Trouble Shooter (1974) by Louis - Hopalong 04 L'amour Read Free Book Online Page A

been seen? What was it that was up there on the mesa to frighten a man like Tredway? What was up there that was strange?
    The landscape began a change that was only subtle at first, for the grass grew gray and then turned to pale green. They were nearing the Picket Fork now, although it was still miles away. Already, however, its effects were being felt. A coyote appeared, then vanished into an arroyo. The land grew more rolling, and the shallow valleys were greener and the grass grew taller. Now, for the first time, he began to see cattle, but they were painfully few.
    There might be more than one way for Cindy Blair to regain her ranch; Colonel Tredway might not be so secure as was generally imagined. He pushed on, and it was well past noon before he sighted the Picket Fork. He drew up on a long ridge, and standing in his stirrups, he searched the banks of the stream.
    After a moment his eyes caught a faint trail of smoke, and he swung the white horse toward it. Pike Towne was on his feet to welcome him when Hopalong rode into camp. His wife turned and smiled at Hopalong.
    "Glad to see you, Cameron!" Towne said. "I was afraid you might have had trouble in town."
    "No trouble," Hopalong said, "but I'll have it with Vin Carter one of these days."
    Towne nodded seriously. "Yeah, he's a cantankerous cuss. Somethin' eatin' on him all the time." He handed Hoppy a plate. "There's somebody else around here it would pay to keep your
    eyes on. I spotted him in town the other day. His name is Tote Brown. Thin, stoop-shouldered hombre, never clean-shaved, an' always packin' a rifle. He's a back shooter.
    "Up north," he added, "some cattlemen hired him to clean out nesters an' rustlers at so much a head. Nobody knows how many he got. I doubt if anybody around here knows him or even knows about him. He ain't talkative, an' he had to get out of that country before they hung him, so he ain't exactly anxious to have folks know who he is."
    Hopalong had stopped, listening intently, his mind back with the mysterious marksman who had taken a shot at Rig Taylor. His own shot had spoiled the man's aim, and perhaps scratched him, but he had a mere glimpse of the killer. Yet this might be the man, and it was such a man who had left the dun horse hitched around the corner of the Chuck Wagon Restaurant, and his Winchester had been fixed with an especially fine sight. "I think I've seen him," Hopalong said. "Thanks for the
    tip."
    Towne nodded, speared a chunk of beef, and began to ladle beans to his plate. "This here," he added seriously, "is no country for a pilgrim. A man who expects to stay alive had better keep his eyes open. There's plenty of folks around here with secrets they want to keep, an' if they get an idea somebody is too curious, they'll shoot, an' shoot quick."
    "Looked this country over yet?" Hopalong jerked his head toward the land beyond the Picket Fork.
    "Thought I'd wait for you. There was plenty to do, anyway. I had to cut,a stock of wood for Sarah and rustle up some rocks
    for a fireplace. From here, though, she looks mighty mean."
    The beans were excellent and the steak was broiled just as he liked it, thick and juicy. He ate more than he had planned, listening to the talk between Pike Towne and his wife. That there was a strong bond of affection between them was obvious.
    Shep had come up to Hopalong, and after sniffing inquisitively of his sleeve, he lay down beside him and rested his nose on his paws. Pike glanced at him and smiled. "Reckon Shep figures you are all right," he said. "He's mighty touchy about strangers as a rule."
    "This afternoon," Hopalong said, "we'll scout a little. You go one way, I'll take another. Make an estimate of the cattle you see, but mostly I want to find a large open space well back into the pear forest. I want a place that's hard to find, with good grass, and water if possible."
    Towne looked at him curiously. 'Teah," he said. "I think we can find a place like that. I hear there's clearings