The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1908-02-28
.ii..555s. CHAPTER X. >.s.-
1T Which the x y z FIGURES Son, =.

!. jim Munson, riding his pony over
the nome trail at a slow walk, drooped:
s!eeplly In his saddle It was not a /
weirdly late bedtime. half-past ten,
maybe, but he would have been sleep
ing soundly a good hour or more had I
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
f1ourishing cattle ranch. OF course.
he must drink a 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
had always to be last little COM
forter to keep him from nodding in his,
saddle.
1t 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
aversion to hurry. Had he not been
so drOWsy, he would like to have sung
a bit; but it required little too much
effort. He would just plod along.
Must all be in bed at Willistons-
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 a 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." .s.. >*@
| >"Oh! Where you from?' asked Jim,
with the courteous interest of his.
kind
New man on the x Y IT, 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 thoughtful1y.
"Now don't it beat 9the DEVIL he
was thinking, chow that there cow
puncher struck this trail comm from
x Y Z-with the x z clean t. other
side O town? Yep, it beats the devil,
for fac. He must be a ridin' for
his health. It beats the DEVIL This
last was long drawn out He rode a
little farther 1T beats the DEVIL" he
thought again-the wonder of it was
waking him up-"how that blamed
| fool could a. struck this here trail a
goin' for doc"
At the branch road he stopped IT.
resolutely. %..:r
1T beats the devil-for fac'." He
| looked helplessly over his shoulder.
The man was beyond sight and sound.
IF he hadn't said he was goin' for
| doc and belonged to the x Y ~ he
| pondered. He was swearing because
he could not think of way out of the
maze of contradiction. He was so
seldom at loss this braggadocio Jim.
! well, 1 reckon I won't get any hep
a moonin' here 1ess'n wait here till
that son-of-a-gun comes back from
seem doc. Lord, I'd have! to camp
out all night. Guess I'll be movin'
on. But I'm plumb a-foot for an idee
as to how that idjit got here from the
ky n" Ga. .x - t.~s.z ". Z. s.:.ii.
| = He shrugged his shoulders and pick
ed up the fallen bride rein. He kept
on straight ahead, and 1t was we'll for
him that he did SO. It was not the
last Of the affair. The old, prosaic
trail seemed fairly bristling with
ghostly visitants that night. He had
i gone but a scant quarter-mile when
he met a second horseman, and this
time he would have sworn on oath
that the man had not been i on the
forward trail as long as he should
q have been to be. seen ia the starlight.
Jim was not doing now. and he knew
whatshe was about. The fellow struck
i the trail from across country and from
d the direction Of w illiston's home cat.
tie sheds. zEs
The devil !''s he muttered, and this
4 time h he was IL deep and terrible earn.
4 est 81
sEIll1 - the fellow a,ccosted him,
8E genial
q 90 tanned pleasant he whole
q bunch of 'ena, Il found quick lodgmenlt
d Ia Tim active brain loud he. rs
n sponded with answering good ia nature
q sHullo !' 81
here We {goin' ~ asked the other
q AZ if tn no pa rticul lar haste to par,
company. Ifs he had met with q sur
q prise, ne carried II on