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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 12, 1938)
PAGT5 TWELVE VETFOTIT) MATL TRTBrTNTJ, MTCDFOTiD, OHEGOtf. FRIDAY, "AUGUST 12, 1938. LOVE ON THE RANGE .irmuMC.ni. The Slory So Far Someone l out to butt the latter T ranch. To help looely '.ee Trone, "Blur" Ankrom taket i job there under the name o) Streeter. A man and woman pu ma at (riendi of the Tronee art revealed at tmpoJtorj, and the man l mtlriaualv killed, lutchford, the eherifl, it euepi clout of Ankrom. Then ruitlere wipe the range clean and Ankrom Otcoven (he cattle have been re moved in truekt. Mate Beckett, the range 6o. It alwayi some where else when the nulling oc cur. Chapter 17 New Radge Bose I'M talkln' fact. Trone. An' I can prove 'em. I've ot those 'tree men of yours trailin' tire marks right this minute. They've (ot orders to And out where those : racks are headin' (or an' ther to come back here an' report. Mebbe when they return you'll know a little more about what's been hap uenin' to your cattle." Dawning belief was struggling gainst the suspicion and incredu lity in Trone's eyes. Ankrom hooked his thumbs in his belt and waited for the rancher to speak. "By golly," Trone said at last, "It could be done." "It's being done. They've been rustlin' steers by truck in Colo rado for the last coupla years. Swoop down on a herd of a dark night an' in the mornin' the cattle are clear out of the state. Your cattle are goin' either by truck alone, or by truck an' train." "How come Alkali didn't see no truck then? Trone asked. "If by Alkali you mean that puncher that fanned in here with the news, he did," Ankrom stated. "He also tells me one of the other boys mentioned something about tire tracks crossin' the trail of one of your herds several months ago one of your rustled bunches. Al kali says Hackett fired the man the same any he made the crack about seein' those tire marks. Does that mean anything to you? "Are you tryin' to tell me Hack tt's crooked?" "I'm lettin' Hackett's actions an wer that," Ankrom said. "He's eomin now. Mose Hackett, followed by three punchers, was dismounting. "Never mind unsaddling that pony," Ankrom said. "Mr. Hack ett isn't staying long." Hackett swung round with a hard stare. "Huh? Who are you to be sayin' what I'm genna do or not gonna do?" "I'm the new range boss," Ank rom told him. "You can come up to the office an' get your time. We've got no use for double crossin' polecats on the Rafter T. Those men of yours can come along an' get their time, too. We won t be needin' 'em any longer." The three men mentioned turned startled glances upon Ankrom, then looked at Hackett inquiring ly. Hackett's face was livid as he ripped out a lurid oath. His burly figure slid into a crouch and his riKht hand hune poised and talon like above the bone-handled gun protruding trom his holster. But Ankrom's soft laugh mocKea. wasn tnat war paint on, sonny. You're dealin' with a man that s got your measure, Hackett a hand stopped where It hung above the handle of his pistol. His lips twitched spasmodi cally, yet no Arords left his mouth. "If you're tryin' to have a fit." Ankrom said, "you better have it 'Rustlin' Snake' HACKETT'S belligerence drained from him. The spot of color staining either cheek spoke, as did his twitching fingers, of a morale that was cracking. He licked his lips. Twice he cleared his throat before the stumbling words came out ' What . . . what's wrong?" "Hackett " said Ankrom, "when a man finds a sidewinder In his blankets there's only two things t. nn A Al It 1111 It "Why why. what do you "You can write your own ticket" "You're makin' It pretty boggy. Can't you ride that trail again? "I said you can write your ticket the way you like. I'm leavin' it up to you to say what I ought to do with the rustlin' snake I've cor nered." Hackett started like a man smashed unexpectedly