Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1908-03-07

l"N
The Game Was On.
who had not seemed 10 be working at
all during this clean-cut dialogue. She
flashed a heeting smile at him. He
knew he was out Of sympathy with the
great majority OF the people down
there in front. lie did not seem to
care so much now. A great medicine
is womanly and an understanding
smile. It flushed his face a bit. too.
Langford was most unsatisfactory
under REORGANIZATION. He never
contradicted himself. and was a tribe
contemptuous of any EFFORT to tangle
him up in threads OF his own weaving.
The little man touched Small on the
arm and whispered to him.
"Mr. Langford" said Small. in a
weighty voice. you travel a great
DEAL believe"
Il do
For pleasure. maybe?" with a mys-
terious infection.
Partly"
business as wcll?"
business as we'll"
Just prior 20 the arrest or the de-
PENDANT" insinuaungly. you we're
away"
How long prior do you meang"
say week"
NO"
1.-TWO weeks"
Yes"
You had been away some timer"
The better part OF year" con
tossed Langtord. with engaging can
dor.
Yes. Now. Mr. Langford. should
like you 20 tell me about how many
cattle you range-in round numbers?''.
About 5000 head"
Yes. Now. Mr. Langford. YOU who
count your cattle by the thousands
on your own sworn word you have
been out OF the country a year. Don't
you think you are asking this jury to
swallow n pretty big mouthful when
you ask them 10 believe that you could
SO Enthusiastically distir suish this one
poor ornery steer who has so little to
distinguish him from thousands OF
others?"
! have owned that spotted steer for
years said Langlord. cOmposedly. Il
have never sold him because he was
rather an odd creature and so can
tankerous that we dubbed him the
Three Bars mascot"
Gordon called Jim Munson.
What is your nance"
"Goshi"
Inc question was unexpected. Was
there any one in the county who did
not know Jim Munson2 And Dick Cor
don of all people. Then ne remem-
bered that the boss had been asked
the same question. so il must be all
right. But the ways OF the court
were surely mysterious and ofttimes
foolish
Jim Munson. Jim Munson's my
name-yep."
Gordon smiled.
You needn't insist on it. Mr.. Nun
son" he advised. we know il now.
Where do you liye?"
"Hellity damn! l live at the Three
Bars ranch"
In Kemah county?"
1T sure is"
What is your business. Mr. Nun
SOM"
"Jim's shorter. Dick. Well, / work
for the boss. Mr.. Paul Langford."
In what capacity"
IF you mean what do | do, why,
ride the range. punch cows, l always
go on the roundup. I'm 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 a 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
~ itehed 10 draw a pistol and make
the sconers laugh and danes 10 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. IL
was very warm Mediterranean
inhabitants would have predicted
storm had they not been otherwise en-
gagged. There was no breath OF air
stirring. Mrs. Higgins had said IL
was a sorry day for the cattle when
the river was running in December
| Others had said so and 50 believed.