rings and
stood waiting, one cabin door opened
and the old man peered out. Temple
had not stopped to dress, but was
prepared with a rifle across the
bend in his arm. Breck turned away
as headquarters answered.
Hello, Cook" he said, and let
the sound of his voice give identity.
Nor in the brief report did he tell
his location. "All OK" he offered
tersely. "Slim is bringing back my
mail"
The line became silent. Then:
Good enough. III call you later"
Breck closed the iron box. Tom
Temple had drawn on his boots and
breeches and stood short distance
from his cabin. Breck motioned
with one arm, saying as the man
approached, Sorry to get you up.
Those bells do sound loud at night"
mo matter" Temple asserted. 'I
heard you before you rang. Thought
maybe someone was looking over
my horses" He pointed his rifle to-
ward the corral. Got some good
stuff in there tonight; JG sent 'em
over for the rodeo."
Temple shivered. "Gettin' cold
out here. Will you put up, Ranger?"
Thanks, but I've got to go on"
Breck swung into his saddle, and
then, riding away from camp, cast
swift glance backward.
Curtains at one window of the
other cabin moved slightly. It
might have been the wind.
In the first light of dawn he came
again into the bowl of Rock House,
for he had pushed Kit rapidly, cal
culating that Sierra would reach
headquarters about the same time
he returned to his own station. Cook
would then call him at once.
His deduction was right. The tele-
phone rang shortly after he had un-
saddled.
'I'm coming over" was the
whole of Cooks message.
That meant four hours in which
Breck could sleep; and he suddenly
felt the need of it. A few minutes
later, when he lay fully dressed
upon his bunk, Sierra Sims part
ing words came back, and he
dropped into the shadows with the
Luger on wall peg near his head.
1t seemed his hand was still on
the gun, placing it, when the thud
of horse aroused him. Instantly
he swung his legs from the bunk.
An animal had come up to the tie
rack beyond the cabin window. Then
he saw Dad Cook.
| The door opened and the ranger
came in, throwing down his saddle
bags and giving his hat a fling to-
ward the table "Howdy, son. Get
ting a little shut-eye? Guess you
need it. Pretty good job of work
you did last night"
Breck stood up, thoroughly awake
now, and curious.
whats our next mover" he
asked.
"Ain't ours; it's theirs" Cook
dropped onto bench.
Breck returned to the edge of his
bunk. what do you mean?p
"a man in Jud Tillson's busi-
ness" Cook explained, cant have
his plans go wrong more than once.
You jumped onto his fire and took
prisoner. Jud's going to find out
how come you knew all that before
he does another thing. He's going
to settle with someone and that
means getting out in the open"
Wont he settle things in his own
camp first?" Breck asked.
The rangers gray brows knitted
sharply. "You don't say Tillson
talked?"
Breck nodded. "Art and a girl"
well by Godl" Cook paused; sur
veyed his boot toes, then looked up
with slow smile. Don't that beat
hell. ! never thought that was how
you come to find out"
Don't mistake Art" Breck ad-
vised him. HE probably doesn't
know he told, and the girl is ig-
norant of it. put things together
and took a chance"
! "And it worked" the ranger fin
ished, that's all we care about.
What ! said first still goes. Jud is
bound to come out of his hole now.
He may light on you. That's why
I'm here we'll go double for
awhile"
Where's SLIM" Breck asked.
"Gone to Lone Tree with your
prisoner. He'll bring a couple of
| good men back and meet us at Tenn
pies rodeo, tomorrow. I'm guess
ing some more, but / don't think
I'm far off. That gathering over
there will be good place to start
trouble. In this country lots of par
| ties end up in shooting. Women
make dam fine excuses for gun
play. Tillson may add to his gang
for this special occasion. On our
side there'n be me, and Sierra, and
the two he's bringing along; and
you'll be the center of interest. How
do you feel about that?''
Breck shrugged.
Cook smoked in silence. Present
ly he stood up. rs your Senator
friend around? I'd like to spend the
afternoon getting acquainted" A
quizzical smile spread over his
leathered face. "And I'd sure ad-
mire to meet the girl that could