Hungry Horse news and Columbian. [volume] (Columbia Falls, Mont.) 1946-1948, 1948-02-06
CHAPTER XVIII

|3 Ond time.
~ hope you are satisfied ESQ
- the note said. Well, you can't
drag me into trouble with you.
1 am sticking by what told you
= the other day. Count me out OF
the whole business. I'm through
before you start on any plans
you have.
The name signed at the bottom
was Calhoun Terry.
Ellison helped himself to a drink,
paced the floor, and returned to his
desk. He picked up pen and wrote.
The burden OF his message was told
in two lines.
Since am going down to Jim
Creek station tomorrow l will
drop in at the ranch and have
talk with you.
He sealed the note and took it out
to Slim, who was waiting at the
clubhouse for an answer.
After the cowboy had ridden away
he went back into his office and
walked the floor again. Irritably he
admitted to himself that he had
made mistake. His gunman had
moved too fast for him.
When he dropped in to see Terry
he defended what he had done, on
the ground that it was necessity.
He made the further point that in
wiping out the thieves the big
ranches would be doing service to
the territory.
Terry shook his head. 1--WE been
thinking this over, and have
changed my mind about some
things :"
"Wait minute" Ellison inter-
rupted. "You think I haven't played
fair with you. I want to say that I
couldn't have prevented the killing
OF Black Yeager. It happened on
your way home. right after our
talk"
Il understand that" the manager |
OF the Diamond Reverse B agreed
stiff1y. We'll leave Yeager out Of
this. Point is, don't enjoy being
shot at myself. If Yeager had fred
hairs breadth straighter I would
be where Jim McFaddin is now.
To think that you can ambush rus
tiers wholesale without having them
play the same game is criminally
foolish. There is no stopping that
kind Of business. It is like those
Kentucky feuds. They 60 on for
ever"
$50 will this thieving, if we don't
do something about it," the Bartlett
manager said CURLY.
'I'n do what I can about it,"
Terry answered. IF we catch a
man stealing our stuff, or if we find
it in his possession, I'll hang him
to tree. That's as far as I'll go.
/ won't join in an organized drive
to wipe out suspicious characters"
Then the Diamond Reverse B
outfit is through, unless it changes
its manager"
otis through, whether it does or
not. There's no other answer, Eli
son. The day of the big ranch is
past. Settlers have homesteaded
along the creeks and on choice bits
of range. More are coming in ev-
cry year. We can't buck the law.
Some of the large outfits are fenc-
ing land that isn't owned by them.
They can't get away with it. They
are licked before they start. Like it
or not, the cattle empires are going
to vanish. I've tried not to believe ,
this, but it stands out as plain as {
Old Badly there" I
$50 you're quitting" Ellison said. =
II have advised my people to sell &
at profit while there is still time"
Sell to whom?" :
ITO settlers. My idea is to break t
up the ranch into twenty or more
small ones. 1t can be divided so !
that the land will sell like hot {
cakes" +
From Ellison's gray face the color
seemed to drain. 'By God, you
take the cake, Terry" he said, re- c
strained anger riding in his voice.
First you are with the small fry. ;,
Then you throw them over and join =
is. Now when we have fight on =
our hands you are deserving us to
20 back to them"
Terry felt the rage boiling up in :
lim. You're too bull-headed, Eli :,
ION, and too smooth in your work. !,
We were supposed to be allies, and
you double-crossed me by ordering
hese men drygulched. Do you think {
you are God Almighty, with the pow a
n of life and death in your hands?" II
White spots pinched into the nose .,
# the visitor. He too was holding -
lis temper in by sheer will. Its -
me way or the other" he flung h
Jack contemporary. Either you ;,
at on us, or you keep your mouth ~
hut and get the benefits Of our drive -,
Without taking any of the risk. You e.
nay have your choice, sir" b,
Ellison picked up his wide Stet-
on and walked out of the room.
Calhoun Terry stood at his desk,
alient jaw clamped tight. What Ell "
son had said was true He had :.
ither to warn the rustlers or let
le drive 60 on. There was no mid III
lie ground. In any case he was
ow man without party. m