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Updated: June 8, 2025
His gaze swept across the prairie to where, half a mile away, a bunch of Shoe-Bar cattle grazed peacefully. If this sick beast should get amongst them, the yearlings at least, to whom the disease is fatal, would be dying like flies in twenty-four hours. Buck glanced back at the steer again, and as he noted the T-T brand, his face hardened and he began taking down his rope.
Indeed, he would probably not have purchased at all had not the new outfit, even to his hasty inspection, seemed to be so unusual a bargain and so exactly what he wanted. But buy he did, placed Joe Bloss, a reliable and experienced cattleman who had been with him for years, in charge, and departed. From that moment he had never once set eyes on the Shoe-Bar.
They wouldn't say nothin' a-purpose, but like as not if they should meet up with one of that slick crowd at the Shoe-Bar they'd let somethin' slip without thinkin'. On the other hand, it sure would make him a mite careless if he thought yuh was tied down here on a reg'lar job." He paused reflectively; then suddenly his eyes brightened. "I got it," he chuckled.
It was similar in size and construction to Las Vegas, but there all likeness ceased, for the interior was surprisingly comfortable and as spick-and-span as the Shoe-Bar line camp was cluttered and dirty.
How long has she er owned the Shoe-Bar?" "Only since her pa died about four months back." Pop Daggett assumed an easier pose; his tone had softened to one of garrulous satisfaction at having a new listener to a tale he had worn threadbare. "It's consid'able of a story, but if yuh ain't pressed for time " "Go to it," invited Buck, leaning back against the counter. "I've got all the time there is."
Believe me, by this time he's doped out an iron-clad alibi, or something, and we wouldn't have a chance. But if one of the Shoe-Bar gang should turn State's evidence, that's another matter." "Aren't you afraid he may beat it if you let him go that long?" "I'll see to that. One of my men will start for Amarillo right away and keep him in sight till we come back.
That was the very feeling which had assailed him vaguely at times, that some deviltry which he couldn't understand was going on beneath the surface. As he made for the corral, a sudden possibility flashed into his mind. With her title so precarious, might not Mary Thorne be at the bottom of a systematic attempt to loot the Shoe-Bar of its movable value against the time of discovery?
"I dunno but I have," he answered slowly. "Uh course I don't know yore name even, an' a man's got to be careful how he " "Oh, that'll be all right," interrupted Stratton, his white teeth showing briefly in a smile. "I'll leave you a deposit. My name's Bob Green, though folks mostly call me Buck. I've got a notion to ride over to the Shoe-Bar and see if they know anything about Joe."
"Somewhere off to the west of the Shoe-Bar, isn't it?" asked Stratton. "Yeah. 'Way the other side of the mountains. There's a short cut through the hills that comes out around the north end of middle pasture, but there ain't one steer in a thousand could find his way through. Well, let's hear what you're up to, old man. I'm plumb interested."
Making the same cautious circuit Buck had taken around the southern end of the Shoe-Bar, they reached Rocking-R land without adventure and pulled up before the door of Red Butte camp about six o'clock. Gabby Smith was cooking supper and greeted them with his customary lack of enthusiasm.
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