The Washington times., 1906-06-24


Deputy Marshal Buck
Laperton, stumble, with jingling
rowels. into a chair in the mar
shalS outer office.
And because the courthouse was
almost deserted at that hour, and
because Buck would sometimes re-
late 10 me things that were out of
print. | followed him in and trick
ed him into talk through l<nowl-
edge of a weakness he had. For
cigarettes rolled with sweet corn
husk were as honey TO Bucks pal
ate; and though he could finger
the trigger of forty-five with
skill and suddenness, he never
could learn TO roll a cigarette.
1t was through no fault of mine
(for | rolled the cigarettes tight
and smooth), but the upshot of
some whim OF his own, that in
stead of 90 an Odyssey of the chap
arral. | listened to-a dissertation
upon matrimony. This from Buck
Caperton, But ! maintain that the
cigarettes were impeccable, and
crave absolution for myself.
I'VE just brought in Jim and Bud
Cranberry" said Buck. Train rob
bing, YOU know. Held up the Aran-
sas Pass last month We caught
'cm in the Twenty Mile pear fiat,
south of the Nueces."
Have much trouble corralling
them?" I asked. for here was the
meat that my hunger for epics
craved.
some said Buck; and then,
during a little pause, his thoughts
stampeded Off the trail. Its kind
of queer about women" he went
on; ''and the place they're supposed
10 occupy in botany II 1 was
asked to classify them I'd say they
was a human loco weed Ever see
a bronc that had been chewing
loco? Ride him up to a puddle OF
water two fee5 wide. and he'll give
snort and fall back on you. It
looks as big as the Mississippi riv-
er TO him. Next trip he'd walk
into g canyon a thousand feet deep
thinking ii was n prairie dog hole.
Same way with married man.
Il was thinking of Perry Roun-
tree, that used to be my sidekick-
before he committed matrimonv.
In them days me and Perry hated
indisturbances of any kind. We
roamed around considerable, stir
ring up the echoes and making EN-
attend to business. Why. when me
and Perry wanted To nave some fun
in town il was a picnic FOR the
census takers. They just counted
the marshars posse that &c took to
subdue us. and there was your pop
ulation. But then there came along
this Mariana Goodnight girl and
looked at Perry sideways, and he
was all bridle-wise and saddle
broke before you could skin a
yearling.
i wasn't even asked 10 the we'd
ding. / reckon the bride had nv
pedigree and the front elevation
Of my habits all mappd out. and
fhe decided that Perry would trot
better In double harness without
my unconverted mustang like
Buck Caperton whicl<ering around
on the matrimonial range. So it
was six months bcrore | saw Per-
~ again.
''One day l was passing on the
edge of town. and / see something
like man in Il little yard by a lit
tie house with sprinkling pot
squirting water on n rose bush
Seemed to me I'd seen something
like 1t before. and | stopped at
the gate. trying TO figure out its
brands Twas not Perry Rountree,
but twas the kind of curdled iel-
lytish matrimony had made out of
him.
Homicide was what that Mari
ana had perpctrated lie was look
ing well enough. bur he had on a
white collar and shoes. and YOU
could tell in a minute that he'd
speak polite and fuy taxes and
stick his little finger ont while
drinking. just like sheep man or
citizen. Great skyrockets, but
hated To see Perry all corrupted
and Nillieized like that.
He cnme out to the gate. and
shook hands. and SAYS with
scorn. and speaking like a parouuet
with the pip: Beg pardon-Mr.
Rountrce. ] believe. Seems to me
] sagatiated in your associations
once, If | am not mistaken
oh, 60 20 the devil. Buck saws
Perry. polite. as | was afraid he'd
be
Well. then. says I. YOU poor,
contaminated adjunct of sprink-
ling pot and degraded household
pet, what did you go and do IT for?
Look at YOU. ali decent and unriot-