h
VJL g E
V———
X SHERMAN COUNTY JOURNAL, MORO, OREGON.
FRIDAY, JANUAR1
194»
——
—
*»
a smaller income tax* and a prop
erty tax limitation. This has been
talked of many times before. As
C ou n ty O bserver
a practical matter it is not im-
* Established Nov. 2, 1888
portant, fo r -the people are notor- From the Observer, Jan. 29, 1904
Grass Valley Journal
, Established Oct. 14,1897
____v
io u ri, c . « f u l about voting new
Mr5
C O N S O L ID A T E D March 6, 1931 .
' are at home from a visit to C a l
Wasco News-Enterprise
ifornia with Mrs. R.’s parents and*
Established Nov. 1891
C O N SO LID A TED March 4, 1932 h .B. 20
sister, C. H. Belshee and J. B.
that Morrison and .faimily. Mr®. Mor-
Publiahed Every Friday at
House Bill 20 is the bill ------
- - •
,
:
Muro. Oregon
wouW
aH exemption, on r i^ n . who was dangerously ill.
Sternum County Journal
Olît of th" Mud
In Other Days j
-----Editor the taxation of real property. I t haf
»•-****
eventTi
M in o r
.
it receiving
receiving na
as luuvu
much abuse —
as
any
________
•» —
—
Entered » teeond class m atter at bi„ jn
se, , ion> , nd fo r sev-
tbe Postoffice
at Moro, Oregon
em , , eMi<(n, previous, as well.
under Act of Congress of March
who hawe
'
been
fattening
on
tax
exempt
B, 1879.
property ownership feel, that the
bill Is a personal attack on It. I t
J/ i— las
. ,.
•
18 There are probably good rea-
ie
ION
J
a ; avint, ’ nw of the
P lIL IS
sons fnr not taxing some of t n .
things exempted by
the
law;
O F F IC IA L C O U N T Y PAPER
there can hardly be ar.v ~eod rea-
son Ior
for exciIipiulK
exempting „ all
the prop-
SU B S C R IP TIO N R A TES
son
„ of
..........
Payable in Advance -
that now *
UxCB
G
recovere
n r ’ a combination
of
A thier or a comomau
.
K4
1
thieves are mfesting Moro and
vicinity. L. Barnum Monday night
had a visit from them and now
hi» locker lacks 20 jam of straw-
berriee.
D r. Idleman h a . con-
tributed a cord of wood to them
in two weeks and Van K irk at
I*M o s s contributed a cord in one
night.
Several otners have had
x^i__
tk av nrr dn«
»t ices s
■
per^te, and now a watc is
g
kePl
and
as
8OOn*
as
the
r,ght
.
ones are located Sherman county
.
IBRIDE
RNEST MAYCOX
thipf
_______________
_
Mrs. Jean McMullen ,____
of Perryville,
M d , ic ready to hook up w ta c h r f
army half truck, purposely ground-
ed *n the mud of the automotive
leg| coar5e at Aberdeen, M d , prov-
¡ng irountja Mrg McMullen never
had
before, , except
--------- a — job -----------
--------- that of
bringing up her son of five.
ONE YEAR— ......... - ........... >*•»>
One can hardly expect cen.e- will loose a resident or two but
J A N U A R Y 2». IM »
JA W U A »»
t * r i « u P«X » U x : n0 one would j*“
Sotom peir-4»ti-
government #eency would be .„creased that much. .
,
i ■
„
f.T ,, ,rs . p r o i l l T r e e s
J
T H E STOUT SO F AU: Clay Morgaa,
a sdltary asaa wbo caaaot forçai tbo
wife who died battac him, refasos to
••play ball” wttb Bea Heroadoea, a
rancher wbo wants to raa tbe cattle
country bis owa way. Morgaa to » big
raacber and baows bo mast yrotoct bias-
self against rustier« aad "ao»tor»,” bat
be doesn't Ube Hereadeea'■ methods. Of
bl> old friend«, only Hack Breathitt bas
not coao over to He r «ni« «a *» »ldo. Tbe
ether»— like U < e White, Charley HIH-
'bouse aad Gard G ran t » e re sapportlyc
Herendeen more or lose la eelf
■e. to to
Gurd Grant'« «toter. Catbertae.
love with Clay. Sbo
9— N »
and Is forced to bide wbea riders are
beard approacblaf. Tbe Sr«t to Hack
Breathitt, eat of breath from hard rldlag.
