HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1931-01-16, Page 7A
1'117
RJU.$E SPECU.I.ST •
,13,ptu ?Q, Varicocele, Varicose ,eros,
AbdOxninal Weakness, Spinal Defixtenst
Ity... C.onsultat :el free. Cali ' or
'Write.. J. G. SMITE, British .Apple
ante. Specialists, 15 Downie St,, S'trait.
fond, Ont. 3202-52'
LEGAL -
Phone No. 91
JOHN J. HUGGARD
Barrister, Solicitor,
Notary Public, Etc.
Beattie Block - Seaforth, Ont
R. S. HAYS
Barrister, Solicitor, Conveyancer
and Notary Public. Solicitor for the
Dominion Bank. Office in rear of the
Dominion Bank, Seaforth. Money to
Joan.
BEST & BEST
Barristers, Solicitors, Conveyan-
cers and Notaries Public, Etc. Office
in the Edge Building, opposite The
Expositor Office.
VETERINARY
JOHN GRIEVE, V.S.
Honor graduate of Ontario Veterin-
ary College. All disease of domestic
animals treated. Calls promptly at-
tended to and charges moderate. Vet-
erinary Dentistry a specialty. Office
and residence on Goderich Street, one
door east of Dr. Mackay's office, Sea -
forth.
A. R. CAMPBELL, V.S.
Graduate of Ontario Veterinary
College, University of Toronto. All
diseases of domestic animals treated
by the most modern principles.
Charges reasonable. Day or night
calls promptly attended to. Office on
Main Street, tHensall, opposite Tewn
Hall. Phone 116.
MEDICAL
DR. E. J. R. FORSTER
Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat
Graduate in Medicine, University of
Toronto.
Late assistant New York Ophthal-
mei and Aural Institute, Moorefield's
Eye and Golden Square Throat Hos-
pitals, London, Eng. At Commercial
Hotel, Seaforth, third Monday in
each month, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
53 Waterloo Street, South, Stratford.
DR. W. C. SPROAT
Graduate of Faculty of Medicine,
University of Western Ontario, Lon-
don. Member of College of Physic-
ians and Surgeons of Ontario. Office
in Aberhart's Drug Store, Main St.,
Seaforth. Phone 90.
DR. R. P. I. DOUGALL
Honor graduate of Faculty of
Medicine and Master of Science, Uni-
versity of Western Ontario, London.
Member of College of Physicians and
Surgeons of . Ontario. Office 2 doors
east of post office. Phone 56, Iiensall,
Ontario. 3004-tf
DR. A. ,NEWTON-BRADY
Bayfield.
Graduate Dublin University, Ire-
land. Late Extern Assistant Master
Rotunda Hospital for Women and
Children, Dublin. Office at residence
lately occupied by Mrs. Parson's.
Hours: 9 to 10 a.m., 6 to 7 p.m.,
Sundays, 1 to 2 p.m. 2886-26
DR. F. J. BURROWS
Office and residence Goderich Street,
east of the United Church, Sea -
forth Phone 46. Coroner for Nihe
County of Huron.
DR. C. MACKAY
C. Mackay, honor graduate of Trin-
ity University, and gold medalist of
Trinity Medical College; member of
the College of Physicians and Sur-
geons of Ontario.
DR. 11. HUGH ROSS
Graduate of University of Toronto
Faculty of Medicine, member of Col-
lege of Physicians and Surgeons of
Ontario; pass graduate courses in
Chicago Clinical School of Chicago ;
Royal Ophthalmis 'Hospital, London,
England; University Hospital, Lon-
don, England. Office -'Back of Do-
minion Bank, Seaforth. Phone No. 5.
Night calls answered from residence,
Victoria Street, Seaforth.
DR. J. A. MUNN
Successor to Dr. R. R. Ross
Graduate of Northwestern Univers-
ity Chicago, Ill. Licentiate Royal
College of Dental Surgeons, Toronto.
Office over Sills' Hardware, Main St ,
Seaforth. Phone 151.
