THE CATTLE STEALERS

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 138, 14 June 1930, Page 18

THE CATTLE STEALERS

THE MaePhcrsou's brand was an X and another friend of theirs had a brand like an S, but tlio now-comer's-cattle brand was like the figure 8. Peter thought he iccognised two 'of their missing bullocks amongst them, aud tho brands had bren altered from an X to; 8 by the addition of two cresconts, ono, on each end, and whoreas tho crescents seemed to be done recently, "the other marks wero old. However, he said nothing just then, but ■happening to look at another bullock in tho same pen, ho noticed au S brand, •which had been made' into an S biand by the addition of a bar across. The brother moved off,-, and later •went home to repair the fence, and Jim noticed some blood and hoofmarks leading ont of one of the gaps in the fence. He came to the conclusion that one of the cattle had been scratched when passing through the cut wire. He harnessed up his horse, and followed the trail, which led him to a swamp, and then through a shallow river, where ho lost it, for the blood dripping in the river would bo washed" away. He scouted carefully around the place, but he could not find any tracks leading out on the other side of tho river. By this time it was getting very dark, .so he returned .home, and told Jus brother the result of his search. were both fully convinced by this time 'that there, was some underhand ■work going on, so Jim' decided to watch. For several nights their vigil waa uneventful, until one night Jim heard a slight rustling. He jumped up, and catching up his revolver, called out to the person to put his hands up. But the rider jumped, on-his horso and galloped r6ff. The next morning the brothers were up early and followed the hoof, marks of ;the, horse:.they had heard in the :night.;/They led towards the

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hills, and following it, they came to an old deserted farmhouse-which was supposed to bo haunted, as stories wero told-of lights ibeing. seen., there about midnight. After looking , carefully, they went round to..the back of the house and there'noticed.:.^ remains of a flre. Peter'dismounted, and. putting his hand in the ashes, drew back quickly with, an.".exclamation, as he found "them still hot. . ...: "I say, Jim, somebody has. been here quite recently. Let's look in that shed." Ho went over to it, and pushing the door open, entered; returning after a while with.a miscellaneous collection of branding irons in his haiid, amongst them being a' crescent and a bar. He put most of them back, again where he had found them, but took the two irons with him, and both he and his brother returned to the trail of the mysterious rider. The marks led on, and then mingled with thbso of cattle. Le'avinf the two horses ; they/Still went on, keeping tho trail in; sight till, it disappeared up the hillside. "This looks flshy, doesn't it, Peter?" .said Jim. : " You 're right,'' answered. Peter. They looked around and espied a track leading over'.tho top of the hill, so they decided to climb' it., On reaching the summit, they gazed down on a fertile valley ■covered' with luxuriant ;gras3 on which-a iramber of cattle' were grazing. They 'walked: tlown to the' herd, 'which showed no inclination to "run/away from them. ' "By jove,' there, is .the. heifpr that broke her leg last'autumn! "said Peter, and he called it and it came close up beside him, and allowed him to stroke it. Then they looked at the brand marks arid saw that the crescent on each end had been recently added. -.■ (To be Concluded.) ■ • ■■ • ■ '. . HOWARD ALLEN. Wadestown.' ' ' .