Nor
«ricuse
Relief came to her, though there
was a shading of worry that
wouldn’t leave.
“GurCs a little
touchy about me. I wouldn’t want
. . . ” She didn’t finish that sentence.
She showed him a stronger color
ing, and covered It up with a quick
question. ”1 beard all the talk. Are
you sure you’re right, d a y ? ”
He said: “Do what you can to
keep Gurd out of i t Ben’s going to
'play hell with a lot of people. I f it
comes to a showdown I ’ll have to
go against him.”
She murmured, ”1 know.” and the
color of her eyes turned darker,
turned softer. She saw the length
of hl® jaw and the tension around
his lips and ths smoky excitement
rising In his eyes. She said in a
■' CHAPTER V
small, hurried voice, “Good night.
■ A
—
Heck Breathitt stepped Jo the Clay,” and went by him. He walked
porch. He said: ’*1 guess I need a to the porch and waited until she
liyie help on this.” He was a thin, rode around the bouse. She paused
agitated shape in tbe shadows; he a moment and held out her band.
w$s swearing softly to himself, fuH The pressure of it was strong; and
tills fo r presentation to either
There is much property that is than passing notice, when a wind
of anger. He listened to the strength the shock was there again for him.
,
The matter of discussion used for profit making that does storm hits high places as did the
ening rush of the yonder horses. .She said, at once cool and near
“That will be Herendeen and Llge ,laughter: “Will I see you in town.
about what to do with the tax sit- h o t pay taxes. Much of it is in storm of Sunday night then we
White and Gurd G rant It has come Clay? There’s a dance Friday. 1
uation goes on day after day with direct competition with property have to mention that the wind
to a hell of a pass when a man think Ben wUl be taking me.” .
manv new and some
novel ideas that does pay taxes. Much of it gauge came near being dislocated
can’t ride these hills as he please».”
”I*U be there.” he said.
, in<r n u t forward
‘ is in direct competition with prop- by the pivotal action of the ele-
Clay Morgan said, rough and sud
ThP legislature will
have to de- erty that does pay taxes. Build- ments upon its superimposed an-
den: ”If they’re stepping on your
On Thursday evening just beyond
w h e t h e r it will reduce -• the ings, hospitals, schools,
etc., are atomy. That may be going some
feet, take a shot at them.”
sunset. Ben Herendeen reached the
^ t a t e i ^ e tax or follow
the in this class.
. ~
~
£
fo r language but the wind was
Hack let out a heavy. Irritated ridge behind the Gale homestead
sigh. “Not yet Clay. I ’m tryin’ to and came over it so suddenly that
lead of Governor Snell and keep . I f of no greater value, the bill a close second,
be peaceable.”
he caught the Gale family eating
it as it is I f it h reduced, how may serve to prevent
additions C. R. Belehee is havin8 , ~ ^ s
They said no more, for the three supper under a lone juniper tree in
* h w ill it be? There i i a pro- to the already too long list of
rpeat market completely renovat-
ranchers * had /reached the yard. the yard. He might have taken the
posal fo r a fifty per cent reduc- tax exemptions listed in the law.
ed and repaired; the way the work
They were stopped, they were keep route straight across Fanolango Des
. .
,
.... i
i
A v is it to the g ia nt Panam a a ir
is being done w ill help keep
e base m akcs cne t |,e recfp ien t of an
ing to their saddles, and letting tbe ert. but this would have given Gale
tion, for the removal of the .split
shop warmer in the winter and in d iv id u a l, inscribed coconut d rin k -
silence run; they could see Hack notice from afar. Liard Connor and
bracket, fo r an increase in the R E P R E S E N T A T IV E ’S REPORT
and Morgan on the porch, touched Bones McGeen, both being men who
cooler in the summer.
ing m ag.
