Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1916-08-16

a porch and sidewalk. Upon 1t and lean,
ing against a hitching rail, were men o.
varying ages, most of them SlOvenly il
old jeans and slouched sombreros. Some
We're booted, belted and spurred. No
man there wore a coat, but all o
vests. The guns in thai group woulo
have outnumbered the men.
1t was a crowd seemingly too lazy tc
be curious. Good nature did not appear
to be wanting, but it was not the frank
and boisterous kind natural to the COW
boy or rancher in town for a day. These
men were idlerS; what else, perhaps
was easy to conjecture. Certainly tG
this arriving stranger, who flashed a
keen eye over them. they Wore an at
mOSphere never associated with work
Presently a tall man, with a dropping,
sandy mustache, %leisurely detached
himself from the crowd.
"Howdy, stranger" he said.
The stranger had bent over to loosen
the cinches; he Strengthened up and
nodded Then: I'm thirsty!"
That brought a broad smile to faces
III was characteristic greeting. One and
all tcooped after the stranger into the
hotel. 1t was a dark, ill-smelling barn
OF Il place, with Il bar as high as a short
mans head. n bartender with a SCARED
face was serving drinks.
Line up, gents" said the stranger.
They piled over one another to get
to the bar, with coarse jests and oaths
and laughter. None of them noted that
the stranger did not appear so thirsty
as he claimed to be. In fact, though
he went through the motions, he did
not drink at all.
My names Jim Fletcher" said the
tall man with the dropping, sandy
mustache. He spoke laconically, new
ertheless there was a tone that showed
went with that name. The stranger did
not ppea to be impressed.
My lame might be Blazes, but it
amt" he replied. VIVA do you call
this purg"'
stranger. this heah metropolis
bears the handle Ord. Is tibet new TO
your"
He leaned back against the bar, and
now his little yellow eyes. clear as
crystal, flawless as Il hawks, fixed on
the stranger. Other men crowded
close. forming a circle, curious. ready
to be friendly or otherwise, according
to how the tall interrogation marked the
newcomer.
Sure, Ord's a little strange to me.
OF the railroad some, amt it? Funny
trails h~ereabouts."
How fur was you goin'?'
Il reckon | was gOin' as far as I
could replied the stranger, with a hard
laugh.
His reply nae subtle reaction on that
listening circle. Some of the men ex-
changed glances. Fletcher stroked his
drooplng mustache. seemed thought
scrutiny.
wal. Ord's the jumpin' Off place." he
said, presently. Sure you've heerd Of
the Big Bend country?"
Il sure have, an was maxim tracks
fer It," replied the stranger.
Fletcher turned toward a man in
the outer edge Of the group. 'Knell,
come in heah,"
This individual elbowed his way in
and was seen to be scarcely more than
a boy, almost pale beside those bronzed
men, with a long, expressionless face,
"Knell. this heah's-" Fletcher
wheeled 20 the stranger. "what'd you
call yourself?"
I'd hate to mention what I've been
CALM myself lately"
This sally fetched another laugh. The
stranger appeared cool, careless, indif-
ferent. Perhaps he knew. as the others
present knew, that this show of Fletch-
er's. this pretense Of Introduction. was
merely talk while he was looked over.
Knell stepped up, and it was easy to
see. from the way Fletcher relinquished
his part i'll the situation, that a man
greater than he had appeared upon the
scene.
"Any business here?" he uueried
CURLY. When he spoke his expression
less face was in strange contrast with
the ring, h quality, the cruelty Of his
voice. This voice betrayed an absence
of humor, of friendliness, of heart.
Nope" replied the stranger.
Know anybody hereabouts?"
Mary one"
Jest ridin' through?'
Yep"
"Slcpin' fer back country, eh?"
There came a pause. The stranger
appeared to grow a little resentful and
drew himself up diSdainfully.
Wal, considerin' you-all seem so
damn friendly an %oncurious down here
in this Big lend country, l don't mind
sayin' yes-I am in on the dodge" he
replied, with deliberate sarcasm.
From west of Ord-out Ell Paso way,
mebbe?"
Sure"
.A-huh! Thet SOP" Knelrs words,
cutting the air, stilled the room. You're
from way down the river. Thet's what
they say down thereon the dodge
. +. . Stranger, you're a liar!"
With swift clink of spur and thump
of boot the crowd split. leaving Knell
and the stranger in the center.
Wild breed of that ilk never made a
Knell had cut out with the %trenchant
call, and stood ready. The stranger
suddenly lost his every semblance to
the rough n easy character before
manifest in him. He became bronZe
That situation seemed familiar to him.
His eyes held a singular piercing light
that danced like a compass needle.
Sure I lied" he said; so l amt
takin' offense at the way you called
me. I'm lookin' to make friends. not
enemies. You don't strike me as one
of them four flushes. achin' to kill
somebody. But. IL you are-go ahead
an open the ball. . . You see. 1
throw a gun on them fellers till
they go fer theirs.
Knell cody eyed his antagonist, his