Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The frontier. (O'Neill City, Holt County, Neb.) 1880-1965 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 9, 1937)
CATTLE KINGDOM By ALAN LE MAY --— " tST-ET SYNOPSIS Billy Wheeler, wealthy young cattle man, arrives at the 94 ranch, summoned by his friend Horse Dunn, its elderly and quick-tempered owner, because of a mysterious murder. Billy is in love with Dunn's niece Marian, whom he has not seen for two years. She had rejected his suit and is still aloof. Dunn's ranch is surrounded by enemies, including Link Bender, Pinto Halliday and Sam Cald well, whom he has defeated in his efforts to build a cattle kingdom. Dunn directs his cow hands, Val Douglas, Tulare Cal lahan and others to search for the killer's horse. He explains to Billy that the morning before he had come upon blood stained ground at Short Creek and found the trail of a shod and unshod horse. The shod horse's rider had been killed The body had disappeared. Link Bender had arrived at the scene and read the signs the way he had. Dunn reveals that be cause of a financial crisis the ranch may be In jeopardy; his enemies may make trouble, since Sheriff Walt Amos is friendly with them. He says he has asked Old Man Coffee, the country's best trailer, to join them. Dunn and Billy meet Amos, Link Bender, his son "the Kid" and Cayuse Cayetano. an Indian Trailer, at Short Creek. Bender has found the slain man's horse, but the sad dle is missing. Almost supernaturally, cattle attracted to the scene by the blood stained ground, stamp out all the traces. Dunn is angered when Amos tells him not to leave the county. Following an argument. Bender draws his gun, but Dunn wounds him in the arm. Back at the ranch Old Man Coffee arrives, with a pack of hounds. Coffee goes in search of the dead man's saddle. Dunn tells Billy that Marian is incensed at him for trying to settle disputes by bloodshed. He reveals that the ranch is really hers, also that he recently sold his own ranch in Arizona and that his partner, Bob Flagg. Is en route with the money. Billy ac companies Marian on a ride to Short Creek. "Kid" Bender, now a deputy, rides up. They have an argument, and by a trick Bender tries to shoot him. Billy saves himself by plunging against Bender's pony and "the Kid" is Injured. Coffee returns to the ranch with the sad dle and reveals that Cayuse Cayetano is on the trail for Sheriff Amos. The saddle belonged to Lon Magoon, a small-time cattle thief. Billy learns he is to be arrested for assaulting "Kid” Bender. On the sheriff’s orders, Billy and the ranch men drive into Inspiration. On the way. Coffee tells him that the murder victim was not shot by the man riding with him. CHAPTER V—Continued —7— “Why” the sheriff demanded, "haven’t you turned that saddle in to the authorities—to me?” “Oh,” said Horse Dunn with false Innocence, “did you want that sad dle?” The sheriff hesitated, unexpected ly at a fading of the trail. For a moment he had undoubtedly be lieved he had trapped Horse; but this hope was now trampled out by doubts. “One more question,” said the sheriff. “I want to know where all your riders were, last Monday— the day of the killing.” “Val Douglas and Gil Baker were on Yellow Medicine Flats; Steve Hurley and Tulare Callahan were riding Slinkard’s Hole. That’s all the riders I’ve got right now.” “One thing more,” said the sher iff. “I questioned Hurley and Cal lahan when they were in town; but I still got to talk to Baker and Doug las. Stay here a minute.” At the door he turned and met Horse Dunn’s eye squarely. “I don’t mind telling you this,” he said. “This case is nearly washed up. I figure to pick up the killer within 60 hours.” He went out, jerking the door shut behind him. Old man Coffee’s eyes jhowed an inward smile. ‘‘That last seemed kind of forced in,” he said. Gil Baker now lounged in. taking his time. The sheriff was impatient at his heels. “Baker, where were you Mon day?” he demanded. Gil Baker, young and hawk-faced, glanced at Horse Dunn and rolled his quid of tobacco over his tongue. “Rode a scope of ground, last Mon day,” he offered. “Mostly where?” Baker watched the sheriff narrow ly. “Mostly Stinkard’s Hole.” "Anybody with you?” "Part of the time.” The sheriff caught at this. “Doug las was with you only part of the time, huh?” Gil Baker studied him, snake eyed. “All the time,” he changed his answer. "You just said 'part of the time’!” “My mistake,” said Baker. The young sheriff jerked open the door. “Val Douglas! Come in here!” Val Douglas was suddenly motion leisurely, in order not to joggle the cigarette he was making. He stood on spread legs, and across the cig arette as he licked it shut he looked at the otners with an innocent grav ity. “Douglas,” Sheriff Amos demand ed, “where was you riding last Mon day?” “I reckon 1 was in Nine-Mile Val ley,” Douglas said. “How far is that from Slinkard’s Hole?” "About 15 mile.” “And you and Baker covered both Nine • Mile