Vernonia eagle., November 27, 1936, Image 9

VERNONIA EAGLE, VERNONIA. OREGON
Gunlock hills, she had lost her way so far. How long have you been out
toward the close of the day and had here?"
“Six weeks.”
stopped to ask directions from a
He was too polite to comment,
man standing at the door of a poor­
though he had hardly need to ask
looking cabin.
“Why, Isn’t this Gunlock Ranch?" the question—Jane was so evident­
“Not yet." The man answered the ly a tenderfoot.
WNU Service
Copyright Frank H. Spearman
“What’s your name?" she asked In
question firmly, Jane thought.
“When I left the house this morn­ turn.
Meantime, throwing his lines, the ing," she said indignantly, “they
roving over the faces before him,
“Bill Denison.”
SYNOPSIS
striving to catch his breath. With wrangler stepped off the pony, laid told me I could ride all day without
“How long have you lived here?”
Sleepy Cat, desert town of the his quirt still hanging from his his hand on the guard rails of the getting off Gunlock Ranch. 1 must
“Here and in the Panhandle most
Southwest, Is celebrating the Fourth wrist, Ills hair rumpled and his grandstand track-fence, cleared It, have ridden about a hundred miles. of my life.”
of July, Jane Van Tambel, beautiful
bronzed features dust-smeared, bls and, picking his way among the What did you mean by saying, ’not
“And how many years Is that?”
daughter of Gus Van Tambel, hated
“Nigh onto thirty years, I figure
owner of Gunlock ranch, haa ar­ shirt torn half off bls back, and spectators up to where Carpy sat, yet’? she asked suspiciously.
rived from the East for the first breathing hard and fast, he stood stopped before Jane.
Bill Denison, before whose door it to be.”
He was covered with dust and she had baited, looked at Jane with
time. She watches the Frontier Day eyeing the crowd and raised his
“What are you so sore for on
celebration In company with Dr. voice in a loud clear drawl:
sweat. Jane started. She saw a curiosity. “Oh, nothing special." everybody at Gunlock ranch?"
Carpy, crusty, tender-hearted friend
“If the calf that just bellowed for pair of keen brown eyes Inspecting he said casually. “Only, that old
“Lady,” returned her companion,
of the community. Henry Sawdy of
her from behind long dusty lashes.
the Circle Dot ranch, tricked In a milk isn’t too much of a coward to
man Van Tambel has stolen every­ “If I told you, you wouldn't believe
She
saw
a
familiar
object
in
his
fake horse race the day before by walk down here. I'll agree to bottle­
thing in the bills except this ranch." It.. But I don't say I'm sore at
right band, as he held it out to her
Dave McCrossen, foreman at Gun­ feed him with a quirt.”
At this outburst Jane first stopped everybody. And I'm not sore at you.
lock, plans revenge. He enters Bill
and
heard
his
low
words:
There were a few applauding
breathing—then she breathed furi­ I’m glad there’s one decent person
Denison, a handsome young Texas
“
Lady,
your
bracelet!"
wrangler, in the rodeo which Mc­ laughs, many murmurs, and a gen­
Her features hardened. now at Gunlock—”
"Oh!” exclaimed Jane complete­ ously.
Jane bridled again. “One decent
Crossen Is favored to win, and lays eral feeling of uneasiness among
“Why. how outraglous!” she ex­
ly
surprised.
“
Thank
you
I
”
heavy bets on him with Harry Bo­ the spectators.
claimed. “You ought to be ashamed person! I like that!”
He
tried
to
fade
away
among
his
land, saloonkeeper and crony of Mc­
Suddenly from the midst of a riot
“Hang it, I didn’t mean to make
Crossen. Unknown to the crowd.
boisterous following of uproarious of yourself.”
another break. Please excuse, and
Denison Is a champion horseman. of men talking at the end of the Circle Dot men. But not every one
The
young
man
held
his
ground.
McCrossen and the young stranger grandstand near Jane came a clash was disposed to let him escape
“Let me ask a question. Are you I’ll hog-tie my troublesome tongue."
tie in the various events. Denison of angry voices. The next instant a
“Is it very much farther?’ asked
Harry Tenison, who paid any kin of old man Van Tambel's?"
drops a cigarette carelessly, and It bald-headed man with keen gray easily.
