Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-13

lDAY MAGAZINE FOR SEPTEMBER Is.
plumb locoed or he's got more smoke dried cheek
Yes" kootenay interjected, Il was pullin
inter Stand Off fer couple of bags of -four, and
boss cuts inter my outfit from the prairie, as
stampeded cayuse II gen rally do when he other
bosses, and | knows him fer Badger by his white
socks. l used ter that oonhead: he let's
me rope him" At this iuncture he leaned forward
and spread the palm of his hand toward the light.
1t carried of blood
Are you plumb sure preacher" he asked, that
YOU amt been tapped fer none Nv that liquid
I'm quite I'd have felt it. It's awfully
kind of you men to feel so anxious about me- but
l thought Miss Chris knew | was all right.
Mayo's eyes opened in dazed way; then he
frowned. Chris! he calculated. What's my
darter got ter do with it p
Miss Chris was with me when Badger bueked
Stanford Ranch, about six o'clock.
Kootenay stared at Mayo, who in turn sat with
eyes glued on the face 60 of the speaker
daughter advised he would keep right on to
kootenay's ranch, and that somebody would sure
bring him in: 1t was getting dark; so didn't fol-
low him l hadn't horse, anyway
MAYO sat for full minute utterly dumbfounded.
AvA So many conflicting statements were enough
to confuse anyone. His voice was heavy with doubt
as he remarked, You said there shootin.
and allowed you might've got hit That sorter
gets mixed
dent of the racing cowboys and their reckless usil
1ade, adding, g But l don't think bullet touched
Badger. He must have cut his wither trying to rub
the saddle off against a rock.
As he spoke Mayos sharp eyes searched his
face with a burning intensity; now he said, rising.
Well preacher. were kinder glad that things is
all right. kootenay powerful frad when he
Badger stampedin the prairie with bloody
saddle that you got mixed up with some accident.
Wen put the boss in the stable: he's outside"
I'll attend to him. kinnaird objected, reach
Kootenay1l round him up kinder all right
close to the shack tonight. Them felers was
canterin' out of town is back and lettin' off their
guns promiscuous like Tain't safe nohow fer a
to be out.
Solemnly the three men wished the preacher
good night.
With his ear to crack of the door, Kinnard
heard Mayos raspng voice say, Matt, you fool dago!
when you fit that stampeded bronco and licked
him. you sure had luxurious ppedream that
preacher was thar help out the boss but he
warnt. Now put the boss you licked inter his bed
and go home!"
Kinnaird chuckled he turned to his bed again.
He knew that Mayo would leave a man guard
outside until Chris had verified his story of the fall
from Badger
LIE fell asleep the dull pain in his bruised shoulder
IL carrying ugly dreams through his slumber Once
it Chris tempting him with glass of whisky
strangely inSistent seeming to stake her love upon
its acceptance knnaird pushed the glass away:
and then he was lying his back thrown from a
horse, the liquor trcklng to his face from the glass
in Chrs's hand
With cry of rebuke on his lips, the dreamer sat
up and wiped his wet face. Then he laughed in
lief as tiny stream from the old sun-cracked mud
roof trickled down the back of his neck. 1t was
raining. He could hear the sop. sop of small
deluge in the plastic mud above his head.
Rising, he struck match and peered into the
face of the little wooden clock 1t was five.
He opened the door. and the wet west wind
pushed with solacing GOODNESS against his hot face
solemn. heavy