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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 3, 1938)
MEDFOTCD MATL TRTBITNE, MEPFOTtD, OREGON', TVEDNESDAY, 'AUGUST 3, 1938. i PAGE EIGHT LOVE Oil THE RANGE .BYKaSOKtlHE. The Story So Far Tntna to leav hit rtpulatlon for gun-play behind him, "Blur" Ankrom rum into troubU again when h- retcuet Lee Trone from a hand ol thuot. Th T-one ranch, the Ratur 1 It tn difficult tlei. and Ankrom accepu a job there under the name ol Abe Streeter Althouoh Lee attract! him, he remain alool became ol hie pan. When Colonr Slrulhere and hie daughter Belly amoe to . visit th Tronei. Ancrom recop nizei Strutheri at Kelton Drean. eouiin of the man he killed to avenoe hie father t death. Chapter Nine The Sheriff BEFORE thj Stockmen'f Bank in Peso Pinto, at Lee's order. Ankrom ahoved down a foot uoon the brake and brought the car to a atop. A lolid-lookinK man witn a ereat wide forehead lounged against one of the twin oillara guarding the bank's entrance He did not raise his head, but hia lleepy lids, rolling slowly up. dis closed smoke-gray eyes whose glance brushed oast Lee as ane tepped upon the walk and came to rest upon Anxrom. He returned the gaze with In terest He saw that the lounger was dreased in range clothes which be guessed to be of expensive make. These clothes, he saw were well-filled bv the heavy-muscled figure of their wearer. The man's cream-colored Stetson was shoved far back from the forehead, dis closing a rebellious tangle of cur. ly black nair. Abruptly the man's head came up, the gray eyes slid away from - A-l . A foatanAJ nn AII1V1UIIIB K'Dt"-D Oil" w. tomethlng nearer. A great brown paw came up and removed his hat while across his heavy fea turea flashed a smile. Ankrom's gaze, slightly shifting, saw that Lee Trone had come arjreasi. The man bowed with a gallant flourish. "Gosh," he said, "but It's good to see you, gal. Where you been keepin yourself?" "Out of vour way." she an swered coolly. The big man's white-toothed grin remained "Shucks." came the lazy drawl "that ain't no friendly way to talk." "I wasn't trying to be friendly.' Ankrom saw the big man shove free of the 01 ar in such a way that hia bulk presented a barrier between the girl and the door. "Lee, some folks are givln' an old time dance here on the twelfth. What say we take It in? Been a long time since vou an' I have ihaken a hoof together." There was a dry sarcasm In Lee's reply that was not wasted on Blur Ankrom: "It will be a long time before we do again If ever. Let me pass now Tom. I want to go tnslde. "Why. shucks. 1 thought you'd stopped to talk with me." he said, and made no move from where he stood. "Seems like you're awful cool today. An' this is the first time I've seen vou since vou got back. We used to be good friends. What's the matter? Did that college put big notions In your heart "Times have changed, that's all people, too." she answered: "my going away to college has had nothing to do with it. You're not the man I used to know. Tom: you've changed. A strange unrest seems to have settled on this range." "What's all that got to do with you and me?" "Your father and my father were never friends". . "But that don't have to make enemies out of vou an' me." "I'm not so sure. My loyalty lies with my father. Things that you and 1 once found possible are so no longer. I don't think we had better meet again." Ankrom could not see Lee's face: her back was to him now. But he could see the big man's features well; could see a look of resent ment stir the gray smoke of those sleepy-lidded eyes. "1 reckon," the big man said, "someone has been spreadin' lies about me." "I'm not so sure that they were lies. There was bad blood between your Dad and mine for manv years. Can you assure me that all this time vou have not brooded on Ed Ratchford's death?" Out To Bust The Rafter T RATCHFORD'S sleepy lids masked all feeling from his glance. "1 didn't think." he said, you'd ever doubt me. Lee. It's hard to see. . " Ankrom heard hia voice trail off. He stood there, hat in hand, his chin sunk down upon his chest, dnrklv brooding. Abruptly he looked up and his eves went straight to Lee's. "This - this talk that's goln' round. The best way to put an end to it an' stop these malicious, wag ging tongues. Lee. is for vou an' me to be seen together." His lips rolled back in a smile that showed his white teeth. "We better go to that dance." "I can't," Lee said quietly. "It would be disloyal to my father you mustn't ask It. Tom." Ankrom saw a tremor shake her bod . then her chin came uo. "Please let me by." When Lee had gone into the bank, Ratchford came over to Ankrom. "Who're you? 1 don't seem to re call seein' your face round here before. Stran.