H ere Col. G. F . H ix ,
h ig h e r b ra c k e ts to compensate f
Continued from page one.
commaiiuiag
w r u,
uasc Bou
by the outshining lamp light from liked this kind of business, were with
com m anding viu
o fficer
of *«c
the base
and
‘ the reduction in the lower brack-
pounds instead of 54,000 Fro™ the Observer, Feb. 1, 1924 or;g|nator of the idea, points to bis the living room of the house.
him.
It amused Herendeen to see the
The three left their saddles, slow
et-
pounds. The truck men used to
A. C. Thompson has recovered awn drinking mag.
complete
shock his‘ arrival pro
ly
coming
into
the
light
Morgan
The school bill has been amend-
og ooo pounds but have from a 30-day siege of the flu*
duced.
Gale
rose, gaunt and grey
had
his
quick
sight
of
their
faces,
of
ed by the school teachers them-
up
th<;ir
of how last Saturday being his first day
Gurd's worried expresston and of headed and old-faced in the twilight
selves until it bears little resem-
should be.
on the streets during that time.
'Lige White’s embarrassed dislike at
Mrs. Gale suddenly reaobed.fer
bjH : g * hftrdy perennial. A relapse when he was nearly
blance to the one passed last No-
what he was now doing, and of Ben
the smallest child, wrapping her
veraber, although the same idea having been around Salem for Lo, well helped to lengthen M>
Herendeen’s bony, flat triumph.
f
apron around him.
”It's what 1 expected.” Herendeen
want
is still included. Teachers
leacners wani
m a n y years, and always at home.
There were three other children
said.
the entire balance remaining at h&ving been decided ip f avor of
A t the regular meeting of the
in tbs family, a girl near twenty
“
You’re
lucky
I
didn’t
knock
you
and two younger buys. All of them
(he close o f the just-ended calen the railroads instead of the trucks, city council Tuesday evening an
out of that saddle.” grumbled Hack remained stiU and for a moment he
dar y e a r.- The method of actual However, the state has previously ordinance was passed setting the
B reathitt
—
•
• « W «4______
could see something pretty close to
ly getting the money back to the
i arge trucks during war- curfew
hour at 8 o’clock
“or any
“If you had nothin’ to worry terror in the eyes of Gale's wife.
school districts so it w ill reaWy
other hour designated by the city
abcut why run?” asked Herendeen. In a way it pleased him to find them
Hack Breathitt was a shrewd man stall on the ranch. He proposed to
reduce taxes is th f main problem
ign>t
ebe feut there councn ” Under the terms of the
and he had no trust in Ben Heren make an example of the family and
the teachers and the "legislative
period ordinance the hour is now set at
deen, He said, halfway between out this made It easy.
committees have before them. I t
introducing new legislation in 7 o’clock and affect® all under the
rage and amusement: ’’Wasn’t run-
”1 fave you time.” pointed out
is a hard job, especially if t h e
house is next Saturday. The age of 18 years. As the days be-
nin’, Ben. I was just bein’ careful. Herendeen.
aendi&g o f sutoplu»«« *>a<*
speaker says It will be flve’ o’clock come longer the hour wiU
b e __________________ ____
I just kept rememberin’ Ollie > “Time for what?” asked Gale.
Jacks.”
tinued over a long period. There
gh#rp and thftt biUg wU1 have to changed by resolution of thecoun- Contj,,,,,.! xrOir. page one.
“To kick a man around like ,a dog?.
Gurd Grant said: ” We were com I ain't hurting you. This ain’t near
ba« been agreement to allow the
through 1 the Legislation and cil.
•
n direct competition with the do-
ing along the trail down by Dell your range. It should be Mr. White’s
state to use income^ tux .meuey Rujeg committee after that date. * The home of M r. and Mrs. A. meatic product. I t has been esti-
Lake and saw you and Pete Bor
fo r its*letitim ate purposes instead The genate makea no such rule, M. Zevely, in this city, was glad- mater that in excess of 269 freight ders riding together. .„Pete h it off say—and he ain't complained.” He
didn’t speak of his legal right to be
of taking all afUT $7,760,000.
and, besides, committees can in- dened last
Saturday
morning, carg
be required to move the one way and you went another. All
hgre on free Government land, foi
Then there is the m atter of a troduce bills. A large influx of January 26th, by the arrival of a imported pears, which, incidental- we wanted to know waa why you he knew how hopeless it was in front
reserve fund. The governor wants
new legislation is looked for be- baby daughter.
jy, are consigned to an import- camped with him last night. But of a cattleman In cattle country.
you made a run of it.”
