The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1941-11-21

lands and KIN them. Terry objects.
y e + IA
Terry judged it was time to let
the Pennsylvania man have the 9TH
er barrel Of the gun. "The worst il
ahead Of us, and coming very soon.
! cannot 60 into particulars, or tell
you how I know it. But there are
plans for action soon that will make
headlines in every New York pa
per-"
II don't know what you mean, Mr..
Terry. Please be more explicit."
The city man watched this hard,
brown Westerner in fascinated
alarm. "Do you mean more ;.
bloodshed?"
"Yes. Plans to rub out scores OF
men. In spite Of ourselves we shall
be dragged into it, unless we move
fast. That's why / asked you to
come at once" -
''How can we be dragged into it,
if we refuse to be a party?"
Because this country is in two
camps. Everybody in this town is
for the small fry against the big
ranches. The rustlers and nesters
and most of the little cattlemen are
pooled against us, the honest men
and the thieves alike. The Diamond
Reverse B is one of the large out.
fits. If we say we are out Of this
fight nobody will believe us. Well
suffer just the same. The only way
to be out of it is to let it be known
we are going out of business, to
offer the ranch for sale in small
blocks"
Wouldn't it put us in the clear
if went on record publicly pledging
the Diamond Reverse B to join in
no lawlessness whatsoever" he
asked.
mo" The foreman took out of
his pocket clippings from news
paper. "Read these, Mr.. Powers.
They are from the Logan County
Gazette, edited by Horace Carney.
He's against us and for the small
settler. But he is an honest man,
a first-class citizen"
"He makes out a case for our OPP
ponents," Powers said thoughtfully
after he had finished reading. II
don't think he is right, but he seems
to be honest"
''No doubt Of that. I thought you
might like to meet him and asked
him to call here. Not that agree
with what he thinks"
Half an hour later Carney arrived.
81 understand that your friends
control the county politically" Pow
ers said. s,
eyes"
"a combination Of townsfolk,
small ranchers, and rustlers," the
fastener snapped. SIS that right?"
"Politics make strange bed
fellows" Garvey answered. "The
rustler vote supports our candi-
dates, because the outlaw is natural
ly opposed to the large outfits
"Quite so. Opposed to the men
they rob. Mr.. Terry tells me we
can't get justice in the courts when
we present case against rustler."
'That is correct" the editor adj
mitted. "I'm sorry it is so, but
there is very strong feeling against
the big cattle outfits
"The big ranches are here law
fully, aren't they?"
''That is debatable. Their cow
boys homeSteaded thousands of
acres and turned the land over to
their employers, quite contrary to
the spirit of the law. All over the ter
ritory you find large tracts fenced
by the cattle kings to which they
haven't the slightest claim"
Powers leaned forward, tugging at
his grizzled imperial. what would
you think is the chance of disposing
Of the Diamond Reverse B at good
price, Mr.. Garvey?"
"I don't know. Not very good, /
should think. It would take a lot
of money to buy it, and don't sup
pose large interests are looking for
investments in the cattle country
these days." He added as rider:
"But am not in touch with mon
led people. You should know much
better than do" --~- q
Powers gave the editor the SUR
prise Of q year. 81 am not talking
of large interests. We are thinking
of dividing the property into small
ranches and selling to individuals
of moderate means. We would ac-
cept down payments for part and
take mortgage for the balance"
Into Horace Garvey's dried-up
face there came a curious express
sion of amazed delight. '.n you
mean that, you win be doing a fine
stroke of business for yourself and
a great service to the territory,
Mr.. Powers" the little man cried,
his voice hopping up and down with
excitement.
1--WE can find purchasers. you
think?"
mo doubt of it. if your price is
reasonable"
at win be-" Powers rose briskly.
ssTyv,n roadv IN laava for the ranch