DR F. J. BECHELY
Graduate Royal College of Dental
Surgeons, Toronto. Office over W. R.
Smith's Grocery, Main Street, Sea -
forth. Phones: Office, 185 W; resi-
dence, 185 J.
4
CONSULTING ENGINEER
S. W. Archibald, B.A.Sc., (Tor.),
O.L.S., Registered Professional En-
gineer and Land 'Surveyor. Associate
Member Engineering Institute of Can-
ada. Office, Seaforth, Ontario.
AUCTIONEERS
THOMAS BROWN
Licensed auctioneer for the counties
of Huron and Perth. Correspordepice
arrangements for sale dates can .be
made by calling The Expositor Office,
Seaforth. Charges moderate, a n d
satisfaction guaranteed. Phone 302.
r t s
OSCAR KLOPP
Honor Graduate Carey Jones' Na-
tional School for Auctioneering, Chi-
cago. Special course taken in Pure
Bred Live Stock, Real Estate, Mer-
chandise and Farm Sales. Rates in
keeping with prevailing market. Sat•
isfaetion assured. Write orr wire,
Oscar Klapp, Zurich, Ont, Phone:
13-98. *2866-52
( R. T. LUKER •
Licensed auctioneer for the County
of Huron. Sales attended o in all
warts of the county. Seven leers' ex,
prurience in Manitoba and Sxskate e -
Wan. Terni `reasonable. Phone N.
173 r 110. Exeter, Centralia P.O.; R.R.
No. 1, O riche left at The Huron Ell
VOSiter ('meas ; Se'afoxth, PrOMPt!
ill , • ��.11li y
ii.
Heilf Breed
A Story of the Great Cowboy West
By LUKE ALLAN
CHAPTER I
THE COMING OF BLUE PETE
Sunshine' 'everywhere, (brittle, un-
clouded, relentless --a glare that, to
the very horizon, saturated and pall-
ed and blinded. Heat that withered
what it touched streamed upward like
a wave from the prairie, as well as
downward from the dazzling canopy
overhead. Not a breath stirred dead
yellow grass or sage brush; and the
half hidden carpet of prairie flowers
-even the softer saffron of the cac-
tuls ;bbaom-only reflected the blinding
flame of sunlight.
One spot only of moving life was
visible: a man, tall and straight, a-
stride a black horse, bath fighting
grimly the pervading limpness, both
preserving 'something of the 'air of
authority and vigilance that nelver
quite deserts the Mounted Police.
(Constable Mahon sat loosely in the
saddle, staring vacantly before him,
but now and then his head raised
with the untiring instinct of the Force
to search the stretches about, and a
tiny furrow came and went between
his eyes. 'After a time the uncanny
silence 'beat in on him, accustomed
though he was to every phase of
prairie life, and rising in his saddle
he peered off to the west, where he
knew large herds fed, his quick eye
picking out on the slope of a depres-
sion the small dark objects that told
of cattle too languid even to follow
into bhe cooler depths of the coulee's
their thousands of companions now
sleeping through the mid-day heat.
Smelling with the frankness of expres-
sion that comes to men who live much
alone, he chirruped to his horse and
struck off more briskly towards the
south.
With an unconscious movement of
the hand that guided without pulling
the rein he slanted off towards a
long, deep -green line that tempered
the sky to the south-east, and .half
an hour later the Cypress Hills tow-
ered over him, a range of verdant
heights that stood incongruous in the
surrounding levels, their western end
falling away before him in a sudden
sweep of half-clad hillside -as, • in-
deed, the borders of the hills every-
where dropped strangely into the
prairie.
As he pulled up before a long coulee
that dived into the trees, he forgot
the 'blazing heat. For several min-
Ites he sat, his hands resting on the
pommel, gazing keenly alosg the edg-
es of the .hills, searching out every
shadow and nook. But the Cypress
Hills were as dead to the eye as the
trail behind him; and Mars, his horse
turned at last to whinny softly his
impatience.
"If we only knew half your sec-
rets!" the Policeman exclaimed aloud
into the 'black 'shadows and gathering
up the reins loped westward to skirt
the incline.
