Hungry Horse news and Columbian. [volume] (Columbia Falls, Mont.) 1946-1948, 1947-05-09
ZzMYoF RE E!
J A * S o N o L

! for belligerent. "All our ranches ano
stock put together won't fetch that'
"Why, 1 always thought you oroa
of all creation were worth millions,
Bartle sneered.
Haskell tried to keep his temper, put
it was difficult. He felt the hot Diooo
of resentment suffusing his face.
"Listen to mep' he made maj
plea. "We ranchers can raise maybe
seyenty-five thousand cash between US.
Well buy"
"Three hundred and fifty thousand
or nothing" Bartle's smile was in
furiatingly triumphant.
Haskell could stand no more OF tne
banker. He turned and trudged
heavily to the door.
"I've had my say" he growled over
| his shoulder. I'm telling you that
no tobacco man sets himself up in the
north end of Deep Water Valley-and
that's fiat. Now go on with your
blasted plans 7" He stormed down.
stairs and out, slamming the outer door
after him until the glass in it ratified.
Bartle smiled. He knew the i'm
minence of open warfare between cat
tlemen and tobacco farmers, but what
matter? Let them fight! Nothing
could fit into his own plans better.
For under the smoke screen of battle
there would be safety, profits for him
AS the cold gray of daybreak paled
the eastern sky, sober-faced, solemn,
bitterly silent riders converged on
Pete Haskel's Half Circle Fl Ranch |
in the north end of Deep Water
Valley.
Pete Haskell himself, with Tim Cal
Ian, who had ridden home with him
from Gold Greek, soemnly greeted
each new arrival who swung down
from his horse and entered the ranch
house. Twice Haskell surveyed the big
room which, huge as it was, soon be-
came uncomfortably crowded with
these men of the range who had rid
den here at his behest and were wait
ing for him to tell them what he had
in mind.
II have been palayering with Russ
Bartle," Haskell began seriously. "But
didn't get anywhere. He knows he's
got the whip hand, and he aims to
use the whip"
Luke Wallace edged closer to the
table over which Haskell spoke.
did you offer to buy all the north
end of the valley-as we suggested ?"
lie asked.
yeah, l did" Haskell's lips tight
med grimly. "But Russ has been
so everlasting much that
lie hasn't got any respect for anything
ess than six figures crowding one be-
lind the other. The price of the north !
nd of the valley-he says-is three {
hundred and fifty thousand dollars.
lash !"
That's plain highway robbery t
ried Wallace. r
Did you tell him there wasn't that S
luch money in this whole half of the
ounty?" inquired Callan.
"Of course l did," Haskell answered. Il
But | should have known enough not S
}. 1t didn't mean anything to him, l!
nd he cared less" t
Did you tell him we wouldn't let Is
ny tobacco farmers squat in the north
Id of the valley?" asked a whiskered
dster from the back of the room, his t;
DICE quivering with emotion. tt
YEAH told him that" a
And that if one fence went up to j
yep our cattle away from the water NJ
eve got right to, that we'd take t;
e law into our own hands?" urged s.
uke Wallace. IL
No" Haskell cut him off. 1--WE
ZEN hoping that some of you men
I've thought of something less NANCY N
an riding roughshod over farmers v
at are only trying to make living,
ter ALL"