Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1946-07-05
CHAPTER I

otSduy, 1eA! OdliS ANSISA Pos-
ted her horse as she drew rein at
the crest of the hill trail.
She was young and slim and
straight, and her old corduroys
made her look like a boy.
"A mighty handsome boy" old
Mcdowell always said; "ain't any
girl in these parts can touch herl"
She turned in her saddle now to
watch the lights spring up in the dis
tant ranch house, small and faint
and Pickering, like candles in fog.
Dusk was down there in the valley,
but up on the hill trail there was a
yellow light behind the sycamores,
and great flares of yellow and Or
ange and red in the sunset sky. Be-
low her lay the private road to LAS
Palomas," her brothers ranch; it
crossed the hill trail and the bridge
to meet the State highroad, five
miles away. There was a big cliff
at the bend. Jim Keller talked of
blasting it, but he had never had the
time nor the men to spare; it doomed
there still in the midst of trees, a
rugged sentinel.
Tex put down his head and began
to crop grass; it was supper time
but his mistress did not stir. She
was thinking, thinking hard. Then,
lifting her eyes to the darkening out
line of the distant cliff, she saw
sudden glow of light and, the next
instant, the headlights of big high
power touring car emerged. The
girl recognized it with start Of sur
prise; it was Jim's car, and Jim
was not at the wheel. Urging her
horse, she galloped down the trail to
intercept the car before it reached
the bridge. A nearer view showed
her old Mcdowell in it, and a
stranger at the wheel. AS she rode
up they stopped the car.
Mac" she painted, where's
JIM"
Hes all right; don't you get
scared, Jane" the old man re-
assured her, trying to get out Of the
car.
Jane stopped him. you've hurt
your arm-what's wrong, Mac?"
The headlights of the car il
lumined her as she leaned from the
saddle to question him, but it left
the man at the wheel in the shad-
ow. Jane felt his eyes; they made
her move uneasily and cast a quick
glance at him.
ITS this way, Jane" the old
foreman explained soberly, "Jim's
stayed behind; he's got tn sheriff
an party out. You see, we figured
we'd got Jordan skewered, tight as
chicken for roasting, but somehow
he broke loose-when we were get
tin water for tn car-you know that
place near Simmons well? We gave
chase-both of us, an I fell an
sprained my blamed old arm; if it
hadn't been for this young man here
he came along an helped me out
an motored me back. Jim was
kinder afraid Jordan might hit it
back here an he sent me to warn
tn men. Jim's all right, he's got
tn whole bunch with him."
Jordan couldn't get back here to-
night on foot" Jane objected.
Hes got pals, might get horse
or lift in a car. Anyways, I'm
here-an' say, you oughtn't to be up
here alone" old Mac said, in his ia
therly way. "You ride along beside
tn car, if you won't get in, an let
this young man ride Tex home"
Jane laughed. "I'u make it; III
beat you to It'll"
"This young man wants work on
a RANCH" Mac added, putting his
well hand on the strangers Shout
der; "this is Miss Jane Keller, the
sister of the boss" he said to his
companion, impressively.
Jane caught the outline of the
mans head as he swung off his hat,
but she spoke to Mac with her crisp
little tone of authority.
when you get to the ranch send
him to me; III see what I can do
for him until Jim comes. I'm going
to take the short cut; Tex can beat
any old car, Macl"
"Jane-Miss janet" Mac wanted
to stop her, to make her ride beside
them, but she was off like a shot;
they could just see the beautiful dark
outline of her horse as he leaped the
creek. "Ain't that like her, bless
her!" old Mac laughed in his beard.
"She amt scared of thing for her
self-only for Jim! An he'd be
scared stiff if he thought she was
out an Jordan might be here!"
"Ten me about this Jordan;
can't just make it out. Cattle thief or
what?" asked the young man at the
wheel.
"It's this way-take that turn,
there's Las Palomas up therefor
dan used to work here; he's a good
cattleman but he drinks like blazes,
a good many of 'em do, but he took
to dope running, sellin' it here to
the cowpunchers. Jim caught him
at it an there was a big row. Jor-
dan, half drunk, tried to kill Jim.
That settled it; he was fred. Then
he took to cattle rustling an he's got
a gang Of cut-throats along with
him; maybe some of our fellers are
in cahoots with tn gang to get dope;
VIC don't kpowI He'e c1eared o,,f