From one of the rolling ridges a
straggling herd of long -horned cattle
on the slopes of a watered valley came
into view. Years ago their ancestors
had been trailed north from Texas,
and the beautirul horns were handed
down to a vast progeny that gave one
of the fanciful touches to the prairie
life with which Mahon was in daily
contact, adding a little of the variety
of outside world for which something
within hins seemed always to be crav-
ing.
A quartette of drowsy cowboys, two
of them playing cards, lolled in the
grass, their ponies drooping with
loose rein in the thin shadow of near-
by 'bushes. One looked lazily up and
waved his hand, and Mahon respond-
ed, noticing with deepening frown
that they ceased their game to watch
him. And when, moved by a sudden
impulse, he jerked his reins as if to
join them, the two who were not play-
ing rase and slouched to their ponies.
With an impatient twist of his arm
he turned away. "I don't believe it,"
he muttered.
horse's sides about the cinch and blow-
ing back to him from panting mouth
and nostrils.
Within a stone's throw, peering to
the south over a ridge, a man lay
loosely on 'his' side, holding a ragged
Stetson above his head on a sprig of
cactus. Two shots, that whistled ev-
er Maihon's head, answered the chal-
lenge almost as one. But the stranger
only laughed -.a jeering laugh -and
tossed his( Stetson into the air. Mahon
jammed spurs into' Mars and plunged
up the slope, catching from the corner
of his eye the stranger's languid, un-
surprised turn that mocked his own
excitement. In' a glance he swept the
prairie to the south. where the small
bluffs and wooded hills of 'Montana
seemed to justify the dividing line he
had for the moment forgotten. It
was the stranger reminded him.
"That's Montany, 'Mountie."
At the unconcealed chuckle in the
voice he faced angrily about.
At first glance he thought he had
never seen a more ill-favoured face.
The man was sitting cross-legged, a
pair of immense, coarse brown hands
hanging limply over his leather -chap-
ped knees. A square, heavy frame
whose looseness failed to belie its
strength and agility, was covered by
a dirty vest, open save for one but-
ton, revealing an equally dirty shirt
once khaki in colour. A huge dotted
neckerchief was double knotted under
one ear, and from beneath his hips
as he sat showed a pain of extrava-
gant spurs large enough to impale a
horse. Mahon recalled a score of cow
boys, most of them novices, who
flaunted one or more of tliese spectac-
ular evidence's of the profession, but
never off the London stage in the old
days back home' had he seen a cow-
puncher who incorporated so many in
one person.
Yet it was the face that interested
hint most. At a glance he read the
Indian strain -the high cheek bones
and swarthy colour, the latter of a
strangely bluish tint. The ancient
Stetson was thrust back on tousled
hair that had been left to itself for
many a day. and underneath there
wavered erratically, as if independent
of each other, a pair of twinkling
eyes which, half closed as they were,
missed nothing. And when the mirth
of the eyes was continued in an ex-
travagant expanse of. mouth that did
not open but twisted ridiculously up-
ward at the corners, 1Vfahon felt such
an impulse to smile in response that
he was forced to take himself in hand.
It only increased his anger.
"Who are you ?" he demanded.
The half-breed's grin continued un-
disturbed. He was frankly taking in
every detail of Policeman and horse;
and Mahon saw, but with no satis-
faction, a tilt of surprised admiration
to his eyebrows.
'S'pose they'd kep' on shootin'?"
The voice lavas as big and coarse as
the stranger's body, but with a pe-
culiarly ingratiating flexibility. '•Gor-
swizzled, ef I think it 'ud made a bit
o' diff'runce! . Never seen a
Mountie before. The jiggers over
thar-we know each other mighty
well -ain't half the lookers you are
Took hefty chances boltin'
up thar like that. They might 'a' fir-
ed again-jes' fer luck."
"I'm doing the talking just now."
The reminder was a peremptory as
authority on the prairie is accustom-
ed to speak in its official moments.
"Wihat's your name, and who were
they, and what are you doing here?"
