The Tucson citizen., 1902-05-20

| H'pNh as IL lhdl ne was worth 10
speak to him and certainly to cross
him. When he came out of them, he
was as loquacious as he had previous
~ been taciturn, as kindly as he had
formerly been ugly, as gentle as he had
been rough, as tender as he had been
hard and cruel and murderous. He
was strange mixture of saint and
| devil, of Kindness and brutality, of
generosity and merciless cruelty--a
paradox and that which begets more
outside interest than any other human
attitude, a mystery.
"Why amt you ever been here be-
fore, sonny| he asked presently. "Or
maybe that amt any Of my business
either"
'My father would not permit me to
rome"
"Oh. that's it, eh? And he gave in
this time, did her'
"NO."
Craig Thompson cnuckled again.
Don't you see, Lisle, that you have
answered t'other question! That's why
you're ahead OF the bunch. Just jump
ed the stockade, flew the corral, lit out,
stampeded all by yourself. same's that
steer You roped In such good style. and
Dick thinks you're rounded up safe and
sound at home, eh? Is that the ticketW
THAT Is exactly the situation, Mr..
Thompson" replied Lisle slowly. when
first saw you swinging after the steer,
l was wondering whether I had better
keep down the valley or turn back and
meet my father. But you have answer
ell the question for me, for now I've
got to help you In with this steer"
''IIumph! Look here, Lisle. Just
consider that we've shook hands, will
you? That makes US friends. Now,
I'm going to give you some advice, and
II strikes me that for a Kid who has
passed all his life, II 1t amt only Is
years, punching cattle, roping steers,
shooting stars out of the sky and ocea-
sionalIy pinking an Indian or a maver-
ick man-for that's what I've heard
abont you-you need II as much as any
feller | know. In the first place, don't
mister any of the boys up here ON
shis mesa, or they'll make curiosity
out of you before you're "a hours your
present senior. In the second place,
| when you have once started out to do
| a thing don't turn back on any account.
Do 1t or drop in your tracks facing 1t.
It's whole lot better to be shot be-
tween the eyes than 1t Is TO be kicked
behind. That amt elegant. but it's
Gods truth. In the third place. tie up
TO Craig Thompson for anything that
you can foresee at this writing. and II
he happens TO have one Of his fits on
don't you mind 'em. They amt for
everybody. and they won't be for you.
Here comes two of my boys. They'll
take this critter. and we can ride in
more sociably."
They were soon relieved of the care
| of the steer, and then they rode on 81
lently side by side for some distance.
why wouldn't Dick ever let you
come here beforeT' asked Thompson
presently.
II don't know. He would never tell
me-" replied Lisle.
We'll, can tell you"
"You can! Why Ia itT'
''T'il tell you by asking a question or
two. Didn't you wing one of my cow
boys. q fellow named Cummings. about
a year ago when he was over at your
place after a bunch of steers that had
strayed awayT
| "Yes."
what did you do 1t forT'
Because he was impertinent.'
Exactly. What did he sayy'
"He said that was cut out for a wo-
man and spoiled In the making. con-
yinced him that l was quicker with
my gun than he was. anyway"
Correct He amt forgot it. and be
won't very soon. He's gone back east
but he left piece Of one of his ribs
out here TO remember you by. How
ever. that is why Dick don't want you
TO come here. Seer
"No."
Hes afraid somebody else viii say
the same thing; that's all"
I.isle brought his horse to sudden
stand. His face darkened and his
black eyes flashed ominousiy.
do you say the same thingT' he
asked quietly. but In tone which con-
yeyed much more than did the words
that were uttered.
Lord what fire eater you are. No!
I don't say the same thing. but 1t would
be compliment If did, for women
are a hanged sight better than men.
But that amt here nor there. Some
of the boys will say 1t. or something
very mach like 1t. and II you are going
to shoot every one that does you had
better lose>no time In selecting good
place to start your graveyard. You
won't be long in filling it."
why should they say such thing
as that?"
well, there are u good many rea-
sons. Are you going TO take what
say friendly or are you going to get
mad?"
"I'll not be angry"
Good. Weh, | s'pose it's because
you amt developed much. You're 49,
and you look In some ways like boy