Iron County register., 1899-04-06

He'll" said the smaller of the two
a youngish. compact sallow man, Will
carefully pointed, narrow black mus
tache, pausing for minute as Ben
net set second heaping plate of meat
on the table. ''This is great 1t would
take ali B troop to chase me from sucI
feed
Elegant" assented his companion
with mouth full of steak ''Shtill
I'm not askin' to see any av tn clan
Ut's good riddance, any ways We take
ut. an l hope theirs as many moiles
betune US as ther' is behoind us
The door creaked trifie on its
wooden hinges. Crackerbox looked
round quickly. Sergt. Kay stood in the
doorway with leveIed revolver in his
hand
III trouble you. McCorkle." he said
easily. "Oaka-quick now. You know
the formula
The gamblers hands went up. Mil
,igan raised his al the same instant.
His eyes were engaged at the window
before him.
Bout face!" Milligan came round
mechanically. in obedience to the sharp
word of command. TUT. TUT" Kay
went on, protestingly: YOU needn t
strike your dukes. MiIligan. Keep 'em
up. keep 'em up. They look first raie
as they are. Hatherton. walk round
here-I1l do the honors while you're
coming. and fit these new cuffs on the
gentlemen. / want to see how they
look. Cutest thing in the market: lots
of starch in 'em and polished to make
II Chinese laundry ashamed of itself.
We haven't had a chance to try 'em on
Il real eligible candidate before
He bowed with mock Difference to the
gambler. CrackerboX smiled amiably
in return.
I'm right glad TO see you. sergeant"
he said. Seems just like home again.
Funny how things turn out. amt il?
1 was just wonderin' if You wouldn't
happen along-and here you were,
Well alls fair in love and war-and a
fox chase. Some fools in my shoes
would probably see things-rOpes.
beams and hornpipes. | don't. Life's
too short TO waste in speculation over
what probably wouldn't occur. Play
your game out and keep on lookin'
happy That's good clean philosophy
for Il man. And if You do pass out be
fore the rest of the players. why you're
only hand ahead. and they'll be hot
in YOUR moccasin tracks TO the Sweet
By-by. We only just hit the ranch an
hour before you. and seeiL' we
was here first we can't do less than
make YOU welcome. You wouldn't have
4s. |
if it happened the other way round"
CrackerbON laughed. We was right
hungry. Mr. Bennett. here. was so good
as to fix Us up real enjoyable meal.
an we've just wolfed it" And, as the
handouts went on: And them brace
lets, Ain't they charming. Such i'm
ish. Do You know. sergeant. as soon
as I'm out O this I'm a-going 10 get
me pair. gold-miniature you know
same pattern. 10 hang on my watch
chain as 4 souvenir? What's wrong,
MilIigan? You don't look pleased.
The big Irishman glowered under
his thick red eyebrows. Il suppose
this j. another twelvemont' for me-"
he growled-
CrackerboN burst into a Ioug laugh.
"Don't be downhearted. me SON" he
returned. They can't give m" too
much of good thing. I'll ask them to
let me have it.
"WeH. Mr.. McCorkle." said Kay,
nov you're wearing government jew
elry. we can he more sociable. ! guess
you haven't finished your breakfast
vet. It's ahead of anything YOU'RE
likely 10 get between this and the fort
the same is 80 miles-sO you'd
best make the most of it. Jump in.
And since you're SO hospita BILE if Mr..
Bennett will be good enough to fry a
little more steak. we'll eat with you.
I guess you know better than to make
any breaks" he added significantly.
looking from one prisoner to the
other.
Too busy to think of it," returned
Crackerbox sitting down to the table
again. Kind of tough proposition.
tnis sergeant he added moment
later. after an Intellectual attempt to
cut his meat: ''tryin' TO handle n meal
with your wrists sawin' one against
the other. like cattle in yoke"
Kay glanced at Hatherton. Help
him out. won't you?" he said MIR.
Bennett will do the same for the other
man. I'm sure
''Oh. can't allow that" protested
the gambler. I'll manage" He
seized the meat in his fists and tore it
his teeth. like a dog.
Here. quit that" exclaimed Kay.
You're human. at least-not. an ami |
NAL" He took Crt his KEYS and nm
locked one haHdc; -, There. III let |
you eat decently. and not like 4 pagan. |
if you'll promise not to try to escape"
\ sudden brightness flashed into the
gamblers eyes. but there was nothin. |
of it. left in the look he turned on Kay. |
as he replied. with a bland smile: |
Sure thing. Id promise anything un-
Ter the circumstances. That's easy I /!
say. sergeant. you're real obliging.
III see that you're mentioned in or /
iers."
''See that you keep your promise: |
hath be suffieie mt" said Kay. shortly,
Unlocking a handcuff of ;he other |
man
Crackerbox laughed provokingly.
Now. sergeant. | like your jokes. You
wo loaded down with deadly weap-
ms, and us
Sergt. Kay was naturally q kind
nan. Also, he dearly loved a game of
,oker. and. therefore. perhaps un-
by himself. nurtured secret
for this cool desperado.
Who looked on life as a game of chance
nd took good or i'll luck indifferently.