Jane, alarmed now by approaching
the stake money ever to Sawdy at he asked composedly.
Is proposed that he try to pick it up
eyes and a dyed mustache, scatter­ the Circle Dot quarters, insisted on
darkness.
riding full tilt. Racing down the
“I don’t care to discuss that ques­
“Not a whole lot But maybe
track, Denison picks up the ciga­ ing onlookers right and left, pushed meeting the Texan. He was dragged,
tion
with
you,
”
was
her
defiant
re
­
rette, Boland and the Gunlock ranch his way out of the gathering crowd reluctant, out of the sleeping tent
you’d better mount off and rest a
ply.
followers protest to Bill Pardaloe, and, stretching out his arm, yelled
little if you need it.
It’s rough
ex-sherlff and one of the judges, but at the three Circle Dot cowmen and shook hands slowly with the
"I admit, if you are, 1 was kind going from here on, for I’m trying
Medicine Bend sport magnate.
the verdict goes to Denison when
of
rough,
speaking
as
I
did,"
he
to take a short cut."
McCrossen refuses to attempt the standing on the track beside the
"Where did you pick up that
“I didn’t know he had
stunt. Entreated by the crowd. Den­ contrite pony. "Look-a-here, Texas!” cigarette trick?" demanded Tenison. went on.
“You’re not lost, are you?" she
any
relations.
1
worked
for
him
a
ison agrees to perform another trick. yelled
the bald-head, beckoning. “I never saw it done but once. That
year once, and 1 never heard him demanded suspiciously.
“Come here, you! You too, Lefever! was at Madison Square Garden.”
“Not yet.”
Quick!”
“How long ago?" asked the wran­ tell of any. So I guess I have to
“But you might get lost?”
CHAPTER II—Continued
apologize."
“It's Jake Spotts." said the ex­ gler.
“Not tonight And if you'll stick
—3—
“I should think you would apolo­ to the saddle a little ways farther,
cited Sawdy. “Come on. boys!”
"Two years ago last winter.”
When the track was cleared and With Lefever, and followed by the
“It was done there that winter, I gize,” declared Jane, scandalized. you can have a drink at a spring
the men were again seated, the port­
wrangler, Sawdy hurried to the understand,” said the Texan evenly.
"But," he countered, and the “but" to freshen you up.”
ly spieler continued: “To show
irate barber’s side.
“Of course, it was under artificial was emphatic, “to tell you the truth,
“How can you find It?"
there was no trick In the cigarette
“There’s the skunk that yelled,” light, so they bad to use white pa­ lady, I can’t take everything back.
•If you’d drunk from it as many
ride, and to show there’s no collu­ cried Spotts, almost beside himself
per."
You living over at the ranch?" he times as I have, you could find it
sion, I’ll ask any lady in the audi­ as he pushed the wrangler forward,
“You been in New York, then?"
asked.
in a sandstorm, blindfolded—so
ence to throw any little personal and pointed. “That yellow-faced
“Once or twice, sir.”
“I live in Chicago."
could these horses, either of ’em.”
ornament of wear out on the track. skunk right there, Barney Reb-
“You’ve seen it done, then?"
"And you’re lost?”
The two were silent for a while.
That young lady next to Dr. Car- stock!”
“I have, sir. And I'm minify glad
“If I were not, I shouldn’t be Presently Denison checked his
py"_he pointed—“Isn't that a small
“You’re a liar," shouted the man 1 met you,” drawled the Texan, cut­ here."
horse. "Here’s your spring, lady.
bracelet I see on her left arm? Just accused, a slender, shrill-voiced,
ting the interview short. He was
“Now no matter how you and I Are you thirsty?”
the thing. Lady, if you’d lend us sharp-faced ranch hand. “I never
may
differ
on
some
subjects,"
he
“Choked. If you hadn't been so
that bracelet for a minute, we’ll did It.”
said, “I’ll start you on your way mean, I’d have asked you for a
show you some ridin’.”