“That’s enough.” said Herendeen.
a reserve fund to use in the ex- f ore Saturday, although both the
ing firm in New Ydrk city. Rea
“Clay.” said Herendeen. ”you pro •’All you nesters are alike. I give
pected post-war depression
in
bouse rules committee clerk, who W IL L IA M S ’ C O LU M N
son given for having Argentina pose to shelter every brush-jumper
jrou twenty minutes to clear your
such ways as seem fitting to him. writes many ef the bills, and the
(Conrinned from
. ship the fru it is that the United that comes along?’
junk out of the shack.”
“ Hack’s a friend of mine.” , stated
Others want a reserve fund to be attorney general’s office report no without paying one cent of prop- States hopes to win that country
Mrs. Gale at once turned and ran
Morgan, “ and he’s on my land I II
set up for the sole purpose of re- g reat list of bills waiting to be erty
Yet the little fellow away from Germany,
for the hpuse, calling over her shoul
‘stand behind him.”
ders. “Gale, help me. Daisy—come
duemg state property tuxus after written.
who
.
v no owns
o w n s his
n is home
iiupine » a block
u iw h away
onaj
Herendeen said, to Breatiutt, ” If
help me.”
ted
depression.
The
gov-
j
f
the
senate
follows
the
action
pftys
hig
$75
or
$100
a
y6ar
U
xes.
There
is
scarcely
a
county
r
i
the expected
gov
I ever see you around my country.
Gale didn’t move. He had his head
ild
apparently
be
satis-
of
t
be
house
it
will
be
possible
Many
of
the
legislators
would
Oregon
that
has
not
written
to
ernor would
Hack. I ’ll open up on you.” He
down and he stared at the ground,
a
reserve
fund
set
up
f
or
wine
bibbers
to
partake
of
nke
to
know
the
rea9on
why,
and
the
congressional
delegation
in-
< swung on his heels wid left the hard-caught by indecision and futili
Tied with
___ L_..
fo r two years; those who want a
tl>«ir favorite beverage over the ^ uitnomah ctob is only one of sistin« that something be done porch.
ty. * Tbe girl, Herendeen ^served,
Fr^m his place by the doorway.
reserve 'fu n d fo r direct property ta r, providing that the wine must many which have been on the free ,to induce the °® “ oi Price
was pretty. He stared at her out
tax relief want the fund to be be naturally fermented, not over ligt for yearsW
ministration to increase the ceU- Morgan noticed Gurd Grant swing of interested eyes and was irritated
from the porch end with a strange
so set up th at it could not be 14 per cent alcohol, made o f ber
» • »
ing on milk. The cry is th at the jerk of his shoulders and cross at by the judgment he discovered on
used fo r anything else.
ries and
other natural fru it juic-
While we’re on the tax subject, price ceiling prevents dairymen once to his horse.* He mounted herlace.
The women were carrying their
This would require a constitu- eg. The seller of wine must pay several lawmakers are giving real from receiving cost of production, quickly, waiting for Ligs Whits and
possessions out of the house—their
tiooal amendment, fo r. without a license of $50, which in most of attention to the problem of col- Senators and representatives have Herendeen. Darkness covered this kitchen implements, their clothes,
an amendment, a following legis- the 22nd
district w ill probably lecting state income taxes from" ^een ’n constant communication yard but Morgan saw Gurd’s white their few sticks of furniture. Her
and vague and staring face in the
lature could use it any way it prevent* the sale for what wine the thousands of shipyard workers
OPA,
endeen said, almost laughing. “Old
heavy shadows. A moment later all
man? if you expect to save your
saw f i t ----- ---------------- ----- ;
— - drinkers there are among t h e and others who are certainly in •
.
