The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1913-07-25
O. HENRY STORIES
Copyright by the Mcclure Company

Half a dozen sixshooters began to
pop; awful yells rent the air; Long
Collins galloped wildly across Curly's
bed. dragging the saddle after him.
That was merely their way OF gently
avaking their victim. Then they hazed
him for an hour. carefully and ridicu-
lousy. after the code Of COW camps.
And all this meant that Curly had
won his spurs, that he was receiving
the puncher's accolade. Nevermore
would they be polite to him.
When the fooling was ended all
hands made a raid on Joe's big coffee
pot by the fire for a Java nightcap.
Ranse watched the new knight careful
lv to see if he understood and was
worthy. Curly limped with his cup
of coffee to a log and sat upon it. Long
Collins and Buck Rabb sat at his side.
And then Ranse furnished Curly
with mounts and saddle and equip
ment and turned him over to Buck
Rabb, i%nstructing him to finish the job.
Three weeks later Ranse rode from
the ranch into Rabb's camp. which was
Their in Snake valley. The boys We're
SduUlllk loI lie i1N > llc liz SOuSAl
out Long Collins among them.
How about that bronco:" he asked.
Long Collins grinned.
Reach out you hand. Ranse Trues-
dell" he said, "and you'll touch him.
And you can shake his'n. too. if you
| like. for he's plumb white and there's
none better in nc camp"
Ranse looked again at the fear faced.
bronzed. smiling cowpuncher who stood
at Collins side. Could that be Curly?
He held out his hand and Curly grasp
ed it with the muscles of a broncho
buster.
Il want you at the ranch,' said
Ranse.
"All right. sport said Curly heart
lily. But I want to come back again.
Say. pal, this is a dandy farm. And
I don't want any better fun than hus-
tim COWS with this bunch of guys.
They're all to the merry-merry.'
At the Cibolo ranch house they dis
mounted. Ranse babe Curly wait at
the door of the living room. He walk
ed inside. Old "Kiowa" Truesdell was
reading at a table.
Good morning, Mr.. Truesdell.' said
Ranse.
The old man turned his white head
quickly.
How is this" he began. "Vhy do
you call me Mr.
When he looked at Ranse's face he
stopped, and the hand that held his
newspaper shook slightly.
Boy" he said slowly, "how did you
find it out?'
; ITS all right" said Ranse. with a
smile. II made Tia Juana tell me.
1t was kind of by accident, but it's
all right
"You've been like a son to me- said
old "Kiowa," trembling.
Tia Juana told me all about it,
said Ranse. "She told me how you
adopted me when I was knee high to
a puddle duck out Of a wagon train of
prospectors that vas bound west. And
she told me how the kid-your own
kid, you know-got lost or was run
away with. And she said it was the
anne day that the sheep shearers got
on a bender and left the ranch"
"Our boy strayed from the house
when he was two years old" said the
old man. and then along came these
emigrant wagons with a youngster
they didn't want, and we took you. l
never intended you to know, Ranse.
We never heard of our boy again."
Hes right outside, unless I'm
mighty mistaken said Ranse, open.
ing the door and reckoning.
Curly walked in.
No n could have doubted. The old
man and the young had the same
sweep of hair. the same nose, chin,
line of face and prominent light blue
eyes.
Old "kiowa' rose eagerly.
Curly looked about the room curious.
lv. \ puzzled expression came over
his face. He pointed to the wall op.
posite.
"Where's the tick-tock:" he asked
absentmindedly.
1.-The clock" cried old "Kiowa"
loudly. "The eight day clock used to
stand there. Why
He turned to Ranse, but Ranse was
not there.
Already a hundred yards away,
Vaminos, the good flea bitten dun. was
hearing him eastward like a racer
through dust and chaparral toward the
Rancho de los Olmos.
HI END.