The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1942-08-13

with a mass of matted hair anc
black mustache. Bunches of mus.
cles on the chest and arms. Dark
but Enthusiastically an American
The Mexicans were looking al
him significantly, then glancine
at Dave.
"Well?" demanded the new
conner.
you're foreman of this outfit?
asked Dave. IF that's so, you
want another hand"
yeah! What makes you think
SOP" inquired the other in a sheer
ing voice.
Look at the outfit you got"
! The two measured each other
Dave had lit his cigarette and was
putting it easily. The Mexicans
were watching the pair attentive
ly. There was a growing tension
Looks like you've rode far, )"
said the foreman, cycling Dawes
horse, which was plastered with
sweat and alkali dust.
yeah, rode down from Utah. "
''That's long ways from here"
II was two years with the Bid
die Brothers, till their outfit
crashed. Thought I'd see a bit
of the country before settlin' down
again. A Teller in some town a.
long the road told me there might
be a place on Mr.. Ferris ranch
at Mescal. My names Dave
Bruce"
''I'm Curran. I got about all
the hands I need. Might use a
good one, but I've got to be
shown" The sheer in the fore
mans voice had given way to a
sort of purring note that Dave dis
trusted. "Fact is" Curran went
on, 'punchin' in these parts is
different from up in Utah. I had
one amachoor after another, and
I got to be shown"
''I'm willin' to show you," an
swered Dave, drawing in a last
puff and throwing away the butt
of his cigarette.
"You are, huh? How about
hawsswranglin'? Think you
could break ane of them broncs
in there?" Curran jerked his
thumb toward the corral.
I'm willin' to try"
Fine" grinned Curran. 'Noth-
in better. You break that wild
eyed black in there, and I'll see
about the job. Ready to start in
now"
I'm ready" answered Dave,
laundering out of his saddle.
At that moment a man emery
ed from the ranchhouse, an elder
ly man with a short grizzled
beard, wearing a gray coat and
tie, Whipcord breeches, and high
riding-boots. He came toward
the group, and Curran waited for
him with some impotence.
who's this?" demanded the
newcomer, darling a suspicious
glance at Dave.
"Another of them travelin'
punchers," Curran grinned.
claims he's hawss-wragler.
I told him if he can break Black
Dawn, I'll see about a job for
him, Mr.. Ferris"
But" began Wilbur Ferris ir-
resolutely He darted another
look at Dave. And now Dave
read something almost like fear
in the scanned, lined face and
shifty eyes that met his own for
moment only, and then were
averted.
"That's what I told him."
"Oh, very we'll, just as you say,
Curran," returned the ranchman
quickly. II reckon you know
your business"
81 sure do. That's what I'm
here for" Curran answered. Cit
yore rope, Bruce. We're waitin'
for you"
Dave unfastened his rope from
the saddlehorn and approached
the corral. The grins upon the
faces of the Mexicans had chang
ed to a tense expectancy.
The black was standing little
apart from the rest of the remuda,
which had huddled together into
a farther corner. His legs were
planted squarely on the ground,
neck outthrust, ears flat with the
factly aware of what was in pros
head. 1t was evident he was per-
fectly aware of what was in
prospect.
Dave Topped his rope and flung
it. He was sure that the black
anticipated every movement; he
expected a swift side-leap and
half anticipated failure. To his
surprise, the black let the rope
settle about his neck and moved
forward as Dave snubbed the end
around a fence-post and began
hauling in.
IT. Was not until he had the