Glacier County chief., 1939-03-03
CHAPTER I

the Inyo Forest, sat with boot heels
on he edge of his desk and watched
the play of light beyond his station
door. A picture was framed there !:
Mount Whitney, bold, forbidding,
finging its black pinnacle upward
against a red fan of sunset. As
Cook watched, blue eyes beneath
gray brows squinted thoughtfully.
His rugged form in khaki and flannel
slumped little to one side in that
attitude riding man often takes to
relax saddle muscles.
II was the first of June, and al
though from this same office chair
Dad Cook had witnessed some fif-
teen other first of June evenings. the
scene held him as spellbound as II
his gaze had just now struck upon
the mighty peak.
Fifteen years ago the Sierra Ne
vadas had flung down their chal-
lenge to him, when, from the Mo-
jave Desert, he had faced the sheer
eastern slope and felt a grim def
ance in the granite wall.
Whitney melted slowly into the
darkening sky. Cook continued to
stare at it, while his thoughts from
long habit took up things brought
about by the first of June.
This month marked the beginning
of the field season. Headquarters
must be moved from the winter sta
ton, here in the valley town of
Lone Tree, and established some
thirty miles up the pack trail. Soon
he would sign on his summer rang
ers and scatter them over the area.
There would be fires to fight and
cattle range troubles to settle; and
this year there would be something
more.
Cook surveyed his boot toes sol
EMMY. "I'm sure going to miss Jim
my Cotter!" His brown fists tight
ened on the chair arms. He sat
fixed, tense, his gray head bent. II
was seven months since Jim Cotter
had vanished, murdered somewhere
up on top.
When Cooks eyes lifted and
turned again to the door, q man
was standing there, towering black
ly in the dusk. He almost filled the
opening, tall-igured, with close
bronze hair beneath limp Panama,
a little stopped from the weight of
a hand bag he carried.
He spoke at once. Good eve
ming, Dad"
The strong full-toned voice sound
ed familiar. Cook stood up; him.
self big man, angular. erect, firm
ly planted on his two feet, with only
gray hair showing age. Suddenly
he exclaimed. well, Il it isn't you!
Just a minute now. I'll remember
your name"
He looked into a young face, less
than thirty. white, too soft, though
strong brown eyes with q quiet hui
NOR made up for that. On the
whole he liked what he saw.
"Breckl" he remembered. THAT'S
it. Gordon Brock. Well, son. how's
the movie business in Hollywood?
Or was it ponies you were backing,
down at Tia Juana?"
"A little of both," Breck admit
ted, grinning. "But I'm through"
"You?" Cook questioned, Through
with the game? Why l thought the
last time you were up here ]"
He ended abruptly.
Gordon Brock had put down his
hand bag and his hat, and now an
preached the desk where Cook
stood.
Go ahead and say it," he urged
The last time / was here to see
Cotter ! came like q young sport,
all smoked up over spending q lot
Of money and the big things was
doing down below. I called Cotter q
fool for wasting time in the forest
service. I couldn't see any use in
it. Maybe l can't now. No matter
That isn't the point" He paused.
breathless from his outburst.
Cook resumed his chair. produced
pipe and began to ill it. "Of
course you know about Cotter, be-
ing his friend"
More than FRIEND" said Breck.
controlled now. He dropped into .
seat across the table from the ran
ger. Il owe him something That's
why I'm here"
Lifting his pipe to lighted match,
Cook glanced over the bowl .and. into
the young mans eyes. Something
vas In them that had not been
there before. They were narrowed,
darkened, and behind that darkness
was 6re. Il seemed for an instant
70 change the whole expression Of
Breck's face. He was no longer
soft-looking.
"Wsll then,r Coch aslred, ss'jusa
why are you here?'
Hrock al,ot glance Backward 70
The open door and waved one hand
b The direction Of Whitney. Only Q
tip cf tbe peak showed nov. rising
acrooD the black valley boetnm 70
eeted de last faint eold q evsninG.
= want tob. " Breck sid, s'up
thofe. ! Wunt Jim cottsfss place =
~ hnSeust ~ anyone = 4 ~"
c. surveysd him. puzzlD6 M
eceg1lng. .'xeu afsn't : usoun1ain
~ II |.I'' :