Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1941-06-10

history from Shorty"
"Mornin', Allie" Shorty besmed
at her. Hes shore like old Matt! I
amt seen him ride, but he wouldn't
have to be very good to beat his
dad. I think we might make cat
tleman out of him yet. He's got
that CLEAN in his eye"
What CLEAN is that?" Richard
turned to Allison for explanation.
She laughed good naturedly.
"Shorty insists you have to have
certain CLEAN in your eye to be
good cattleman. You should feel
very f1attered that you have it
Shorty never fails to recognize the
Eleam.'"
'E been right more than I've been
wrong now, Allie" Shorty took his
predictions very seriously.
That's true, Shorty, and If you
say you have prospective cattle
man here, I'll believe you. What
horse are you going to give him to
ride?"
Reckon I'll let him take Tender.
today. I've got Fleet saddled for
John"
"Fleet?" Allison was puzzled.
swhy isn't he riding Glory?"
Allison Wonders.
wal, he figgered Glory needed
rest for a few days. She had
long ride into town the other day"
Shorty turned abruptly away and
Allison had feeling that he knew
much more about Johns reason for
not taking Glory than he admitted.
knowing the devotion between
mount and rider, it seemed all the
more strange that he should be
leaving Glory in the corral.
Just then John came up. Good
morning" He addressed them both
tmpartially. Ready for a little
ridin' this morning." he asked
Richard.
Can hardly wait to get started.
And, you know, this cattle business
gets more interesting all the time.
I'm surprised to find such beautiful
country out here. I don't exactly
know what I expected to find, but
1t isn't what 1 thought it would be"
when you are used to ridin' we'll
tackle some of the rough country
and then you will get better idea
of what the valley looks like. This
Is an awful pretty time of the year.
Shorty brought Tender out and
Richard. watching. said, Say, you
must have strong horses here to be
able to carry saddles like that-lt
looks more like rocking chair"
John smiled in amusement. Il
reckon it does look kinda big to you
after ridin' English saddles. had
quite a time learning to stay on
those"
Mattingiy Is Interested.
"John, when did you ever ride an
English saddle?" Allison's question
was eager. His words seemed to ex-
pose a thread of the past that he
had never. mentioned before.
But John merely frowned, and
as he turned to tighten the cinch on
Tenders saddle, said, That was
some time back, Miss Allison" His
reserves had been quickly erected.
Their horses were evenly gated
and they loped lazily for about half
an hour, then John refined in and
slowed to trot. AS they rode along
side by side. John told him some
thing of the law of the ranch,
branding the cattle in the spring
and the roundup in the fall. He
touched upon the drought, cattle
prices and something of the i'm
portance of their water supply.
He was surprised to find Mating
" such an interested listener. His
questions were sound and his grasp
of the cattle business, although
slight. was more than balanced by
his willingness to learn. In spite of
himself, John found himself liking
the tall, blond fastener, even If he
didn't like the way he looked at
Allison. And yet, any man would
be bound to find her attractive.
1t was almost noon before they
reached the rolling ground above
the south pasture. AS they dis
mounted Richard wiped his moist
forehead. Il never thought I'd see
that many cattle at one time. Do
they always keep moving that fast?"
Johns face was grim. mo, they
don't always run fast at all. Some
body's been runnin' this herd, and
1t hasn't been very long ago. Wait
here. I'll be back" Squirting his
horse, he started circling the herd.
The cattle were streaked with sweat
and SOLDERING for water, milling
in circles, trying to get headed back
TO the creek bed. John dismounted
several times and studied the
ground. Patiently and slowly he
headed the herd to the east, where
they would find water again. With
some semblance of order, the bawl-
ing cattle followed their Flooding
leaders.
John Is Watchful.
TOO late again" John said, irri-
tably, when he rode up. when
they can't get them off the range
they stampede them and let them
run all the meat off their bones.