Trouble Shooter (1974) Read Online Free Page A
Author: Louis - Hopalong 04 L'amour
fair had me worried. I like to know what's goin' on around."
"So do I." Tredway's voice was dry. "Find out who this newcomer is and what he is. I want to know right away. Meanwhile, don't bother Taylor. If he starts anything or gives any of the boys a good excuse, that's different, but I want him to start it. Understand?"
Saxx nodded. "Sure. I'll tell Carter." He hesitated. "Ecker-man was over east last night. He seen a light over Brushy Knoll again. I'd sure like to take a pasear up thataway. That there Babylon Pastures always made me wonder."
"Saxx!" The big foreman was shocked at the paleness of Tredway's face. "Stay away from there! Don't you ever go near there! Understand?"
"Sure, boss."
Bill Saxx stopped outside the door and rolled a smoke. Babylon Pastures. What was there about that to scare the old man out of his wits? For he had been frightened, he had been badly frightened, and in all their association Bill Saxx had never seen Tredway get that way about any other subject.
What was there about Babylon Pastures to frighten the man?
Chapter 2
Trouble Shooter (1974)
HOPALONG MAKES A DEAL
Hopalong Cassidy was out of bed early on the following morning and ate a leisurely breakfast. He saw nothing of Rig Taylor. He indulged himself in casual conversation with various people, and in each case they were soon doing most of the talking and Hopalong was proving himself an excellent listener.
The area around Kachina had been a stopover point for the early wagon trains, but those had ceased during the War Between the States. The freight line had been the beginning of its current rise to importance, that and the mines nearby. Although several minor gold booms and one find of silver ore had failed to produce anything but a couple of low-grade properties that barely paid for themselves and employed a few dozen men, supplying these mines had been the springboard that put Tredway into the shipping business.
The mines to the north and one placer area were served by the town, which was also a supply point for the Box T outfit and a few smaller ranching ventures. Because the town had been
mostly created by Tredway's freighting operation, few of the townspeople had been in the area more than three years.
Despite Hopalong's leading remarks, no ranching ventures earlier than the Box T could be located, and nowhere did he hear any mention of Pete Melford. There had to be a lead somewhere. Among the people in the area there had to be somebody who knew of Pete Melford and his PM outfit.
Outside the Mansion House he loitered on the steps, then seated himself. Apparently dozing, he watched the stores open up, watched the various people go to their day's work, and began to get the faces associated with certain places. His eyes were directed to older men more than the younger, and each one he cataloged for future reference.
The whole affair showed every evidence of having been coldly and deliberately planned. Such actions were not too common in the west, and betrayed the mind back of it to a considerable degree.
He was sitting there on the steps when he heard boots behind him and then a voice said, 'Tell Vin I want to see him. I'll be in the Elk Horn, an' it's mighty important."
"Sure, boss." The man hesitated. "You seen Eckerman?"
"I've seen him."
"Whatever he saw on Brushy Knoll last night scared the daylights out o' him."
"He's an old woman!" The voice was harsh and intolerant. "Next thing he'll be scared of mice!"
"Mebby, but I ain't wantin' any part o' that Babylon Pastures country myself. Mebby there's nothing there, but where there's so much smoke there must be some fire."
"Forget it, Pres. Nobody is askin' you to go anywhere near there. The fact is, the old man wants us to stay clear away from that neck o' the woods. I think he's a mite scared himself."
'The Colonel? I didn't think he was afraid of the devil his-self!"
"You go look up Vin. Tell him I want to see him."
"All right, Bill. On my way."
Hopalong sat
"So do I." Tredway's voice was dry. "Find out who this newcomer is and what he is. I want to know right away. Meanwhile, don't bother Taylor. If he starts anything or gives any of the boys a good excuse, that's different, but I want him to start it. Understand?"
Saxx nodded. "Sure. I'll tell Carter." He hesitated. "Ecker-man was over east last night. He seen a light over Brushy Knoll again. I'd sure like to take a pasear up thataway. That there Babylon Pastures always made me wonder."
"Saxx!" The big foreman was shocked at the paleness of Tredway's face. "Stay away from there! Don't you ever go near there! Understand?"
"Sure, boss."
Bill Saxx stopped outside the door and rolled a smoke. Babylon Pastures. What was there about that to scare the old man out of his wits? For he had been frightened, he had been badly frightened, and in all their association Bill Saxx had never seen Tredway get that way about any other subject.
What was there about Babylon Pastures to frighten the man?
Chapter 2
Trouble Shooter (1974)
HOPALONG MAKES A DEAL
Hopalong Cassidy was out of bed early on the following morning and ate a leisurely breakfast. He saw nothing of Rig Taylor. He indulged himself in casual conversation with various people, and in each case they were soon doing most of the talking and Hopalong was proving himself an excellent listener.
The area around Kachina had been a stopover point for the early wagon trains, but those had ceased during the War Between the States. The freight line had been the beginning of its current rise to importance, that and the mines nearby. Although several minor gold booms and one find of silver ore had failed to produce anything but a couple of low-grade properties that barely paid for themselves and employed a few dozen men, supplying these mines had been the springboard that put Tredway into the shipping business.
The mines to the north and one placer area were served by the town, which was also a supply point for the Box T outfit and a few smaller ranching ventures. Because the town had been
mostly created by Tredway's freighting operation, few of the townspeople had been in the area more than three years.
Despite Hopalong's leading remarks, no ranching ventures earlier than the Box T could be located, and nowhere did he hear any mention of Pete Melford. There had to be a lead somewhere. Among the people in the area there had to be somebody who knew of Pete Melford and his PM outfit.
Outside the Mansion House he loitered on the steps, then seated himself. Apparently dozing, he watched the stores open up, watched the various people go to their day's work, and began to get the faces associated with certain places. His eyes were directed to older men more than the younger, and each one he cataloged for future reference.
The whole affair showed every evidence of having been coldly and deliberately planned. Such actions were not too common in the west, and betrayed the mind back of it to a considerable degree.
He was sitting there on the steps when he heard boots behind him and then a voice said, 'Tell Vin I want to see him. I'll be in the Elk Horn, an' it's mighty important."
"Sure, boss." The man hesitated. "You seen Eckerman?"
"I've seen him."
"Whatever he saw on Brushy Knoll last night scared the daylights out o' him."
"He's an old woman!" The voice was harsh and intolerant. "Next thing he'll be scared of mice!"
"Mebby, but I ain't wantin' any part o' that Babylon Pastures country myself. Mebby there's nothing there, but where there's so much smoke there must be some fire."
"Forget it, Pres. Nobody is askin' you to go anywhere near there. The fact is, the old man wants us to stay clear away from that neck o' the woods. I think he's a mite scared himself."
'The Colonel? I didn't think he was afraid of the devil his-self!"
"You go look up Vin. Tell him I want to see him."
"All right, Bill. On my way."
Hopalong sat
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