Hungry Horse news and Columbian. [volume] (Columbia Falls, Mont.) 1946-1948, 1947-12-12


over too much.
81 expect that's good medicine
Terry admitted. "I'll be going pres
emily. What do you know ABOUT uiis
Hart killing? Is there any evidence
about who did it?"
Assassin unknown. " GarVey
stopped talking in headlines ana
banged a table excitedly with ms
fist. "Goddlemighty. man! Don
worry about who killed Hart. out
about who is going to kill Calhoun
Terry if you don't get jump on you
Lee Hart is here, and bunch OF his
friends"
eve met Them" Terry said. 1--WE
passed the time of day. No tracks
left by the murderer, you say!
Not far as know. Where's your
horse?"
you've heard no talk-no names
mentioned"
"No-except that the big fellows
hired it done as a warning. You
don't have to decide that now. Fork
your horse, Cal. and light out OF
town"
Its not quite as bad as that, Hor-
ace," the ranch manager said. Lee
and his friends have said their little
piece for today, l reckon. But this
killing of Buck Hart disturbs me.
I'll not say he didn't have 1t COM
ing. He was a proven thief, even II
a rustler's court and jury did turn
him loose. But it's bad medicine
just the same. I don't know who
did it. He was bully, and plenty
of people would have liked to see
him dead The point is that the big
ranches will be blamed for this.
Trouble will come of it.
They'll be rightly blamed, in my
opinion" Carney said tartly. But
no use going into that. You know
where the Gazette stands in this
controversy between the settlers and
the big cattlemen. It's for the peo-
ple." He brushed that aside with an
gesture. I'm thinking
about you, Cal. You're too bull-head-
ed. Some low-down scoundrel will
get you from the brush one of these
lays if you're not careful"
81 don't think So" Terry replied
,arelessly.
You're unpopular as the devil"
"Are you congratulating me on the
enemies have made?" the cownlan
laid, his smile scornful. ''They are
/ fine lot"
Some of them are good men, and
,ou would know it if you were fair
"Read the riot act to me, Hor-
lce." Calhoun Terry put big
,rown hand on the scrawny Shout
Ter of the editor. "Say whatever
S in your mind"
The younger man knew that Gar
'ey was his friend, and had been
,ver since the day when Calhoun
lad stepped with horsewhip be-
ween a hectoring ruffian and the
title editor.
A smile broke the hard lines of
'erry's face and for the moment
bowed it warm and friendly. "I'n
axe your advice, oldtimer. I'm on
ny way now"
The coWman waved hand in
areWell and walked out of the build
ng. AS he crossed the courthouse
rounds he passed the county judge
ust mounting the steps. They bowed
0 each other, stiff1y, without speak
1g. Judge Curtis had been elected
y the votes of the small settlers.
he allies of Terry called him
ustler's judge. They meant that no
oW thief could be convicted in his
curt.
That the old days of the free open
ange were passing forever Terry
new. For decade and a half the
attleman had been king. His stock
ad ranged the plains unhampered
nd had multiplied exceedingly. The
ig ranches had paid good dividends
, the stockholders in Edinburgh,
ondon, or Boston. Then evil days
ad fallen on the industry. The cat
e boom had collapsed.
There were several reasons for
lis. One of them was bad manage
lent Those in charge of some of
lie large ranches had fallen into the
abit of living in Cheyenne or Den
er and leaving the properties most
TO the care of Subordinates. In |
der to show profits they had over
ocked the ranges and in some
ases sold too many cows and
ilves. The grass was eaten short
I'd the winter feed killed. More
yer, as the country opened to set
ement nesters moved in and home
eaded the Waterholes. There was
'nfilct between them and the cat
: kings who had up to this time
assessed the land. AS result of
is, rustling greatly increased. 1t
as easy for a small outfit on the
Ige of big one to increase its
'ldlngs by branding calves of the
rye concern. Year by year the
ltagonlsm increased until it grew
ry bitter. The great ranches were
'omed, the managers saw, unless
ey could stop the stealing of their
ock and hold sufficient range to
ed the herds.
Calhoun Terry was particularly
ted hv the ctn, nllo,. 10.