*'
three of them trotted from the yard.
wagon you better get it out of the
There are others who are pow- wheat farmers and sheep herders the tax-paying bracket, but . . f o r ..
Japanese' relocation c®rter
As they left. L ife White said
shed.”
erful who think the best thing is o f the 22nd district like the hard- the most part seldom pay. Many
.u e a e aa
era in
a 1 something to Grant. Gurd Grant
Gale stirred himself. He walked
to use the surplus now to reduce er, quicker
stuff.
Incidentally, are new arrivals in Oregon who or™a a”
a
0
n” never heard i t In stepping to ths * across the yard with his knees nev
end of the porch he had noticed his
taxes, even though state taxes are the fortified wines, which make dc not own homes, but as a rule ves ga^e
y a
er quite straightening. He called to
already low. The income tax is up over 90 per cent of wine sales, they have families and one or commi
eport is
a
ese sister’s horse in the farther dark the oldest boy, “Give me a band, son
ness and at that moment all his
not so low, but in general state w ill probably be put in
liquor more youngsters of school age. .ca™ps are J 60?1/ ! 11*
long wonder at her relations with ny,” and both of them seized the
taxes are not burdensome.
stores or abolished entirely if the As to be expected, these workers, 1. lon
13 J™ J?”
.° Morgan froze into solid certainty— tongue of the wagon and backed it
from the shed. Afterwards Gale
There is the m atter of some sentiment against “winos" grows who are receiving wages as high
* sub and left him. in that one passing went into the eorral for his horses.
interval, no longer Morgan's friend.
pay-as-you-go plan th at
would around the legislature. ‘‘W in o s’ as $12.50 peT day, pay nothing in
. g
’ -
,,
Hack said: ’’Well. I'll drift along." Herendeen watched the family move
M -y
plan uiav
wvuiu
7
1 aia ^ ai
\
«x
x x a -
versive aliens are causing trouble.
around the yard. He looked at his,
tap the great fund of wages and often wind up m state institutions, the way of city or state taxes,
••Put up for the night Hack.”
salaries
So fa r the only
unemployment
yet they demand
and receive
the
s a la r ie s being
w i n g paid
p a ia to
to defense
a e i^ n s e wor-
w or-
#
— — — r — < -----------------
-----------------
------------
----------------------- -
---------
“No,” said Hack. “But I ’m obliged watch, and was a little disappoint
kers whose residence in the «tate compensation amendment offered benefits of government that tax- Moro Lodge No. 113. I. O. O. F. for the help.” He looked down at ed that it was so easy. He said:
"That’i ' twenty minutes. Set ’em
. _
•
si
•
«
___ __________ _____
_______9 _____
Kfiim
Moro, OrPtrnn
Oregon
the floor. Involved in his own un
is probably temporary.
Such a i» for a „very minor change in the payers receive
afire.”
Meets 1st and 3rJ certain thoughts. ”It is the last
plan is difficult of attainment be- law, and this may be one session
Observations from the
pres®
Bones McGeen rode to the shed.
Tuesdays
hr th< time I ’ll run from those fellows,
cause it has not been used any when that law does not cause a box:
Frank Bramwell,
former
Liard
Connor got down and went
I.O:.O.F. hall Trai Clay. I wanted no «hootin’. Now, I
into the house. Herendeen heard
place and it would have to b e disturbance of some rather vio- superintenwent of bank®, here on
sient and visiting don’t give a damn.”
written all new and then, of course l^nt sort.
business. . . O. U . Eby of Ore-
brothers are cordi
•‘Watch your step. Don’t let Ben him tramping around the place; the
«Ml
stove crashed down and in a little
bc subject to trial and error until
* '* . *
k ° n City, chairman of the W il-
ally invited to meet push you Into'the wrong stall.”
while smoke began to puff through
• Hack drew a long breath. “So
the bugs were worked out of it.
Snow in Salem is a n , entirely laanette valley flood control pro •
vith us
the door. Connor came back. Mc-
far.” he aaid, ”1 ain’t done a thing
Some sort of a with holding tax different thing than in the eas- j<ct, drops in to talk about floods. Charles C. Wilson, N.G.
