Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1916-06-28

oi III dl kOSlt.Ou.
There were griZZled outlaws IN that
group, some of whom had many
notches on their gun handles. and they,
with their comrades, aocssaed Duane
silence that carried conviction OF the
regard in which he was held.
Duane could not recall any other in
stance where he had let fai, Il faluiliar
speech to these men, and ccrtaiIt.sy he
had never before hinied of mis- p'Jssi-
bilities. He saw instantly that he could
not have done better.
"Orful hot. amt it?" remarked Bill
Black, presently. Eill could not keep
quiet for long. He was u typical Texas
deSperado. had never been anything
else. He was stoop shouldered and bow
legged from much riding; Il why little
hard face partly black from scrubby
bear and red from sun, n n bright,
rowing, cruel eye. His shirt wa open
at the neck, showing a grizzled breast.
rs there any guy in this heah out
fit sport enough tc so swimmin'?" he
asked.
My Gawd. Bill. YOU amt agoin' to
wash" exclaimed q comrade.
J This raised a laugh. in which Bill
Joined. But no II seemed eager to
join him in a bath.
--LATEST outfit ever rustled with"
went on Bill, discontentedly. 'Nuth-
in to do! Say, if nobody wants to
swim, maybe some of you'll gambler"
He produced q dirty pack of cards
and waved them at the notionless
Bill, you're too good at cards." re-
piled q lanky outlaw.
Nov, Jasper, you say tibet power
erful sweet. an you look sweet, er
l might take it to heart" replied Rack.
with a sudden change of tone.
Here it was again-that upflashing
passion. What Jasper saw fit to reply
| would mollify the outlaw or it would
not. There was an even balance.
N offense. Bill" said Jasper placid
ly, without moving.
Bill srunted and forgot Jasper. But
he seemed restless and dissatisfied.
Duane knew him to be an inveterate
gambler. And, as Benson's place was
out of running order. Black was like
a fish on dry land.
cards. what will you bet on" he asked,
in disgust.
Bill. I'll play you a game of mumbly
peg fer two bits" replied one.
Black eagerly accepted. Betting to
him was a serious matter. The
game obsessed him, not the stakes. He
entered into the mumbly peg contest
with a thoughtful mien and a corded
brow. He won. Other comrades tried
their luck with him n lost. Finally.
when Bill had exhausted their supply
of two-bit pieces or their desire for that
particular game. he offered to get on
anything.
"She h turtle-dove there?" he said,
pointing. IN bet he'll scare at one
stone or he won't. Five pesos he'll fly
or he Wont fly when some IL chucks
a stone. Who'll lake me up?"
hat appeared to be more than the
gambling spirit of several outlaws could
withstand.
That tibet. Easy money!" said one.
Who's goin' to chuck the stone?"
asked another.
anybody" replied Bill.
Wal, I'll bet you can scare him
with one stone," said the first outlaw.
We're in on tibet, Jim to fire the
darnick." chimed in the others.
n money was put up, the stone
thrown. The turtle-dove took flight, to
the great joy of all the outlaws except
Bill.
iii bet you-all he'll come back to
tibet tree inside Of five minnits." he Of
fered, imperturbably.
Hereupon the outlaws did not show
any laziness in their a~lacrity to cover
Bills money as it lay on the grass.
Somebody had a watch, and they all sat
down. dividing attention between the
timepiece and the tree. The minutes
dragged by to the accompaniment of
various jocular remarks anent a fool
n his money. When four and three
quarter minutes had passed a turtle
dove allghted In the cottonwood. Then
ensued an impressive silence while Bill
calmly pocketed the so dollars.
But it hain't the same dove!" ex-
claimed one outlaw, excitedly. This
n is smaller. dustier, not so purple"
Bill eyed the speaker loftily.
Wal, you'll ave to ketch the other
one to prove tibet. Sabe, pard? Now
III bet any gent heah the SO 1 Won tibet
can scare tibet dove with one tone"
NO one offered to take his wager.
Wall. then. I'll bet any of you even
money tibet You can't scare him with
n stone"
Not proof against this chance, the
outlaws made up a purse, in nc wise
disconnected by Bills contemptuous al
luslons to their banding together. The
stone was thrown. The dove did not
fly. Thereafter, in regard to that bird.
Bill was nab to coax or scorn his
comrades into any kind of wager.
He tried them with a multiplicity of
offers, n in vain. Then he appeared
at a loss for some unusual and seduc-
tive wager. Presently a little ragged
Mexican boy came along the river trail,
a particularly starved and poor-look-
ing little fellow. Bill called to him and
gave him a handful Of silver coins.
Speeches., dazed, he went his way
hugging the money.
I'll bet he drops some before he gifts
to the road" declared Bill. "I'll bet he
runs. Hurry, you four-flush gamblers"
Bill failed to interest N of his COM
panions, and forthwith became sullen
and silent; Strangely his good humor
departed in spite of the fact that he
had won considerable.
Duane. watching the disgruntled out
law. marveled at him and wondered
what was in his mind. These men We're
more variable than children. as I'M
stable as water. as dangerous as dyna-
mite.
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