Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1941-06-04

thrift, meant nothing to him.
The violet shadows under ALI
sons blue eyes gave mute testimony
of the sleepless nights she had had
since the letter came. Her brain
became a treadmill asking how?
Where? When? What? And as no
answers came, it started again at
the beginning.
The ranch was already beginning
! to stir. Smoke rose laZily from the
chimney of the clubhouse, dogs
parked a friendly greeting as they
escorted the cowhands to the corral
to assist in feeding the horses-the
steady creak of the windmill gave
rhythm to 1t all.
Allison struggled YEARLY into her
whipcords. Maybe she could catch
John before he rode out. They
might need extra help for the brand
ing Maybe Ret could be spared to
go after some supplies-he found the
attractions in town less appealing
than some of the others and could
be counted on to get back sooner.
She buttoned her blue broadcloth
shirt, added sparkling sheen to her
coppery hair with the hairbrush and
rushed downstairs.
Pans were rafting in the kitchen
as she started toward the Office.
John slept in a room adjoining it
and a light indicated that he was
already working at the desk. He
looked up startled, when she entered.
Isn't this rather early for you?"
Yes, rather. I-I-well. couldn't
seem to sleep, so thought I might
catch you before you went out. We
need some things from town and I
wondered if you could spare Ret"
Allison laughed. You know he can
always make the trip about II hours
faster than any one else"
I'm afraid we can't send Ret,
Miss Allison. He's sick"
sick? Ret sick?" Allison was
genuinely astonished I've never
known him to be sick day in his
life. Is it anything Serious?"
well, no, not exactly, Miss Al
lison." John was plainly i'll at ease.
You see, the boys have been TAX
ing turns standing watch at night
trying to find out who is getting
away with our cattle. Last night
was Refs turn and somebody
plugged him in the shoulder" He
fastened on when he saw the blood
drain from Allison's face. ITS Just
a flesh wound, but it will keep him
from doin' much for the next couple
Of days.
"Oh, joint" Allison cried In
alarm. They might have killed
him!"
They know they run that risk,
Miss Allison, but it was their own
idea. They all want to know who
Is doing the rustlin' and now that
they took a shot at Ret, they're
more determined than ever to find
out who is at the bottom of this"
isn't there some way to find out
without them risking their necks?
I would rather lose the whole herd
than have anyone killed"
81 think they'll all be mighty
careful now"
Does he have any idea who 1t
was? Where was he when 1t hap
pened?"
He was headin' up Rocky Knoll
from the south and the shot came
from the ravine down below. His
horse SHE'D at a rabbit or the bullet
would have caught him square
in the back of the neck He headed
behind rock and waited to see If
any more shots came, but none did.
so he circled around the far side
and came down to the clubhouse.
Lanky and Shorty went right out,
but couldn't find any tracks or any,
thing.
Could Find No Evidence.
They couldn't find evidence that
any cattle had been driven of.
either. Ret didn't see any signs of
cattle being moved, but I can't fig
ure out why they would take a shot
at him unless he had caught them
driving cattle. Don't quite make
sense"
1T does seem Strange-surely no
one is out there taking shots at
riders for the fun of it. I think I
will ride up to Rocky Knoll right
after breakfast and see If anyone
has been tampering with the water
supply. I haven't been up there for
several weeks"
Il was thinking the same thing,
Miss Allison. Do you mind If I
ride along?"
John I can read you like q
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