Thursday, September 24, 1936
THE HERMISTON HERALD, HERMISTON, OREGON.
GUNLOCK RANCH
SYNOPSIS
Ï by Frank H. Spearman
Copyright Frank H. Spearman
WNU Service
Sleepy Cat, desert town of the Southwest,
is celebrating the Fourth of July. Jane Van
Tambel, beautiful daughter of Gus Van Tam;
bel, hated owner of Gunlock ranch, has arrived
from the East for the first time. She watches
the Frontier Day celebration in company with
Doctor Carpy, crusty, tender-hearted friend
of the community. Henry Sawdy of the Cir
cle Dot ranch, tricked in a fake horse race
the day before by Dave McCrossen, foreman
at Gunlock, plans revenge. He enters Bill
Denison, a handsome young Texas wrangler,
in the rodeo which McCrossen is favored to
win, and lays heavy bets on him. Unknown
to the crowd, Denison is a champion horse-
man. McCrossen and the young stranger tie
in the various events. Denison then drops a
cigarette carelessly. Racing down the track
full tilt, he picks up the cigarette.
The ver
dict goes to Denison when McCrossen refuses
to attempt the stunt. Entreated by the crowd,
Denison agrees to perform another trick. Jane
Van Tambel is asked for her bracelet and
throws it on the track. Just as Denison rides
to pick it up a yell from Barney Rebstock,
a McCrossen henchman, scares the pony, near
ly costing the rider his life. Gun play is pre
vented by the intervention of Doctor Carpy.
Rack on Gunlock ranch, after two years in
Chicago, because of her father’s illness, Jane
gets lost riding in the hills and meets Deni-
son, now a neighbor, who guides her home.
Not knowing her identity, he speaks bitterly
of Van Tambel. She tells McCrossen who
brought her home and he denounces Denison
as a cattle thief. Later she asks Doctor Carpy
why her father is unpopular and he tells her
it is because of Van Tambel’s ruthless and
unscrupulous character.
McCrossen tries to
woo Jane, but is sharply rebuffed. Once again
she loses her way in the hills and meets Den
ison. On impulse she gives him her bracelet
for guiding her home. Their interest in each
other growing, she reveals her identity to
him. Jane is distressed to learn from Carpy
that her father had wronged Denison. The Tex
an had worked at Gunlock as foreman and
been promised a share in the profits. When he
quit, Van Tambel reneged. In reprisal Denison
has been running cattle off Gunlock ranch.
Shamed and humiliated, Jane avoids Denison,
but longs to see him. When at length they
meet, he confesses his love.
CHAPTER V—Continued
—9—
“How Is McCrossen coming on, doc
tor?” asked Jane.
"He’ll be up In a few days now. The
infection is disappearing. How are
you? You’re the one I’m interested
in.”
•‘Following orders like a lamb, doc
tor. Don’t you see how brown I’m
getting?”
“Yes, outside. But what about in-
side? That’s where I want you to get
brown. By the way, your friend Bill
Denison was in to see me the other
day. He's been up north with the fire
lighters—’way up on the Crazy Wom
an at Jim Laramie's ranch. Look here,
girl,” he continued, “what are you do
ing tomorrow? We are going to have
a moose dinner. Ever eat moose?
Come in and try it.”
Jane hesitated, “Oh, I don’t know—"
“Come along. There'll be nobody
else there, if that’s what you're afraid
of?”
Sleepy Cat looked deserted when
Jane rode in next day. Jane asked
McAlpin at the barn where all the men
were.
“Up north, fire fighting.”
"Is it as bad as that?”
“I never saw it so bad in the twenty
years I've lived here and at Calabasas!
They brought in a wagonload yester
day of the worst burnt men I ever
seen in my life. The hospital’s pretty
near full. Doc Carpy was there all
night.”
