J. Allan Dunn

“ The man shot through the leg, a ranch owner, had slipped off quietly with one of his men. Both carried rifles. He had bandaged his leg roughly and his face showed a grim determination to get even. He was the most famous deer hunter in the county, and, when Gorman missed him he fancied that the sharp shooter was going to regret his marksmanship.
The steers were rounded up, the bit of blanket preserved by Gorman. Hayes took charge of the cattle with his men and the rest formed an escort to see them safely across the plain and down a draw that might favor an ambuscade. ”

“ Three men spoke up and they held a consultation, drawing little maps in the soft dirt as they talked.
“Both those ranch houses are closed up,” said one of them. “Bradey keeps some men over to the Lazy H quarters with a cook. The rest eat an’ bunk to B-in-a-box.”
“Circle D house an’ corrals are in Stone Cañon,” said Gorman, who was familiar with the country though he had not ridden it for some time and was always willing to use the knowledge of others. ”

“ But the steers went slowly, herded securely enough by so many men, and beyond doubt men were racing from the Lazy H by short cuts, already on the way, and others coming from the farther B-in-a-box. Bradey would fight to prove his honesty, though he must soon know that the countryside had joined against him.
What Gorman did not know was that Bradey had received a telephone from the commissioner, a short and guarded message before he went to his train.
“There’s trouble, King, about a man you’ve got by the name of Moore. News came from the next State and things are stirring. ”

“ It was shady from the slowly westering sun. There came the zip of a high powered bullet, sent from the right and above, burying itself with a spurt of dust in the ground. Either a warning or a shot fired in the hope of picking off the leader. ”

“ If the steers are there, they can’t move ’em. But he may be cuttin’ to B-in-a-box for help. They know what we’re after. Better tighten cinches. I may not have time to make that proof to you all. I take it you’re still acceptin' my word fo’ it. Jarrett, you want to drive ’em back with yore men if we run inter trubble?”
“No,” said Jarrett shortly. “I want to know the steers are there an’ that we’ve got the goods on Bradey. Then I’m goin’ on to the B-in-a-box.”
“I understand, Bud,” said Gorman. Jarrett meant the girl. “Who’ll do that for Jarrett? ”

“ That they had left the rest of the outfit at war with the law was little to them. There are some kinds of rats that are always first up the gangway and the first to go down. They showed a species of wisdom. And the I X L was a ranch where men worked hard for their money. ”