Los Angeles herald., 1910-10-23
OCTOBER %, 1910.

bag at his side, land you're paid, Billy
Knapp. 1 want to ask you question.
Standing Rock has sent $4,000 in
greenbacks to Spotted Tail. The mes
senger went through here today Have
you seen him?"
Mary messenger" replied Billy, in
relief. "Stage goes empty"
Charley had crept down the stairs
and into the room.
what in hell are yo' dom we're, yo'
ranikaboo ijit?" inquired Billy, trucu-
lently.
THAT thar stage amt what you calls
empty" observed Charley, unmoved
A light broke on Billy's mind. He
remarked the valise which the stranger
had so carefully guarded and though
his common sense told him that an in
offensive non-combatant such as his
guest would hardly be chosen an eX-
press messenger, still the bare posi-
bility remained.
''Yo're right" he agreed, carelessly,
thar is one tenderfoot who knows as
much of ridin' express as a pig does of
ruffled shirt"
II notes he's almighty particular
about that carpet bag of his'n," in
sisted Charley.
The man against the counter had lost
nothing of the scene. Billy's denial his
hesitation, his half-truth all looked
sound sweep of the arm he had Billy
covered. Billy's hands shot over his
head without the necessity of COM
mand.
The men ceased their occupations
and gathered about. Scenes of this
sort were too common to elicit COM
ment or arouse excitement. They knew
perfectly well the laissez-faire relations
which obtained between the two west
erners.
NOW" said Black Hank angrily,
in low tone, 81 want to know why in
hell you tried that money camel"
Billy, wary and unafraid replied
that he had tried no game, that he had
forgotten the tenderfoot for the mo-
ment, and that he did not believe the
latter would prove to be the sought
for express messenger.
One of the men, at signal from his
leader, relieved Billy's heavy belt of
considerable weight. Then the latter
was permitted to sit on a cracker box
Two more mounted the stairs. In
moment they returned to report that
the upper story contained no human
beings, strange or otherwise, except
the girl, but that there remained a
small trunk. Under further orders
they dragged the trunk down into the
barroom. 1t was broken open and
found to contain nothing but clothes
of the plainsman's cut, material and
state of wear; a neatly folded Mexican
saddle showing use and a rawhide
quirt.
Hell of a tenderfoot!" said Black
Hank, contemptuously.
The outlaws had already scattered
outside to look for the trail. In this
they were unsuccessful, reporting. in
deed, that not the faintest sign indi-
Gated escape in any direction.
Billy knew his man. The Tightening
of Black Hanks close-knit brows
meant but one thing. One does not
gain chieftainship of any kind in the
west without propping his ascendency
with acts of ruthless decision. Billy
leaped from his cracker box with the
suddenness of the puma, seized Black
Hank firmly about the waist, whirled
him into sort of shield and began an
earnest struggle for the instant pos
session of the outlaws drawn revolver.
1t was gallant attempt, but an I'M
successful one. In a moment Billy was
pinioned to the floor, and Black Hank
was rubbing his abraided forearm.
After that the only question was
whether it should be rope or bullet.
Now, when Billy had gone down.
stairs, the stranger had wasted no
further time at the window He had
in his possession $50, 900 in greenbacks
which he was to deliver as soon as pos
sible to the Spotted Tail agency in
Wyoming. The necessary change of
stage lines had forced him to stay over
night at Billy Knapp's hotel.
The messenger seized his bag and
softly ran along through the canvas
nartitiOned rOoTO Uherei,, I1iII,, Giant r.