The half-breed laughed in the
soundless manner of one who has
laughed much alone.
Mile after mile of the dead grass
of years sped out behind him. He
scarcely knew where he was ridisg-
it was all in his beat. The hills crept
to his back. Less than a half hour
ahead his way would be barred by
the iron posts that marked the Mon-
tana boundary -the invisible line di-
viding two countries of common is-
terests, two districts of common pur-
suits, putting a sudden and definite
end to the jurisdiction of the 1Vbount-
ed Police. On this side eight of them
-they were woefully short -staffed --
policed a district fifty miles from east
to west, a territory with a distinct
enough southern border, but which to
the north 'stretched into untracked
wilds where neither rancher nor far-
mer lived and where, therefore, rust-
lers had no reason to be. And four
of' the eight were expected to cope
with the temptations of the Cypress
Hills section, where the best herds in
Canada roamed. South of that scat-
tered line of posts ranged the bad
men of the Badlands, a sure retreat
from the pursuing punishment of the
Mounted Police. Nothing twisted In-
spector Barker% face into such fury
as his impotence before those iron
posts, for the unorganized officialdom
of Montana gave him little support.
Thinking of these things as he lop-
ed along, resentment akin to anger
lined his forehead.
Suddenly a rifle shot far to the
'south, quickly followed: by a seeond.
brought him stiffly upright in his
saddle, his rein -hand clutching to his
!Breast. And as he sat, motionless as
the cactus at his feet, two more shots
galvanized him and his horse into ac-
tion. Sweeping into a coulee Mahon
follorWed it to its end, emerging on
the Io e1 'with foam lathering his
"Which d"yuh want fust, Gineral?"
He seemed to read the Policeman's'
anger at the veiled irony, for he went
on hastily. "Seein' how sweet yuh
ast, call me Pete. When yuh git to
love me, Blue Pete. . Nobody
ever got furder'n that." z
zMah•on was mildly interested. He
had heard of Blue Pete from visiting
cowboys as a vague, half -mythical
cowpuncher of the Badlands, who had
never before come within range of
the Mounted Police.w
"What are you oing here?"
The half-breed chuckled. "Heerd o'
me, eh? Not the hull truth, I hope.
Well, I'm hevin' my fust conversatios
with a Mountie -en' Savin' my
friend's back thar the trouble o' bury -
in' me-ur some o' themselves . .
Never did take to the killin' game -
that is, not in big doses. . Can-
ady-mebbe Canady now" -he drop-
ped back on his heels and passed a
coarse hand across his chin-"mebbe
thar's room here fer me. I''m too gor-
swizzled chicken hearted fer Mon-
tany-an' deadsick o' th' eiverlastin'
game. They tell me yer real sassy
over here with gunmen. Yer startin'
fine, boy."
Mahon, uncomfortably conscious of
a strange mingling of irritation and
interest, rode nearer.
"Who were they, and why were
they after you?"
Blue Pete pursed his lips. "U -um!
Wot'•s yer fav-or-ite porridge, so to
speak, an' the size o' yer hat, an'
who's yer bes' girl?"
Mahon shut his teeth. "Where's
your horse? You're corning with me."
Me Inspector might try his hand at
further questioning.
"An' to think my fits' friend in
Canady's a Mountie! Wudn"t my
frien's:,ever Char jest natcherly laugh!
Gor-swizzled ef I ain't glad I come!"
He whistled twice. and from the
grass a few yards away a pinto clean -
tiered to its feet, shook itself on
braced legs, and ambled to its master.
