New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-08-19
The Difficulty Wifb eg,indy H,alker
BY MORLEY ROBERTS.

The sun not upon the land. and Double
Mountain danced in the haze. while Double
Mountain Fork. which emptied itself into the
B-azos miles 10 the nOrthward. steamed be-
tween its banks. The sheep lay in their camps
about the scanty mesquite ana the cut banks OF
the creek and under a couple of cottonwoods
roofing in the slow waters. 1t was the time Of
day TO do nothing. 70 say nothing. and TO take
lying down all the hammering that the sun
and wind could give. jeff said so. and he lay
down under his cottonwood near which the
sheep painted. while he played laziIy upon a
rickety old mouth organ. And he knew just
about much of his tunes as the old man OF
Arkansaw did. Like him. JEFF broke off in the
middle. And, unlike him. no stranger rode by
to exc out the tale end OF the music. His
father came along instead for the old man
reused himself from his bed in the old shack
by the creek and stared into the radiance OF
the day with shaking hand over his eyes.
jeff"
Yep. paw" said Jeff. as he scrambled 70 his
feet.
He long. lean Iank son Of the
prairie. sandy, freckled. hard. and fifteen years
OF age.
Get up the pinto" said old jefferson Dexter;
I'm amin TO go into the city
Young Jeff was respectful because he had
been SO all his life. 1t never occurred 10 him
10 be anything else. for the old man had a
heavy hand fierce eye, and the temper which
gives his cutting edge TO an American. But
now he reared little, and according to his
own notion there was reason for jibing He
scratched his sh1cx head and put his mouth
organ away inside his shirt before he spoke.
When he did speak he uttered a fact without
the least sense OF reproach behind it.
You full las night when you come home.
paw he said
II was said his father.
And mebbe you don't reklec' what you told
me-"
Dexter shook his head.
My son, I don't rekIec' word Did I
speak? I'd a sort OF kinkIe I speechless.'
Young JEFF shook his head in turn.
Far from 1t, paw, for you sat on the table
hear ar "---'~' -'-- - --->''' --'0 '-@'' go "
What did discourse OFF, asked his father
father, jeff But since your poor mother
payssed away into the eternal beyond I've had
less sense than should have. Did blasphene
any?"
Jefr nodded
"Oh my. paw You said ofruI thing-nost
o1UL"
Can you repeat any of 'em, JefrP" asked his
father. anxtously.
a lot can" replied JEFF. promptly. But old
My curiosity is sinful he said. land I'll curb
IT. I'll offer up a general repentance scheme
when the stiffness goes outer my knee. And you
-
some Will Get up the pinto. jeff
JEFF showed reluctance TO move
Paw, you mostly cussed one pusson-"
Dexter. who had turned TO so back into the
shanty, faced his son again swiftly
7 done SOP"
You did, paw And as far ez could gather
up the tale in the confusion Of your shoutin. you
appeared "a hev he'd some sort OF difficulty
agin with Mr.. Walker"
Dexter's face was as black az a thunder cloud
when he heard what Jef said. He nodded and
stared at the boy from under his heavy eye
hTDyx rxbfC h I-af~ =
burning eyes
Il do rekec'' he said at last. Him and me
had words. I know-bad words-and I've i no
ton the boys pulled me down and held me.
knew. Jeff. had business in town. and couldn't
prop'ly locate in my mind what It was That
man sure Insulted me in some way, having done
II before, sayin' I'd brand mavericks as soon as
eat pie And he went on TO throw out hints
To brand burning. JEFF, my son, a maverick
amt nothing; there's no reason a man shouldn't
brand any beast as his owner amt keerful 70
put a mark or But brand burning Is q boss OF
another color, and the insult fit into feel
pinto. jeff
There was visible distress in the boys eyes
and he followed the old man into the house.
Paw, don't you reckon Il would be wiser 70
wait q DAY? After your jarnborss your hand
will shake some. and they do say that Mr..
Walker shoots like death. There's many he's
killed; and you don't use your gun oncet q
Get UP the pinto. boy" said Dexter y
cayn't wait day to learn what he said 70 me
IN the American House last night"
man bent his brOws on him till his eyes were al
most invisible
Get up the pinto. jefferson" he said. and
poor JEFF ran out of the shack into the burning
sun as the tears rolled down his cheeks.
There's no one but me. and Sis she's IN old
Virginny, and Mr.. Walker viii kill him for sure
II they tell the trewth OF him But paws
mad; he's mad. and mabbe his hand won't
shake
He brought Up the pinto and hitched the
skewbald into the rafting old wagon which was
the carryau for everything Double Moa-
tain Fork And when il was ready old Dexter
ready. too
III be back by midnight" said Dexter cit
up. thar and he struck the horse over the flank
with the double lines. and far JEFF could
See the old never turned his head after the
pinto once got started But the boy stared
across the prairie down the track which Texans
call a road till he could nothing but the
brown grasses Of summer and the dancing haze
OF MONDAY heat.
Like enough" said JEFF. III never see the
old man no more. He's stiff and rheuma ticSy.
and he cayn't get out gun fast enough for
Walker. l dew wish that Walker would up
agin some one like Ben Thompson. Ben ThOmp-
son would have made him look like Mexicans
blanket. more holes than wool But Walker
don't take no chances hathaway. He's no more
than poor tookrer and paws q fool
JEFF wiped away tear, and Tade himself
some coffee by heating up the remains OF his
dads brea kfast II a hard life that he led.
and he never knew H. The world big,
he had heard. but West Virginia the end
OF II toward the Fast. A remote California was