across the mouth. The burning spots washed out of his checks. His voice was hoarse, "Hustling . . wh what you mean?" "I'm calling you the sidewinder that's been tipping oil the rustler fraternity to the best time an' place to strike the Hafter T You are the leak them rustlers been dependin' on. Hackett" Ankrom's drawl grew low and cold, "you're not a snake you're a dirtu slink in' skunk" Hackett's eyes bulged wide and the pallor of his face betrayed his fear. He threw his glance about him with the desperation of a trapped rat. But always it came back to Ankrom's face. Hackett's three companions, now equally pale, began to edge away from hli proximity. Their rms went above their heads In token of the peacefulness of their inten tions. Hackett cursed them round ly until his glance crossed Ank rom's once again. Hardly con scious of the fact, he Joined the backing movement "Exit Io bratios," Ankrom Jeered. "Four, coyotes In eagle feathersl" Slowly - Hackett backed away. He moved haltingly foot by foot At last he felt his horse behind him and sent his left hand quest ing upward for the horn. He seemed afraid to take his eyes from his accuser, , Ankrom's voice reached out' with cold authority: "Get off this ranch an' don't come back. That goes for all four of you. From now on the Rafter T is going to take open season on skunks and other varmints. Get goin'." A scowl creased Hackett'i ugly features. His poised right hand swooped downward ana got his gun. Ankrom's turning body did not stop but whirled clear round with the speed of light Too late Hackett saw the leveled gun in Ankrqm's hand. His own was half-way out when Ankrom's roared Just once. Hackett seemed to bend forward to meet that leap ing spurt of flame. For a moment then he hung poised in an awk ward bow. His knees gave way and spilled him forward. "Geezl" the exclamation burst' from one of Hackett's men. Cold Are smouldered now in Ankrom's gaze. "Anyone achln' to take up where Mose left off?" Hastily the men denied their interest. "Fork your broncs then an' keep on travelln'," Ankrom advised, "An' " he added softly, "be right careful our trails don't . cross again." 'Powerful Tal' Brags' IN the days immediately follow ing Ankrom's fight with the crooked range boss, the surface of life at the Rafter T flowed on with no ripple. To bt sure, Trone's beef had apparently vanished from the face of the earth; the three men Ankrom had set trailing the marks left by the trucks had returned that very night sheepishly con fessing the rustlers had eluded them. The tracks, these men claimed, had iust plumb petered outl" Sheriff Ratchford had left the ranch before Ankrom's set-to with Hackett. and he had not returned since, though he had told Trone upon leaving that he would soon be back to wind up the matter of Kelton Drean's killing. One of the Rafter T hands reported having seen the sheriff one night In Peso Pinto roaring drunk. Me was makin some powerful tall brags," the hand Windy Jones told Ankrom confiden tially. "Ratchford is a lot smarter than most folks gives him credit for. He was drunk, I'll concede you that But he was sure doin' some awful plain talkln' Allowed as! how he s g-goin' to cinch that tin horn's killin' onto that Arizona' gun-slick, Ankrom. I ain't ac quainted with the gent but from what I've heard about him, I'd sing low was I Tom Ratchford." He looked at Ankrom specula-: tively. Ankrom grinned. "By that re mark. I Judge yru think he's got some sort of evidence against Ankrom. The puncher rasped his law. "Well, if he ain't he s sure gettin' uncommon careless. 1 don't think he cottons to you, Streeter." 