The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-06-28

|
was about 10 enter the house.
What 10 it," he asked. turning
back.
Tom Raymond's here"
The colonel groaned aloud. The
speaker grinned. He was the ranch
foreman, he had been with the colonel
many yeors and he knew almost as
much OF Rogers AFFAIRS as Rogers did
himself He understood the nature
OF Raymond's hold on the colonel, and
he regarded II as a conspicuous weak
ness on the part OF an otherwise sane
and rational man.
What's the natter" demanded
Rogers
He's in trouble again, reckon, y
said the foreman.
Well was there ever time when
he wasn't asked Rogers with some
show OF temper
He wouldn't come up TO the house,
happened on him out back OF the
corrals. He's hid In the old bunk
house he wants 10 see you the worst
kind OF way"
Go tell my wife I've had TO go
down TO the corrals. Tell her not to
wait for me. but TO eat" said the
colonel
| The old bunk-house was small
building OF poles. now no longer used.
II was remote from the house, and
rarely visited and toward II the col
onel bent his steps in the gathering
| darkness. The bunk-house door was
slightly ajar, and he pushed 1t open.
The room was apparently empty. Tor
/ hs nd a OF
match, and in the momentary bright
ness he saw a man asleep In one or
the hunks, a gaunt, loose-1ointed man
with long grey locks that fell to his
shoulders. He had been sleeping
with his head resting on his arm, and
the light flashing full in his face
reused him. he sprang up with
startled exclamation, and Rogers
caught a sound which he understood
| perfectly.
Put that up, Tom, it's only me,
he said composedly.
oh it's you. Ben, old pardner?
Didn't know who 1t was. When ala
you get back"
Il just came. Buck told me you
were here and wanted TO see me-
Tom had quilted the bunk, now he
was sitting on the edge of II. Rogers
could just distinguish his head with
| its thick unkempt thatch OF grey hair
and his bulk of bone and muscle.
We'll. Ben" he said In drawing
voice Il reckon you're going TO see
the last of me: reckon I'm going TO
Quit the country this time. I've
STAYED mainly TO be near you, old
pardner, but I'm clean crowded our
at last
The colonel was quite unmoved by
the others sentiment, he had hearh
the same thing before many times
| Tom had come into comfortable
property on his fathers death; TINS
he had promptly squandered. he mao
gone from bad 70 worse-gutde, scout
packer, and lastly buffalo hunter, VINO
between debauches had done his part
In the ruthless war OF exterminauoH
which had been waged against the
great herds OF the plain; but tine
herds had disappeared. and this shifi
less means OF livelihood had gone
! with them. Sometimes he WORKED
with Rogers forces, but most or the
time he spent I'm and about Carson,
subsisting by means 1t was not wen
tn INQUIRE too closely into. he was
counted a dangerous man, not lnat
he had ever risen to any very spleh'
did villainies. but he was man that
the other men Summed unless tney
were OF his own class.
"What is it, Tom?" said Rogers.
| You're in trouble, suppose, or you
wouldn't be here hiding.
There was trouble In Carson, SAID
Tom in a meditative drawl Benny'
these here COW towns is the GOD Ior'
sakenest places in all this God Tor
saken country. Who'd thought tnat
me at nv time of life, when I've al
wava dora what thought was
right .,..,.,
Get down to business, Tom, ne
urged. .,,r. MO
well, say Benny, can you stake me
for a long jump? ! reckon "h oe
plumb to Texas this time.
What have you done, rom! asheu
Rogers.
| i've shot a man, Ben.
IL reckoned so.' said the coionei III
hard voice. -. .ha,
"A man that said sold beer that
hadn't airy brand OF Inlhe oh IL ~
that was hell Of thing 70 say OF a
man who's always tried to act rlght
and square
| Who was it?'
(which he knew II was lie, ana
YOU know II was lie, Benny
Who was IT." repeated Rogers.
I "Chesney."
| Ibid you kill him.?
II dunno. Hope So said Tom indlt-
ferently. II didn't wait TO see, just
pushed out for here"
And they1kIn pushing after you.
Il reckon a so all right, as soon
as they can altogether posse
II can't have them find you here,
Tom" said the colonel. You know
there's a limit
II didn't think you'd show me your
back I've been a good friend TO you,
Ben, and If hadn't been, father was
Can you deny that--no, sir"
HE was the best friend ever had.
I'm glad you amt forgot II, Ben
Rogers. He gave you your start
you've always been man enough to
Town that
Don't you think I've about squared
that with you?" said the colonel again
limpatiently.