The Argosy, Vol. 75, No. 4 — page 79: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

MESQUITE RANCH. “Tell him. It’s Silsby,” Red said, nodding toward the stranger. It was the first time Ted had seen his employer. In spite of his lack of height he produced the impression of being a combination of iron strength of body and will. “Whut hev I got to pay fur?” he asked. Radford explained. The face of the owner of the Mesquite darkened steadily as he learned of the develop- ments since he had gone. It was evi- dently a bitter pill for him that the Double X bade fair to acquire the rights to the Apache Spring. He lis- tened, growing more and more grim. As Ted finished he opened his mouth and spoke characteristically. “ Hell!” he growled, and turned on his heel. At dawn the next morning the herd- ers were routed out and the bunch of cattle that had moved restlessly about the ranch-house all night was started eastward. Radford was ordered to go along. Silsby meant to take by might what he was refused by right. Radford caught a glimpse of him as he galloped ahead, and he concluded that the owner of the Mesquite was looking forward to a fight in order to work off what ailed him. Big Red joined Ted when the herd was under way. ‘“Silsby says he ain’t a goin’ to let two confounded skirts say whut he kin do an’ whut he cain’t. He’s hed the use uv that thar spring sence Nick Bul- len loaded the rock-ranch off on Frenchy Fill-up. He ain’t a goin’ to let the Double X take the hull shootin’- match!” ‘Same time, Mile. le Fevre ought to be paid for—’” ‘“‘She’s too all-fired smart to suit Silsby. She might ’a’ giv’ him a chanct like she done Gill. Gill ain’t got no critters down round yander now; an’ when he drives ’em in he'll hev to set- tle with us some, I reckon.” It worried Ted to think that Natalie 781 was becoming involved in this war be- tween the two ranches. Already the Double X-ers had been doing what mischief they could to wandering bunches of cattle by running them on their own ranges and losing them among their big herds. Silsby was mad enough to fight at the drop of the hat. Natalie should have extended the privilege equally to both men; and she was pretty certain to come off badly between the two of them. The cattle were an irritating bunch.: Used to the freedom of the big ranges, unaccustomed to much direction from their herders, they resented being driven in a straight line to a given point. They proclaimed their inde- pendence by darting away into the arroyos. The cowboys went after them, sweating and swearing. The day was a long and exhausting chase after the beasts till Radford came to hate the whole layout, men, and animals. It did not add to his peace of mind to dwell on the fact that he was being returned at once to the place from which he had just been outlawed. He became more and more disheart- ened and wretched as he reflected on the position in which he stood toward the girl who stirred him to depths that would not quiet even at the command of his will. He knew perfectly that utter misery would be his companion till he had found a way to see Natalie and explain himself and his actions. He had made up his mind on his way back to the ranch to write at once to Bess. With a knowledge of what real love was, he felt the outrage and in- dignity that they both offered their bet- ter natures if they continued the en- gagement to marriage. He did not believe himself obliged to sacrifice himself to the mercenary ambitions of Mrs. Hetherington. He suspected that Bess would not break her heart about him. He honestly hoped that she had or would soon find CORNICLOOKS (E@)