The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1912-12-11
to another.


to another.
Norton himself stood down by the
door Of the bunkhouss. Grinning with de-
hight. Near him stood Lemusl Train
and several % tho other small ranchsrs
whose stock had Srased for more than
two weeks on the Circle Bar range with
out objection from Hollis. They saw
him and motioncd for him to come down.
directing original oaths at him for sleep
Ing so late on % "hne u morning"
He dressed hastily and went down.
They all ats breakfast In the mess houss.
the cook being adJured to spread Il en-
for all he was worth''-which he dii.
Certainly no one left the mess house
hungry. During the meal LemueI Train
made a speech on bchaN OF himself and
the other owners who had enjoyed Hol-
lis's hospitality. assuring him that they
were with him" from now on. Thsn
they departed. each going hi. separa te
way to round up his cattle and drive
them back TO the homo ranch.
The rain continued throughout the
day and far into tho night. The dried,
xssping country absorbed water until
II was sated and then began to shed II
on into the arroyos. the gniiiss. the de-
pressionr. and tho river beds. Every
hollow overf'owed with H.. It seemed
Before dawn on the following day all
the small ranchers had departed. Sew
eral OF them. on their way to their home
ranches. stopped of at the Circle Bar
to shake hands with Hollis and assure
Afn or their appreciation. LemueI Train
ala not forget TO curse DunIavey,
we amt likely 70 forget how he
stood on the water proposition" he
said.
After Train had departed Norton stood
looking after him. Then he turned and
looked at Hollis. his eyes narro wins
auixzlcally. You've got In risht with
mat crowd" he ssnd. burned n I
don't believe you knowed all the time
that u was goin' 20 rain before Dun
laveys tenth day was over!'
Hollis smiled oddly. "Perhaps" he
returned; there II M law, moral or
otherwise. to prevent a man from look
Ing a little ahead"
After breakfast Hollis gave orders 10
nave Greasy prepared for travel. and
an hour later he and the rance boaa.
both armed with rifles. rode out of the
corral yard with Greasy riding between
them and took tho Dry Bottom trail.
Tho earth had already dried; the trail
was hard. level and duAtIess, and
travelling was q pleasure. But neither
OF the three spoke . word to one
another during tho entire trip 10 Dry
bottom. Greasy bestrode his horse
loosely, carelessly defiant: Norton kent
a watchful eye on him and Hollis rode
steadily. his gaze nxed thoughtfuily on
the trail.
At 10 o'clock they rode into Dry
Bottom.
Th"re were not many person.. about.
but those who were gave instant evidence
or Interest In the three by watching
them closely as they rode down the
street to tho sherlns ONCE, dismollnted.
and disappeared inside
The sIerlffs once was In A little frame
shhniy not over sixteen feet square,
rrid" and unfinished. There were a
fro1t ana back door, two windovs-ons
Ia the SIDE facing the court house, the
otacr IN the front For furniture there
were bench, two chairs. some shelves,
cast Iron stove. wooden box partly
Nlled with sawdust which was used as a
cuspdOr, and rough wooden table
vhl'h served as q desk.
In a chair beside the desk sat a tail,
lean-faced man, with a nose thai sug-
yested an eagles beak. with It's nigh.
thin, arched bridge. little. narrowed,
shftlng eyes. ana hard mouth whose
Lips were partly concealed under droop-
Ing, tooacco-stsined mustaohe. He
turned as the three men entered. leaning
back In his chair. his legs a-sprawl.
motionlng them 20 the chairs and the
bench. They filed IN silently. GREASY
dropped carelessiy into one OF the
chairs. Norton took another near him.
but HOLLIS remained standing.
"You are the sheriff. ! SUPPOSE in.