Mahon watched, fascinated. He must
have ridden almost over the ugly lit-
tle beset. Its blotched sides of dirty
'�rt ie1 Yip VR 5�lt i 9 wra i : jJi'
ye11tive, its' g 4�w;tItnhat e l;'91Kt
if 1 rOsilt x `;end lit clic I16 alt
',4Ufat vetore iM e ' , : li °r�rixin ,tilt
the Upper' o Bate
lagued it Irws: hox,�r xn' the
class as it�' nrius�tez 2� irongr> we•n• 4 n4
in every movement was the same lazy
play' of lunacies of s* 'al, It bent its
head, and the hatlf"breed's hand Went
up to f'ondl'e its ears,
"W hiekers, oie gal,. don' get stuck
up 'eaus'e I am. But here's one o'
then! ,Mounties we've' lieerd of. Wot
yuh think o' that 'black o' bis? Nifty.
bit o' ihorsefleeh .eh? Glee yuh a run
in a mile, wsdn't he? But in ten-"
He 'brake off with a chuckle and
sluoched up from the grass. But the
movement that landed him in the sad-
dle was like the spring of a trap.
"Now, Gineral, git goin'. An' ef
thar's somethin' t' eat at•'th' end of
it, make it• hasty. Whiskers an' me's
did 'bout a ,hundred miles too much
since this time yesterday. Cudn't wait
t"ave my steaks done as I like 'em "
Mahon untied the extra lunch he
always carried, handed it to the half-
breed, and pointed cmrthward. Blue
Pete, after the first glance of surpris •
ed gratitude, hesitated. Then he grin-
ned and led away.
"I'd ride to blazes with a sangwich
in my hand jest now Yer un-
common decent, boy. Yuh don't hap-
pen t'ave a quarter o' beef in yer ves'
pocket-er a keg o' Samson's? Cud
take a hite o' my arm, I'm that hun-
gry."
munched in 'silence for a time.
"Say, boy." he said over his shoul-
der, "yuh know I'm goin' 'cause I
want tuh, don't yuh? Don't 'member
o' goin' anywhar fer any other reason.
Ef you think I'm tryin' t', escape—"
Mahon pulled his horse alongside,
Mars and Whiskers exchanging com-
pliments of a friendly nature. Blue
Pete grinned.
"'that's better. . . . Yer white.
Allus makes me narvus with
anyone behind me. That ain't the
way I ride usually. 'Guess -it's con-
science."
The half-breed's eyes roamed in ad-
miration over the country as they
passed along.
"Mighty fine ranchin' country?" he
volunteered presently, "ef char's wa-
ter. Many cattle?"
Mahon found himself absorbed in
the turns of the half-breed's mind, in.
the subtlety with which he conveyer
his meaning. Almost involuntarily he
shifted their course to the west until
they overlooked the herd of Texan
steers. A pair of cowboys were dash-
ing down the opposite slope, a mile
away, driving before them two 'half-
grown calves. An involuntary move-
ment of the half -!breed's hand brought
the pinto to a stop and Mars pulled
up in sympathy. Faintly across the
ravine came the protests of the un-
willing calves. Blue Pete's head mov-
ed slowly until he could see the Po-
liceman's face, but Mahon caught it
in time and presented the impassive
mask of the official.
"Bad day fer ridin'," commented
the half-breed. "But any day doccr
fer that," he added.
"Any day has to." Mahon turned
quickly away to hide the worry in his
face. And both noted in silence the
sudden movement among the cowboys
at sight of them.
Fzyelt
sea'rgiiT
hid.zit
Nu Elie
~waited Is) 'chs ri:4i?7 }t
ttatte zoni.: ,, .14 i pa �az
he only means of wp`aing ail
slirabless waste, he Sensed: au wi l eye:
it
iiizlraz ,shade in the ;grey.;yolilow la`s fi
into the eye of the ean, 'he gdliol ed
towards it.
The ungainly figure of thehalf-
breed rase 'before him, grinning a bit
sheepishly.
"Yuh ain't half !bad, boy, Bat 1
ain't a rabbit, mind. An' ef Pd knOW,"
ed the lay o' the land I could 'a' did
it-ef 'I'd wanted to,"
At a double whistle the pinto rose
from behind a small sage (bush, the
yellow blotches on her sides now
seeming' to defy concealment.
"Right here, right out here on the
prairie, boy, thar's whar things is
happenin', right under yer eyes. lifeb-
be I''ll larn yuh a thing er two -some
day-me.bbe. . . . Whose :bunch?"
he inquired, tossing his thumb over
his shoulder.
