Evening star., 1940-06-23


from the jailer and walked out. Get your gun,
jim. I'm going to deputize you. That fellow'sa
tough bird"
mo! Nov' | must have known what was
coming from the moment Alec drove up, but
was not prepared for the swift surge of rebellion
that swept across my heart. could not bear to
have Jim take any part in this, and he felt the
same, for when he had recovered from his sur
prise he said, Stay here. Let me tell him, Alec.
Like hell will! The fellows bad one. Get
your gun and come along.
But Jim refused. They argued for moment
and finally Alec consented reluctantly.
Don't let him out of your sight, he warned.
Bring him back with you
When Jim came back he was alone. Anger
was in Alec S eyes. "Where is he? If you let him
get away, you're no kin of mine"
Jms face was WI the perspiration stood
out about his mouth IN little beads. Hes COM
ing," he announced flatly. II gave him fifteen
minutes to get his things together. No!"-a as
Alec picked up his gun from the seat of the car
- hell come"
Hismouth hardened. That low down rancher
was beating mare, about to foal, over the head
with doubletree" He let this sink in. Beating
horse over the head for any reason is an
of1ense hard to forgive in this country. Beating
mare about to foal no man can live down.
Lars tried to stop him in the only way he
knew He thought he had killed him. Nobody
took the trouble to tell him anything different.
That was why he broke jail. He thought it
meant life or the rope. For moment back there
came near telling him to clear out while ne
had the chance
Icould see it all so plainly. The rancher, vent
ing his brutal fury on the mare 80. Lars warn
ing, deliberately. slowly and then those
great fingers closing down tighter, tighter. A
sob caught in my throat. ''How long will they
give him?'
Alec's voice was gruff. He'd been thinking,
too mot long. Mebbe a year to two.
A year or t,oo! As though that were nothing!
Alec snapped his watch shut. Times up,
Jim Come along" I followed them to the
bunkhouse Lars Was not inside.
ALEC wheeled back to us, accusation in his
eyes, This" he announced with bitter en-
phasis, "is what comes of mixing sentiment and
business Now then," to Jim, "you get busy
and round up every coWhand that can straddle
horse" He strobe to the door.
"Wait!' l heard familiar sound; little
boys laugh, a cultural word. motioned them
to follow and we walked in silence to the shed.
There was Sonny, jumping up and down ex-
citedly - and Lars, bending over the grotesque
figure of the wooden gelding, paint brush in
his hand q. . Hes all done! He's branded! He's
a Rocking OK gelding now!'
Lars said, ia"
Neither of them had seen us and we drew
back out of sight without knowing why. Tears
stung my eyeballs. Somehow knew that Lars
was getting ready to tell Sonny. He sat down on
packing box and drew the little fellow to him,
scanning his face hungriy as though registering
it in his very heart :. With gentle, clumsy
hand he pushed damp lock of hair from the
boys glowing face.
"Gelding not done, Sonny. Can't see yet.
Can't ride to roundup without eyes"
Couldn't you paint them?" Sonnys voice
wavered and his disappointment was pitiful to
see. Lars shook his head. mo .. He got to
have real eyes, Brown, yust like pinto. Lars 60
away from Rocking Ok for little time. and
find some eyes for gelding."
"No! No! Lars!'
ala The voice was ragged now,