Geen biid piled some sage wood
to be ashamed of. Clay. I want
on wages and other income is pos- tern Oregon country. Here it is . . A rthur McMahon of Albany I'eicy Thompson, Sec.
against the corner of the shed, and
you to know th at Well, ao-tong.”
now this lira began to burn. Gala
aible, but in case of cessation of »°rt oi »
that no one expects, looks around.
. -'and so doe®
------ - —
He was soon gone, galloping south
stopped hameasing the horses. He
the w ar would not be a very ef- °> welcomes. There are no snow Charles Sanford, vico president
ward
down ths narrow valley. Mor
1 !F
put his back against the wagon,
fective means of keeping up the plows to take it off the street® of Pacific Power A Light.
’ upme Rebekab-tudgs No
gan waited until the sound of all
Moro; Oregon
watching the fire catch hold.
these travelers faded Into the night
state’s
_______
and roads,
apparently,
n o King u Byran
furni-
ate s revenue.
-----
ana und,
n » u i,
V iu,
w naug o f . the retail
ua
au «» a
& 4 lh T u ^'
One aide of the shed turned Into a
before
going
to
the
living
room.
There is a suggestion that a »now shovels to take it off the ture dealers looks thing» over. ¿av of eacR inonth; ‘
yellow
sheet of flame; the doorway
Catherine came from the hallway
bill may be thrown into the hop- sidewalks, fo r pedestrians
a r e ditto the one and only Louise v,^iting mcnibers wel
of the shanty showed a solid roll of
toward him.
per to give some tax credit for walking in the streets between Palmer Weber of Portland and eome
smoke and fire iside—and there was
“Clay—did he see my horse?”
no
way now fqr the Gales to save
Improvements made to real prop- the capitol and the town bequisr Frank Severs, assistant district Coil® Belshee. N.G
“1 took It back of tbe house.”
anything. Herendeen said, to his
— w it
— is
— still
—.........
— —vo the tra
___ il —
____________
_____ attorney.
______ -
.Clyde Z” ~J“
M artin, the
erty, but
in - a —
nebulous
is broader
and better
- »••rénre
--
Johnston, Se<
men: ”1 guess that's all.” But be
state and may not be worked out packed there. (Note to the edi- timberman from Tacoma, chats
T.'i reka Lodge N d T lS l A -F A A -M looked at the girl, speculating on
In tim e io r this session.
tor—pedestrians are walking in with Jim Cassell, the automotive Bethlehem Chapter, No. 78.0 E. a
Meets on the 1st and her. He said: “I ’m not as bad as
The s®1* ® tax is atill talked of the streets in Sherman county, big-®hot from Portland. .
. Gen.
M q o, Oiegor.
3rd Thursday eve you’d figure. You want a job? It’^
by Senator McKenna, who would too). I t rained the firs t of the Ralph Cowgill, chief of the state
Meets Every Second'*and
ning® of each month. one way of keeping your family
alive, anyhow.”
like to bo of some aid to large week and it is likely that the guard, looks very happy,
Fourth Thii.’ *days in each
Visiting members are
Gale left the horses and walked to
property owners ifl the metropol- storm is pretty well over except the governor just signed the guard
Month. Visitin g member«
cordially invited to
Herendeen. He said: "M r. Heren
Invited
Itan district. He has a theory of for a few days of wading in slush, bill.
Kelly Loe, big-time
meet with us.
deen. my daughter would drop dead
g new tax system fo r the state that would be a beneficence to the labor man, here to keep Bill Nick« N o rm a B a ls ig e r W . M .
D«rwin Van Gilder. W. M.
before she took anything from you.
M arie U 08^ ln»on, Sec.
which would include a sales tax, grain fields—but isn’t here. '
erson company.
C V. Belknap, Secretary
u „■ p t
~ *
■ A X F m m u N R
T a x committees of the legisla-
tore have not yet gotten down to
hard work on the job before them
X
”
the work of w riting
destroy them if foreclosed. Plac- From the observer. Jan. 30. 1911
of actual worship can h a rd ly .................
he taxed as a practical matter.