Valley and Slinkard's Hole in one day?” Val Douglas was suddenly motion less. He had started to light up. anu now his hands stopped with the match half way to his cigarette. Without moving his head he glanced at Dunn, then at Gil Baker, who tried to signal him something by the narrowing of an eye. The match went out, unguarded. The 94 wagon boss relaxed. "Me and Gil split off, about three miles from the home corrals," he said. "Yet,” said the sheriff, “you nev er told your boss where you’d been, or why you changed your plans!” Douglas struck a fresh match. “I’m wagon boss,” he said shortly. “When Dunn says count cows, we count cows. But nobody tells me where to ride—they ask me where to ride.” The sheriff stared at him; then he grinned, whole-heartedly, with out pretense. "We’ll go over to Judge Shafer’s office now.” he said. "But take my advice. Talk over your story—and try to get together on it!” CHAPTER VI Outside, Horse Dunn turned to Billy Wheeler. “Guess you better get Marian. This here’s the part I want her to see." Marian was waiting in the side street to which Horse Dunn had sent her with his car; and to the grim weariness of Billy Wheeler, Val Douglas was there, helping her wait. Wheeler walked to the door of the car, a tall, narrow-hipped figure, with a deceptively lazy stride. "We’re starting now,” he said. "You run on, Val," Marian said; “I want to talk to Billy.” “Sure, hon." The wagon boss shot Wheeler a glance like a straight I « T.C \ ry >»i=«« • s “Billy, Don’t! Can’t We Be Friends?” left, and went his way, leisurely swaggering. She looked at him sadly. ‘‘Billy, there’s something I want to say, too.” Wheeler looked at her. The blue of her eyes seemed strikingly fresh and cool in the dusty heat. ‘‘It’s just this: I’d give anything in the world if I could testify for you. But I just didn't see it the way—the way it seemed to you.” “I didn’t ask you to speak for me,” he reminded her. “Billy, don’t! Can’t we be friends? Can't we—” “No,” he said. “But why? Can’t you see—” He looked her in the eyes, and said slowly, “If t can’t have all of you, then I don’t want any of you at all. Do you understand that?” He thought she colored, very faintly. “Suppose I don’t choose to understand that?” “Then swing wide," he heard him self say. “Swing wide and stay clear! And I shouldn’t have to tell you that again.” There was a peculiar gleam in her cool, amazingly clear eyes. “I don’t think you’re so dangerous." she said. “I don’t know what you mean.” She dropped her voice into a drawl, mocking his own. "I mean —if you and I were left afoot, on some far mountain, at night, all alone with only one blanket between us—I shouldn’t be afraid of any thing happening, not anything at all." He turned on her, low-voiced. “Then,” he said, “you’re a fool.” He snapped the car door open. Marian Dunn hesitated a mo ment more; then stepped out of the car and walked ahead of him up the street. Henry Shafer, justice of what peace was left, was a limited little man, mild and watery of eye. He had spent all his life in thi: one town, and he had never made any enemies because he had never tak en sides. So finally he had got himself elected to office. His office, in which they now gath ered, was an exceedingly small frame structure; three or four wooden steps led up from the side walk to the door, and upon the win dow were painted the words "Real Estate, Insurance, and Justice of the Peace.” Horse Dunn—his great size made the room suddenly seem even smaller than it was—shouldered in without greeting to anyone. He shot a contemptuous glance about the walls, which were decorated with a parcel post map, a calendar adver tising tick dip, and stains from leaks in the roof; then planted himself facing the door with his back against the wall—an instinctive pro vision. Shafer jumped up and hus tled around the table to place a chair for Marian at the end opposite himself, and when this was done the remainder of the room filled rapidly with sombreroed men. Link Bender was there, looking hard-bitten and taciturn, and so was Rufe Deane, a green-eyed man with heavy sorrel eyebrows and a storm carved face; the lanky Pinto Halli day took up an uncomfortable posi tion in the corner by the door. And there were other cattlemen, and some of the cowboys and line riders from the outfits of these men, cram ming what little space was left. Horse Dunn growled into Wheel er’s ear, “Wish Bob Flagg could see this. Anything like this always tick led him.” “I take it this is the case against William Wheeler,” said Shafer un necessarily. “Who’s prosecuting this case?" The sheriff said, "I am, Judge. The district attorney’s gone up-state to sit in on the Democratic com mittee, like you know.” “I see here,” said Shafer, fussing with papers, “you got him charged with resisting an officer; bearing arms against authority; assault; as sault with intent to kill.” "What about assault on horse back?” said Billy Wheeler. “Never heard of it,” said Shafer. Sheriff