"Stanton's: Joe and Jim. Biggest
ranchers about here."
"Sure thing!"
"You know them?" Mahon exclaim-
ed suspiciously.
"Sense half an hour. Seem tb
knowed 'em years. Seed thar
kind—"
The sudden appearance of a girl on
horseback from the draw of a coulee
stopped him. The effect on the two
men was startling. Involuntarily the
half-breed pulled up, and his eyes
narrowed; but the transformation in
Mahon was more leisurely, though al-
so more marked. It was as if he
took a new grip on himself -only that.
He did not stop -there was no great
movement of any part of him: -;but
hie shoulders straightened and tight-
ened, and his reinhand raised a little.
The other hand lifted to sweep off
his Stetson as he 'bowed, a gentle
smile transfiguring his face. The half
breed looked from one to the other,
wide-eyed, and then his own Stetson
came off.
CHAPTER II
A GLIMPSE OF MIRA.STANTON
In silence they rode, Mars, under
the spur of a new companionship,
cavorting a little and prancing; but
the steady, awkward pace of the half-
breed's mount was as regular as a
machine. The heat was moderating
with the setting of the sun, but the
air continued dry and harsh and
withering, and Mahon's eyelids. heavy
as if he passed through a great fire,
for minutes at a time were closed.
"Much rustlin' in these parts?"
The question fitted so completely
into Mahon's troubled thoughts that
he scarcely repressed a start.
"Why do you ask?"
"Jest askin'. Seems t' 'urt."
Mahon felt the searching of the
half-breed's eyes and yielded to im-
pulse.
"Rustling? The worst we ever ex-
perienced is on right now. . . . But
we're going to stop it." He jammed
hisspurs into Mars' tender sides, for
there came to him again the memory
of the scene that had oppressed him
all the afternoon. Only a few hours
ago he had come from a conference
at ,Medicine Lodge with Inspector Bar-
ker, whose unusual 'bluntness had sent
him and his comrades out with a re-
lentless' determination to rebuild the
reputation of the Force.
"Better eave that fer the rustlers,"
Blue Pete suggested, looking down on
(Mars' quivering sides as the surpris-
ed horse came under control. Mah'on
flushed and apologized to Mars by pat-
ting his wet neck. "Looks 's if yuh'Il
neer! it. . Great game yer mix-
ed up in. i'ecu to keep yer eyes
p,.;gid for t' -.o 111 things. Like---"
Mahon turned fiercely and pointed
to the hills. "There's where the trou-
ble is. Only the rustlers know that
tangle. We haven't time to explore
-and there's not a ghost of a show
for us in there until we do. They
can hide a hundred herds where we
can't hope to find them."
He stopped abruptly, self-conscious,
unable to explain his outburst before
a stranger.
The half-breed spoke very quietly.
"Cattle don' wander into the hills.
They're took thar. Out here on the
prairies whar the rustlin's done."
"Out here on the prairie we have a
chance. You couldn't hide a rabbit
here -except in the coulees."
"Huh!" The exclamation, part
question, was a blunt sneer. ,"Wot
kind 'a' rustlers hey yuh here any-
how?"
Marton could follow every twist of
the half-breed's mind, but he only lost
dignity by exposing the irritation he
felt. The effect of the stranger on
him was confusing -and he relapsed
into silence, closing his eyes wearily.
Ile opened them with a sudden
sense of alarm and swumg about. Mars
and he seemed the only living things
on the prairie.. At a pressure of his
knees the horse raced to the nearest
rise, but nothing was to be seen. A
few hundred yards away was a knoll
he knew as the highest point this side
of the hills, and there he stood in his
saddle, cursing iia tarelessuess and
A wild flower the girl was, a
prairie-lbred maiden with the mind
and powers of a man. Front • her dress
one might have inferred objection to
her sex, resisted by a nature that
would not be silenced. Her 'blouse
was nothing but a man's shirt, but it
was open a little at the neck reveal-
ing a skin no man ever possessed, and
topped by a handkerchief of an ag-
gressive green. Her skirt was a frank
concession to sex -but the green of it
shrieked at the green of the necker-
chief. Short and full it lay across
the horse's back exposing an exquis-
itely moulded foot and leg which the
high tan riding boot failed to conceal.
