Page 8 (1/2)

“I’e to it—” there has to be a reason for Calder to suddenly suspect so after all this time Someone let it slip about those brands One of your so-called hand-picked men, probably while he was likkered up”

“No” Loaunt and tall in the“They know better than to breathe a word if they want to ke

ep their tongues He was only guessing when he said that to you”

Judd Boston didn’t like that answer All his plans had been flowing along smoothly until Chase Benteen Calder had muddied the waters with his suspicions

“I had the feeling the oldon when he bunched his herd close in to the ranch” His mind went back over the recent events before he turned the force of his hard eyes on his fore his hand Now you say Shorty Niles and Truo to work for Calder”

“They claiether to take north,” Loman explained stiffly “As ot his eye onprofit with a herd of his own”

“And if he makes a bundle, ill he do with it?” The question was asked aloud, but Boston wasn’t interested in Lorimly

“Trumbo was spreadin’ talk about Calder stakin’ claim to some land in the Montana Territory,” the foreman inserted

“Talk” He showed his conte up there but Sioux and Cheyenne It’s only been two years since they wiped out Custer and histo throw us off the track” That’s what Boston would have done in his place, so he could believe nothing else

“They’re talkin’ about free grass up there” Loic of that phrase

“And they’ve got grass right here—and water and cattle,” Boston retorted “I’ve waited ten years to get my hands on that water on Calder’s ranch With it, I’ll have the whole area sewed up”

He had directed a lot of behind-the-scenes et Seth Calder in his present desperate situation Judd Boston had coveted the Cee Bar land since he’d arrived, but he had soon learned that no ao, he had learned to bend with the wind or run with it He knehen to push and when to bide his time Patient and inscrutable, he had waited The Cee Bar was on the verge of collapse This was the time to push

“I want you to find out where Benteen is no ,” he ordered

“And the old man?” Loman asked

“He hasn’t got much of an operation left” A cold, humorless soing to have any”