Glacier County chief., 1939-07-07

Looks like quite a fiesta" the
Senator observed. halting beside
Brock.
The party moved down and was
at once engulfed by the fiesta. Eat
ing had already begun, with Temple
himself, red-faced, beaming behind
his gray beard, master of ceremo-
MES at the barbecue pit. He welded
q long knife over quarters of beef.
raked potatoes from the Goals,
poured coffee from five-gallon pots,
and all the while kept up a running
banter with those who passed
around him.
"Howdy, ranger folksl" he called.
brandishing his knife. "grub's up:
set in!'
Sutherland waved to him. Irene
nodded, though her eyes were
sweeping over the throng. Brock.
too, scanned the faces, looking for
Louise. Presently he saw her sit
ting ON log near her cabin, cow
in front. All were thoroughly en-
joying themselves and the sight
brought sudden stab of jealousy.
But Breck's duty was with the Suth-
erlands. He felt responsible for
them, and SO while Cook rode of
with the horses, he found places
where they might sit, then, with the
Senator. began to bring food.
Irene shrieked at the slabs of
meat he brought. my dear, whole
COW! Please give me just the leg"
As men passed with steaks in
their hands, or gnawing a roasted
rib, she stared in amazement. II
never saw anything like it,"
Friendships started easily. In
time the Senator had launched an
argument with a storekeeper from
Lone Tree, and Mrs. Sutherland and
Irene had found another party Of
tourists. Immediately Breck took
advantage of that to 60 on quest
Of his own. But in crossing the
, grounds he came upon J. G. Jack
son and some of the cowboys he
had not seen since the fight on
Black Mountain. And then by the
time he could get away. the riding
had started.
A gun.shot drew men swarming
to the corral fence. Inside, horses
were being roped and saddled. He
saw Louise come from her cabin
and vanish through the gate.
He stood watching from dis
lance. his eyes running over lines of
men upon the fence and others
lounging back in the trees, and it
came to him that there was not
Tillson among them. Nor had ST.
ezra appeared yet. Abruptly he
turned and walked back to the bar
becue pit where he had last seen
Cook.
The ranger was still there. having
o sociable bite with Temple. Brock
motioned to him. Cook approached.
what is it, young fellow?"
''What about Slim?"
Ought to be here any minute.
He's late, but might have been held
in town for some reason"
Breck nodded. "And the TILL
sons?"
Cook scowled. THAT'S different.
was asking Tom II he'd seen 'em.
They haven't been around, and
can't figure it out"
"You don't think it looks bad for
Sierra?"
mo. not that. They're up to some
other kind of a deal"
Eyes, and it's going to be from
the bottom Of the stack" Brock as
serted. Anything you want me to
dot"
'.Just 60 on with the show. young
fellow"
But Breck lost interest in the show
rs the afternoon passed and Sierra
did not appear. Cook was right;
Slim could take care of himself, and
they could do no better than wait;
yet inaction became unbearable
Brock watched the rodeo with sight
less eyes, knowing vaguely that wild
horses were being ridden and men
thrown, but his thoughts could not
be conferred there.
At dusk he sought Cook again,
having worked himself into a fine
turbulence.
The ranger checked him with a
lpok. 'Unstring yourself" he said
mo need to worry about Sierra,
and you're missing q lot of fun
around here. God knows you may
reed it, Have you seen Louy?"
He had not.
Cook erinned. There's going to
be . dance. you know"
Believed by the old rangers un-
parturbed manner, Breck went at
once h search Of Louise. Temple
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