THE JACKASS ROPERS 8

at the end of the week the wire strung between two mesquite trees behind the corrals held 36 ears. every day dan had come back with a few stuffed in his chap pocket. also he has found many six or seven big yearlings from the last years calf crop. they had been missed in the fall round up and now were big . walking bank notes. but they wernt in the corral yet. ellen watched him leave every morning and come in every nite, his horses limber from hard rideing and dan the same. a couple of times she had almost mentioned to him he needed to take a day off and rest. but she couldnt find a way to do that. dan had about made up his mind not to go back to ropeing jackasses. he had plenty to do here. but he hadnt figgured just how to accomplish the chore. on the fifth night eating supper lizzy had stayed up and was sitting at the table with him. "aunt lizzy, this country is so rough how did my uncle get the cattle gathered for sale? i kmow he worked by him self mostly. how did he do it?"dan looked across the table at lizzy. she smiled a distant smile, like she was looking back in to the years behind her. then she said" dogs" dan sat there stunned. but where would he find the dogs he needed? he didnt need puppys , he needed dogs ready to work. he didnt have time for puppys to grow up and be trained. got a fork full of potatoes and started it to his mouth. lizzy smiled again.">hank hamilton has them. they are better than a whole truck load of cowboys." dan munched the food as he thought on the subject. hank had a ranch over a hundred miles away. but it was ssaid his ranch was as hard to work as this one.dan said as much. ellen looked over at him from where she stood at the kitchen sink." you and your horses need a day off. go see what you can find out." dan knew he couldnt argue the fact he and the horses were in need of a day off. he looked at his plate then said "ok, your right. ill go in the morning." as ellen was helping lizzy down a short hall to bed she looked out the window. turning her head back toward dan she said"truck in the yard got company." dan droped his fork into the plate of half eaten food. just as he stood there came a knock on the door. when he opened the door there stood a man in khaki pants and shirt. a base ball cap on his head." are you dan martin? were you helping pete briscow catch blm burros?" he asked with out a word of greeting. dans stomach felt as if some one had punched him and all the air went out."yeah thats me. what can i do for you>" "ime looking for pete. would you know where to find him?" the man asked. he told me to leave word at the la cabanna in wicken burg thats all i can tell you. i hadnt planned on going back. i got lots to do here and i dont like leaveing two women alone while ime gone."dan told him. " ime told you were the best donkey catcher. if i dont find pete can i come see you about gathering the onkeys? " the man asked. " i doubt it. but i will talk to you about it."dan left the door open."ime going out of here tomorrow if i find or hear of him ill send him to you." " we have a alotment that is over run with the feral donkeys. we want them gathere and gone." the man handed dan a business card" if you see him give him this, if we dont hear from him in the next couple weeks ill be back to talk to you." dan nodded " ok, see what i can do. but no promises."