The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-06-11

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crash and stamped to the three-legged table
at dusk and surlily demanded shelter for the
night.
Gimme bed an somethin' to eat" he
demanded, cyeing the three melt seated with
their chairs tilted against the wall "Do /
get it?" he demanded, impatiently.
You do, replied one-eyed man. lazily
arising and approaching him. Gone dollar,
now"
An take th' rocks outen that bedI
want TO sleep"
A dollar per for every one you find, "
grinned Stevenson pleasantly.
Some folks likes to be rocked to Sleep"
facetiously remarked one of the pair by the
wall, laughing contentedly at his.own pun.
"Yo're a droll feller, Charley" chuckled
sold " John Ferris, rubbing his ear That's
good one.
"One drink, now" growledl Hopalong,
mimicking the proprietor and garing at the
droll feller and his companion. An mind
it's good one," he administrative host
It's better" smiled Stevenson, whereat
"Old" John crossed his legs and chuckled
again. "Ridin' long?" he asked.
"Since | started"
Coin fur2n
"Till | stop"
He, he, he chortledl" Old" John, rub
bing his ear again andi nudging Charley.
Z He amt no fool, eh?"
Hopalong took the liquor anditossed it Off
and, considering a moment, showed the glass
back. 1T is good--fl her again The
third was even better and by the time the
fourth and fifth joined their predecessors he
began to feel little more cheerful But even
the liquor and an exceptionally well-cooked
supper could not separate him from his per-
sistent and set crouch. And ofiquor be had
already had more than his limit He had
always boasted, with truth, that he,had never
been drunk-and that was one doubtful
luxury he could not afford for the reason that
more than one man would like TO see him for
five seconds when liquor had dullcd his brain
and slowed his speed Of hand.
He dropped into a chair by a,card table
and, battling all attempts TO engage him in
conversation, reviewed his troubles in a
Inunbled sohloouy, the liquor gradually
making him careless, but,of all the jumbled
sounds his companions heard they recognized
and retained only the term WINCHESTER
Better 60 to bed, stranger, the proprie-
tor was saying, We're tn last up, It's
after twelve an YOU look sleepy an''tired, ."
Said his wife vast sick-oh, what you
sayin'sn
You'll find d bed befter'n this table
stranger--its after twelve an want to close
up an get some sleep. I'm iired.myself. "
"Oh, that's all ? Shore Ill,go tosbed--iust
Ike to see anybody stop me- Aina no rock:
in it, hey2"
Nary rqcl,D laughed TIE host, picking
up Hopalongs saddlc,and leading the way tc
a room off the office" his guest stumbling
after him and. growing about the rocks that
lived in Winchester. When, Stevenson hac
dropped the saddle by the window and de
parted, Hopalong sat on the edge Of the bed tc
close his ewes for just moment before tack
ling the labor Of removing This clothes. A
crash andia lar awakened him to find himself
on the floor with his back 10 the bed Ht
was hot and his head achedel litte-and how
close apd hot and chokingithe room had be
come He thought he had aown out th'
lamp, butt still burned and three quarters o
the chimney was blaca. vith SCOT. twas un
bearable, ard after three attempts.he blew ou
the light, stumbled against his saddle anc
leaned out Of the window 10 breathe AS hi
lungs took in the fresh air he chuekled giscl,
and, picking up the saddle, managed to'get
and himself through the window and om In
ground without mishapL He woth ride TO
an hour and come back.all right, Al Il give sh
room time, ,to freshcn, Not start couh b
seen as hegroped his way unsteadity toward
the rear ofthe buidnag where he vaguely re
membered having ses.n the corral
Huh Said he Med in Winclie ster, an
name was Ben Ferris" he muttepsd, STAN
bling toward NOSE lr knew was.aused y
horse rubbing against the corral iercC
, gLord, It's daricrn cats in ook" b
gruntcd recoiling irom,forcibt contact witl
the fence he sought Growing words urhol
he fell his wayf along i and finally his arr
! slipped through an opci6ng and be bumps
bis head solidsf on the aop bar ol the gatc
, As he righted himself his.hlId sruok the nos
OF 4 horse @Nl closed nsce;isnsally over il
J Cowponies isok alike IN thesdark and /
. grinred as ne complir 1enrcd himself upo
: finding histo unerringy.
Can't foos me, o'' cayusc" he hcamec
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