Chip of the Flying U — B M Bower

The ldquo vigilantesrdquo drew hastily out of the road and scudded out of sight down a gully as the creams lunged down the steep grade and across the shallow creek bed Fortunately the great gate by the stable swung wide open and they galloped through and up the long slope to the house coming more under control at every leap till by a supreme effort Chip brought them panting to a stand before the porch where the Old Man stood boiling over with anxiety and excitement James G Whitmore was not a man who took things calmly had he been a woman he would have been called fussy What inmdash what was you making a race track out of the grade for rdquo he demanded after he had bestowed a hasty kiss beside the nose of his sister Chip dropped a heavy trunk upon the porch and reached for the guitar before he answered I was just trying those new springs on the buggy

Big Butch without a doubt he was thinking Big Butch or one of his men trying to get even for Cash Farley Not even a wisp of smoke across the gulch gave a clue to his whereabouts and to go back and search for him was worse than useless He might be anywhere amongst the rocks and brush on the farther wall and to reach him except with a bullet was practically impossible No use saying anything to Weary about it either Might stir him up to want to go hunting the shooter and while they were getting into the gully and across to the other side they would be easy targets Chip had enough experience with that sort of thing to feel no desire whatever to make the attempt It was plain Weary had not heard the shot ldquo No more carcass hunting to day rdquo he declared misinterpreting Chips pause ldquo You couldnt get me down into another coulee on a bet Ive got enough on my mind with them eighty three we already counted Come on Well pick up them horses and hit for home Thats work enough for to day if you ask me