Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1944-02-18
CHAPTER III

the point. Coming abreast of these,
he threw his horse against their
hard-ribbed bodies, firing his gun
close to the long, gaunt faces.
They were running like frightened
jack rabbits. But they edged away
from his blazing gun. That broke
their galloping stride for moment.
Slowly the black wedge began to
curve, until in time the point was
bent in and joining to the base. The
cattle were still running, but in an
endless merry-go-round now, getting
nowhere. Their run slackened. I'm
der the pressure of men closing in
they made at last a solid, milling
pool.
He turned his horse off to one
side where little group of riders
had halted
In the dust and dark he had rec
ognized no one and had not been
recognized himself. Then their talk
began to reach him.
Someone said, Were lucky,
that's all. They didn't get good
start"
Wasn't luck either" another put
in. "Who was it got up to the point
so fast?" That was Tom Arnold's
rough low voice.
They were aware of his horse then
coming out of the dark, and their
talk broke off. He rode in, grin
ming. Hello, Tom," he said.
Lew" Arnold's low voice lifted.
"Boys, it's Lew Burnett"
The group moved and they were
suddenly around him, their horses
crowding his legs, and he was shak-
ing hands and grinning in the
warmth of friendly faces-Tom Ar
mold and Joe Wheat and old "Rebel
John" Quarternight, who had taught
him all he knew about cattle.
He was aware, afterward, of one
rider who had remained apart from
these others, and he called out,
Hello, Clay"
Clay Manning brought his horse
around. ''How are you, Lew" His
big shape leaned across the saddle
horn, with all expression on wide
mouth closely guarded. He was a
high, square-built man, young and
blond and strikingly good-looking;
one who could be forgiven, Lew Of
ten thought, for watching his shadow
on the ground.
There had been some reason for
his wait off there in the dark, but
now, casually enough, he said,
tG,,acc -,
How'd you Gomez"
Down the valley" Lew said and
added, from Dripping Spring to-
day." At that he saw the brief, di-
rect stare Clay gave him; yet in
the faint light he could read MOTH
ing more.
One by one at spaced intervals the
guard riders had come past, and as
their dim figures doomed out of the
dark Tom Arnold had kept close
watch. He swung back now, ask
ing suddenly, CLAY, where's Steve?
You were together"
''I'll look" Clay said and started
off.
Near him Joe Wheat Strengthened
up his thin Stat frame, offering,
Better take someone. I'll go with
you"
But Clay refused with a quick
Impotence. Stay with the guard.
Nothing's happened. Tom, you 60
ing back to the house? Well get no
more trouble now. There's too many
of us. Someone ought to be with
JOY"
"I'm going" Arnold said. Send
Steve in when you find him. Lew,
come on with me-
They loped into the black valley
mouth side by side, but aware of
Tom Arnold's strict silence he held
down the questions that crowded his
mind.
With the days dust scrubbed from
his face and his long hair watered
back slick he went out into the hall
and turned to the Cross rs family
dining room.
Owl-Head jackson, the cook,
came into the dining room from the
kitchen carrying heaped platter of
food. Levi" He grinned. "You
broomtailed maverick, it's good to
see that ugly face of yours again!"
From the front room Joy called,
"Pour cup of coffee for me, Owl
Head" and came on back.
"TeQ me about Wyoming!" she
said.
That's a lot of country" he
smiled. "What do youwant to know"
Everything! What it's like and
what you do there"
well, l lived in a dugout," he
said, Gin the bank of creek and
spent most of my time fighting
rats"
"No" - she laughed - 81 don't
mean that. Aren't there some noun
tains?"