Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-22
CHAPTER XIX.
4 Marriage Settlement.

a Marriage Settlement.
La Soledad, with sentry out to the south
west watching La Morita, sentry out to
the west to keep tab on the Bisley trail, a
sentry out to the north on the Grave City
road, and Buck Hennesy. his segundo, rid
ing from point to point with feed and
water. When anything happened the SEN
tries flashed signal to Buck, who warned
the chief. At sunrise McCalmont had news
of our raid on La Morita, and that made
him think for sure that the kids were res
cued. He'd been riding all night, so he got
his eye down quick for a big sleep. The
storm rolled up, burst and trailed off to the
eastward; the sun shone out, lifting white
steam from the desert; then came the heat.
AT O'Clock, away southwark through the
quivering haze, Buck sighted the three-fash
signal, which means Help" He threw
back the two-fash, Coming"
So he and the chief Hoped out, taking a
canteen of cold tea, which Is the proper
medicine for thirst, and led horse each, to
bring the youngsters in to the little rancho.
By o'clock they had Curly bedded down
in the shack, supposing herself to be a
prairie dog, and wanting to know who
come and stole her tail McCalmont nursed
the hill, and Jim squatted down on the
doorstep for a feed of pork and beans, with
laShingS of coffee.
The main outfit of the robbers was camped
at Las AguaS. some miles to the northeast,
and three of them came in at dusk to get
their supper and relieve the sentries around
La Soledad. They were heaps shy when
they saw what looked like greaser vaquero
sitting In the doorway of the cabin. One
OF them rode right at him.
ia Sh cd out tar
here pronto! Vamoosev
POGO TEMPO" says Jim.
who are you, anyways?'
"Quien sabeH'
wall, ye can't stay here, so yed best
get absent" He pulled his gun on Jim's
feet. Now jest you pranceT'
Jim laughed at him.
.Manana," he said Then in English.
You bark a lot, my friend. Whose dog
are your
Then he heard McCalmont's slow, soft
drawl. II sure enjoy to see the sire's grit
show out in the young colt Spoke like
man. JIM And as to you, Crazy Hoss,
want you to understand that If you don't
learn department I'll politely lam yo' haid,
you, you double-dealing foogitlve, low-f1ung,
sheep herdin' son of a lop-eared thug!
Haint you got no more sense than
toorist. you parboiled cock-eyed, spawned,
lIolAen- down. knock-kneed wreck O. bones?
You-r'
VII, such genteel introductions Mccall
mont sure spouted burning wrath into that
robber, scorching holes until he lost his
breath.
'~The evil communications of this young
polecat," says he to Jim, lis shorely spoil
ing my manners. And now, you-you turtle
doves, you'll jest get away out of here and
cook your supper thar by the barn. You
want to be mighty quiet, too, cause my
Curly is lying in here wounded. Git over
nowp'
The robbers trailed off grinning, while the
chief sat down on the doorstep next to Jim.
The children make me peevish," he said.
and began to roll a cigarette in his fingers.
wall, do you remember, Jim? l allowed
we'd be better friends when we met again"
Jim looked round sharp and sat there
studying McCalmont. He didn't look bad
or dangerous, but just a midde-aged cattle
man Of the old long-horn desert breed.
Our folks are rough and homely; we've
got aIhard name, too, but we stay alive in
a country which kills off all but the fight
ers McCalmont had a cool blue eye
humorous and kind, and gray hair stray
Cling down over face that was tanned to
leather. The stiff-brimmed cowboy hat
was damned on the back Of his head, the
white silk handkerchief hung loose about
his shoulders. He wore a gray army shirt,
blue overalls, stuffed anyhow into his boots,
and a loose belt of cartridges, singing the
felt drawn to him, knowing he d
found a friend of the kind that lasts.
And you were that sky-skout?' says he.
"a most unworthy shepherd Jest you
look at my sheep" says McCalmont.
Jim asked how long it was sincef they
met that day on the range.
1T seems year to you, Ell, lad? That
was six days ago, the way l reckon time
80 much has happened-sir-can it be
less than week? L was only a. boy then
and Curly
MY son has struck you serious"
"She has told me everything, SIR"
"Yo' goin' to remember to speak of Curly
as a boy. E[e is allooded to as a boy or L
get hawstile. You understand that?'
Il understand"
And now" says McCalmont, wen have
that blackboard ready in case we need to
pull out"
There was a blackboard standing in the
yard the same being a four-wheel dogtrap,
with a springy floor Of boards, easy for
travel. Jim helped McCalmont to stow some
cases and E. key OF water I'LL sacks with
sweet range hay for Curly's bed, and then
cover the whole with canvas ground sheet.
You think" says Jim, that Wen be
chased tonight?'
II dunno Jim, but it looks to me as
that's how the herd is grazing"
When supper was ready they strayed
across to the fire and joined issue with
beef hot bread and coffee, the same beingi
taken serious without waste of time or ia k
We range folk don't interrupt our teeth
with aimless discourse. By smoke time
Buck loped Off in the dusk to find the
remuda of ponies out at grass, and the
boys had a cigarette while he gathered.
watered and drove the ponies home. Then
the team for the blackboard was caught,
harnessed and tied up with a feed of corn;
each man roped and saddled his night
horse; and Buck, with the three relief
men. rode out slow, curving away into the
starlight.
McCalmont roped a sorrel mare for Jim,
then found him spare saddle, bride,
blanket, belt, gun and spurs.
Now" says he Jest bed yo'self down,
but don't undress. Keep yo' hawss TO
hand. sleep rapid, and in case Of alarm
lump quick An outlaws bed, my son,
amt feathered for long sleeps
Jim lay awake and watched until the day
guard came Looping in with Buck. He saw
them rope and saddle their remounts, catch
their supper bed down, and smoke the final
cigarette. 1t all felt homely and good to
be with cowboys again, to have his blanket
on the dust, his horse and gun beside him,
to know he was free and moderately safe,
to look up drowsy at a great white sky of
stars Jim was plainsman in those days
sure enough, content, range fashion, to
have the whole earth for bed, the night
for bed room and the starry palace of the
Great Spirit to shelter him while he slept.
Kings and emperors and such have to hole
up at night in mean quarters compared with
that.
Somewhere out on the range McCalmonts
guard camp kept a sentry alert through the
night, and when Jim woke UP he saw the