The Trail Horde

etween himself and the buckboard was not great, and he saw that it was occupied by two women-one of them the woman whom he had met at the foot of the stairs leading to Ward

e aware of the buckboard, for there was a smile on her face as she looked at him;

perhaps the woman might have waved the handkerchief at some frie

's action, though he experienced no fatuous thrill. The wom

is first experience with the invisible and subtle power that ruled th

ion; a power, stealthy, sinister, had interfered with the business

well thumbed by him. He had been privately educated, by his mother. And among the books that lined the shelves of the library were

that the present governor of the state was incapable, or swayed by invisible and malign influences. He was aware that the state railroad commissioner lacked aggressiveness, or that he had been directed to keep in the background. And he was als

ared to campaign against him at the instant he detects dissatisfaction among his subscribers. And the present governor was being scathingly arraigned by the newspapers of the stat

to Lawler that there must exist a secret understanding between the railroad commissioner and the invisible power represented by Gary Warden. And he wondered at the temerity of the governor-the sheer, brazen disregard for the public welfare that permitted him to beco

one term. For two years of complete and absolute control of the cattle industr

arden saw Lawler emerge. He watched Lawler, noting the gravity of his face, exulting, smiling mockingly. Warden als

ed town the school children who had preceded him had watched him from in front of the Wolf; and half a dozen

wler now, as he walked toward the building, f

nes and his brows were drawn together in a frown. For his thoughts were dwell

al steps toward the desk; and then he glanced carelessly toward them

ed the lips of the others as Lawler shook hands with them. He called them all by nam

re in town, Cal

rd, probing, intelligent eyes, and

n tell you?

n didn't m

immons. You ain't

o you

been watchin' you, Lawler. We seen you ride into town on Red Kin

queried Lawle

we wanted to see

k wh

in'; an' Corts, Sigmund, an' Lester the day before yesterday. I reckon the whole section will get it bef

r gri

" said Caldwe

ca

' we sort of waited around, wonderin' what you'd do about it. We didn't bring no cattle over, for we

had occurred in his

fingwell's word was the only contract anyone ever needed with him."

nking it over,

down to the cusses?" Caldw

im, smiling. Caldwell laugh

as well start right now. They're ain't none of us men goin' to let Gary Warden an' the railroad company run our business; but there's a few owners around here that ain't got no stomach for a fight, an' they'

his own ranch and sells for what he thinks is a fair price. If we go to

t realize that, at first. A man don't think, when he's mad clear through. Bu

lean-faced man,

onvention last fall. If you'd said the word you'd have been governor today instead of that dumb coyote which is holdin' down the office now. You've got the reputation an' the backbone-an' they've got to listen to you. I've heard that cattle owners all over the state are gettin' the same deal." Barthman's eyes gleamed with pa