The Glasgow courier., 1916-12-22

sounds.
Presently Miguel ran his fingers
through his glossy black hair. I'm the
back" he exclaimed. 'And you
needn't to tell that he was run away.
neither
"ln the back!" echoed Billy Dime.
Overland and Williams exchanged
glances. "You done it now." said VIII
liams.
"'Cordin' to agreement" said Over
land.
"Only thirty miles. What do you
say, BrandY'
"Nothin'.''
''As usual!' calculated Dime.
II say about tomorrow morning"
ventured Pars Long. Light will be
good about 9. We can do the thirty by
D. A fella would be able to ride round
town then without fallin' over any.
thing"
what you fellas gettin' at?" queried
Williams.
"Gophertown." replied Dime. "lou
want to come alOng?"
way Of evenin' up for pal"
''Then you're comm too?"
do you think I'm packin' these here
two guns and this belt jest to reduce
my shapc?" queried Williams in =
rather hurt tone.
"Whoop-ee for Brandt they chorus
ed, and the tethered ponies SHE'D and
circled.
| II never rode out lookin' for trou-
ble," said Williams. "and never SHE'D
from lookin' at it when it come my
| way"
"Who said anything about trouble:"
queried Billy Dime innocently. I'm
! dry. want drink. I'm goin' over
to Gophertown to get it. III treat the
bunch
We'll be there when you call our
numbers, sister. You comin'?" asked
Pars Long. nodding toward Overland.
ME? Nope. I'm goin I'm goin'
| to ask you boys to kindly allow me
the privilege of gettin' my drink first
and by my lonesome. There will be
a gent there with sore eyes He got
|
to call. expect to cure him Of his
eye trouble. After that you will be
as welcome as Marys little lamb
fried
"Bur-rie me not on the lo-o-ne prai
rec" sang Bud Light.
Not while you got the fastest hoss
in the outfit" said Williams.
Coolies hoss is here" said Over
land. I'm ridn' her this trip
kind of like the idea Of usin' his boss
on this here errand of mercy
"Three-tomorrow mornin'.' called
Billy Dime as Overland diSappea red
in the shadows.
Brand Williams. the taciturn. the 81.
lent, stepped from the fire and strode
across the meadow. He paused Op-
posite the Yuma colt and gazed ut her
in the moonlight. He jerked up his
chin and laughed noiselessly. Two
gun Jack Summers on that red Yuma
hoss ridin' into Gophertown with both
hands filled and lookin for trouble
God! He was bad enough when he
was dodgin' trouble Well. I'm glad
I'm livin' to see it. was commencin'
to think they wasn't any more men
left in the country. I'm forty seven
year old. Tomorrow IN be twenty
again-or nothin'."
Some towns nestle Oh the plain. 9th.
ers. more aspiring. roOst high in the
hills. Gophertown squatted on the des.
ert at the very edge Of "a range of bar.
rem foothills Its principal street was
not much more than bride trail that
led past eleven ramshackle cabins. dere-
licts of the old mining days when
GOphertOWn knew gold. Train robbery
was certain passport to GophertOwns
protection. Man killing lent an added
distinction to an applicant for hurried
admission. Cattle and horse thieving
was mere industry not to be con-
founded with these higher professions.
Saunders, coming from the saloon,
was not little surprised to see band
Of horsemen far out on the desert. He
felt that their presence in his vicinity
had something to do with himself. He
counted the horses. There were six
Of them. He knew instantly that the
riders were cowmen. although he could
not distinguish one from another. He
beckoned to the saloon keeper.
I'VE could "a stopped that" he said.
pointing toward the desert.
big bunch. One. two, three-six Of
'em. Big bunch to come visitin' here"
Saunders gestured toward the can.
yon behind Gophertown.
The saloon keeper shook his head
"Don't think most Of our boys will be
back this week. Brandin' that bunch
Of new stock. Takes time to do it
right"
"Well, here comes Parks and Santa
Fe Smith," said Saunders. THAT
makes four OF u.s.
"Mebby-and mebby not" said the
saloon keeper. THAT depends-de.
pends on the party that's calm and
! who they're CALM on"