The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1908-01-04
CHAPTER X.

CHAPTER X.
In Which the X Y Figures Some.
what MysterousIy.
Jim Munson, riding his pony over
the home trail at a slow walk, dropped
sleepily in his saddle. 1t was not
weirdly late bedtime, halfpast ten.
maybe, but he would have been sleep.
ing soundly a good hour or more had
this not been his night to go to town
If he chose. He had chosen. He
would not have missed his chance for
a good deal. But his dissipation had
been light. The boss never tolerated
much along that line. He had drunk
with some congenial cronies from the
Circle E outfit complimentary to the
future well-being and increasing
wealth of this already well-known and
flourishing cattle ranch. Of course
he must drink return compliment
to the same rose-colored prosperity
for the Three Bars, which he did and
sighed for more. That made two, and
two were the limit, and here was the
limit overreached already; for there
uoV ol"OIS W UC q 1lIClO SOlA'
forter to keep him from nodding in his
saddle.
It was sleepy night, cool and soft
and still. He could walk his horse all
the way if he wanted to. There was
no haste. The boys would all be in
bed. They would not even wait up for
the mail, knowing his, Jim's, innate
- l. To- h. ~
SO drowsy, he would like to have sung
bit: but it required little too much
effort. He would just plod along.
Must all be in bed at Williston's-
no light anywhere. A little short of
where the Williston branch left the
main trail he half paused. If it were
not so late he would ride up and give
them hail. But of course they were
asleep. Everything seemed still and
dark about the premises. He would
just plod along.
Hello, there! Where'd you come
from?" he cried of a sudden, and be-
fore he had had time to carry his re-
solve into action.
A man on horseback had drawn rein
directly in front of him. Jim blinked
with the suddenness of the shock.
Might ask you the same question:"
responded the other with an easy
laugh. I'm for town to see the doc
tor about my little girl. Been puny
for week."
ooh! Where you FROM" asked Jim,
with the courteous interest of his
kind.
New man on the x Y g." answered
the other, lightly. Must be gittin' on.
Worried about my baby girl"
He touched spurs to his horse and
was off with friendly $50 long," over
his shoulder.
Jim rode on thoughtfully.
''Now don't it beat the devil" no
was thinking, "how that there cow
puncher struck this trail comm from
KY with the x Y z clean t. other
side O town? Yep, it beats the devil.
for a fac. He must be a ridin' for
his health. 1t beats the devil" This
last was long drawn out. He rode a
little farther. at beats the devil" he
thought again-the wonder of 1t was
waking him up-"how that blamed
fool could a struck this here trail a
goin' for doc
At the branch road he stopped ir.
resolutely.
ut beats the devil-for fac" He
looked helplessly over his shoulder
The man was beyond sight and sound
'Tf he hadn't said he was goin' for
doc and belonged to the x Y e." he
pondered. He was swearing because
he could not think of way out of the
maze of contradiction. He was sc
seldom at loss, this braggadocio Jim
well, / reckon I won't get any hep
moonin' here less'n I wait here till
that son-of-a-gun comes back from
seem doc. Lord. Id have to camp
out all night. Guess I'll be a movin
on. But I'm plumb a-foot for an idee
as to how that idjit got here from the
KY T."
He shrugged his shoulders and pick
ed up the fallen bride rein. He KEEP,
on. straight ahead. and it was well fol