The only other touch of femininity
was a wide red belt, but in every line
was grace and suppleness. and shape-
liness of bust and limb. From under
the edge of her Stetson peeped a
wave 'of ruddy hair whose exposure
was sheer relbellion, framing a com-
plexion that had yielded not at all to
the dry, !parching winds and heat of
the prairie summer or the biting
storms of winter. Dark it was, but
soft as velvet and tender as a rose.
"Gor-swizzle!" breathed the half-
breed. And when the girl disappear-
ed again into a codlee at a fast gal-
lop, Whiskers had not moved. "Ger-
swizzle!" he ejaculated again, gallop-
ing to overtake his companion. A nod
of his head asked the question in his
mind.
"Miss Stanton -Mira Stanton," Ma-
hon told him, and there was some-
thing of caress in his tone. "Sister
of Joe and Jim."
The half-breed whistled through his
teeth. "I wonder whar she comes in
Many like her in these
parts?"
"Few like her anywhere."
The other's face wrinkled. "Say,
does she know yuh feel that way?
Was them love glances she sent yuh?
"Don't talk rot!"
"They don' grow 'em like that whar
I come from," went on the half-breed
undisturbed by the rebuke. "Not in
dress, anyway."
Mahon shook his head sadly. "Why
on earth she wears those greens-"
he began, then stopped.
The half-breed stared at him with
a new interest. "Must be awful t' ev
fOrta y
bowa2ng
fxozaa their::
wo,y to vow
fre n their , anxdst xnsin
imtial distress J1'ue, liel
forward
"Cows!'., lie jerked
Two riders were darting about::,
'herd, trying to keep it bunched wTe Ql'l'
further backanother pair were scout- lµir
ing swiftly about,
"Calves' .gone!." explained' the tai a " L
breed, his words chipping off. "'glow -w ave'
Wznghair'
far het we come?"
"Where front?"
"From the last 'buneh-1Stanton'el?"
"About ten miles --perhaps more."
Mahon was watching him front be-
neath his brows,
"Hm-m! Stiff work fer a hot day."
Mahon made no reply. He had
shifted his eyes to the bawling cows,
but after a: moment or two he heard
i$
e
fk
the half-breed muttering.
"It's the 1i'l things, 'boy --the calves
-and the cows. It's right o u t
Mahon turned on him fiercely. •'
"You're a stranger here. That herd
back there's the Stantons', the 3 -bar -Y
herd, I tell you. That''s enough."
But Blue Pete had the last word.
"An' 'Miss 'Stanton's," he grinned,
CHAPTER III
DUTCH HENRY SHOOTS
In the tang of approaching night
they rode into the Police Post at
Medicine Lodge. !Mahon leapt to the
ground, throwing his rein loose, and
spoke 'a, few whispered words to a
uniformed figure watching from the
doorway. Then he motioned to the
half-breed, and the three entered the
one large room.
Sergeant Denton, tall aid wiry,
seemingly little older than Mahon, but
wearing his stripes with quiet dignity,
turned to his comrade with a satis-
fied smile.
"Well, I hope the Insipector will be
satisfied."
'1Vfahon's eyes gleamed. "Got the
rustlers?" The sting of jealousy
brought a slight flush to his cheek.
"Dutch Henry!" Denton explained
proudly.
Blue Peter's chair creaked.
"You knew him?" Denton's ques-
tion was a command.
"Too damn well. Wasn't wot ynrh'd
call a pus'nai friend -not at the last.
Knew him better once -worked with
'im. . . Th' only man I ever hed
a sneakin' fear of. Ef yuh've got
him -but gor-swizzle! I don't believe
it."
Denton only smiled.
"Blakey's luck," he told Mahon.
