Read Online the Trail to Seven Pines (1972) by Louis - Hopalong 02 L'amour - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Louis - Hopalong 02 L'amour
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won't stand for it!"
"Aw, cut it out, Pony!" Montana objected, grinning. "I was just a-funnin', that's all! Why, I come in to say goodby to the 3 G boys, seem' as they are leavin' the country."
Conversation stilled and all ears were listening. "Leavin?" Harper was startled.
He stared at John Gore. "You boys pullin' your freight?"
"No!" Gore exploded, astonished and angry. "Where'd you get a fool idea like that, Shorty?"
"Why, I heard Hopalong Cassidy was fighting segundo out at the Rockin' R now, so I figured you boys would be splittin' the breeze out of here almost any time. I didn't reckon," he said seriously, "you'd be so plumb foolish as to stay around and buck him!"
"Well, of all the gall!" John Gore slammed his glass on the bar. "When we pull out for any overrated gunfighter like him, you'll know it, Shorty! We're here to stay, and believe me, we'll stay, Hopalong Cassidy or not!"
Shorty nodded agreeably. "I'm settin' 'em up, Slim," he said to the bartender. "Drinks for the whole 3 G outfit on me!" He slammed a gold piece on the bar and waited while the bartender filled their glasses, then lifted his own. "To the 3 G outfit! A bunch that was game enough to stand their ground and die in their boots!"
Pent-up rage spluttered from Windy Gore's lips and he turned. "You think that's funny, Montana?" He glared. "I've got a good notion to take you apart right now and see what makes you tick!"
"Don't try it, Windy!" Montana warned, his voice ringing with sudden sincerity. "You haven't got what it takes! Besides"he grinned suddenly-"Mr. Harper wouldn't like it. He sure does hate to get blood on his floor."
John Gore was no fool. He was shrewd enough to know that a statement of purpose made now would be remembered by many of the listeners in the days to come, and he knew also that public opinion was important.
"We aren't lookin' for trouble," he said, phrasing his words with care. "It's true that we are runnin' cows on range relinquished by the Rockin' R, and as long as the grazing between the Blues and the Antelopes has been abandoned I see nothing wrong with it."
This was untrue and he knew it, yet he also knew that few of the bystanders had ever actually ridden over that range since the death of Cattle Bob. They would be in no position to dispute his statement. He had made his own plans, and the arrival of Hopalong Cassidy might complicate things but would be allowed to change nothing.
He wanted the Rocking R range for himself and intended to have it. He was a domineering man but far from a fool. He was ready and able to use force-not the thoughtless, sometimes reckless force Windy might use or the brutality of Con, but force. Hard, driving force that would take him at once to a victory.
"Free range," he continued, "is only held by an outfit so long as they keep it stocked."
Hopalong Cassidy had moved from his curtained booth and had come most of the way down the steps without attracting attention. All eyes had been centered on Montana and the Gore outfit. Now he spoke.
"You're mistaken," he said quietly. "The Rockin' R has relinquished nothing at all.
Our cattle still run on that range, and they will continue to do so. Furthermore, you have been ordered to drive your cattle the other side of the Blues. I repeat that order now."
For an instant there was silence. John Gore was inwardly furious. Better than any of the others, he saw how Cassidy had turned the tables on him. Now any action of his that led to violence would certainly be considered his fault. He fixed his eyes on the bar, stared at it bitterly. Then, feeling eyes upon him, he looked around to meet the gaze of Pony Harper. He saw the slight inclination of Harper's eyes toward the office of the hotel and frowned slightly.
There had never been anything but a speaking acquaintance between himself and Harper.
He did not like the man and saw no more reason for beginning to like him now. However, there was something in the gesture that interested him.
"Aw, cut it out, Pony!" Montana objected, grinning. "I was just a-funnin', that's all! Why, I come in to say goodby to the 3 G boys, seem' as they are leavin' the country."
Conversation stilled and all ears were listening. "Leavin?" Harper was startled.
He stared at John Gore. "You boys pullin' your freight?"
"No!" Gore exploded, astonished and angry. "Where'd you get a fool idea like that, Shorty?"
"Why, I heard Hopalong Cassidy was fighting segundo out at the Rockin' R now, so I figured you boys would be splittin' the breeze out of here almost any time. I didn't reckon," he said seriously, "you'd be so plumb foolish as to stay around and buck him!"
"Well, of all the gall!" John Gore slammed his glass on the bar. "When we pull out for any overrated gunfighter like him, you'll know it, Shorty! We're here to stay, and believe me, we'll stay, Hopalong Cassidy or not!"
Shorty nodded agreeably. "I'm settin' 'em up, Slim," he said to the bartender. "Drinks for the whole 3 G outfit on me!" He slammed a gold piece on the bar and waited while the bartender filled their glasses, then lifted his own. "To the 3 G outfit! A bunch that was game enough to stand their ground and die in their boots!"
Pent-up rage spluttered from Windy Gore's lips and he turned. "You think that's funny, Montana?" He glared. "I've got a good notion to take you apart right now and see what makes you tick!"
"Don't try it, Windy!" Montana warned, his voice ringing with sudden sincerity. "You haven't got what it takes! Besides"he grinned suddenly-"Mr. Harper wouldn't like it. He sure does hate to get blood on his floor."
John Gore was no fool. He was shrewd enough to know that a statement of purpose made now would be remembered by many of the listeners in the days to come, and he knew also that public opinion was important.
"We aren't lookin' for trouble," he said, phrasing his words with care. "It's true that we are runnin' cows on range relinquished by the Rockin' R, and as long as the grazing between the Blues and the Antelopes has been abandoned I see nothing wrong with it."
This was untrue and he knew it, yet he also knew that few of the bystanders had ever actually ridden over that range since the death of Cattle Bob. They would be in no position to dispute his statement. He had made his own plans, and the arrival of Hopalong Cassidy might complicate things but would be allowed to change nothing.
He wanted the Rocking R range for himself and intended to have it. He was a domineering man but far from a fool. He was ready and able to use force-not the thoughtless, sometimes reckless force Windy might use or the brutality of Con, but force. Hard, driving force that would take him at once to a victory.
"Free range," he continued, "is only held by an outfit so long as they keep it stocked."
Hopalong Cassidy had moved from his curtained booth and had come most of the way down the steps without attracting attention. All eyes had been centered on Montana and the Gore outfit. Now he spoke.
"You're mistaken," he said quietly. "The Rockin' R has relinquished nothing at all.
Our cattle still run on that range, and they will continue to do so. Furthermore, you have been ordered to drive your cattle the other side of the Blues. I repeat that order now."
For an instant there was silence. John Gore was inwardly furious. Better than any of the others, he saw how Cassidy had turned the tables on him. Now any action of his that led to violence would certainly be considered his fault. He fixed his eyes on the bar, stared at it bitterly. Then, feeling eyes upon him, he looked around to meet the gaze of Pony Harper. He saw the slight inclination of Harper's eyes toward the office of the hotel and frowned slightly.
There had never been anything but a speaking acquaintance between himself and Harper.
He did not like the man and saw no more reason for beginning to like him now. However, there was something in the gesture that interested him.
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