Amos looked disgusted. “Let’s get on with it.” “William Wheeler, do you plead guilty or not guilty?” “Not guilty.” “What seems to have gone on here?” Shafer asked Amos. “Judge,” said Walt Amos, "since this ruckus on Short Crick there’s been a lot of people trampling around there, gumming up the evi dence. So we made deputies of Pinto Halliday and Kid Bender, and we sent ’em to Short Crick to keep fellers out of there. Now yesterday this Wheeler come prowling around there, and when the Kid told him to beat it, he wouldn’t go. The Kid tried to argue with him, but this feller got tough, and they had words. The upshot was, Wheeler drew his gun and fired. He—” Wheeler broke in. “Well, of all the infernal—” “Keep quiet,” said Shafer. The 94 men exchanged glances. “Well,” the sheriff went on, “he didn’t hit anything, but the flash of the gun was right under the nose of the Kid’s horse, and she rared over backwards on him. The Kid come out of it with concussion of the brain, fracture of the leg and two busted ribs. I got his sworn state ment here.” .“Now, now! You can’t put that in,” Wheeler objected. “Either you have to let me cross-examine him, or you can’t put in his statement at all.” “Well, we’ll see what it says, any way,” Shafer decided. “Justice is what we’re after here!” Amos now produced and read aloud Kid Bender’s statement—a repetition of his own. “You got any questions, Wheel er?" Wheeler was appalled. It had not occurred to them that Bender’s peo ple would attempt so baldfaced a lie. What had started out as a sam ple of irritable offlcious.iess had suddenly taken on unknown possi bilities. Angering, Wheeler prom ised himself that once Horse Dunn was extricated he would clean house in this county if it took half of all he had. “The Kid isn’t here to be ques tioned,” he snapped. "I’ll call Pinto Halliday,” Amos said. The lanky Halliday came out of a corner reluctantly, looking ill-na tured; and a swarthy cowboy who had no official business there was persuaded to give Halliday his seat at the table. Under the questioning of Walt Amos, Pinto Halliday now stated that he had been In a different part of the Short Creek cuts. Being down in the arroyo, he had not seen the shot fired; but he was riding to Join Kid Bender and he had ridden up out of the cut in time to see the Kid down under his fallen horse, and Billy Wheeler with a smoking gun in his hand. "Pinto.” Amos said, "was there anybody else with Wheeler?” "Miss Dunn, here, was with Wheeler.” "Look here,” Wheeler broke in again. "What’s the idea dragging her into this?" "We’ll leave her out if you will." Amos said. "He's got a right to drag in any body he wants to," Shafer gave his opinion, “so long as it’s competent and material. And constitutional." "Did Miss Dunn say anything?” "Miss Dunn rides down and jumps off her horse, and she wipes off Kid Bender’s face with her hand kerchief. And she looks square at this jigger and she says, ‘There wasn’t no excuse for it,' she says.” Billy Wheeler looked at Marian. The girl sat with her cheek leaned upon one hand; her face was quiet, her eyes sober and watchful. “That’s all," said Amos. "What’s the idea,” Shafer asked Wheeler sternly, "pulling a gun on an officer?” Wheeler ignored him. "Halliday,” he said, “how far away were you when you heard the shot fired?” “I’d say about 300 yards.” “Yet right away you saw this smoke from my gun—three hun dred yards away? That gun sure must have sent up a smudge!” “By the time I came out of the cut I was closer—not over a hun dred yards.” "How long after the shot was that?” "I’d say about five seconds.” "What’ll you take for the horse?” "Huh?" "If that horse went 200 yards and climbed out of a draw In five sec onds, he sure must be a streak of light!" “Well, maybe it was ten or fifteen seconds.” “And what did you say I had smoking in my hand, all this time?” “A gun, by God!” Shafer looked doubtful. "Well— what you got to say, Wheeler?” "I plead self defense. Judge,” said Wheeler. "Kid Bender made a surprise draw; I grabbed his bit and raised his horse up to make him miss. But it was his own gun going off that made his horse go over. I pulled my gun and stood ready in case he took another shot at me; but I didn’t fire, then or any time.” "What was the idea resisting an officer in the first place?” Shafer said. “The only thing I resisted was getting shot.” "Well, call your witnesses.” “I’m not calling any.” Shafer looked surprised; he glanced at Marian Dunn. “I thought—” “I move this case be dismissed,” said Wheeler. "You move what?” Shafer de manded. "You know darn well I can’t dismiss it! What becomes of this country if—” "This is a mighty serious offense. Judge,” Amos said. “The law calls for as high as five years for a thing like this. We got to bind him over to district court, naturally. But what we want is to hold him without bail. We—” (TO RE CONTINUED) Fountain Pens Affected by Altitude, According to an Official of Airline Old Man Altitude still holds