The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1941-11-28

small ranchmen by dividing Il up.
a y
Texans, who asked not to have his
name given, had admitted to the re-
porter that they were heading for
the cattle country to clean up the
rustlers who had been stealing so
fiagrantly.
Carey passed the newspaper to
Terry, pointing to the story.
Calhoun read it, not a flicker Of ex-
preston on his face. It disturbed
him even more than it did Carey,
since he knew and the Box SIS man
could only guess.
maybe a reporters yarn to fill
space" he said evenly.
Ellen pumped question at Ter
ry. "Do you think they are coming
to the Buck River country"
There's something in the story
about Wild West Show" the fore
man evaded.
THAT doesn't mean anything"
Ellen replied impatiently. s'That's
just something Mr.. Ellison told the
reporter. If they are coming here,
what do they intend to do? One of
the Texans said they were going to
clean up the rustlers. Did he mean
=. kill them all?"
81 had a disagreement with Mr..
Ellison" replied Terry. when I
told him ] was urging Mr.. Powers
to cut up and sell the ranch. He felt
was deserving the big outfit group.
am no longer in the confidence of
the association. Naturally they
wouldn't tell me their plans"
.'But what do you Think" Ellen
insisted. "You must have an opin-
ion."
II think that if I were a rustler I
would be hitting the trail for parts
unknown" Calhoun answered, look
ing directly at her.
She worried about what she had
read in the Republican, even after
the foreman and Mr.. Powers had
left for the ranch. When jeff Brand
dropped into the crossroads stage
station she lost no time in telling
him the news.
He would not believe the Texans
were heading for the Buck River
country, and if they came the in
vaders would find the district too hot
for them. The news about the Dia-
mond Reverse B interested him
more.
"It's the beginning of the breakup
of the big ranches" he told her ex-
citingly. "I'll say for Terry that he
is smart. The Diamond Reverse B
will get out in time and save its
hide. Some of the others are so
stubborn that they won't"
eyes, they are stubborn she
agreed. "I'm glad Mr.. Terry has
broken with them. / never did be-
lieve he had anything to do with the
killings"
Brand slanted quick look at her.
"Did he ever give you any hint who
he thought the drygulcher was?"
''No. I'm sure he doesn't know,
and if he did he wouldn't tell me.
We're not friendly"
He frowned down at the ground,
drawing line in the sand with his
boot. "I've spent lot of time mill
ing that over, girl" he said. "It's
someone who knows our habits
mighty well. He must have known
Buck was going to be where he
was the morning he shot him., The
same goes for Tetlow and Yeager.
Not many men would know that.
I've been over the list of men in
my mind forty times, but none of
them seem to fit. Some of them are
guys I would trust with my life. /
have a specimen Of his writing in
my pocket now"
'Let me see it." she suggested.
ssI've seen the writing of lots Of
people. When they send mail out
you know"
He showed her the slip. Ellen
read, "This is what happens to rus
tiers"
"Yes. I've seen the writing. At
least / think So" She looked up at
him, the light in her eyes quick.
i lt1 1iOt SuAC, O0t-
Silently, his gaze on her. Brand
waited. .s
"Did you ever suspect that man
Turley?" she asked.
Eyes, and knew it couldn't be
Jack. He's too bitter against the
big ranches"
She added: II believe this is his
writing. I'm not sure, but it looks
like it."
He put the slip in his pocket, his
eyes diamond-hard and bright.
"You won't-get into trouble with
him." Ellen said, repenting of what
she had said.
He changed the subject. "About
those warriors in Denver. I don't
believe they are looking for u.s."
81 asked Mr.. Terry what he
thought" she said. He looked
straight at me, JEFF, and said that If
he were q rustler he would light out
and keep going"
He'd like to throw a scare into
,~x,,, ~ ne hn fhtrko are HE ava