Jane was for going home. She
walked up to the hotel and talked with
Buss, the housekeeper. "Don't you
go,” counseled Puss. “If the doctor’s
expecting to see you, he'll be all up-
set If you don't stay.”
"But with all these men In the hos
pital? I'd rather wait till he has a
free day,” suggested Jane.
The housekeeper laughed. “If you
wait for a free day for the doctor,
you'll wait till Judgment day. And he
might be busier then than he is now.
There's a preacher In town tills week,
baptizing folks down In the river.
'Cording to what he says, there’ll be a
lot more Sleepy Cat tire fighters need
ing help Judgment day than Is needin'
It now. Come In here and take off
your things."
When Jane snt down with the doctor
In his private dining room for the
moose dinner, he made light of the
fire situation as well as of his labors.
“All In the day's work. Puss Is an
alarmist. She’s always telling me I'm
working too hard.”
Jane repeated the anecdote of the
preacher nnd Puss' application of It
to the doctor himself on judgment day.
Carpy laughed. "That’s Panama
she's talking about. Puss Is powerful
afraid of him . . . Who Is he? Why,
a pretty good fellow—used to be an
auctioneer and all round gambler —got
converted preaches up nnd down the
line from Medicine Bend to Sleepy Cat.
But he volunteered for tire fighting.
He's one of the men got burnt yester
day. and he’s up with tne rest of ’em
at the hospital.
The ex-sherUT. Bill Pardaloe, rode
out to Gunlock two days later and con
scripted the men to tight tire coming
down the Crazy Woman and threaten
Ing Sleepy Cat.
The quiet of that day and the next
was like a calm before a storm. After
supper Jane ordered her pony saddled
and rode clear up to the summit of
Gunlock Knob, where she could see
the northern country for many miles.
When she reached the top she was
sorry she had attempted the climb. The
spectacle was awe Inspiring, but terri-
tying.
Far beyond the hills and all along
the northern horizon she saw patches
of dull, silent red. slowly rising and
falling, at moments Increasing, and
again subsiding.
She fell asleep early, but after mid-
night she woke. The sky was fairly
clear, and she could hear the wind
singing In the pines about the ranch
house. She was roused from her
thoughts by the approaching clatter
of galloping hoofs. Raising herself to
support her head on her elbow, she
listened. The clatter came nearer, the
galloping faster. In a moment she
heard a man pull his horse sharply up
and spring from the saddle under her
window.
“Miss Jane!" he called.
“Wake up, please!"
She knew the voice. "I’m awake,
Bull. What is it?"
“The boys are ridin’ in behind me.”
“All of them?"
“Everybody. They'll be here Inside
twenty minutes.”
“What time is it. Bull?”
“From the moon, about two o’clock.
The boys’ll want somethin’ to eat.
They’re ridin’ right out again. I’ll call
Quong.”
“What’s the matter, Bull—what are
they riding out again for?”
"The fire has crossed the river.”
CHAPTER VI
Bull Page, the messenger of alarm,
turned in with Quong and Jane to
make ready a hasty supper for the hun
gry, weary men.
McCrossen was in command of the
fire fighters and, at the head of the
table, looked his part. As he rose from
the supper table, his eyes were never
brighter as he walked, smoky and cov
ered with the marks of the day’s hard
fight, but smiling and fresh, over to
where-Jane was standing.
While Jane asked questions, McCros
sen lighted a cigarette. “Not a bit of
danger, Jane, to Gunlock—not while I
can get out on the fire line, anyway.
I’ve fought these infernal blazes all my
life, and I don’t figure this one’s goin’
to beat me. The only thing that wor
ries me, Jane, is to think of your bein’
here alone at home while we’re fire-
fightin’."
"Of course, I can’t help some worry
now, with the ranch threatened,” she
returned thoughtfully.
"Jane,” he said Impressively, "you
needn’t worry. I like to fight for a girl
like you. While I’m able to raise an
arm, Jane, I'll be out there thinkin’ of
you.” His hands closed firmly on her
shoulders.
