Cowboy Dave; Or, The Round-up at Rolling River Part 16

But I am not going to give you all the details of that fight which was soon over. Len, bruised and sore, cried out that he had had enough.

"That'll teach you to behave after this, I guess," said Dave, as he moved over toward his horse.

Len did not answer for a moment. He, too, approached his steed. And when he was mounted he cast a look full of anger and hate at Dave, and said:

"You wait! I'll get even with you yet!"

It was the usual retort of a sneak and coward.

"You had your chance," said Dave, grimly. "If you couldn't take advantage of it that's not my fault."

Then he rode off, collected the strays he was looking for, and made his way back to the ranch.

"What's the matter, Dave?" asked Pocus Pete, as he saw the lad leap from his pony. "Did you have a fall?"

"No, it was the other fellow," was the grim answer.

"Len?"

"Yes."

"Does he look anything like you?"

"Worse!"

Dave's face was scratched and one eye bruised.

"Well, I s'pose it had to be," chuckled Pocus Pete. "What'd he do, try to rope you?"

"No. He wouldn't have much chance at that, even if I was not on Crow."

Then Dave told the story of the encounter.

"Well," said Peter reflectively, "I reckon, just as some one said about dogs, that a certain amount of fleas was good for 'em, a little fightin'

is good for some fellows. Are you sure Len got enough?" he asked anxiously.

"He said so," replied Dave, sententiously.

"Well, he ought to know," was Pete's dry comment.

Life at Bar U ranch went on in much the same way for many days. There was a great deal of work to be done, and Dave did his share. But, all the while, he could not shake from his mind the memory of the revealed secret regarding himself.

"I wonder who I am?" he asked himself again and again. But he could not answer. He made up his mind that some day he would have a long talk with Mr. Carson, and see if there was not some way in which clews to his lost parents could be obtained.

"There must be some," reflected Dave.

Mr. Bellmore had almost recovered now. He could ride his horse about, and often accompanied Dave on the latter's trips. The Chicago man could limp about fairly well, but in the West, at least on the cattle ranges, little walking is done. If a person has only to go across the street it is the most natural thing in the world to leap to the saddle to cover the distance.

"Well, I think I must get busy on that water business now," said Mr.

Bellmore one day, when he and Dave had come in from a little round-up. "It won't do to wait any longer. My people will be wondering why I am taking such a long vacation."

"They know you were hurt; don't they?" asked Dave.

"Oh, yes, but I'm practically well again."

"What are your plans?"

"I must see if I can get some concerted action in forming an irrigation company. I think I shall talk to Mr. Molick, even if his son and you are not on friendly terms."

"Oh, don't let that stand in the way of business," Dave said, heartily.

"I hope you won't misunderstand my motives," said the water agent.

"Not at all."

It was a few days after this that Pocus Pete, coming in from a distant part of the range, said to Dave and Mr. Carson.

"I see they're putting up some new fences along the river on the Centre O ranch."

"Is that so?" asked Mr. Carson. "That's news to me, I wonder what that means?"

"Perhaps I can tell you," said Mr. Bellmore. "I have made some arrangements with Mr. Molick about water rights. He is going into the irrigation scheme with me. I really need him, as he owns certain patents in the water course. I meant to mention it to you, but it slipped my mind."

"So you are going in with Molick?" asked Mr. Carson, in a curious tone of voice.

"Yes. Is there any objection?"

"Well, I don't know but what there is," was the reply of the ranch owner.

"Sit down, and I'll tell you a few things you ought to know, Mr.

Bellmore."

CHAPTER XIV

A WARNING

Dave, who had heard what was said between Mr. Bellmore and the ranch owner listened with interest and expectation to what would come next. There was an odd manner about the proprietor of Bar U--a sort of constraint, and Dave fancied there was a little feeling, almost of hostility toward the man he had rescued from such a perilous position.

Up to now Mr. Bellmore had enjoyed to the utmost the hospitality of Bar U ranch. Mr. Bellmore had been made very welcome, and he had had every care and attention while unable to use his injured foot. Now it seemed that a spirit of hostility had cropped out.

"Before I go on to say what I intend to-to give you a warning in other words," said Mr. Carson, "let me ask you, Mr. Bellmore if you know why Molick is putting up new fences along the water course? I'd like to know the reason for that before I give you my warning."

"A warning!" exclaimed the irrigation man, and there was evident surprise manifested in his tone.

"Yes, a warning," repeated the ranch owner. "But please do not mistake my meaning. I'm not warning you of any threatened danger, but only of being careful what business dealings you have with Jason Molick, or any of his men."

"Oh, I thought you meant you were going to warn me to move on," and Dave fancied his friend laughed with an air of relief.