"The mere fact that I've lost a few head of cattle doesn't worry
me at all. They might take a thousand and I wouldn't miss them. But those
rustlers are the rattlesnakes of the West, and no man steals from me and
gets away with it until I'm weaker and older than I am now. I suppose the
fact is that my pride is hurt more than anything else," he smiled grimly.
"I'd rather flattered myself that I'd built up a reputation in these
parts that would keep those vermin at a distance. It galls me horribly
that they should have the nerve to come up and rustle my stock right
under my very nose. But if they think that they are going to get by
with it, they have another guess coming," and into the eyes of the old
warhorse came the look that Bert had learned to know in Mexico.
"Are you going to organize a force and go after them?" asked Bert
eagerly.
Mr. Melton's eyes twinkled.
"Hit it right the first time," he said. "I suppose I ain't far out in
guessing that you'd like to go along."
"You bet I would," replied Bert emphatically.
"Well, we'll see about it," answered his host.
Pages:
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213