The Glenwood post., 1908-05-09

"Hellity damn, 1 live at the Three
Bars ranch'
In Kemah county?"
1T sure is
What is your business, Mr.. Mum
SOM"
"Jim's shorter, Dick. Well, work
for the boss, Mr.. Paul Langford."
I'm what capacity"
'If you mean what do l do, why,
ride the range, punch cows, l always
go on the roundup, I'm a fair bronco
breaker and l make up hunks and
clean lamp chimblies between times"
he recited, glibly, bound to be terse yet
explicit, by advice of the boss.
There was gale of laughter in the
bar. Even the court smiled.
"Oh, Jim. Jim! You have perjured
yourself already" murmured the boss.
Clean lamp chimneys-ye gods!"
We'll, grin away" exploded Jim,
his quick ire rising. He had forgotten
that Judge Dale's court was not like
Justice McAllister's. His fingers fair
| ly itched to draw pistol and make
the scoffers laugh and dance to little
music of his own. But something in
Gordon's steady though seemingly
careless gaze brought him back to the
seriousness of the scene they were
playing-without guns.
The examination proceeded. The
air was getting sitting. Windows
were thrown open. Damp-looking
clouds had arisen from nowhere SEEM
ingly and spread over the little prairie
town, over the river and the hills. 1t
was very warm. Weather-seasoned
inhabitants would have predicted
storm had they not been otherwise en-
gagged. There was no breath of air
stirring Mrs. Higgins had said 1t
was sorry day for the cattle when
the river was running in December.
Others had said so and so believed,
but people were not thinking of the
cattle now. One big -boned long-horned
steer held the stage alone.
The state proceeded to Munson's
identification Of the steer in question.
After many and searching questions,
Gordon asked the witness:
Jim, would you be willing to swear
lhut thS olCSl Sou ht1u HClu oNCI dI
the stock yards was the very same
steer that was the mascot of the
Three Bars ranch?"
This was Jim's big opportunity.
Know Mag? Swear to Mag? Dick,
| would know Mag eff l met him on the
golden streets of the eternal city or
eff my eyes was full O. soundin' cat
aracts! Yep"
Il am not asking such an impossible
feat, Mr.. Munson," cut in Gordon, net.
tied by the digressions OF one of his
most important witness. Answer
briefly, please Would you be willing
to swear?"
Jim was jerked back to the beaten
track by the sharp .incision of Cor
don 'rebuke. No, this was indeed not
Jimmie Macs court.
Yep" he answered, shortly.
Billy Brown was called. After the
preliminary questions, Gordon said to
him:
Now, Mr.. Brown, please tell the
jury how you came into possession OF
the steer"
We'll, l was shippin' couple O. car
loads to Sioux City, and l was drivin'
the bunch myself with a couple O.
hands when l meets up with Jesse
Black here. He was herdin' a likely
little bunch O. half dozen or so
among 'em this spotted feller He said
he wasn't shippin' any this fall, but
these were for sale-part of lot he
had bought from Yellow Wolf. So the
upshot of the matter was | took 'em
off his hands. l was just lackin' bout
that many to make a good, clean, two
cars full"
You took bill-of-sale for them, of
course, Mr.. Brown"
Il sure did. I'm too old a hand to
buy without ll-o'-sale"
The document was produced, mark
ed as an exhibit, and offered in evi.
dence.
CTo BE CoNTINUED.)