They would melt the snow, and cause the cowmen to start out their feeding herds, only to be caught by the northers, that brought the bitter, perishing cold, and killed the stock by thousands.

On account of this uncertain condition the Chinook Country was avoided in the early days, save by those who located there for _reasons_--which no one was ever known to question.
And in this desolate place Walt Lampson had heard of Mart Cooley, and from there he had lured him to the Star Circle Ranch.
Whitey waited, almost breathless, for the thrill that was to come at his first sight of the "bad man" of the West; the "two-gun man" who has long since passed into history, but was then a factor of the troublous times.
And you might like to hear a word or two about the ways he handled his gun, for he had more than one way.

But first, the way he didn't handle it.

Ordinarily, when you are shooting at a mark with a pistol, you cock the weapon, close one eye, and gaze along the barrel with the other until the sight is in line with the mark, and, holding the pistol steady, pull the trigger.

That was what the gunman didn't do.
He sighted his weapon much as you throw a stone--by judging with his eye.