The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1942-08-20

Potholes, and later emerge from
them. At this elevation he had
complete sweep of the valley below,
a sight of the south-running road
halfway to Freeport, and birds
eye view of the small meadows in
the Potholes.
All movement in so wide and lone
ly a stretch of country at once
caught his glance, and though he
did not Immediately identify Parr
Gentry he followed the mans erratic
course. There were other riders
abroad this morning, creeping slow
ly in and out of sight on the various
trails looping below. He noticed
Hillhouse's party come around Dell
Lake, and was pretty certain of
their purpose from the way they
secuted the land as they moved.
Catherine Grant and the man with
her had reached the top of the Mo-
gul rim. There was nothing much
left to see, and no particular actlvi-
ty around Herendeen's, whereupon
Vance Ketchell got on his horse,
took the upward trail into timber
and reached his own small ranch
less than an hour later. The mo-
ment he came into his meadow he
discovered visitors. Herendeen and
Bones McGeen were dismounted by
his door.
McGeen said irritably: 'Where
the hell you been?"
Trouble had crept behind Vance
KetcheII. He saw it on the faces
of both these men and heard it in
the domineering voice of Nc
Geen.
Vance Ketche1 had his shadowed
moment of dismal certainty. Before
another word had been spoken he
knew he had lost his ranch. Riding
before these two, he stepped from
the saddle, a distinct chill threading
his nerves.
Morgan was up here last night
wasn't he?"
"Sure," answered Ketchell. what
of it,"
you're through around here"
said Herendeen.
Facing Herendeen, Vance Ketchell
suddenly remembered that Bones
McGeen was behind him and for
moment he thought he was dead
man; something in Herendeen'S
voice had been like sharp signal to
McGeen.
Vance Ketchell had meanwhile
backed off a good twenty feet and
now he saw them both before him
clearly. They didn't have him
fanked any more.
"All right boys" he told them,
very calm about it, "just fly right at
it. know damned well l can beat
one of you to the pull"
Bones McGeen drew away from
the horse. He set his legs wide
apart in the dust. A crease ran
across his forehead and he stood
with his chin lifted, staring at Heren-
deem as though something had gone
wrong. He called to Herendeen:
"You want me to go ahead?"
Herendeen studied Vance KetchelI
over the stretching moments; he had
the impulse in his mind-Ketchell
saw that pretty clearly.
McGeen rasped out: II never saw
the time l was afraid to bust into
you, Vance. Say the word, Ben.
He'll, he's only got two arms"
"Both good" said Ketchell point
edly.
Herendeen shook his head. "Shut
,n Bones. Listen, Vance. You be
out of here by morning"
Vance didn't answer. He watched
Herendeen limp over to his horse
and step up, making second try be-
fore he hit the saddle. Bones Nc
Geen didn't want to leave it like
this. he was reckless and sure of
himself and hated to see Herendeen
back down. He called to Vance. "If
it was me, I'd see that hole card,
sonny. And damn you, I'll see it
yet, if you stick around"
Ketchell laughed at McGeen. "A
couple of tinhorn pikers-that fits
both of you jaspers. Come on-come
on. I'm right here. Just have a
try. McGeen, you're a yellow-bel-
lied jackass workin' for a man with
putty CUTS" He let that sink in,
quietly turning wild. He wasn't
laughing any more. He settled his
boots in the dust of the yard and
spoke again, naming off with biting
precision the things he thought they
were; it went like this, the list
lengthening out until he could think
Of nothing else suitable. He lifted