Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-01
THE SQUAW MAN
NOVEL By uLIE FAvERsHAM.
Copyright. by Harper 4 BroJ

the window. and they amt the kind to run
away much"
There was a fnality about Pete's words.
He might be lazy and slow. but he was
anxious TO open another pot, so he turned
his back on Nick and began shuffiins the
cards As he did so three OF Jfm's boys
| Andy. Shorty and Grouchy-entered.
Come on. boys. and have drink"
Shorty yelled.
Andy was n wiry. slender German. with
tender. romantic proc!ivities. Grouchy.
who seldom spoke, and then only husky.
| low growl. was massive fellow and looked
| like Samoan native but was In reality a
product of a Hebrew father and an Irish
mother. while Shorty gained his name from
| his low stature. Brave as a lion and hon
| est, with a face from which twinkled the
smallest and merriest OF blue eyes. he was
| the live wire of any ranch.
What's your nose-paint. gents" Nick
, asked. as he greeted the new corners.
"A little OF that redeye," Shorty replied.
and soon he and his comrades were clink-
| ing glasses. Several w-punchers Joined
| them and the place began to resound to
| lively disputes concerning the rates on cat
| tie.
How much?" Dan said. His look plainly
| showed his contempt for the saloon. 1t
was Nick's opportunity to pay back the in
suit that had been quietly leveled at him
by the Pullman conductors attitude for the
past quarter of an hour.
zone dollar" was Nicks quick reply.
"One dollar!' Dan repeated For two
glasses OF beer?" He stepped back and his
voice rose in angry protest 1t attracted
the attention OF the others. who were only
too eager for a row.
why" Dan continued. sit was all collar
| anyway"
Nick leaned over the bar and quietly
said, Il didn't charge nothn' for the col
lar, gent: l throwed that in There was
laugh from the hangers-on at Nieks
witticism. Nick flushed with approval and
'sRaar'S most extensive
drink-comes all the way from Cheyenne
Dan, furious at being done, as he knew
he was. struck at the bar with his INST. b
won't pay It," he said.
There was a hush about the room. They
didn't often see any one venture TO buck
against Nick's authority.
"Oh. yes. you'll pay II. gent. Hlcks
He had turned while Dan was speaking
and was lovingly lingering his six-shooter.
He lifted it from the shelf and laid II care
| fully on the bar, keeping his hand well over
the trigger.
McSorley nervousy edged to Dan. Bet
ter pay 1t; better pay it," he whispered
Nick heard him. Yes. he added, better
pay It. Saves funeral expenses.
Dan knew enough of the country to know
he was at Nicks mercy. He drew a silver
dollar from his pocket and slapped 1t down
| on the bar.
| door, followed by McSorley. who thought
| his companions rage ill-timed. He wished
| he were back in his caboose As they
| reached the door Nicks voice rang out III
stentorian tones.
| "Wait minuter' There was gain
| saying his command. Dan halted. Nick,
| leaning far over the bar. held in each hand
/ a watch dog Il don't allow no tenderfoot
| to use bad language in my emporium. We
| do strictly family trade and caters partic-
ular to ladies and children.
Dan and McSorley stood under the lev
| eled guns A shrek OF mirth shook the
! crowd. All had stopped playing and were
watching the situation. Finally. when there
was no doubt as to the ridiculous position
| Of the train officials and the laugh had SUD
sided Nick dropped the guns and with
low bow turned from the bar. leaving them
free to 60 Dan and McSorley quickly dis
appeared Dan wildly expostulating while
McSorley vainly tried to calm him.
Nick went back to the PLAYERS.
pete" he asked. what has Cash got
agin the Englshman?'
pete, nothing 10th to tell his yarn, espe-
cially as he had been winning all the AFTER
noon drawled the information SO that all
at his table could hear.
well Jim's outfit has been heard TO
| openly express the opinion that Casn can
| tell the difference between MS catue anu
Jim's.'' ,
| Pete nodded.
| Serious business =
! these here parts i see the Englishman
stand off a greaser down at the agency.
| and I've got a wad OF the long green 10 lay
| even money that Cash can't twist the bii-
| ish lions tail a whole lot-not whole lot
| Any takers?-
| Pete's eve was always keen to take up a
! sure thing" The men with MIN zen mo
| a dispute concerning the respective merits
of Jim versus Cash Hawkins
| Meanwhile. seated at a table In the cen
| ter of the rooms, were SHORTY, - ny anu
Grouchy. They had heard nothing OK
| Pete's and the parsons conversation. lhey
| were intent on mild game and were
! awaiting Big Bill, who was to meet them
| at the saloon. None of them saw Big BIZ
| coming toward them until they heard the
! slow. deep voice saying: Boys, Cash
| Hawkins is in town. The boss asks as Il
special favor to him that YOU VIII aVoid
| Cash and his gang and try to get Out OF
| town without a COLLISION.
| RiIl was a giant over six feet tall, with
| a great leonine head. He had strong
| face, with piercing eyes. The mouth, a
large CASH. as Shorty described u, coula
| at times give vent to loud outlaws or
! laughter and at others frighten one as 1T
| Strengthened into two lines of grim deter
| mination. For two years he had oeen
| Jim's right-hand man. and his devotion 10
| the boss was the most beautiful Side or
| Riu's life Forty years ago he had been
| born in a prairie saloon; the woman who
bore him died the night Of his birth lie
| never knew who his father was, and the
| upbringing he received was from a hand
| full of miners who had adopted him. AS
| soon as he could toddle he began TO try 10
| do for himself. Little errands he Volun-
| teered. and long before most boys even on
a ranch were anything but a nuisance BIZ
| was contributing gravely his share TO me
| big game of life. Save once. to jim ne
| never spoke of the past. He had drlfteu
| to Maverick twenty years ago, ana except
| at intervals. when he took notion 10 net
| ter himself, he was usually at the COW
| town. -
On one of these occasions when he was
| trailing the country he met Jim, VINO was
! looking for a man 10 direct the practical
| side of his affairs Bill had never met u
| gentleman who treated him as Jim dld' ana
in return he gave his bodys strength ana
| all the schemng devotion OF MS praln ~,
| his endeavor 10 benefit Jims complicated
| affairs. ,, - AZ,
The three men looked up at Bill, VINO shd
into chair at their table and started
new game with them.