Cowboy Dave | Page 6

"Guess your cattle
and ours have struck up an acquaintance," he added, with assumed
cheerfulness.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean they're traveling along together just as if they belonged to the
same outfit."
"Huh! I can't help it, can I, if your cows tag along with our strays?"
demanded Len with a sneer.

"That's what I'm here for--to help prevent it," Dave went on, and his
voice was a trifle sharp. "The Bar U ranch can't afford to lose any
strays these days," he resumed. "The Carson outfit needs all it can get,
and, as representative of the Carson interests I'll just cut out those
strays of ours, Len, and head them the other way."
"Huh! What right have you got to do it?"
"What right? Why my father sent me to gather up our strays. I saw
some of them up here yesterday."
"Your father?" The sneer in Len's voice was unmistakable.
"Yes, of course," said Dave, wondering what was the matter with Len.
"My father, Randolph Carson."
"He isn't your father!" burst out Len in angry tones. "And you aren't his
son! You're a nameless picked-up nobody, that's what you are! A
nobody! You haven't even a name!"
And with this taunt on his lips Len spurred his horse away from Dave's.

CHAPTER III
A CONFESSION
Something seemed to strike Dave Carson a blow in the face. It was as
though he had suddenly plunged into cold water, and, for the moment,
he could not get his breath. The sneering words of Len Molick rang in
his ears:
"You're a nameless, picked-up nobody!"
Having uttered those cruel words, Len was riding on, driving before
him some of his father's stray cattle, as well as some belonging to the
Bar U ranch. The last act angered Dave, and anger, at that moment, was
just what was needed to arouse him from the lethargy in which he

found himself. It also served, in a measure, to clear away some of the
unpleasant feeling caused by the taunt.
"Hold on there a minute, Len Molick!" called Dave, sharply.
Len never turned his head, and gave no sign of hearing.
A dull red spot glowed in each of Dave's tanned cheeks. With a quick
intaking of his breath he lightly touched the spurs to his horse--lightly,
for that was all the intelligent beast needed. Dave passed his taunting
enemy on the rush, and planting himself directly in front of him on the
trail, drew rein so sharply that his steed reared. The cows, scattered by
the sudden rush, ambled awkwardly on a little distance, and then
stopped to graze.
"What do you mean by getting in my way?" growled Len.
"I mean to have you stop and answer a few questions," was the calm
retort.
"If it's about these cattle I tell you I'm not trying to drive off any of
yours," said Len, in whining tones. He knew the severe penalty
attached to this in a cow country, and Dave was sufficiently formidable,
as he sat easily on his horse facing the bully, to make Len a little more
respectful.
"I'm not going to ask you about these cattle--at least not right away,"
Dave went on. "This is about another matter. You said something just
now that needs explaining."
"I say a good many things," Len admitted, and again there sounded in
his voice a sneer. "I don't have to explain to you everything I say; do
I?"
"You do when it concerns me," and Dave put his horse directly across
the trail, which, at this point narrowed and ran between two low ranges
of hills. "You said something about me just now--you called me a
nameless, picked-up nobody!"

Dave could not help wincing as he repeated the slur.
"Well, what if I did?" demanded the bully.
"I want to know what you mean. You insinuated that Mr. Carson was
not my father."
"He isn't!"
"Why do you say that, and how do you know?" Dave asked. In spite of
his dislike of Len, and the knowledge that the bully was not noted for
truth- telling, Dave could not repress a cold chill of fear that seemed to
clutch his heart.
"I say that because it's so, and how I know it is none of your affair,"
retorted Len.
"Oh yes, it is my affair, too!" Dave exclaimed. He was fast regaining
control of himself. "It is very much my affair. I demand an explanation.
How do you know Mr. Carson isn't my father?"
"Well, I know all right. He picked you up somewhere. He doesn't know
what your name is himself. He just let you use his, and he called you
Dave. You're a nobody I tell you!"
Dave spurred his horse until it was close beside that of Len's. Then