The evening world., 1912-01-27
CHAPTER VI.
The Man Who Rode "Pur-
O0fOrv."

for this locality. Might
buckle up against Deveny.
our range boss. he's some
quick with a gun, too. Hut
wore short a prone buster. TO some
horses that Satan himself wouldn't risk
MS neck riding. 'Purgntory's' tho worst
OF tho lot. I'd surs like 20 sec Webb
Bail try to ride him. There was a
whimsical note in his voice. Ills eyes
met the strangers. Now II you was
Wcbb"-
II am Webb Ball" said the latter.
quietly.
Tucker fairly spluttered. Then u
blush slowly mounted his face. No
man likes the sudden humbling o, his
pride of Judgment.
i've heard about this 'Purgatory'
horse" continued the stranger. unmovcd
by Tuckcr,s ejaculation. Some OF the
boys over at the Bar Cross say MS how
he can't be rode. / can ride some"
he stated. with the cahnness of perfect
confidence In his own ability. and I
reckon l can ride this %'rurgatory'
horse"
fuckers eyes cooled with slow de-
cislon. You can work here" he said
presently: "and you'ii ride horses when
you're told. And II you Amt the man
YOU say YOU arc
"Don't!" raid the stranger. And his
lips curied and whitened.
Tucker laughed. Il reckon you're no
false alarm" he said. q over to the
clubhouse and tell Devcnyi I've hired
YOU"
"Thanks." said Ball. lie stepped out
side the door. and then returning. stuc,,
his head In.
"1t it's just tho same to you," he said
quietly. "l'd JUS, as soon you wouldn't
advertise tina I'm from the Bar Gross
There was IN the managers mind a de-
sire for enlightenment. but he reflected
upon the peculiar notions OF the average
cowpuncher and smiled with indulgcn,
sarcasm.
"You see" continued Hall. II wouidn'i
want the boys here to know that
came over special 20 ride 'Purgatory.''
And not waiting for an answer h,
walked 20 hi. pony, tucked the rein,
the corral. Tucker watched him as h,
lot down the bars and replaced them
watched him as. with his saddle on hi
shoulder. he STROBE unconcernedi,
toward tho clubhouse.
Hes either a concclted sop~-of-a-gun
or he's the simon pure article reflected
tho manager. lie watched Ball unit
he disappeared through the door OF the
bunkhouse. Anyhow" he concluded
summarizing his thoughts. hes IN,
FIRST man that ever had me guessing
Down in the adobe bunkhoure at ths
edge OF q cottonwood clump the Lazy
outfit was performing It's sblutions pre-.
paratory to sitting down to dinner. A
score of eyes were On Ball as hc threw
his saddle on the ground outside the
door n entered the b~unkhouss. Their,
was the welcome aroma OF steaminr
coffee and the savory scent OF freshly
cooked beef. Several Of the men were
already seated at the long table wler
Ball entered.
No n showed any surprise. but man,
eyes met In suggestive suuints. Lik'
Tucker, they knew the significance o.
extra broad briins and leathern chaps.
I'm looking for Deveny.'' said Ban.
At the extreme end Of the table a tai
man rose from n chair. pecrlnx throuR
the steam-lsden atmosphere at the nov
comer
well. what no you want with him.
he demanded bruspuely.
Ball swung slowly on his heels an,
faced the man.
~ YOU are Devsny,' ha said quietly
81 want TO tell you that Sid Tucker ha
hired me. I'm going TO work here"
Following this matter-of.fact ~
nouncement there was n sudden move
ment at the end OF the table. A chsi
grated on the floor. aud u Of The oh
scuring steam clouds came the tai! mar
shufling slowly toward the llEht OF tn
door.
I'm Deveny," he said shortly.
lie came closer. his attitude one q
contemptuous insolence. Folding nj
arms across his great chast no eyed Ia
with evident disfavor. lie appeared
he making some pleasing mental calcula
tons, for mis- eyes slowly closed to
auizzicai squlnt and his lips curved int
n cynical smile.
Suppressed curiosity was every wher,
Eyes that had previously beer nile
with a glazed ~unconcern over the me-
notony OF things now frightened wit
interest as their owners crowded close
10 see the stranger. Speculation ran rio
In every mans mind. but. with III
gentle consld eration that Western Ell
ouette teaches, they forebore speecl
Some of them stood with folded arm,
their freshly brushed hair plastere
over their heads with ~extravagsnt pre-
clslon: othrrs-not yet prepared for IN
table-poked their tousled heads into N
room through the open doorway.
/, The stranger had said that he wa
|, gcing to work. for Lazy J. But was he
, Much depended upon now Deveny d.
c.ded. As range boss for Lazy J. d,
/, veny had lived wel up 10 his reputatic
for downright meannsss.
And so Tucker has hired you?' 50
Deveny.
. Ue contr!yed to give his words a We
omous twist that made them almost
Insult. and he swep, his .nsolent ga
!, slowly up and down Balls figure
Tucker is sure mighty careless v
he hires" he said again.
Fifteen OF the sixteen men ~ the bun
house would have resented DeEenS
= words with an equally Insulting yetol
Nfteen Of the sixteen expected the stra
ger 10 do tho same. II he d!d not
!, would. without further question,
:. placed among that small humbe
human Weddings known to the co
u puncher as "yellows"-whioh, being
terpreted. means towards. And 40
D. GREATNESS silence they waited for t
stranger 20 SHOW h!s hand."
ID II told Tucker | wanted work Nigh
r. bad said Ball, apology IN his tone.