She shrugged them and edged un
easily away. "Saddles, boys!” shouted
McCrossen in his rich, hearty voice.
“Look alive, there, everybody! Come
over to where my horse is, Jane. I
want you to say good-bye to us ! Give
the boys a word of cheer.”
"Where are you going?" she asked.
“Over the Divide. I want to do some
backfirin' north of the pastures. Come
along, girl,” he Insisted, taking her arm
firmly.
All at once he caught her In a vise
like grip of his arms and kissed her
twice before she could escape. She
slapped him indignantly and pushed
him violently away.
McCrossen laughed. "Slap me again,
Jane; that wns worth a string of slaps,
girl. But why not take a little prac
tice? You'd get to like It, same as
I do !"
Toward the night of the second day,
the fire crew straggled back to the
ranch house, McCrossen nt their head.
The store of beer prudently laid In
from town was rapidly depleted—cir-
circumstances seeming to forbid the re
strictions that Jane usually imposed.
Next morning, the sun rose hot and
In an atmosphere without n brenth of
wind. Faces were brighter.
But after breakfast, the mall carrier,
Ignace, from the Reservation, on his
way to town, brought disquieting news.
A fire had broken out in the timber
along the eastern boundary, nnd every
buck had been called out to fight it.
McCrossen listened carefully. "Which
way was the wind, Ignace, when you
left?"
“From the enst.”
"Hell's bells," exclaimed McCrossen,
"just where we don't want It.” He
questioned the carrier closely. The big
ranch was now threatened on the
southeast, nnd McCrossen started with
the freshest of his men for the new
danger point.
In the afternoon Jane rode Into
town to order some supplies sent out.
While she wns In Rubido’s store, a
white man from the Reservation came
In. The clerk who waited on him
asked him about the fires down his
wny.
"Not so good," said the man. “A
new one broke out this morning be-
tween the Reservation timber nnd Bili
Denison's ranch. Bill s In getting men
together now."
Jane, In another nlsle nnd unob
served, walked quietly outdoors and
down the street for McAlpin's livery
barn.
"Mose," she said to the hostler on
duty, "is Bill Denison in town?”
"He Is. His horse. Music, Is here—
Bill rode In pretty fast, an' I been rub-
bln' Music down. Bill says—"
"Mose, 1 want to see Bill. Go up
the street and see If you can find-him.
Tell hlm I want to see him and I'll be
up at the hotel.
Half an hour later Jane, sitting with
the door open In Doctor Carpy’s office,
off the hotel lobby, heard footsteps ap
proaching and, turning, saw Denison.
She rose quickly, extended her hnnd,
took his without a greeting, and spoke
rapidly and nervously. “1 heard you
were In town," she said, “and that you
were In danger at the ranch—I sup-
pose, for that matter, we all are. But
they said you were taking out men.
and I wanted to see you. Bill, and ask
what we could do to help. You won't
take that amiss, I’m sure.”
“How could I take anything amiss
from you?"
“In a common danger," she said,
flushing In some confusion and inter
rupting him to hide It, “we ought to
help one another in the hills. What Is
there I can do? What is the situation,
Bill?"
“Well, I suppose I might say. It's
like the situation of a man with a
loaded pistol pointed at his head,” he
answered. “I’m all right as long as
the gun doesn’t go off. The wind's got
Its finger on the trigger, and you know
how these hill winds are—blamed un
certain when they get going—’’
“But what can we do at the ranch to
help make you safe? Is there any
thing, Bill? Anything to help?"
Both were conscious of slight strain.
Denison shuffled awkwardly. “Why,
Miss Jane—”
“Since when Miss Jane?” she asked
with asperity. “1 didn't know—” he
began.
“Neither did I know, Bill. Now an
swer my question. If you’re In dan
ger, tell me what I can do."