1 expect there am t much chance of us gettin' on huggin' terms," Ankrom said. He did con siderable thinking about Windy Jones' remarks in the days that followed. He felt certain the sher iff knew about his gunning of Hackett for he'd sent Alkali in to report the man's death. The coro ner and one of Ratchford's depu ties had come out asked a few questions and taken the body back to town. Ankrom had a feeling that the incident was no more closed than was the business of Drean's death. Ratchford. he de cided, was merely biding his time. but with what object? Ankrom could not guess. Nor could he guess why the girl calling herself Betty Strutheri continued her visit with the Trones. Following her inquisition by the sheriff, Ankrom had ex pected her to back her bags. She remained on the Rafter T, how ever, and often sought htm out at the home ranch. Lee Trone, on the contrary. avoided him and took pains to show him that the avoidance was deliberate. Not that he cared, he told him self. The less they saw of each other the better it would be for both of them. He could not risk many close contacts with a girl of Lee's magnetism. He could not af ford to fall in love. That the fact was not entirely his fault made no difference. To a man of his adven turous breed the better things in life must needs be barred. That was Ankrom's way of looking at it tCetmeti. Mm C. Syt , Betty makes a play for An- f krom, tomorrow. LADY ON DUTY AS II BIO APPI.KOATE. Aug. 12. (PpU The thrill of blng on of th rant army of nentlm-l guard Inn; Ihe na tion's forrst from (lira OeloiitfS to Mrs. Jnrk Crump this werk. who was left In charge or Clnnthar lookout utatkm Wednesday In the ibwnce of mr huvtband w ho was called as a wet ton bona on a large fire In the Smith river Motion near Oftaquct. Al oprt Young from Star ranger at tlun also was called a a division boas and 4 CCC men and tw.i foremen from Cmp Applcpate were taken for duty. Mrs. Crump will be compe tent lookout, having been on the poet wllh hrr hn;l)und oil summer, wherr ah received tnUuinc la locating od reporting fires and giving weather reports. At Whiskey Peak a new lookout waa put on duty Wednesday. Ruasel Mitchell of Steamboat, who succeeds Lawrence Kaiser. Mr. and Mrs Kaiser and son, Dickie Franks, have gone to Cold Hill, where Mr. Kal-er wna call ed In connection with his teiichlng profession which he will assume there next month. Mr. Mitchell is a former college professor from the Unlrerslty of Oklahoma, -and has been In the Applcfinte section for several years for the benefit of his health. Democrats Gain In California Registry BAN TOANCIHCO, Aug. ; 11. Democratic registration In California Is seven and one half per cent higher tv the August 80 primary than It waa the 1936 general election while the Republican figure la slightly low er, an Associated Presa survey showed today. . Ilia tout rtitnUka uC ,M7;ttf STRANGE AS IT SEEMS By JOHN HIX Tot farther proof address the author. Inclosing a itatnped envelope for. reply. Beg. TJ. 8. Pat Oft ONLY HRfM OUT frit UH UNt" -femsiije church humn. VrfW WRITTEN lM5AfA47tf inches vu wiwm&mh OFFICIAL 9C0RER TbiMT AlUKToRAtf. Netf Bertt.N.C., Coastal Plain lea&ue) bJ fblAR PEARS poNoJ 5WIM WUH 1HBIK m - Vr- S I WW ENcycloPEPA&rs in m, "20 YEftRS LPiftR WERS foWVlo j urv Pi'iun i v' hi i mkiTCMM Dirtf fit 0CDxi7k.i UMT u'lii niV" af ' llMIri vm-! OoMi Adf riO 4 $,000,000 'fofrieiR EncycInpedlH oil Httlkr Back at the turn of the century. California land promoter 'ound on his hands worthless trat of land which would not "turn over." At the same time, a New England jjubllsher found on his hand several thousand editions of the Encyc-opedla Brltan- nlca -and few buyers. Fate threw the two together; tliey exchanged "hard luck" stories. Pin ally a bargain waa struck. For a price of $300.00 they decided a "California seaside lot" could be given away as a premium with a set of encyclo pedias. '16-I2-3S In this manner 35 lots In the tract, each 20 by 90 feet, were sold In 1900. The lots were not seaside tots but today are Included wHhln he limit r, of Huntington Beach. Twenty years later J. H. Macklln, on oil field gauger, saw bubbles