Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1944-02-25
CHAPTER Nv

II refused and they started max
ing up a herd of their own. Buying
at the cheap price now, they'll save
fifty thousand dollars if they get to
Ogallala with that herd and
I don't with mine"
"Sure," Lew said, "sure," and a
sudden restless impotence goaded
him up onto his long legs. but
that's a game two can play, Tom!
What's the matter here anyway?
If stampede is their deal give EN-
one back. You've come up through
enough trouble to know all the
tricks"
Unaroused, Arnold said quietly,
''I've let Clay handle this"
Lewis glance sharpened on him.
"If troubles bound to come" he
said, "I'd rather settle it now than
on the trail. There'll be grief enough
later. Does Clay know I'm to trail
boss for you?"
mot yet" Arnold's dark eyes lift
ed. He smiled. "I'm glad to know
you've still got an edge on you!
That's what I've been counting on,
that and proposition I'm going to
make" His gruff bluntness returned.
"Now don't get it into your fool head
that this is a gift. I've got my own
good and selfish reasons"
Looking down past the man, Lew
saw the breathless way in which
Joy was watching him, her lips part
ed, all of her body held very still.
And Tom was saying, 81 want you
to take share in this Cross T herd.
A trade. You've got that land in
Wyoming. I've got cattle and no
place to range them. I'm adding
thousand head of shes and yearlings
to the beef contract. That thousand
head will make start on the new
ranch-half for Joy and Steve. half
for you"
1t was generous offer, more than
generous, all that he would need,
but with a price that neither of
these two understood. Silenced by
that knowledge, he stared down into
the freight so long that behind him,
almost in anger, Arnold's gruff voice
burst out, "Well? What's the trou-
BILE now?"
'"Tom," he said, I'm sorry. I'll
boss your herd north, and you can
use my range in Wyoming. But
can't tie myself as Cross T part
ner." He saw a sharp breath drawn
between the girls parted lips and
the old mans sudden blank amaze
ment. "You forget Clay Manning"
he said. THAT makes a fourth one
in this deal after a while. There
wouldn't be ROOM"
He was aware of joys deeper quiz
etness and of the fixed stare of her
eyes upon him, and then in that mo-
ment's silence an abrupt rhythm of
riders pounded across the ranch
yard.
1t was Clay Manning's shout that
sailed in to them, and then the thud
of his boots hit the gallery outside,
swinging down from saddle to floor
edge as he always did. with his horse
hardly at stop.
The door burst open and he came
in like gust of prairie wind, filling
the room with that charged and vi
tai force.
In the doorway he turned his head
and called back outside, cts all
right, kid" and then came on in
to Joy. He put one arm all the
way around her in intimate posses
sion, Rugged her hard; and at the
same time, while he made that show,
he was grinning and saying, "Glad
to see the old home ranch again,
Lew"
Sure" he said, "sure," and
looked past him at Steve coming in
now, wondering what Clay's call,
"It's all right, kid" had meant.
Halfway across the room Steve
turbulence, "What did you want me
for, Dad?"
Wondered where you were" Ar
mold said. "What happened?"
Good lord! That all? Nothing
happened! Only got separated from
the bunch" 1t was not until then
that he faced around with a casual
greeting, "How's Wyoming?"
Zine, Steve" Lew said. "Fine if
you dodge the Sioux. Didn't get
my hair lifted yeti"
There had been little awkward
wait With sudden nervous unrest
Steve flung himself from the fire.
place mantel. He spoke to his ia
Their, eff that's all you wanted"
And then. Come on, Clay. Let's
go!" He started across the room.
The rush of their horses hoofs
died from the ranch yard and the
nights deep silence came again.
Tom Arnold moved from the fire.
place. He looked suddenly old and
tired. ''Im going to bed"
When the distant door had closed
he faced joys small figure standing
dark against the red embers of the
fire.
"Joy," he asked, whats hap
,pened? I mean to your father"