A long haired, mild voiced Indian
home,
providing
you
want
me
to.
drink at your house—If it is your
Sawdy was addressing Jane.
standing near him spoke up: "Yes.
Will you wait a minute while I sad­ house.”
“Oh. I won’t do it!" exclaimed you did. I stood right behind you."
dle up?"
“It's mine so far. but there's a
Jane.
Jane was sitting so close to the
“I won’t wait a second. I’ll find hang-over lawsuit of Van Tambel's
Sawdy looked pained, but kept his altercation she could have touched
my own way.” So saying, Jane on it. Can you get down, lady?”
eye fixed on the bracelet. “Go the nearest man. She rose in alarm.
jerked her horse around.
ahead, girl, throw it out!" suggest­ Dr. Carpy pushed her to his other
"I don’t know whether I can or
“Well, I like your spunk, anyway,” not. I've been in this saddle so
ed Carpy.
side. She heard Sawdy thunder, “No
Tenison called out to her, “and I'll long.”
"Never! The pony might step on more lyin’, Barney 1 There’s two
catch you In a couple of minutes.”
Her companion eased her to the
It!” protested Jane.
witnesses."
“You can stay right where you ground.
Vexed, but unwilling to ignore the
Jane refused to drink
That was almost all she could re­
are,"
she
shot
back.
“
I
don
’
t
want
growing clamor of the spectators. member. There were a few more
without a cup till he told her to cup
you
near
me,
anyhow.
”
Jane rose reluctantly, passed the sharp words. Then the dusty wrang
her hands. Then she would not
As she rode away, Jane beard in drink until she could see there
slender gold band over her wrist, ler, shortening his quirt, sprang at
an Incredibly short time the clatter were no snakes in the water.
and, pausing for an awkward fem­ Rebstock. knocked off his hat with
of hoofs beside her. She bristled
inine throw, flung It out ungracious­ one hand, and with the other
"Nothing gets into that water;
inside.
ly on the track. The crowd applaud­ brought the heavy handle down on
it would freeze a snake to death.
“What are you chasing me for?" But I can strike a light so you can
ed. Jane blushed.
Rebstock’s forehead.
she demanded as Tenison rode up. see the water in your hands."
The bracelet fell close to the
There was Instant uproar. Mc­
grandstand side of the track. Sawdy Crossen sprang forward to defend
“I was afraid you’d fall off your
“I’d have offered you a drink at
thought too close, but the wrangler, Rebstock. He was too late. His
horse,” he retorted dryly. “Now my house if I’d thought of it," he
riding over, nodded that he could hand slipped to his gun holster.
skip the hard words,” he countered said, helping her to remount. "I
make it.
easily as Jane angrily objected to didn't aim to be mean. You kind of
Carpy, jumping up, stood almost
The wrangler wheeled his horse, over the brawlers. “Hold on, there!
his taunt and to his company. took me by surprise."
and cantereo down the track. Hold on!” he thundered. “The first
“You know you’re used up; you
Wheeling again, he patted his pony's man that draws a gun here. I'll run
don’t know how to ride. You’ve
There were lights everywhere
neck and headed up toward the out of Sleepy Cat!” «
used up your horse, and you don't when Jane knocked, very late, at
grandstand. Again the pony took
know the country, and I’ve got to the ranchhouse door. Kindly old
Dr. Carpy was the only man In
the quirt, leaped ahead, and, with Sleepy Cat who could have done it.
get you home, so turn around and Bull Page, one of the ranch bands,
the onlookers mostly standing to see But his word was the last word in
follow me—do you know where greeted her in the kitchen.
you're heading for?”
and holding their breath, the wrang­ Sleepy Cat. No one cared to face
The girl was jaded to death.
She was too exasperated to speak. “Where's everybody, Bull?” she
ler dashed for the bracelet.
his wrath. He turned to Jane. “Don’t
Once more he swung over to the be frightened, girl. It’s all over.”
“You’re headed for the desert, asked, dropping into a chair.
