Lone Star 03 Read Free

what we found in that rustler’s saddlebags.”
    Ossie turned around in his saddle, rummaged in the leather bags behind it for a moment, then came up with an iron rod about eighteen inches long. One end of the rod terminated in a short, tapered curve. The other end had been bent into a ring. Ossie held up the length of metal for Ki to look at.
    Ki had recognized the metal object at once. It was called a “running iron” by the cowhands, because with a little skillful manipulation by an expert, the burned-in lines of a brand on a steer’s hindquarters could be run together to change the brand’s meaning.
    The letters O or C could be transformed into the numbers 8 or 6 or 9, and C could also be made into O or G; 7 into 9 or 4; D or P could be altered to become B; V turned into N, M, or W; or a symbol could be added to turn a letter brand into a letter with a slash, line, or circle. There were any number of changes that an expert running-iron user could create.
    Brands were often changed when cattle were sold, but almost equally often, a new brand was simply added beside the old one. In an economy based on cattle, brands were generally the only identification steers had, the only way by which their ownership could be established. All ranches registered their brands at the nearest county seat, and the county authorities saw to it that a record of the brand was forwarded to the state territorial capital, where all brands were also registered.
    â€œWell?” Snag asked Ki. “You satisfied now? If you’re the foreman of the Circle Star, you know damn well that here in Texas it’s against the law to even carry a running iron.”
    Ki nodded thoughtfully. He knew that the law cited by Snag did indeed exist; mere possession of a running iron drew a minimum sentence of five years in prison for the man having it. However, he’d been watching the prisoner’s face while he and the Lazy G crew talked, and the pleading he’d seen in the man’s eyes could not be ignored. Ki knew the look of guilt, open as well as disguised, and his sixth sense told him that the eyes he’d looked into were not those of a guilty man.
    â€œWhat you say about the law is true,” Ki admitted, watching Snag without letting his attention be noticed. “But it does not automatically make a rustler of every man who has a running iron. Even if it did, the man must be brought before a judge and a jury and be legally tried and convicted. It is not the same thing as catching a rustler in the act of stealing cattle.”
    â€œAw, to hell with that shit!” Fletch growled. “We ain’t got time to fool around with the law! It’s too damn slow!”
    â€œBut it is the law,” Ki pointed out gently.
    â€œLook here, chink, we got as much respect for the law as you have!” Miller said. “Except it’s like Fletch just told you, it takes too long. We’d lose two days taking this rustler to the county seat. We’d have to stay there a day or two while he was being tried, then it’d take us another two days to get back! We got work to do!”
    Ki asked in his softest voice, “Tell me, Miller, would you feel the same way if you were sitting there with a noose around your neck, waiting to be hanged?”
    â€œNow what the hell kinda question is that?” Miller asked.
    â€œA fair one,” Ki replied.
    â€œDamned if it is!” Fletch snorted. He turned to Snag. “Well? How about it, Snag? Has everybody got cold feet, or are we going to string up this worthless cattle-rustling bastard?”
    â€œIf you still feel like doing it, we will,” Snag said. He looked from one to another of the Lazy G men. Fletch nodded at once, so did Miller. Ossie inclined his head after a moment of hesitation.
    Pete said, “I was about to change my mind, but if the rest of you’re set on going ahead, count me in.”
    â€œThat’s settled,