"The cuss was unloading two cars of
stolen horses at Dunmore to feed
them -on their way to Winnipeg -
under our very noses. Blakey recog-
nized him and got the drop through
his pocket. Dutch threw up his hands
quick enough -he knew we had or-
ders to shoot"
"Don't know that I 'blame 'im,"
smiled the half-breed. "Funny feelin'
them clothes give a felluh .
But yer not through with Dutch
Henry yet -not ef I know 'im-an' I
jes' about ought tuh."
They spent the night in the solitary
room together, but not as police and
prisoner. Mahon felt certain the
half-breed- would not try to escape.
"I believe," he said to Denton, "that,
short of putting him in irons, he
could get away nearly any time he
wanted to. And we've no excuse for
arresting hips." Denton jlistened-
and locked the three horses in the
corral. Very early next morning
they were saddling up for Medicine
Hat when the telephone rang and
Denton went to answer it. Mahon
could ihear his, voice, excited and a-
brupt. "Yes, sir," he was saying;
and Mahon knew the Inspector was
on the other end.
The Sergeant, with one arm thrust
5
„i
r
Goderich
Ho-1mesvi'1'le
Clinton .,.: M1 : . '.
Seaferth
St. Colunlban
Dublin'
West:
fi 1
r
•23
Dublin .... 1124
St. Columban ...... 1124
Seaforth 1140
Clinton 11.55
Holmesvife 12.05 ],01.
Goderich . 12.20 108
C. P. R. TIME TABLE
East.
Goderich
Menset
McGaw
Auburn
Blyth
Walton
McNaught
Toronto
Toronto
McNaught
Walton ,
Blyth
Auburn
McGaw
Meneset
Goderich
West.
afar:,
s55$
6.04
6:11
6.25:';
6.40;
6.53'
10.28,
am.
7.40'
11.48,
12.01
12.12'
12.25.
12.34
12.41
12.41e
into his tunic, threw open the door.
"He's escaped!" he shouted. "Broke
out the bars in that rotten cell. He'II
sure make for the hills. Blakey's out -
already. Thornton and Priest are
coming. There% just a chance we
can head him off"
Mahon looked at Blue Pete. The
half-breed was lolling on his pinto,
cowboy fashion.
"Oh, don' mind me," he urged. "Go
right along with yer killin'. I'll coma
along an' see the fun."
Denton caught the sound of a
chuckle and looked up from tighten-
ing his spurs. "You did know Dutch
Henry too damn well -how well we'll
find out when we get through thin
We're too busy now to bother with,
you." He disappeared and returned
with his rifle, working the mechanism
as he ran to the corral. "Take the
west„'' he ordered `Mahon; 4'Mta!ke
for the end of the 'Hills until Cor-
poral Blakey comes. Tell him to ride
round to the south and you keep,
close to the northern edge eastward
until you see me. I'm going east.
Two shots -you're wanted."
He was off in the early light,
straight into the 'sun, and Ma'hons
turned his back on the half-breed and
tore to the south-west. Five minutes
later he glanced back -to find Blue
Pete riding easily a 'hundred yards
'behind. The half breed waved, and
something about it pleased him.
He was not urging Mars. There
might be much riding yet 'before rest,.
but it surprised him as he looked -
back now and then how easily 'bhe•
pinto maintained its position. She
even came alongside, and together
they let the eager horses cut down
the miles towards the ever -growing -
line that marked the Hills.
(Continued next week.)
5
ALONG 'J HE SPORT TRAIL
IN ONTARIO
With the coming of January, sport.
lovers turn to the out-of-doors and
the thrill of exercise in, the crisp open
air. Ontario does not have to travel far
for its winter recreation. It boasts as
picturesque country as can be found at the
much -heralded foreign resorts. The beauti-
ful Muskoka area has a number of year-
round hostelries and they accommodate num-
bers
um-
bers of week -end parties. Mueltoka poteeStea•
every natural facility for sport and is regarded as
highly in winter as in trainmen The above picture'
shows two ski-ing enthusiaath at Limberlost 1,urc`i e};.
near Huntsville, Ont, + .1.lEi• Phb
wt
B;
to
r,�ryy 5g