The Washington times., 1914-07-11


was stage time and the men
sprawled restfuIly upon the hotel
porch awaiting the coming of the
nail. Shorty had pre-empted the
orsiTl, which he held BY squatters'
Eht. his thick body, toad-like and
cTt, barring egress, while the idling
poe from his pipe excited apalogue
ItHin him. A front step in the early
EeE.ng, with the fullness of supper
vesting his audience, was seiace TO
e little man: first. because the dark
IS hid his ungainly body, second. be-
Use to every man there comes a gar
lous hour when "reminiscences 10 like
nsy, and third, because his legs did
bangle in impotent discomfort. as
be- ne expended his wealth of short
|ss uponthe edge of made furniture.
'Sav, how comes it you amt drtvtn'
e stage any more, Shortly" ques-
bntd g prospector who had just pack
IN from the Big Divide. Get fired?"
Sure. Fired at and into, both"
blows that-shot9- You don't say
who done it""
= ark Bart
\. Ill : III uluH SbDsC
Il; would shoot UP a driver-thougnt
alus played the messengers. How d
hsppen?"
y mere was a lady with me one trip"
gan Shorty, blushing at the memory.
n Black Bart stuck US up on the
x Grade. He insulted her-leastwise
called her my sweetheart, so I shot
MIN to spare her feelin's. ! don. [
e:m I done just the gentlemsnly
IN. cause it amt a drivers place
mix with road agents, them duties
passengers as has a genius for dis
turbsnce However, there bein' no mes
Ienger handy. / Tipped at him, an
busted his Winchester. My bullet
be cked the gun out Of his hands. an
run for the eut-off-down the old
eeD trail He laid for me there with
colts. When l drove by he got me,
re-most we'll, now. though"
beg-Leg spoke Unexpectedly from the
kuows,
Look a'here, Shorty. ailin't never
Eered out one thing about that
Ecas. Old Charlie Crane says you
LCd1l4-E lAltO MS EiH%t OA4 NAAN N~S~l
b. your bosses plumb beat out, an
b an the young Teller all shot up. -
T-sts right. said Shorty.
v ell, who was this young Teller?
u eft here that mnrria' with the
h an the bullion, but there wasn't
young Teller along"
beg-Leg had sprung the question
Ii had excited the camp for
T. rs, and the listeners waited
b aieEsly. From the first. the eff
= lad q touch of mystery madden
- the camp. the more SO inasmuch
-lcrty, the man of splendid sim
e.. had suddenly lost his candor
q maintained battling silence.
ecllation had fed upon drifting ru-
br until Forest Hill wriggled in an
ory Of curiosity.
q -sldering his ferocious habit OF re-
cI1E to all unfortunate personal
81 those questions he found not to
liking, there seemd no advisable
EtnUd Of arriving at the truth, unless
thaps by the exhibition OF a cur.os-
which Shorty would be privileged
r-gard as morbid and insulting. Time
b silence had served to hone the
b. Of this sharp interest until Peg
n the landlord, had arisen uneX-
E, IDLY 10 press tn. question. The
err wondered why they hadn't
b. ght of him before. Even Shorty.
b. -,ng az he did all recognized codes
= srfare, could do no more than take
bb~age at a wooden-legged man.
y ell, ye see. it was this way" said
stage driver finaIIy-then amid
eir signs of interest there came the
10 and rumble of the Auburn stage.
b. comes the mail; III tell ye some
h. time" he broke off. while the
hon of the crowd at this Interrupt
b was voiced by Spike Duffy who
ore.
he which would certainly rasp ye.
- his little hide"
/: cr the mild excitement Of the
Ee.s arrival had rippled out. those
b. we're given TO the expectation Of
ii. DISAPPEARED in the wake Of the
. master II was one OF these re-
ing that brought 1T.
fhn cpicaI deserves the dignity of
lals. and epicsl il surely was for
dwarf who still conversed upon
step.
r ey. Shorty! Here's a letter for
y HAT" The little mans voice
D. utter. graspins IncrcdUity.
h ere; from a lady, too
81 il IL possible to crowd the
BIZ
Look a'here. you" growlcd Shorty
ing threatenIngly. Don't you get
hny with ne"
4 amt. Here it is. honest. de-
Tcd "Peg-Leg." hurriedly lhrustiug
en him a packet Look at IL your
r."
n rty came into possession of the
feet with that measure OF familiar
snc blitheness with which a nan
Ee!ycs his summons {" the pillory.
b. VIXEN he had dazedly entered the
hted room. the establishment OF the
hclders swellsd ever bank.
There's strange doins here" said
Eg-Leg" gloonily. not TO cay aug
ious. an / don't like en-. I forms
cwn deddckshupxs
kasss ~ koa his $wsslAssrS"