Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1907-12-26

Ing. stood ready to make way for an
other car 40 soon a. the present one
should be laden. He was not the only
spectator. Others were before him.
TWO men strolled up TO the side op-
posite a. he settled down 10 musing
interest.
"Geel" he swore gently under his
breath, "ef that amt Bill Brownl Yep.
Il 10, for q fac. Wonder what he's
q shippin' now for!" He scrambled
lightly over the high fence Of the pen.
"Hullo. there. Bill Brown!" he yell
Cd. genially. making his way as one
accustomed through the bunch Of re-
luctant, excited cattle.
"Huilo yourself. Jim! What you
dom In town." responded the man ad'
dressed. pausing In his labor to wipe
the streaming moisture from his face.
He famed himself vigorously with his
dropping hat while he talked.
gal huntin'." answered Jim. sober.
ly and despondently.
He'll" Brown surveyed him with
astonished but sympathetic approba-
ton. He'll" he repeated. You
don't mean II. do you. Jim. honest?
Come, now, honest? So you've come
to II, at last. have you? Well. well!
What's comm over the Three Bars?
what'll the boys say"
He came nearer and lowered his
voice to q confidential tone. Say.
Jim, how did II come about? And
who's the lady? Lord. Jim. you Of all
people!" He laughed uproariously.
Jaw, come of" growled Jim. In
petulant scorn. You make me tired!
You're plumb luney. that's what you
are. I'm after the new gal reporter.
She's due on that low-down, ornery
train. wish-it-was In kingdom
come. Yep. ! do, for o fac"
"Oh, well, never mind! didn't
mean anything" laughed Brown. good
naturedly. But It does beat the
band, Jim, now doesn't It. how you
people scare at petticoats. They
ain't pixen-honest."
Jim looked on idly. Occasionally
he condescended to head q rebellious
steer shutewards. Out beyond 1t was
still and sweet and peaceful. and the
late afternoon had put on that thin
veil Of GOODNESS which is o God-given
refreshment after the heat Of the
day. But here In the pen all was con-
fusion. The raucous cattle-calls OF
the cowboys smote the evening air
startlingly.
Here, Bill Brown!" he exclaimed
suddenly, where did you run across
that critter?" He slapped the shout.
der of q big. raw.boned. long-eared
steer as he spoke. The animal was
on the point of being driven up the
, shute.
. what you want to know for? asked
Brown In surprise.
Reason 'nough. That critter be.
longs to us, that's why; and I want to
know where you got him, that's what
I want to know"
you're crazy, Jim! Why, I bought
that fellow from Jesse Black { other
day. I've got q bill Of sale for him.
I'm shippin' o couple Of cars to Sioux
City and bought him to send along.
That's on the square"
81 don't doubt its far as you're
concerned. Bill Brown" said Jim. but
that's our critter jest the same. and
Ill Jest tote i'm along Z you've no OBJ
iections."
"welI, guess mott" said Brown, Ia.
conically.
Look here, Bill Brown" Jim was
getting hot headedly angry, didn't
you know Jesse Black stands trial to-
morrow for rustlin' that there very
critter from the Three Bars ranch?"
mo. didn't" Brown answered
shortly. ANY case?"
II guets yes! Williston o the Lazy
8 saw this very critter on that island
where Jesse Black holds out" He
proceeded to relate infinitely the story
to which Williston was going to swear
on the morrow. But" he concluded,
"Jesse's goin' to fight like hell against
bein' bound over
well. WELL" said Brown, perplexed-
ly. But the brand, Jim, it's not
yours or Jesse's either"
"Qualnted with any j. r ranch In
these parts?" queried Jim, shrewdly.
II amt"
well, neither am l." confessed
Brown. but that's not sayin' there
amt one somewhere. Maybe we can
trace 1t back" s.
"Shucks!" exploded Jim.
Maybe. you're right. Jim. but ]
don't propose to lose the price O. that
animal less'n ! have to. You can't
blame me for that. paid good money
for It. II It's your'n. why. OF course,
It's your'n. But I want to be sure first.
Sure you'd know him. Jim? How
could you besso blamed suref Your
boss must range 5000 head" ~.
sKnow him? Know Mag? I'd know
Mag Of my eyes were full o. soundin'
cataracts. He's an old and tried friend
o. mine. The meanest critter the
I,ord aver LET live and that's q fac.