Weather, the common, steady,
either, nor can municipal property reliable Shenman county sort that
used for
strictly governmental Jupiter Pluvius generally
gives p g
purpo.ee.
_
thia section. seldom receive, more . »
a i
/
Mrs. Gale reld en iy reached for
the smallest child, wrapping her
apron around him—
And if the did take anything
kill her. I guess you’ve done us ui
the hurt you can. Go on and leav<
us alone. Someday, maybe I car
pay you hack.”
“ Hold on there,” said Herendeen.
He got off his horse and walked
up to Gale, catching the frpnt e f
Gale’s shirt in his fingers. He shook
Gale A little but there wasn't any
resistance in the older man at all.
his body swayed to the pressure of
Herendeen's arm. Mrs. G aft's eyes
showed a sudden terror One of the
boys reached down to seize a rock;
he would have thrown it at Heren
deen if the girl hadn't caught his'
arm.
Herendeen said: “ YoU had better
keep your damned mouth shut
Hitch up that team and get out <tf
the country. I don't went to see
you on this range a fip n .”
He released Gale and returned to
his horse. Connor and McGee«
joined him, the three of then c ir
cling the snapping, twisted rush of
fire: flames broke through the shan
ty’s roof and the sky above this
area began to glow. Looking back
as a m atter of caution. Herendeen
saw the family still standing by the
juniper tree. The girl had taken
the youngest child in her arms Gale
had moved 'over to his wife. His
arm was around her; she had throv
her apron across her face and was
crying. >------- —--------- ------- ------- -
Late Friday afternoon. Just as
Clay Morgan was ready to leave
the ranch for War Pass. Vance Ket-
chell came into the Long Seven yard
and dropped off a tired horse Vance
was a steady-going young man who
once had been a puncher for Heren
deen's Three Pines and now owned
a few cows of his own up on the
slope of the Cache Mountains
He
didp’t say anything foF*!?- mojjient
but Morgan saw that he v,as un3er ’
considerable strain— and \aited fOr
Vance to make his t a i;
Vance
fashioned a cigarette, lighted it and
stood with his feet apa.t. staring
across the narrow valley Cats. He
said, “ Pretty country,” but really
didn’t see i t When he 1 ushed his
hat back a mop of ba:r. black as
crow, dropped down on Ins forehead.
“Clay,” he said at la. t. “you hear
about the Gales?” •
“ Yes.”
’ “ I saw thereover in Freeport y e P
terday. Pretty-tough— p re tty to u g h .”
He smoked on and Morgan knew he
had not y6t come to his point. Some
thing on the summit of the Mogul
Hills seemed to interest Vance Ket-
chell as he added casually: “ 1 like
the fam ily—I like the g irl.7
“Sure,” said Morgan, and under
stood port of Vance’s trouLle then.
•jClay, if that can happen to a
nester. it can happen to n:e
I ’m
pretty small potatoes and it looHs
like something's afoot lo push us
out.” He stared at Morgan, then said
in an idle voic^ “ I heard the big
outfits held a meetin’ the other day.”
“Wasn’t present.” said Clay
- He knew what lay in Ketchell’s
mind. Ketchell was a cow hand "at
heart but be had his own interests
to worry about now. and the affair
at the Gale homestead hit pretty
close. Ketchell was figuring out the
politics of the country, wondering
where his, Morgan’s, weight would
be. Ketchell was too old a hand to
ask the direct question, but never
theless he kept circling around,
hunting an answer.
Ketchell said:
" I dcgi't think it
was right of Herendeen. Can’t blume
A big outfit for watchin' its own
fences, but I ain’t so ignorant
I
used to be. Small folks have got
rights. Clay. There’s a hen of iT
lot <rf them In this world—and they
got rights.”
“If I were Gale,” said Morgan.
”Td cut the price of that home
stead out of Herendeen's hide.”
He saw relief change Ketchell's
face
completely.
Vance
tossed*
away the cigarette; he was grin-
Bing beneath the shadow o f his h a t
brim . “ Yeah,” he said. “ W ell, see
you in church.” He was on the horse
and toon, away and aomcwht.v m
tys mind waa a decision formed m
that little space of time. .
(TQ BB CONTIM LDj
Z