Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1944-03-17
W.N.u.REIEASE

| Splann Surly grOWl 1erReo MIN
around: "What the hell kind Of a
boss are your"
He walked up close, his high
shape coming above Ed Splann's
broader and more powerful build.
He could feel the scar burn hot and
red. But there were times like this
when he let his voice come out Of
him in slow drawl. ''My friend"
he said, "I'n tell you what kind of
boss 1 am. No man in my outfit
fools me any. You don't" He let it
hang there, watching Splann weigh
it behind his pale eyes.
They narrowed coolly. "You think
you know something. What?"
you've got no warning coming"
he said, his voice still held to that
quiet way, "but I'll warn you this
much. I'd as leave have rattle
snake in my bed as spy and traitor
in this camp. You don't need to ride
to Doan's; I'll see your friends for
you. Is that clear?"
A wicked brightness leaped into
Splann's eyes. "You talk tough. You
got anything to back it up? Show
| or lay down, Burnet. I've called
your hand!"
He didn't underestimate this man.
There was the experienced gun fight
er's arrogance about him. He let
his muscles go slack and ready
and felt only that cool alertness as
he said, ANY time"
He could almost see the huge
right shoulder begin its lift that
would bring the gun up out Of its
holster. His own fingers curved
when Splann's eyes went past his
and swung back. A subtle change
came over him. He leaned forward
a little, confding, "Burnet, you stay
clear. You've got a lot to learn,
some things you don't want to know.
And you've got a lot to lose" His
eyes moved again.
Footsteps cracked in the dry
leaves, and then Joy called gayly,
Lew! Come and look!"
She passed beyond them looking
pleased, with something bundled in
her arms. She was barelegged and
her long hair, washed and dried,
was soft around her head.
Splann's eyes followed her through
the trees. Then they came back
with knowing shreWdness. "You
take my advice and you'll get your
pay. One thing about you amt hard
to read" He wheeled and led his
horse toward the picketed mounts.
Joy was up on her bed in the Wag-
on, sitting crosslegged with both
hands covering her lap. Lew
eggs!" She lifted her hands. "Tur-
key eggs. found n'est!"
He leaned in to her and turned
them with mock gravity. Real
eggs. Think of that" But it was
her scrubbed fragrance he was
aware of, her soft hair and skin that
was warm and glowing. 1t put a
tight quietness in him that was not
mockery. Then she laid both of her
hands on his.
The laughter was gone from her
eyes. She looked up soberly. Lew,
I've been sorry about something.
Dreadfully sorry l mean back there
when Steve went blind. wasn't
hating you. 1t was only that every
thing seemed so wrong. l UNDER
stand what you're going through
these days. l shouldn't make it any
harder"
He pulled his hand from under
hers. I've never asked for pity,
JOY, not from anyone. Let me pity
| myself if l want to. We all do
| it from outside"
This isn't pity! Don't you under
stand?"
Something turned her lips soft and
| gentle, parting them with a slow
AMI even breath. Her dark eyes
searched his face. "We've meant so
much to each other. Nothing must
end it. l want you to know that"
She stirred him with an irritable
violence. That's past, Joy. We
aren't children any more. You've
! grown up and what I have is not a
brothers. feeling"
81 know it." Her voice was
hushed.
Look here!" He put his hands
roughly Oh neT arms ana pressed
them against her sides. He hurt
| her and wanted to hurt. You've
got one man. What do you think?
You can still offer some little part
| of you to another?"
mo. It's only" She faltered.
His grip frightened. "Joy, this is
nothing you can play with. You'd
better not try!"
Her breath was quick. He could
feel the tremble of her body be-
meath his hard hands. He let her
go and stepped back. Anything
you want from Doan's store?"
She didn't answer but only shook
her head, staring at him. He
wheeled from her, shaken by the vi
olence of the feeling she had
aroused.
In five miles he reached the bend
of the river shelf and saw an un-
|