-er?" Ankrom's glance was calm. "I don't recall that askin' personal questions ever got to be a habit in the cattle country New fad?" Ratchford's lids rolled lower; the eyes stared back unblinking. It seemed plain that he was not used to being addressed tn lust this manner. Yet there was no resentment in his stare, tust heightening interest He suddenly grinned and shoved out his hand. My name's Ratchford I run the Straddle Bug brand." Ankrom. seized by soma per verse impulse he could not him self have put in words. Ignored the rancher's hand. "I'm Streeter Now I've answered your question Ratchford. do vou know of am reason why this palaver should h dragged out any further?" Ratchford's forehead ouckerea "Glad to know vou. Streeter Wish we had a few more nroddv pelicans like vou around this coun try Land needs 'em. Can't see no sense in you an' me not hittin' it off, though. How'd vou like a good lob?" "I got a Job." "I said a flood one." "I got a good one. What's wrong with workin' for the Rafter T7" Ratchford shrugged. "Nothin1 it you're huntin' a quick grave." ''What's the meanin' of that? I never was good on riddles." "No riddle. You ' heard what Miss Trone said to me. I reckon. Well, it's true that there's a lotta loose tongues begun to wag. Don't know where the thing ,ot started, but there's a rumor loose that I'm out to bust the Rafter T: out to even up with Old Man Trone for the death of my Dad. It all hap pened years ago. In his vounger days. Lee's ol' man was one of the graspin'est, hardest, fightin'est old cocks on this whole range. He made It awful hard on my ol' man, who was runnin' sheep then. Fact is, Trone put my ol .nan outa business. Some folks had got the notion I'm figurin' to square things up. Nothin' to it, of course but there you are." he shrugged. "Clackin' tongues may start things yet. Be hitchin' your wagon to Trouble if you tie uo with Rafter." Claydell What do you HOW come? mean?" "Just this," Ratchford said. Somebody is out to bust that out fit." 'An fgurln' to make vou Dlav the goat, eh?" mats about the size of It. Ratchford admitted. Why don't vou do something about it? Haven't vou got anv sus picions who's back of it all?" I got susDicions. ves." Ratch ford answered slowly. "But sus picions don't moan a thing. I got to have proof." Sardonic glints ap peared in his eves as he added. "vn.. c, r u .i - A UM 9UC, thldtCI, I III LlltJ Dliei- iff of this here county." Lee irone came from the bank talking earnestly with a man of striking appearance. A good six feet in his shiny black boots he stood, and carried himself like a Spanish Don. His thick, bushv eve brows appeared facile at expres sion: black sideburns, long and curling, together with the black pencil-line moustache gave his smiling face a sharp touch of the Mephistophelean Ankrom saw Ratchford ex change brief nods with this man. Lee Trone. broke off their con versation and turned to indicate her guests. "Mr. Claydell." she said, "I'd like to make you ac quainted with our friends the Strutherses." As Ankrom watched the spu rious Colonel's genial nod he won dered why the sheriff hod not been introduced to the Rafter T's guests. Evidently Lee was distinctly hos tile to natcnioro. Rntlv u,n mvinff Knmethtnfl to Claydell which brought an admir- ing grin. I certainly can think of no ac quaintance I'd rather make than yours, little ladv." His eves were bold as he looked up from a gal lant bow. "Are you going to stay at the Rafter T?" Harrv thots Dad and I are going to Dallas. We'll stop off with the f rones for a few davs though. Dad and Mr. Trone are old friends. We haven't seen them in vears: I'd practically forgotten how they looked. I can see already that I'm going to love it here." I can see that vou are, too. "Mr. Claydell. with vou around I'm sure I shall." Ankrom scowled and looked at Lee. But Lee was studying the Colonel's face. She turned as Clay dell addressed her. "Tell vour Dad I'll be seeing him tonight. Leu. She nodded. Color brushed the cheeks of Sheriff Ratchford "Be lieve I'll stop out at the Rafter T tonight myself." Ratchford said. Mind giving me a lilt Lee s eves were cold. I don t believe the Rafter T's hospitality could include you. Mr. Ratchford. I'd stay away if I were vou." He took the insult calmly: his smile never wavered. "I'll take the chance." he said, and climbed into the front with Ankrom. IC-er-nlr 1JI. a'wim c. Ratchford chats with Ankrom, to morrow. Natives Object as Tourists Make Bali 'Paradise ' Costly DEN PASAR, Ball (AP) "ParadlM bo longer pays" la th verdict ot young and old Ball natives. They complain they cannot afford the new standards ol living now Invading this famous laland ol the Netherlands East Indies which legend and tourlRt pamphlets call "Paradise Ile." The lure ol "western storeclothes has gripped Ball, whose natives here tofore dre&sed only In a multi-colored strip of cloth worn loosely about the hips. Long -tailed shirts worn outside the trousers plus lours and (Mors bats are the covetd articles now ol the wardrobe of a young Ballnese man-about-town, while In all the larger riling dancing girls and their mothers are beginning to wesr hip length cotton Jacket. When the large round-the-world tour-boa u, carrying thousands of American tourists, visit the island each year, special BaJincae dam: are arranged for the tour in U. For three performances, and for those given weekly tn Den PaMr, the prin cipal city on the island, the BiUnese performers wear their traditional costumes of gorgeously brocsdrd (Ilk. But when a group of Bsllnrse youths and maidens gut her by them selves In the evening for dancing and son ft, "store shirts." plus fours and fedora hats are the fashionable nttlre for the man. Instead of covering their bosoms with th traditional STRANGE AS IT SEEMS By JOHN HIX For further proof address the author, Inclosing stamped envelope for reply. Reg. XT. 8. Pit Off. BLiHD tiifilifhboTanfei Com IPSNflFy MNQREDS Of HANTS rASReW W , Touch I H6 H& ToNQUE To THSMj (757-IB2Z) (las- UtN.ujhl iSyndieiU, The Blind Botanist Not since the age of three had John Gough, famous English botan ist and zoologist, laid eyes on a single plant, yet, strange as It seems, In the 68 years he lived Gough be came a leading figure in the field of nature study. Born In 1749, he was no different from any other lad of his age until he was stricken with smallpox In 1752. Blindness resulted. His parents wisely encouraged him to spend his time out of doors, and he came to love the count loss plants he could smell and touch, but not see. MftOCPN WfcR WW CARRIED BY PONY EXPRESS NEW ORi-ehNS PlChVUNS.Offlce, fif lehRS PcrORETHS W5TEMU4, His Interests naturally turned to ward a study of botany, and system atically ha set out to learn and clas sify different species of plants. He found that the tip of his tongue served him beat In examining the characteristics of plants, and merely by applying this method he could Identify hundreds of plants without hesitation. Near the close of his amazing car eer Gough once demonstrated his amazing ability by Immediately Iden tifying a rare plant of which he had felt but one other specimen and' that 80 years previously! 510.000 Butterfly In 1933 an English collector, for reasons best known to himself, bought a butterfly of the family Charaxes fournleral for $10,000. Reason for the high price Is the fact that there are but two speci mens known to have bean captured. Colored In shades of yellow, black, blue, orange, and green, this species makes Its home In South Africa, par ticularly around Durban. Tomorrow: What Is the oldest tax In the world? garlands of exotic flowers, the mod ern Ballnese girls deck themselves In tight-fitting cotton Jackets. American tourists and American missionaries are considered to be re sponsible for the changes which are taking place. To preserve peace and maintain native customs. Dutch authorities are now refusing entry permits to all missionaries, Spinal anesthesia was first sug gested by Dr. Leonard Corning of new YorK in iaaa. GLASS FAILS 10 SE1 BLAZES IN FORESTS SALEM (UP) For a fire warden. Dwlght Culver of the Coos County PIre Patrol association, has a strange hobby. During the past two years he has been trying to start fires with bottles. During the serious season of 1936 It occurred to Culver that some of the fires then raging might have been Ignited by the sun's rays pass ing through bottles and bits of glass. So he began focusing bits of glass on vegetation to test his theory. So far, he says, he hasn't had any luck. The only Indian reservation Texas Is near Livingston. tn Japan's population Increases at the rate of nearly a million a year. SUBURBAN HEIGHTS By CLUYAS WILLIAMS WIUIAM5 ' V f c I SUBURBAN HEKbHTAl v. 1C FRED PER LEV IS IN DISGRACE BECAUSE, SEW "f0 fr)E SfAflOhl 1b MEEf 6UE$rs. HE WEW 5DUN0 ASLEEP. SO -friftf N0"f ONlY DID YriE MISSING HIM, HAVE 1b WALK, BUT HIS WIFE HAD lb HOLD DINNER &ACK WHILE SHE ES f0 SEE WHAT HAD BECOME OF HIM (Copyright, 1938, by The Bell Syndicate, Inc.) 8 'MATTER POI Bt 0. fit PAYNB jfj Copyright, 1934. by The Bell Sjndlem, Inc.) ' T II TAILSPIN TOMMY A Gleam of Hope I By HAL FORRF' BEN WEBSTER'S CAREER- By EDWIN ALGEW S LISTEN, Busry! "111 walk in Here! YOU KNOW THERE'S I A J0B-WA1W MR I YOU DOUBLE THE D0U6H, TOO' . 7OT -Sv THE N.A.A. REGISTRAR N tT CM JBM ( 'eT'i')liy I f GEE, YOU JIPPEMS ARE Xt AW, D0HT Yl If VOU AN' BEN DON'T LOOK V 1 0ONxT U l"""! OLD TOP! L r, . GREAT HANDSHAKERS. KFT PFPVFD IaM III iip TUC uiwn cuvc I iurtuu- aiviW I jPPtM . 2nr- S Jrp RUMKJtWS ) ljusr AS SMOOTUW vf V ARE SO t7p PRETTV VM&S TO ME 1 , V i, CAQ.STevE -tDGE-TME V I .RE SO KAUTIWL I WISH I MAO TUE EARS OF JtrT -fT! fi- r-7" ' -- V jr JrW: VANJ ELEPUANJT AMD TVE J- fL THE NEBB3 Love By SOL HES"