“Have the boys keep a close eye on
the two Reservation fires. If either
of ’em get around Gunlock Knob, It’ll
be kind of bad for both ranches.”
"Yes, but. Bill, how am I to know
when or whether they do get around
the Knob? How am I going to know
whether you yourself need help?” She
was beginning to realize that It was
impossible to get anything but evasive
generalities out of him. “Tell me this:
If you need help from us, will you send
me word? Right away?”
He thought for a moment. “I’ll send
word over to you at the ranch house,
Jane.”
She could not escape the significance
of his tone In uttering her name. But
she kept her balance and spoke stead
ily:
“Keep your promise, Bill; I shall be
waiting for the word when it comes.”
Along the hill trail as Jane rode
home the air was heavy with smoke
drifting slowly up from the south. It
was laden with the pungent smell of
brush fire and acrid with the creosote
of burned slashings from cut-over lands
on the Reservation.
Reaching home, she was not sur
prised to find everything there abnor
mally quiet. McCrossen, with most of
the men, was up In the hills. The
sole exception to the general atmos-
pheric gloom was Quong. Nothing had
yet daunted the busy China boy.
When Jane dressed at daybreak and
looked out, the wind had shifted and
was blowing fresh from the south.
McCrossen and his men were up
betimes. He reported to Jane that
they had checked the fire up toward
the pass. He was in good spirits.
Jane went to her breakfast feeling
reassured. She was finishing her cof
fee when Quong stuck his head
through the kitchen door into the din
ing room and said: "Man to see!"
Jane walked to the front door and
found a man on horseback.
“What can I do for you?”
"I’ve just come from Bill Denison's.
He says If you can spare a dozen men
quick, he can, maybe, save his ranch
buildings.”
“Tell him I’ll do everything I can
to get them over right away. What’s
your name?”
“Scott, ma’m."
Jane ran over to the corral, where
McCrossen was closing the wire gate.
“Bill Denison has sent a messenger
over—”
"I saw him,” interjected McCrossen
curtly.
"—asking for help,” Jane went on
rapidly. “If we can get a dozen men
over to him quick, he can save his
ranch buildings—’*
“A lot of gall, ain’t it, BUI Denison
lookin’ to Gunlock for help?”
“No matter what differences there
have been," Insisted Jane firmly, “In
the hills we're all going to stand to
gether in a time like this. Get the
men together, Dave, and get over quick
and do what you can."
McCrossen, drawing from his pocket
a plug of tobacco, bit off a chunk. “I
don’t approve of that.”
"It's not a question of your approv
ing, Dave, I want you to- go. Right
off ; now !"
McCrossen was In no hurry. “Who’s
goin’ to look after Gunlock If I go over
to Bill Denison’s?" he asked, regard
ing Jane sullenly.
Jane was nobody's fool on the dan
ger of the situation.
“Dave.” she exclaimed, Impatiently,
“you know the worst threat to us, with
this wind, is from the south. If the
Denison ranch burns we're in danger
ourselves. Will you saddle up quick
and get over there with the boys?”
she demanded.
McCrossen made no move to go. “I'll
tell you right now I've had a damned
sight more experience in these forest
fires than you have. And 1 say my
place's right here!” He spoke loudly
and angrily.
Jane grew white. “I want you to
know I'm boss of this ranch. My fa
ther has told you so—nnd this order Is
going to be obeyed or I’ll know why."
McCrossen faced her with as much
animosity as he dared show. "Well,
If you want to know one reason why
your order won't be obeyed. Just look
at me—I'm a reason. I know where
my place Is when Gunlock's in danger,"
he thundered.
"Stop your talk !" exclaimed Jane.
"Will you do as I tell you or not?"
"I win not."
"Then you’re discharged as foreman
of this ranch. Take your things and
get off It by tomorrow morning.”
"Like hell I will."
