Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1946-07-26
CHAPTER Nv

the clear straight look was there; a
woman like that might keep man
from-from crime! And Stenhart
dared to be in love with her! Well,
dared to be in love with her!
He had opened the dog-eared &C.
count books again. "I'll try to make
good on these, anyway" he thought,
and smiled for the first time as he
began to run down Jim's slovenly
figures. But he had hardly reached
the foot of the column before he
heard a quick step behind him and
Jim himself came in, dusty and
tagged.
Hello, Hazlett Quit that stuff,
I've got something else on hand" AS
he spoke he flung himself into
chair and mopped his forehead.
Got most of the strays back, but
I've lost about eighty yearlings, be-
sides those you made into beef" he
added with grin.
Sorry" Sherwin began, but"
mo regrets!" Jim laughed. you
can ride, I know that. The men
are all busy and want you to ride
over to Hemmings' place, it's about
fifteen miles, and get the sheriff.
He's over there now. Take him
along with you and show him the
place where Jordan ran past YOU
you know, on the highroad. We think
he's got some of his rustlers there.
Anyway, he's cleared out of this
neighborhood, and I want Cutler
that's the sheriff-to know it. You
know the locality where Jordan
lodged. Mac'n give you a fast
horse. Better 60 right away"
Sherwin was staring fixedly at the
books in front of him. He said moth
ing, and, after moment, Jim
looked around at him.
"Well?" he said interrogatively.
Il don't know the roads; III lose
time finding the place-Hemmings',
! mean. Hadn't you better send
some one who knows the way?"
i've got no one who knows where
you saw Jordan. Besides, the road
to Hemmings' place is straight, you
can't miss it. All the men are busy,
and I'm used up. You can make it
before Cutler takes false trail.
Here, I'll draw you a map" Jim
reached for a pencil. AS he did so
he caught a glimpse of the other
mans face and whistled, then he
laughed. "See here, Hazlett, what's
wrong-you're not afraid to meet the
sheriff, are your" he asked lightly.
Sherwin's face whitened. He rose.
TN 60 at once, SIR" he said grave
~; where's the house?"
Jim struck his hand on the desk.
Here, say, don't take it like that.
was joking!"
Sherwin met his eyes squarely.
tits the kind of joke I don't like"
he replied coldly.
Something in the mans eyes made
Jim lean back in his chair and OBJ
serve him closely. But he turned
the matter off as well as he could.
Sorry! I owe you an apology. But
you'll go?"
Sherwin nodded, went out and
crossed the veranda to the lawn. Un-
der the trees he saw pretty tab
leau. Fanny Sewell was reading
aloud to the convalescent, and going
away from them, across the flower
dotted slope that led to the creek,
was Jane. SherWin saw the sunlight
on her uncovered head. She did not
see him, nor did Stenhart. He, too,
was watching Jane. Sherwin's hand
clenched at his side but he walked
rapidly across the open space and
went to the stables.
Old Mac was there with his arm
In sling, but he had already had
his orders from Jim, and one of the
stablemen had fast horse saddled.
Jim says you're to go after tn
sheriff. He thinks Jordan's made
off" the old man shrugged.
II see you don't agree with that"
said Sherwin, as he sprang into the
saddle.
"a fox mostly doubtless" Mac re-
piled. Look out for yourself, lad;
Jordan may remember the rough
an tumble you had together"
"In case he does, goodbye, and
thank you'll" he said.
As he rode his mind worked quick
y. Across the bridge he drew rein
an instant, felt in his pocket and
drew out newspaper two days old.
He read a paragraph and shook his
head. 1t was too great risk to ride
to Hemmings' place-he must give
up his vantage-ground, his chance
to be near Stenhart. The way that
Jim had sent him lay to the west.
He did not take it, but turned east.
The road here was skirted by the
creek and, half a mile farther, it
assembled and commanded a view of
Las Palomas. Sherwin followed it.
Here, at the very beginning, fate had
forced his hand more neatly than
even Stenhart could have done it..
If he turned back and went to meet
the sheriff.? There was a chance,
one q million. that he could carry