a de cided edge over the fountain pen manufacturers, according to an offi cial of an airline corporation. The challenge of high altitudes has been accepted by at least two of the largest pen designers in the world, and to date the decision has always gone to the rarefied air De spite the best efforts of pen manu facturers over a period of several years, fountain pens still insist on discharging ink on people who are careless in opening them above 5,000 feet. In the early days of air transpor tation, when the problem was still new to the fountain pen industry, a fountain pen could be depended upon to act as a real fountain and provide the writer with a spurt. Since those days most manufac turers have succeeded in improv ing their product so the actual spurt is eliminated but no one has been entirely successful in eliminating profuse leakage. The reason for this is that tne fountain pen, filled at normal alti tudes on the ground, has pressure within a sac equal to the pressure outside the case. As the pen is car ried aloft the outside air pressure decreases while that within the pen remains the same. The result is constant pressure within the pen tending to force the ink out—in spurts whenever the passage is im perfect. Aggravating the situation rs the fact that present • day transport planes operate at altitudes almost invariably above 8,000 feet whereas the old-time transports seldom ex ceeded 5,000 feet except in unusual weather or wind conditions. Many people have thrown away perfectly good pens under these cir cumstances, convinced they had in some way been ruined, but it’s only altitude. i - ■ ■ ' - Trinidad Gold The famous Sir Walter Raleigh explored Trinidad for gold unsuc cessfully in the year 1595. Three hundred years later gold was found in large quantities in Trinidad quite close to the scene of his digging operations. Clothes Due for a College Course By CHERIE NICHOLAS L'OR gomg-away-to-school daugh * ters the hectic days have come that are tense with the excitement of assembling a voguish, and as practical as voguish, wardrobe that will carry them through with sar torial honors on campus, in class room and at college ‘‘prom." Thinking in terms of the college girl who must rank high in swank and at the same time look to the practical in clothes, we are remind ed of the stunning costume suits and the smart sports outfits and the glamorous evening gowns displayed recently at the Jubilee fashion pag eant presented in the open-air la goon theater on the lake front by the Apparel Style Creators of the wholesale district of Chicago. A full-length cape costume was fea tured that represents exactly what a college girl should have in way of an outfit that will serve faithfully and dramatically through the months to come. See this goodlooking cape cos tume pictured to the left in the illustration. The newest thing in suits or in costume ensemble is the long-cape model. Very practical are these types since the long cape may be worn all through the autumn as a separate wrap with other outfits and with one-piece frocks. The ensemble here shown is fashioned of handsome black woolen with deep yoke collar of black Persian on the cape and a pocket of matching fur on the dress. So well thought of are long cape types many jacket suits add full-length capes, thus achieving an interchangeable outfit that will vary the dress program according to the mood of its wearer. .The costume ensemble that can be giv en varied personality via acces sories and interchangeable items is well worth considering when as sembling a college wardrobe. II there is one item more than another that proves to be the college girl's delight is a suede jacket in one of the glorified autumn color ings. Buy it separate or let it be a component part of a suit, for great importance is given to suits that are part suede and part tweed. The costume pictured was entered in the pageant under the title "ac cent on youth" which goes a long way in describing it. Circularly stitched pockets decorate the rich autumn green suede j|ckct which, tops a skirt of black woolen. The scarf is of matching wool. The cap is a Scotch type with a high feather to give it dash. Again referring to the great im portance attached to suede this sea son, you can find in the shops most anything you may happen to want in suede—jacket capes, suits all of suede or only partly so. Shoes, hats, bags and belts of suede for suede accessories are ever so smart with either cloth or knitted suits. Any college girl will appreciate the chic a halter front vestee of suede is sure to acquire for her new autumn suit. For evening a hiplength jacket of white suede will prove a treasure in a college ward robe. All advance fall collections emphasize the fact that suede has undoubtedly come into its own this season. And here’s another hint on fash ion trends that leads to style su premacy for the college girl. It pertains to the lavish use of fur on the new fall suits and coats. Full