ris ing to the surface of the Pacific off Huntington Beach He know at once that the land contained oil Falling to Interest 'the oil company he work ed for, Macklln set out on his own to buy the titles of the property for $5.00 per lot. A search of the county records amazed him; owners were listed In Salt Lake City, Chicago, New Eng land and France. A few neld out, but most of the property owners were willing to sell; they thought that nobody would be r Id t cutout enough to offer only $5.00 for a lot on which he thought there was oil. Test wells were sunk, ana oil fin ally waa brought In. The tract be cume famous as the "Encyclopedia Wells" district. The few derd owners who held their titles oecame rich be yond their wildest dreams Ovan $5,000,000 hus been produced since In the Encyclopedia group. la the highest In the history of the suite and 183,421 more than for the presidential ejection two years ago. The Democratlo registration reach ed the record total of 3,023,726, a gain of 140,713. A loss of 105 dropped the1 Republican figure to 1,234.402. These figures wero complied from in formation obtained from officials In all of California's 58 counties. r Manufacture of shoes In this coun try Was begun In 1629 by Thomas Beard. BOY GETS LIFE TERM FOR MURDERING CHILD CINCINNATI, Aug. 13. Py Llnd berg Trent, 15, confessed slayer of six-year-old Shirley Ann Woodburn, was convicted by a three-Judge court of first degree murder and sentenced to life Imprisonment. Young Trent pleaded guilty to two Indictments charging premeditated murder and murder In the course of attempted criminal attack. Shirley Ann's body was found In a wooded tract on Decoration day, some 20 hours after she disappeared while at play. Parrot Ban Tight ALBANY, N. Y. ( UP ) Pa rrota and similar tropical birds may some day be rarities In the United States. A New York public health regulation, aimed against carriers of deadly pslt tscosls or parrot disease, prohibits Importation, sale or breeding of all birds of the species. By GLUYAS WILLIAMS DIFFICULT DECISIONS wvfn a same Scheduled in FfEEK MINUTES . UNCLE ED&RR., WHO 15 INCLINED TO BE PRET1Y -TESfV IF DISTURBED AT HIS AFTERNOON NAP, 60ES 10 SLEEP ON 'JN10PJS BftlL AND GLOVE (Copyrlgfrt, 1938, by The BeJ gyndlctle, Ine.) S 'MATTES POt Bt 0. M PAYNE I'j Ce.eTAHy MO. Like. YeTreACT'CE ANOTHER 12-01 o Hfc i(fi-&- P-- (Copyright, 1838. by The Beg BymUeile, fae.) TAILSPIN TOMMY The Chief Arrives! By HAL F0RBr' S-r-tli . COM6 ON.Vlffl&r'S f A LOT TO BETTV' N V 'h 4 HOW LONG W(l.L ..--.-JfcZ BETTY- LOU YVZ&&5 yOU- WONEV, COH ( Poottl' ) V S IT TAKE TO L " .JV' THAT LL JiM5i , HELPlMG ME TO 2P.K 1 fcx 4fS 3EHV1CS ANO VJfT " wL GIVE U3 (TWSlCfc I SET BACK MY 1 IT 3 V, aJ v Mvp yy Wl iltlT, 3100 H Pji..i.l..in.l. 0 MODEL nNS M TOE MUQlM,T,TUIE, fff II IV liWi j ' i-Offx V I VRJ l-C UUtMwM&Tfc BEN WEBSTER'S CAREER Dingnosla I hmmm! just WHAT I THOUGHT NOT CONTENT WITH A BROKEN LEG, YOU'RE COAXIN4 A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN! I ,r- FHMMM! JUST WHAT I f HONEST, "I I THOUSHT NOT CONTENT I DOC? JLa. WITH A BROKEN LEG, 4b y YOU'RE COAXIN4 A f ' NERVOUS BREAK0OWN1 I VES, AND YOU HAVE TO TAKE A REAL REST CURE AT A PLACE IN THE COUNTRY FAR, ' I'LL DO ANYTHING YOU SAY tj i vr rsiLcr BEN, I RECKON MY !Sfe NERVES. SOT THE 1' SS!Y "w BEST 0' ME ABOUT TERRIBLE SOJ JASON JONES, WE HAVEN'T EVEN 60T TIME TO TALK OF RUSTY J YOU COME ME By EDWIN ALOES THE NEBBS So Unhappy By SOL HEP -' ' "y"! VOJDER WHAT 1 COULD I ItXrAv'.t" "i 'T MBE SHE WAS Xvoo'CP Tfa MUCW ikj LOVE RLrr's ' i HAVE SAID OR DOMeMEuue-U p 4lul euE WASi A B,T r OPSORTs ft BE A Sr' ' yk-Vr 1 TOMSUTl SA-D W f2-v V UK VOU ARE MONW BEFORE WE WERE j ' VFAcefcJ hER I ppgg. WORD5 I I 7 MARRiED.- HE VUAMTED TO HELP ME 4- Ua Aooro akoomd: Amd COULDmt f ; r-7-?siJrIPT A COFFEE CUP TO MV I n S0ly'&s I V INTEREST HER 7o i C JS. LIPS TUJO MONJTHS ! " A VJIU1AM5