(TO
BE
CONTINUED)
It Doesn’t Pay—
Doing Favors for Others With
Thought of Return Disappoints
'THE older I grow the more I
- am appalled by the ingrati
tude, the complete lack of a sense
of obligation on the part of our
fellow human beings.
“With me the people who come
first are always those to whom I
have any obligation whatsoever.
Anything that is done for me is
constantly on my mind and 1 am
on the lookout to repay. But look
about you and you will observe
the most inconceivable indiffer
ence on the part of most other
wise decent people to what they
owe to others. Indeed the code
seems to be to cultivate those
from whom some advantage may
be forthcoming and neglect those
to whom we are indebted. The
answer to At all is to put yourself
out for nobody; it doesn’t pay.”
The above lament was received
by an international writer of note,
who answers as .ollows:
It must have been an unusually
unfortunate chain of experiences
that gave this woman such an un
happy slant on human nature. But
certain it is that favors done with
thought of return are bound to
bring disappointment. In this
busy, hectic world, people are
likely to be rather casual about
give and take. That does not
necessarily mean that they are
unappreciative. They are just not
punctilious. Frequently a kind
ness makes its mark but time
Happiness
RUE happiness can never
be founded upon falsehood.
The profits of lying are much
over-estimated. It pays to be
true. At least we shall be at
peace with ourselves. Where is
happiness? It is to be found
in the world all about us, in
the stillness of a summer night,
in the pride of a good thing
done, in the flush of a summer
dawn, the following of an ideal,
the strong grip of a friend, the
perfect heart of a rose, or the
wild sweetness of a song. It
is always very near.—Dame
Nellie Melba.
A contented heart is an even
sea in the midst of all storms.
•
Foreign Words
and Phrases
passes before occasion presents
itself to show appreciation, or to
reciprocate. After all, if we think
enough of people to put ourselves
out for them, as our reader says,
there must be a certain amount
of faith.
If we do things for others only
because we want to do them and
find a certain satisfaction in it,
we have nothing to lose. But the
expected reward is something like
the watched pot—very disappoint
ing. In fact, it doesn’t nay.
© Bell Syndicat«— WNU Service.
Labor Lost
An American, trying to impress
upon an Englishman the size of
the United States, remarked: "A
train starting in the southern part
of the state of Texas, traveling
all day and night, is still in the
same state.”
Said the Englishman: “Oh! we
have some of the same kind of
trains over here.”
Adscriptus glebae.
(L.) At
tached by law to the soil; after
the manner of serfs.
Bagatelle. (F.) A trifle.
Cela saute aux yeux. (F.) That
is self-evident.
Id genus omne. (L.) All that
class; all of that sort.
Jacta est alea. (L.) The die is
cast.
En regle. (F.) According to
rules.
Fides Punica. (L.) Carthaginian
faith; i. e., treachery.
Gasconnade. (F.) A boastful,
bragging speech.
Hacienda. (Sp.) A country es
tate.
Danser sur un volcan. (F.) To
dance on a volcano; to be blind to
the danger of one’s position.
L’etoile du nord. (F.) The north
star. (Motto of Minnesota).
Macte virtute. (L.) Increase in
virtue.
Temper in Solitude
When I get good and angry, 1
insist on being alone. It saves
my reputation for being explosive
and dangerous, and for years this
was my heaviest handicap—tem
per.—Van Amburgh.
EXPERT
OPINION
Collecting ’Em
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Too Well
Stranger — Is Shortleigh well
known around here?
Native—I’ll say he is. He is so
well known that he has to go out
of town to borrow a quarter.
Mn. M. E. Rynerson
Indiana State Fair Winner
Had to Show It
Teacher, inspecting child’s
drawing of “The
Flight into
Egypt”—Very good. But what’s
that dot on the end of the string?
Child—That’s the flea, ma’am.
“The flea?”
“Yes, ma’am. It says: ‘Take
the young child and flea into
Egypt.' ”
Her One Thought
He—When are you thinking of
getting married?
She—Constantly.
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