Rowdy Rides to Glory (1987) Read Online Free PDF

e in sight.
    Skirting the cliff wall, they circled to the right, trusting t o the sparse trees and the brush, as well as to the wide shadow of the encircling cliffs , to hide them. As they neared the cabin, Rowdy saw that the stream had been damme d and there was a large pool, all of an acre in extent.
    Vaho touched his arm, indicating the pool. "That may be your trouble," she said , low voiced. "This stream is probably the source of your water supply."
    He had been thinking the same thing, and he nodded. When they had a better view , he could see that no more than a trickle seemed to be escaping from the pool, an d the waters of the stream had been diverted to irrigate another small meadow.
    More cattle were in view in the branch canyon. Rowdy Horn estimated that three hundre d head were held here. From the brands he saw, nearly every ranch in the South Ri m country was represented except the Bar 0. That was, in itself, evidence of a kind.
    He stored the fact grimly away in his mind.
    "Nobody around," he said thoughtfully. "I'm going to have a look in that cabin."
    "I'll wait here," Vaho said. "Be careful."
    He left her with Silverside and rode forward slowly. When near the cabin he dismounte d and walked nearer on cat feet. A glance through the window showed the cabin to b e empty. Stepping inside, he took a hasty look around. Six or seven men were bunkin g here, and they had supplies and ammunition enough to last a long time. Also, th e house gave every evidence of long occupancy.
    Under one of the bunks he saw a square black box and drew it out. It was padlocked , but picking up a hatchet, he smashed the lock with a few well-directed blows. Insid e the box were a couple of engraved six-shooters, some odds and ends of letters addresse d to Jack Rollick, and a small black tally book. He had picked it up and opened it , when he heard a scream.
    With a lunge he was on his feet, racing to the door. He sprang outside, his eye s swinging to the woods where he had left Vaho. The bushes were thrashing, and he hear d another low cry. Instantly he vaulted into saddle and the black horse lunged int o a dead run for the woods. Rowdy hit the ground running, and dived through the bushes.
    Vaho, her blouse torn, was fighting desperately with a tall, powerful man in a sweat-staine d red shirt. When Rowdy plunged through the brush, the man's head turned. With an oat h he hurled the girl from him and grabbed for his gun.
    His draw was like a flash of light, and in an instant of desperation as the big man' s hand darted, Rowdy Horn knew he could never match that draw, yet he palmed his ow n gun. The rustler's six-shooter roared, then Rowdy fired.
    The big man lifted on his tiptoes, raised his eyebrows, and opened his mouth slowly , then plunged over on his face.
    Carefully, gun ready, Rowdy walked forward. He had never killed a man before, an d he was frightened. The rustler' s shot had been hasty and had missed. Evidently, the big fellow had stumbled when h e tried to move, for Rowdy's bullet had gone into his back, just behind his left arm , and had come out under the heart.
    "Oh, Rowdy!" Vaho cried, her eyes wide. "You killed him!" "I reckon I did!" he said.
    "And I reckon we'd better make tracks out of here before they get back! There's a t least five or six more of them around somewhere."
    Swiftly they rode away, and in his hip pocket was the black tally book, forgotten.
    They were skirting the Slash Bar range when Vaho spoke up suddenly. "Rowdy, hadn' t you better ride on into Aragon and report this to the sheriff? Wouldn't it be best?"
    "That's a good idea," he said worriedly. "What about you?" "I'll wait at the Poin t of Rocks with Silverside. You can cut across to town, then come back here and we'l l go on to your place."
    Despite the fact that the killing had been in self-defense, and to protect Vaho , Rowdy was worried. It was no small thing to kill a man, even a thief and rustler.
    He rode swiftly, hurrying by every shortcut he