The diamond drill., 1888-12-22


rie hid half its
face. Then the long shadows grew less
and less distinct, and, presently, as the
sun dropped from sight below what
seemed the edge OF the world, they
ccasAd racing with the fleet cayuses and
their cowboy riders.
TEX" said one Of the horsemen. sud-
denly, "seems like you could see the sun
move, il sinks so fast, just as il is set
tin. Ever notice it2'
Nope was the answer. sDon't
reckon ever did,
"Wal, have, many time. l won
der"
ayes" broke in the other. ''you're al
lns wonderin' about sump'n'. Got no
time 10 waste in wonderin', now. Hafto
hustle to attend to our leetle business
with the granger an git to Ole Man
Shannon's in time for the dancin'.
The speaker emphasized his remark
with a pop of his three-thonged "quirtr
whip on the branded hip OF his pony,
and both animals increased their speed
10 keen gaIIop.
Even in the fast-fallng twilight, the
unusual smartness Of attire OF the two
cowboys was apparent The silver wire
around the tutiy-looling bands that en-
circled their broad hats CLEANED bright
ly, as II from "a recent securing, and
about the throat of each cowboy
was a flaming silk handkerchief.
The bright embroidery on the fronts
OF their woolen shirts was unhidden by
coat or vest Had the huge revolver
been drawn from its holster at the
right hip OF each cowboy. il would have
shown the bright effect of prolonged
polishing. IL was evident that the com
ing festival at Old Man Shannon's was
TO be no common affair, worthy only of
hasty preparation.
''Deacon," aid the cowboy TEX"
suddenly, ''tcll you what's fact; /
wouldn't miss the shindig at Shannon's
for-wal, for heap!'
''Nur mel" promptly replied his COM
rade, the deacon" ''Nellie Hicks will
be thar.n
Texas, ''for short" called TEX"
seemed bashfuily confused.
AN Lyddy Bender Deacon sug-
gested
aShel be tharr' cried Tex. enthnsi-
asticly. "neak.r he added, witha burst
Of confidence, "Lyddy's the sllckest girl
'twixt this an"
'Cept Nellie Hicks" interrupted the
Deacon, gravely.
"Wal, -" began Tex.
''Thar's the fire.. broke in his COM
ladc.
The swift falling twilight OF the
plains had deepcned TO darkness. and the
campfire beside the .bnncl,' or small
creek, sent little shafts OF light dancing
hither and thther among the trunks of
the paw paws that fringed the half dry
water-course. The cowboys halted at
the brow Of the slope that fell away TO
the creek. TEX" said the Deacon,
swhat dy you think Nv this idy Nv rum
nin' gmngers often the range, jest be-
cause they air graugersg'
"Thnk it's rightr' returned Tex,
promptly. What business have they
got here, cuttin' the range all TO pieces
with their burned truck patches?'
1.-THE law gives them the right to set
tle---"
.'Hang the lawl" interrupted Tex,
iercely. If the law had its way, thar'd
be granger on every quarter! Bpt,
we sorto look out for that" lac added
grimly. IAN the grangers don't stay
long, somehow. Don't like the climate,
mebby"
Perhaps il was dislike OF the climate,
but. more likely the abbreviated So
journs OF the hated grangers were due 10
the energetic opposition OF the cattle
men. In the sight of the law, "grang-
ers," as the cowboys scornfully denomi-
mated seekers after homesteads, had rs
good II not better right on the range
than the cattle kings. who owned little
OF the land, and pastured over n great
deal Of il. Tho "truck patches" as the
cowboys called the farms. threatened 20
limit the feeding grounds Of the broad
horns, and 10, while the cattle kings
were not openly hostile 20 the grangers,
they were often conveniently blind TO
any rough treatment that their reckless
employees, the cowboys, bestowed upon
them.
'Got mighty leetle time TO fool" said
tho Deacon. Cant miss Old Man
Shannon's. Nellie Hicks will"
''So'll Lyddy Bender interrupted
Tex. "Tell you what we'll do" he
went on. "Slip up an see how the
land lays. Then well Jest simply walk
up an tell him that hcsgot twcnty-four
hours 20 git out NV the country In.
That's allr'
''Icss'a he cuts up rusty said the
Deacon.
'sI.et him cuti" retorted Tex. "were
able for any granger twixt this an' the
line. recFoni'
II reckon we airl' agreed the Deacon.
The tickering freight did not reveal
two iignfes that crept down the slope
and crswled. IN a silent. snaky fashion
through the tall grass and underbr isl
among the raw paw-, anl cautiously