Again the Pony Took the Quirt.
and that's a poor place for a stran­
right of his saddle ’till he could trail
Cheers greeted the wrangler as
“Why, Miss Jane, they're all out
his hand easily along In the dust of he walked back with his cronies to not ungracious, but was somewhat ger to sleep in. night or day."
lookin’ for you.”
the track. With eyes straining and where the contrite pony stood on fatigued.
The fell warning checked Jane.
“Looking for me!" exclaimed Jane
every nerve taut, the wrangler, the track. Although his attire was
"The boy can ride,” said Tenison, She had heard stories about that scornfully. "Well, they must be
sighting the shining object, struck in much disarray, his manner put rejoining Sawdy. “I told him I saw awful desert; she had been warned loafing on the job. Where’s Quong?"
for it. At the same instant, out of his hearers perfectly at ease. “I that cigarette act done in Madison to keep away from it. A revulsion
"Quong's gone to bed, but I’ll get
perfect silence a sudden vicious yell know,” he said to those who had re­ Square Garden, two years ago. He of feeling swept over her. She was some bacon and fried potatoes for
rang from somewhere about the turned to the grandstand, and pat­ said he saw it at the same time. I tired, tired enough to drop off her you in no time.” declared Bull.
grandstand. The pony, startled, ting his mount, “that this generally guess that’s where he picked it up.” horse. Oppressed by a sense of lone­ “Coffee?"
sprang straight sidewise, throwing well-behaved little Texas pony is as
“Yes, and strong."
“Picked wbat up, the cigarette?” liness, helplessness, and resentment
his rider head first Into the dust, much ashamed of his conduct as I
“Same as I take It. Well, well,
“The act. He said they used a at being ridiculed by a disagreeable
and bolted across the track, drag­ am. and I know he would like to white-paper cigarette there on ac­ stranger, her eyes filled with angry how'd you manage to find your way
ging the wrangler, caught by one apologize!"
count of the artificial light—so he tears. She began to cry as she home?”
foot In the stirrup.
turned her horse's head to follow
He had the crowd with him. While must have seen it.”
“I didn't find it. I found a man
A murmur rose, breaking into they cheered, the wrangler remount­
and a cabin about a hundred miles
“Who's they?” asked
Sawdy him.
cries of anger and shame.
ed, cantered leisurely up the track bluntly.
“Hold on,” he said kindly, “hold from nowhere, and he brought me
The pony headed for the inside and down, and brought the gelding
“I suppose he meant the rider."
on. Nothing to cry about, not a home. That coffee smells grand,
guard rail of the track fence.
to a halt in front of Dr. Carpy and
“I wonder if he meant himself. thing. You’re as safe as if you Bull," sighed Jane. “Hurry up with
But while the panicky spectators Jane Van Tambel. Patting the pony Why, Harry, he's the man that In­ were in your bed at the ranch. I the bacon!”
stared, speechless, the wrangler, affectionately on the neck with his troduced that act at the garden, two guess I’m pretty rough-spoken; but
As she said the words, In stalked
dragged along at breakneck speed, left hand, and speaking softly, the years ago last winter."
my bark's worse'n my bite. So the ranch foreman, Dave McCros­
shook loose his foot and. rolling wrangler tapped the little fellow
sen.
you’re from Chicago?”
with the momentum over and over with his doubled quirt on the right
CHAPTER III
“Yes.”
At the sight of the missing girl
on the track, sprang to bis feet, cov­ shoulder.
"That’s quite a burg, I under­ "he struck an attitude of resentful
ered with dust. The bolting pony
The pony pawed the dust in pro­
WO years later, back on her old stand."
astonishment. “Hell's bells, Jane!”
cleared the fence and dashed across test but gradually crooked his right
father's ranch after two years
"How fnr have we got to go iu he exclaimed. “Here you are home
the field.
foreleg, then his left, and knelt in
in Chicago, Jane was riding the
get home?"
and we've been riding all over crea-
The angry wrangler steadied him­ apology to the grandstand. The possessions one day to be hers.
“Considerable ways. If we could <isn I"
self after a step or two, his eyes crowd gave him loud applause.
Wandering on her pony far in the go as the crow flies. It wouldn't be
(TO BE CONTINUED)
GUNLOCK RANCH “lAXS
T