The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1941-06-06
". N.U. Release

inspiriting with the fresh smell of
the new grass.
She said, Tell me about your new
job"
1t isn't new"
They said that you'd be the new
boss of the Crying Wolf, if we got
it," Jody said.
For more years than he could re-
member, he had been working to-
ward this opportunity-the chance
to take two years, or three, with
such-and-such cattle, on such-and
such land, and show that he could
pay out on market deliveries in
pounds of beef. But nova mill
lion horns and hoofs didn't seem to
mean so much.
Something was here-something
that wasn't any place else-not on
the long trail, not in the wild termi-
nal towns. He knew now he had to
tell her that, and he dreaded it, be-
cause she probably would think it
was funny. He wouldn't look at
her as he spoke, because he didn't
want to see her laughing at him.
Il don't know as I'm so much in
terested as 1 was" he said.
"Why, Billy-not interested in the
Crying Wolf-nearly five hundred
square miles of feeder landi What's
come over your"
Il guess maybe I'm tired of rid
ing alone" Bill said.
"Alone? With all the outfit you'll
have-I wouldn't call it alone"
Il would. Grass country is lonely
country" he said now, "as lonely
as the dry plains. You get to Won
dering what the everlasting cattle
add up to, in the course of life.
Then some night you know you don't
care what they add up to; and you
think, Damn fat beef!'"
why, Billy-why, Billy"
'None of it means a damn, with
out you're there" he told her.
Working cattle doesn't mean any
thing, because you'll always have
all the cattle you need anyway; and
no long trail means anything, with
out you're at the end of it. I'm sick
of long drive-trails, empty of you
at the end"
There was a long, motionless ST.
lence; he kept his eyes on the far
sand hills as presently she leaned
forward to look up into his face.
"You really mean it, don't you?"
Jody said.
Jody's words came very faint, and
little breathless.
"Why didn't you say so before?"
He looked at her then, and she
wasn't laughing. In her eyes was a
new, grave light, such as he had
never seen; warm light, a beloved
light, better than sunset to a weary
day-rider who has worked leather
since before dawn. Timorously, but
very willingly, she came into his
arms; and he held her as if she were
not only very precious but u very
fragile thing. For little while it
seemed that one trail, trail longer
than the Long Trail itself, had come
to its end.
Cant believe" he said at last,
his lips in her hair, you're sure
enough mine"
can yours-all, ALL"
They had one hour, there in the
prairie lookout tower, discovering
each other, getting acquainted as if
for the first time. The sun went
down in a gorgeous weltcr of color.
Jody shivcred a little. Il wish
Dad and Dusty would come. Espc-
cially Dusty"
"Why?"
He has so many enemies Some
nf thnY1n Il
backs. 1t worries me when he's due
and doesn't get back"
'Dusty'll take care of himself"
Bill Roper chucklcd, and held her
closer.
One half hour more
Up from the town came q crafty
ridden horse, splashlng mud cavcs-
high under the urge of spur and
quirt.
Hell lame his pony if he goes
down in that slick" Bill commented.
Now what do you suppose"
The rider tried to pull up in front
of the house, and the frantic pony
sWcrvcd and slid, mouth wide open
to the sky. Its shoulder crashed
the fence, taking down a dozen feet
of pickets. The rider tumbled of.
ran up the steps TO hammer on the
door.
Roper went Gathering down the
stairs, pulled open the door. "Now
listen, you"
"Bill-Dusty-Mr King-he-"
Bill Roper froze, and there was a
long moment of paralyzed silence.
"Spit it out, mani" Roper shouted
at him.
"Bill--he's daidl"
"Who-who-"
Dusty Kings daidl Bill, they
gunned him - they gunned him
down."
who did,"
"Tain't known. Mr.. Gordon's
there; he"
Bill Roper walked out past the
cowboy stifly, like a man gone
blind. Without knowing what he did
he walked down to the gate. and