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"