Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-03-14

COPYRIGHT 10
T. Gabby Gallagher seemed fittire
leader for such desperate crew as
that Of the Centipede, for he was the
Understanding citizen the fasteners
had beheld thus far. He was thickset,
and burned to the color of ripe olive;
his long, dropping mustaches. tobacco.
stained at the center, were bleached
at the extremities to hempen hue.
/ His bristly hair was cut short, and
stood agsressively erect upon bullet
head, his clothes were soiled and
f! greasy beneath gray coating OF dust.
A pair Of alert, lead-blue eyes and q
certain facility of movement beiied the
drawl that marked his nativity. He
removed mis- hat and bowed at sight
Of Miss Chaplin.
Good everin', Miss Jean!" said he.
Il hope I find y'all WE'LL"
"Quite well, Gallagher. And you?''
"Tovable, thank you"
"These are my friends from the
east"
The Centfpede foreman ran his eyes
coldly over Jeans companions until
they rested upon Speed, where they
remained. He shifted lump in his
cheek, spat dexterously, and directed
his remark at the Yale man.
II rode over to see II y'all would like
70 lay little mo- in this y'ere foot
race. allow you are the unknown"
Speed nodded, and Slower took &C.
casion to ramark:
~Them's our inclinations, but we've
about gone our limit"
Il don't blame you none." said Gal
!agher, allowing his gaze to rove slow.
Iy from top to toe Of the eastern lad.
No, CANT blame you none whatever.
But I'm terrible grieved at them It'd.
ms. Though we Centipede punchers
has ever considered y'all cheap an
poverty-r1dden outfit, we gives you
credit for bein' game, till now" He
spat for second time, and regarded
Slower scornfully.
A murmur ran through the cowboys
1--WE are game" retorted Slower.
"and for your own good don't allow no
belief to the contrary to become a
superstition"
Don't let Centipede blum you!"
exclaimed Speed. Cover anything
they offer-give 'cm odds. Anything
you don't want, I'll take, pay or play,
money at the tape. We can't lose"
Il got no more money" said Carara,
removing his handsome bespangled
hat, "but bet my sombrero. Els
wort two hondred pesos"
Murphy, the Swede, followed
quickly.
AYE BAN send may wages home to
may OLE moder, but aye skall bat you
some"
Haven't you boys risked enough al
read5?" ventured Miss Chaplin. IRE
member, it will go pretty hard with
the losers"
Harder the BETTER" came a voice.
"Y'all don't have to bet, jest because
Ina h'yar," gibed Gallagher:
God! wish was rich!" exclaimed
Willie:
But Miss Chaplin protested. you
are two months overdrawn, all of you.
My brother won't advance you any
more"
''Then my man, Lawrence, will take
what they cant cover" offered Speed.
That's right! Clean 'em good,
brothers," croaked the trainer:
IF you'll step over to the bunk
house, Gabby, we'll dig up some per
sonal perquisites and family heir
looms" Slower nodded toward his
mems quarters, and Gallagher grinned
joyously.
"That shore listens like band from
where l set. We aim to annex the
wages, hopes, and personal ambitions
Of y'all, along with your talkin.ma-
chine"
Excuse me-" Willie pushed his way.
forward. Flows she gettin' along?"
"Fine!"
"You mule-skinners amt broke
herr"
MOI We plays her every evenin'."
The little man shifted his feet; then
allowed himself to inquire, as If re-
garding the habits of some dear de-
parted friend:
"Have you chose any faverite rec
cords?"
I'VE all has our pick. speakin' per
sonal, I'm stuck on that baggage coach
song Of Mrs. More's,"
Moray" Willie corrected. Mora!
Heleney Moray is the lady's name"
"Mebbe SO. Our foot-runner likes
that injun war-dance best of all" Ca
rara smiled at Cloudy, who nodded.
as II pleased by the compliment.
Then 1t was that the Flying Heart
spokesman made IN inquiry In hushed.
hesitating tones.
"How do you like "Fhe Holy City,"
he removed his hat, as did those
back Of him. "As sung by Madame
seila Melby?"
~Rotten!" Gallagher said promptly.
"Fhat's bum, for fair"
During one breathless instant the
wizened man stood as II disbslieving
his ears, the enormity Of the insult
robbing him Of speech and motion.
Then he uttered asnarl, and Slower
was barely In time to intercept the
backward Ming Of his cropping hand:
mo voylence, Willie! :. There's H.
dies present"
Stover's captive ground his teeth
and struggled briefly, then turned and