The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-07-20

glOOmuy
"An' he even got your boots an spurs.
Why, you oughtnt to have did that, Wag-
goner,' The cook was very angry. "A
man who CANT play the game better'n that
shouldn't go tryin' to teach d Indian. Let
him Keep -as ignorant as be likes. Why
didn't you shoot them dice instead Of tryin'
seven-up?"
Done lost 'em. The cyards we're his'r. T"
What the boss would have said to the
strayman never transpired, because diver
sion occurred. AS the punchers we're david
ling about after supper and Dave washed up,
traveller ambled into camp on a calico mare,
leading well-boned bay, saddled, with
pair Of boots tied behind the cantle The
strayman took one look and fell upon the led
horse with rejoicing
Hold hard, friend. That's my hoss"
Y" Yore hoss 7, reckon you're wrong, pard-
ner. or Casey here is mine Where'd you
git him r."
"Done bought him off'n Indian jist as he
is, this mornin I'm takin him to Dead
eye.' X +sss
y, The stranger was not a cowboy. That
was apparent mile away. His hat and
apparel were Of the meanest description; he
wore low shoes and sat the calico mare on
blanket instead Of saddle Moreover the
major portion Of his bride was pc. As
Waggoner rubbed his reclaimed mounts ears
and inspected his trappings, the man was
eying the diminutve puncher furtively.
You kin 60 to Deadeye, but Casey stays
here. Don't you, Caseyf How much did
you pay the Indian for this boss en- saddle
an things?"
Eighty dollars"
The strayman wheeled abruptly and scyu-
tinized the rider for the space Of minute.
Then he stepped to his rope stirrup and laid
hand lightly on his knee.
"You never seen e.ghty dollars in yore life,
pardner" His manner and accent were very
courteous. II reckon you done played that
Indian for this, same as me. Amt it so?
Let's see the guards"
An inde6nable insistence in Mr. Wagon
er's tone stilled protest and halted the in
voluntary gesture the traveller made towards
his waistbelt From his shirt pocket he drew
pack Of cards and held them out sulkily,
surveying the circle Of cowboys with an
anxious glance Well he knew that a hostile
move toward one, under such circumstances,
meant defying thirty.
"Shore! Jest as calculated. You done
him good Now I'll take all my things back
Keep cool, pardnerl Quit that you'd be
foolish" The man grumblcd objections
Because Pm square man, III tell you what
III do. Pm goin' to give you ten dollars for
'em-when | git it. My names Waggoner,
an work for the Gourd. You leave me
your name an address. Savez2"
Dave gruffly proffered the visitor some cold
beef and bread, but he was not invited to stop
the night and he continued on his way, bitter
at heart, reproaching himself for want Of
caution Later the cook sat down beside
Uncle Henys bed and engaged him in ear
nest conversation. Whatever it was about,
the boss grew petulantly argumentative, but
the strayman escaped punishment.
Afew days later interest was aroused by
the arrival Of stranger who was very evi-
IDENTIFY Of the poor settler class: he was gaunt
andpf hungry yisage, with oddly bright eyes,
and It was painfully evident that his mount
had Travelled to the limit Of its endurance.
Uncle Henry told him to stay to dinner.
"You-all see;a to have been pretty dry
bout here
"Dyer'n hell Amt had drop Of rain in
a month, returned the boss
"Over to the Flying w range, it's rained
most every day. done hearn of a cloudburst
near thar One ol' crick ] come by yesterday
was ragin' like Red in the spring 1t come
near githn' me, too.
"That so2 | wish we had some Of it
hyar"
1t came out in the course Of spasmodic
conversation that the stranger was on bis way
to Deadeye, where he purposed to preach on
the following Sabbath. Yes, he was par
son, a Camelite; no-oo, he was not paid to
preach, but il the congregation like giving,
their munihcence would be acceptable and
would be repaid tenfold. He never worried
as to that; he was in the hands Of his Master,
and his wants would be satisfied.
Dave gave ear unto this with the keenest
attention The cook always considered him
self a deeply religious man, and shortly he
engaged the parson in searching argument
on the probability OF certain miracles Of which
Dave had heard rumors. Then talk waxed
loud. Soon Waggoner abandoned his letter
writing and joined the disputants; only in
the nick of time, for Dave was routed COM
pletely by the parson reciiing an entire Psalm
TO prove his contention that the end Of the