Hopkinsville Kentuckian., 1900-11-06
RETURN OF 'LONZO.

Dar Lazy Y Outilt al the nome tancn
on Cinnamon when 'Lonzo Boggs got
back. Phil Barer was already in his
bunk with his blanket pulled up over
his head, as was his evil habit; Scotty
and Todd Pickley were playing eucher
by the light of a stable lantern, in the
doorway, where they got the benefit
of the breeze, and Lem Fuller, with
his back turned to them, monopolized
the table and the lamp, cutting a
bootleg into strings for the braiding
of a quirt.
1t was delicate work, this cutting,
for Lem had no gauge but his eye to
guide the leather against the keen
edge of the knife blade that he had
stuck into the pine table, but the thin
strip that dangled from the table
edge and curled on the floor was even
to a hairs breadth, and there had not
been a break or a slip out from the
first cut. To insure this accuracy
Fuller worked by breaths, filling his
lungs to their fullest capacity with
every new hold that he took, and ex-
hausting them in a satisfied sigh as
his forefnger glided by the point of
division. 1t was during one of these
pauses that the men in the ranch
house heard the sound of horses
hoofs approaching the corral at a gal
lop and then the clatter of the falling
bars.
81 reckon that's Phoebe got back" +"
remarked Todd, can he hain't found
them cayuses neither. That means
I've got to hit the trail for Ragged
Top bright and early tomorrow"
There was a jingle of spurs on the
gravel, and a tall figure doomed out
Of the darkness and dropped saddle
and blanket at the door Without a
word to the two men on the step it
strobe over their cards and smote the
absorbed leather worker between the
shoulders, causing him to cut his
string across and knocking his nose
on the haft of the knife.
Fuller started to his feet, with a
glare in his eye that meant mischief,
but as soon as he saw who his assail-
ant was he swore an oath of pleased
surprise, and the staggering blow that
he dealt in return was in pure friend
illness and affection.
"I'll be burned if it amt Boggsr
he exclaimed. "Why, you long
legged, sway-backed old dog robber,
l reckoned the strangers had got you
a year ago. Scotty told me that you
was hung in Guyamas last fall for
stealing a bnrro from a blind Mexican.
Didn't you tell me that, Scotty?"
IS" )" answered Scotty. "That was
what they were sayin', an | took it
for true talk. Where you been hidin'
out, 'Lonzo?"
Bring in my saddle an I'll tell
you," replied Boggs, settling himself
on one of the hunks, 81 see old Red
eye is still champin' hay Who's rid
in him now? Barker says | can take
him ON my string. | met Barker in
Tuesday, an he told me
he couldn't run the outfit without
rode for him this season, so / conclud-
ed I'd help him out That's what
brought me down here; | was fggerin'
on pulling my freight for the Gila."
Todd dragged in the newcomers
saddle and threw it on the Others that
were heapod in one corner Of the
room, and while he was doing this
Boggs pulled Baker out Of his bunk
by one legand sat on him until he was
awakened sufficiently to recognize
and greet him. Then the four settled |
themselves comfortably down, and |
Lonzo rolled a cigarette and told The
brief story of his wanderings as he
smoked
Il went bac} home after | left
lero," he said, hack to Gods coun-