Henderson daily dispatch., 1939-09-01
CHAPTER THIRTY


breakfast in the kitchen; anyway,
she didn't want to eat.
Shot Rogers had been angry with
her. She had, in truth, butted in on
the mems affairs by going to the
east range, but she had done 1t
with the best of intentions. The
follv of that had almost proved
tragic when Shot fired three times
at her with his rifle. Shot owned
medals for his crack marksman-
ship. She was alive now just be-
cause she had piled curls up Oh top
Of her head-Mr. Rogers bullets
had certainly gone unerringly to
the one spot of her that showed!
But beyond that was the dis
turbance she had caused in the
hearts Of the Braces. She sensed
that, more than actually heard
about it. Uncle George had revealed
something of it at the Monday
night conference on the front
porch. and Aunt Sally had been
worked up, too. Even Jerry Dale,
who maintained sort of self-ap-
rc...to3 ~"2tscctCrcte over her, mad
been vehement about her going to
join Rogers fighting men.
"I guess ought to be ashamed"
she admitted to her pillow. But
Shot once called me a setting hen!
Besides that IL"
She wouldn't quite admit what
she felt, even to herself. She just
sobbed a little there all alone. She
didn't want to be disturbing fac
tor this summer on her aunt's and
uncle's ranch. They had been so
good and kind to her, they lived in
such a lovely place, they had so
many friends, she felt selfish for
upsettng the routine. And yet, Es-
cobar lad been raiding befcce she
cam rhe trol.Jle surely wasn't all
he1 Auult.
She got up and dressed and ate
breakfast alone, then determined
to go tell Shot Rogers how sorry
she was for making herself an
added worry and burden. But she
found that Rogers and his men had
ridden off before daybreak, telling
no one of their plans.
The discovery hurt Lorena. SO
Shot didn't trust even her any
more! He had been attentive, he had
listened tG her, discussed the de-
tective plan with her, been a con-
fidant. But he was angry now. He
hadn't even taken up for her last
night when Jerry Dale was talking
and acting so abominably-well, he
had protested mildly, at any rate
and now he had ridden away with
out word.
{ She stood by the corral gate,
thinking, when Jerry Dale himself
galloped up to the barn and saw
her.
Hi, cutter he called. "How's the
belle Of the rancho this morning ?"
"Helly, jerry" she answered.
where's your boy friend? I
mean the quick-trigger gent. Mr..
Rogers. Hunh?"
Lorena's chin lifted. II am not
concerned with Shot Rogers" she
declared.
"O-o-oh! So! Well, that doesn't
make me cry, baby. In fact, I feel
like singing"
"Go right ahead. It's a free
country" She wasn't smiling at all.
II believe will-O lee-o-lay-eee-
e-e-e. lay-eee-e-e-e! Listen. kidw
CHAPTER THIRTY ONE
WELL, MEN, there's only one
answer to that" George Brazee
was saying. I'm afraid you boys
have been having your legs pulled
by Mr.. Escobar.
"How's that?" Shot Rogers de-
manded. He was trifle belligerent.
We'll, Shot, what happened is
plain. You boys all were SO intent
on following the cattle trail to the
water and then going on upstream
to see where they come out, that
you overlooked the main detail.
Why, son, Of course them cows
came out of the water right where
they went in"
mo, MIR. Brazee!"
!. why, shore they did. They'd
have to. Escobars gang just turned
them around in mid-stream, and
drove th5 n out over their own
tracks. Probably back trailed them
a few hundred yards until they
came to some rocky country, then
cut suddenly off the trail you fol-
lowed. You boys never noticed the
back trailing. You just followed the
steps to the river water because
you saw them pointing that way
clearly at first"
Shot held up a hand to halt him.
"Mr. Blazee, sir, no! Now you are
an older man than me-than am.
But some of the men you sent with
me are older and more experienced
than am at trailing. And I am no
fool myself. Why, what you say
CANT be so! I'd stake my life on it.
What about it, boys ?"
The ten men who had accom-
panied Shot answered him almost
as a chorus, backing him up. They
carried enough weight, in reputa-
tion md in vehemence here, to con-
virc George Brazee that perhaps
ne wrong. But the matter was
thereby left hanging again.
"Whyn't you ride ever there
yourself and see ?" Shot challenged
him. Il tell you, Mr.. Brazee, it
don't make sense. This is sure ghost
country, and no foolin'! That's a
ghost river If ever I saw one. And
rs up to me to find the ghost