Hungry Horse news and Columbian. [volume] (Columbia Falls, Mont.) 1946-1948, 1948-01-09
CHAPTER XII

very little was talked of except the
murder of Pete Tolman and its re
lation to the other two killings which
had preceded it. The victims hao
all been active and fragrant rustlers
Real fear, though generally con-
cealed, was plainly in evidence a,
the dance. Ellen read it in the nerv-
BUSINESS of those she met, in the
lowered voices and furtive whisper
ings.
jeff Brand asked Ellen for a
dance. She rose at once and took
her place with him in the quadrille.
Lane Carey had brought her to the
dance.
Her eyes danced with hooking
laughter. "You promised to help
entertain my beau, and I haven't
seen you say word to him vel"
He laughed. Whoever else might
be worried, Jeff Brand was not.
"You chose the wrong beau, hon.
ey."
He was a graceful scamp, and
he danced as no other man in the
room did.
Her gaze held to his, interested
and a little puzzled. Everybody
else is worried and unhappy about
what happened today. You seem
to be on the top of the world. Wasn't
Pete Tolman friend of yours?"
I'VE rode lot of trails together"
he said.
"Well?"
II ought to be pulling long face,
you think. My idea is different. Pete
did lot of living in his twenty
four years. Maybe he wandered off
the reservation considerable. He
made his own laws, and he had a
lot of fun doing it. I've heard him
say he didn't want to live to be an
old man with creaky joints, that
he'd rather go out high, wide. and
handsome. I'm gonna miss him.
But when l think of him it will be
as l saw him last, waving hand
at me as he went over the top of a
1ill at a gallop."
Ellen said, Il understand now"
She added gently, pete would not
want you to act solemn"
She still was not quite satisfied to
lrop the subject. "You know what
S worrying everybody"
"Say it plain" His face creased
o smile. "They figure I'll be
lext."
why don't you leave this part
# the country-start tonight for
she asked impulsively.
His cool eyes rested on her. why, |
like this country, and my girl |
ives here" he drawled.
They had strolled to one Of the
enches placed along the side of the
DOM.
II didn't know you had girl"
he mentioned, her voice light
"Oh, yes. She doesn't know it yet.
think she's just beginning to find
out"
How interesting for her! She'll
e dreadfully unhappy until she is
ire of you"
II wish I was certain of that" he
raWled.
Let me know when I'm to con.
ratulate you, Mr.. Brand"
"Yes," he promised. you'll
1ow."
The audacity of her next question
lrprised and delighted him. "You
'e rustler, I suppose?"
MY goodness, you 60 right to the
,int. Nobody ever asked me that
fore. You're supposed to say that
it'll smile or with gun in yore
md"
'I'l withdraw the question, since
S none of my business. But l
ould think that girl you were tell
me about would want to be very
re you weren't"
Maybe she would rather hsve a
an who Just plowed and dug" ne
ID scornfully.
''She might. There is another
me for rustling."
1--WE heard it. The big cattlemen
e to use it when they speak of
cir small neighbors, but l don't
pect they like the word applied
len they fence land that doesn't
long to them or homestead public
main by using their own riders as
mmy entrymen."
The reckless gaiety had been
shed from his face and left it
m and bitter.
(TO BE CONTINUED