Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1910-10-23


IL at the crossing of the Deadwood and Big
Horn trails through Custer valley. Travel
ers changing from to the other frequently stopped
there over night He sold accommodations for man
and beast, the former comprising plenty of whisky,
the latter plenty of hay. That the best any one
could saw of it. The hotel of logs, two-sored
with partitions of sheeting to insure certain privacy
of sight if not of sound; had three beds and num-
Der of hunks; and boosted of a woman cook-one OF
the first in the hills Billy did not run it long lie
was too restless For the time being however, he
was interested and satisfied.
The personnel of the establishment consisted of
Billy and the woman, already mentioned, and an an
cient Pistol of the name of Charley The latter wore
many firearms, and had good deal to say, but had
never as Billy expressed it, 'made good y This in
the West could not be for lack of oppOrtunlty Ills
functions were those of general factotum
One evening Billy sat chairtited against the walls
of the hotel waiting for the stage ny and by 1t
drew in. Charley hobbed out, carrying buckets of
water for the horses The driver flung the rens from
him with the ordly insoence of his privileged class
descended slowly, and staggered to the barroom for
his drink Billy followed to serve it.
Luck said the driver, and crooked his elbow.
Anything new3'' quered Billy
"Nope'
Held up?'
..Nope. Black Hank s over in tn limestone
That exhausted the situation. The two men pulled
silently for q moment at their pipes. In an instant
the driver turned to go.
u got you a tenderfoot," he remarked then,
casually; Il reckon he S outside
"Guess | ambles forth and sees what fer tender
foot it is " replied Billy, fastening from behind the
bar.
The tenderfoot seated small trunk just
outside the door, As he held his hat in his hand, Billy
could see his dome-ke bald head beneath the dome
was little pink and white face and below that mar
row. sopng shoulders, fiat chest, and handy legs
lie Il light check suit, and flannel shirt whose
collar was much too large for him. Billy took this
all in while passing. AS the driver climbed to the
seat, the hotelkeeper commented.
Say, Hen, said he would you stuff it or put
it under glass casc?'
I'D serve it, a lay Tooloose, replied the driver
briefly, and brought his long lash S-shaped the
four startled backs Of his horses
Billy turned to the reinspecton of his guest, and
met deprecatng smile.
q I get a room here fer tonight" he inquired
in high, piping voice.
You kin, - said Billy, shortly, and began to howl
for Charley
That patriarch appeared around the corner did
likewise the cook, black-eyed, redcheeked creature
afterward counted by Billy of his eight matr
monial ventures
Snake this strangers war bag into tn shack"
commanded Billy and, Nell, jest nat rally rustic
few grub. -
The stranger picked up a small hand satchel and
followed Charley into the building When little
later he reappeared for supper, he carried the hand
bag with nm, ana placed IL under Uhe Dehch WHICH
Aanked the table. Afterward he deposited it his
hand while enjoying pipe outside. Naturally, all
this did not escape Billy.
"Stranger,' said he, ''yo' seems mighty welded
to that thar satchel'
Eyes, sir pped the stranger. Billy snorted at
the title. ~ has personal belongin s which is
valuable to me-" He opened the bag and produced
a cheap portrait of a rather cheap looking woman
"My mother that was " said he.
Billy snorted again and went inside. He hated
sentiment of all kinds
The two sat opposite each other and ate sup
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