The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1914-07-24


asleep, Phil" responded Bud, but
when you get about half shot it's diff
Ierent. Come on, now-Ill quit II you
will. That's fair, amt it?"
What? No little toots around
town? No serenading the senoritas and
giving the rurales the hotfOot? Weil'
what's the use OF living, Bud, II you
can't have a little fun? Drinking don't
make any difference, as long as we
stick together. What's the use OF
swearing off-going on record IN al
vance? We may find some fellow that
we can't work any other wayne may
have to 60 on drunk with him IN or
der to get his goat! But will you
stick? That's the point"
Bud glanced at him and grunted, ana
for a long time he rode on IN silence
Before them lay a rolling plain, dip
ping by broad gulches and dWlndlihs
ridges to the lower levels OF Old Mex
leo. and on the skyline, thin and plue'
stood the knifelike edges OF the For.
tunas miles away.
With desert-trained eyes he noteo
the landmarks, San Juan mountain 10
the right, Old Niggerhead to the left'
and the feather-edge Of mountains 1ar
below; and as he looked he stored II
away in his mind In case he shouio
come back on the run some night.
It was not foreboding, but 'ne
training of his kind, to note the lay OF
the ground, and he planned just where
he would ride to keep under cover II
he ever made dash for the line. bu'
all the time his pardner was talking o.
friendship and Of the necessity OF theil
sticking together.
"In tell you, Bud" he said at last
his voice trembling with sentiment
whether we win or lose, | won't nav
7 a single regret as long as know weV
been true to one another You ma
4 know Texas and Arizona, Bud, but
4 know Old Mexico. the land OF manan
L and broken promises. l know the cou'
try. Bud-and the climate-and ID
- women!
q "They play the devil with the Del
Of US, Bud. these dark-eyed senor'tat
II That's what makes all the trouo
% down here between man and man. II
q these women and their ways. They
IT not satisfied to win mans heart'
thew want him to kill somebody
" show that he really loves them.
s. Jove, they're tickle lot, and nothil
re nleases 'em more than setting mi
o. against man, one pardner against q
- other"
e. I'VE never had any trouble yet" {
u served Bud sententiously.
~ mo, but we're likely to-" protest
sS De Lancey. "These Indian women
IN the sierras wouldn't turn anyood'
10. head but we're going down Into
W hot country now. where the girls 6
I'LL pretty, tara, tara, and we talk throu
the windows at midnight"
~ ~ well, II you'll cut out the oooz
eu said Hooker shortly, you can ne
40 40 EN- all, for all Of me-"
90 "sure, that's what you say but "
I'LL YOU see them! Oh, la, la, Ia
re kissed his fingers ecstatically-lh
em Glad to see 'em myself! But list
Oh Bud. here's the proposition. lets tt
me an oath right now, while we're 81
Ing out, that whatever comes up W
e" a,wavs be true to each other. II
coy y, 40 IA wounded. the other stays v
no, him. II he's in prison, he gets him Q
q q he's killed, he avenges his
'ou SAY" broke in Bud. iostllns =,
rudely as he reached into the SAD
aeS ba9a "let me carry that bottle 10
=. 4" WHILE"
&C. No took a big drink out Of 1t to
~. .no vent De Lancey from getting 1t all
. -, shoved 1t inside his overalls.
sn y. IAN right, pardner," he contin
. nas with a hooking smile, anything
.s asS cav. / never use oaths myself m
o GO" hut anything to oblige."
h;s IND. but mean 1t, Bud" crieo
,nor Iancey. Here's the proposition
teal Whatever happens, we stay with
eer. other till this deal is in'sneo' o.
e. e.oh cases we match money to
on,n Who's it: and II we tangle over
a." GIRL the best man wins and tne
nh ono STAYS away. We leave II 10
. %. Girl which one wins. VIII you 8
hands on that?'
,ss" Don't need TO-" Responded
look an do it anyway"
well, shake on 1t. them" ms
mon. ne I,ancey, holding out his hand
:, ~ ooh, sally!" burst out Bud haI
hv q his head in embarrassment W
snat. the use OF getting mushy?"
,,ss But a moment later he leaned
'aon, IN his saddle and locked hands "
Hing viselike grip.
,rdav "My old man told me not 10
to,d mn such promises" he muttered'
ring I'll do it, beings It's you"
1ered 'lo DE Wv