length plastron or tuxedo fronts of fur will immediately class your coat as being distinctly of this year's vin tage. The same applies to suits. See the model centered in the group. It is indicative of the new fur opulence decreed for falL and win ter. © Western Newspaper Union. SPICES LEND HUES FOR FALL WARDROBE For years feminine fashions have determined what women would eat, for style has determined the figure —and the diet. Now at last has come a great reversal. Out of the spice jars with which our food is made flavorful and fragrant has come the range of tans and browns with which the well-dressed woman will make herself alluring in the late summer and early fall season. For once, therefore, foods will de termine what we wear, according to the edicts of the nation’s stylists. Spice shades, ranging from the yellow tan of ground ginger to the rich brown of whole cloves, are be ing shown in light and medium weight fabrics. Cosmetics are be ing tinted to harmonize with these spice colors and also, incidentally, to make the transition from sun tanning to normal skin tones more gradual and more charming. Fall Hats Go Low in Back Is Latest Word From Paris The first fall hats shown by Patou indorse the new down-in-back move ment, covering the hair and firmly anchored without benefit of elastic. The long back-to front line is ob tained by the forward draping and trimming of toques, while larger shapes emphasize the profile by brims curved sharply up on one side and swooping low on the other Hosiery Colors Lighter Hosiery colors are lighter in tone than those of last fall, the better to blend subtly with the high fashion "mahogany” color range in fabrics and leathers. Flaring Youth For college girls and the very young, important collections include gored, flaring skirts and some which are pleated all around. SISTER DRESSES By CHERIE NICHOLAS Matching sister dresses are the trend of the hour. Little friends are taking advantage of the matching idea too, and are wearing dresses of same material made alike. The cunning frocks pictured are fash ioned of a theme-song print. “In the Shade of the Old Apple Tree” is the song from which this par ticular allover patterning of rosy cheeked apples drew inspiration. Making Chair Set Is Really Pleasure Something different in crochet— a chair or davenport set crocheted in strips! One strip makes an arm rest, three a chair back, five a davenport back. Once you’ve made one, just keep repeating— join them together and you’re Pattern 1470 ready to work a transformation on your furniture! String works up quickly, and is durable. Pattern 1470 contains directions for mak ing a strip 5% by 12% inches; il lustrations of it and of all stitches used; photograph of section of strip; material requirements; sug gestions for a variety of uses. Send 15 cents in stamps or coins (coins preferred) for this pattern to The Sewing Circle Needlecraft Dept., 82 Eighth Ave., New York, N. Y. Please write your name, address and pattern number plainly. Electrocuting Whales The newest method of killing whales is with an electric harpoon. The current goes by wire to the head of the harpoon, spreads through the body of the ani mal and returns through the water to the negative pole on the side of the ship, thereby completing the circuit and causing instant electrocution.—Collier’s Weekly. M>lrTn!L Pfingpl JUST PASH IN HATH1US.. GET RID OF BIG UGLY PORES i PLENTY OF DATES NOW...DENTON’S FACIAL MAGNESIA MADE HER SKIN FRESH, YOUNG, BEAUTIFUL Romance hasn't a chance when big ugly pores spoil skin-texture. Men love the son smoothness of a fresh young complexion. Denton's Facial Magnesia does miracles for unsightly skin. Ugly pores disappear, skin becomes firm and smooth. Watch your complexion take on new beauty Even the first few treatments with Denton's Facial Magnesia make a remarkable difference. With the Denton Magic Mirror you can actually see the texture of your skin become smoother day by day. Imperfections are washed clean. Wrinkles aradu ally disappear. Before you know it Denton's has brought you entirely new akin loveliness. EXTRAORDINARY OFFER —Saves You Money Ton can try Denton's Facial Magnesia on the moat liberal offer we have ever made—good lor a few weeks only. We will send you a full 12 os. bottle (retail price $1) plut a regular sized box of famous Muneaia Wafers (known throughout the country as the original Milk oi Magnesia tablets), plut the Denton Magio Mirror (shows you what your akin apecialiat aesa) ... all for only $11 Don't miaa out on this remarkable offer. Write today DENTON'S Facial Magnesia * select PRODUCTS, Inc. 4402 - 23rd St., Long Island City, N.V. Enclosed iind $1 (cash or stamps) ior which send me your special Introductory combination. Name........................... Street Address_.............. City..._State.. ... ... THE CHEERfUL CHERJU5 1 lost my garter e± k dtmce Wkere every one covld see. It didn't botker tkem , but ok — Tke difference <c_ to me! /V ) mx™. \&i{A
