Tombstone epitaph., 1916-10-22


 porch and sidewalk. Upon 1t, and leaning against a hitching-rail, were men of varying ages, most of them slovenly in old jeans and slouched sOmbreros. Some were booted, belted, and spurred. No man there wore coat, but all wore vests. The guns in that group would have outnumbered the men.
 It was a crowd seemingly too lazy to be curious. These men were idlers; what else, perhaps, was easy to con lecture. Certainly to this arriving stranger, who flashed keen eye over them. they wore an atmosphere never associated with work.
 Presently tall man. with a droop- ing, sandy mustache, leisurely detach- ed himself from the crowd.
 'Howdy, stranger" he said.
 The stranger had bent over to loosen the cinches; ne strengthened up and nodded. Then: ''Tm thirstyw
 That brought broad smile to faces. It was characteristic greeting. One and all trooped after the stranger into the hotel. It was a dark. ill-smelling barn of place, with bar as high as a short mans head. A 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, never theless there was a tone that showed he expected to be known. Something went with that name. The stranger did not appear to be i'm pressed.
 My name might be Blazes, but it ain't." he replied. What do you call this burgT"
 Stranger, this heah me-tropoles bears the handle Ord. Is thet new to you?"
 He leaned back against the bar, and now his little yellow eyes. clear as crystal, fiawless as a hawks, fixed on the stranger. Other men crowded close, forming a circle. curious, ready to be friendly or otherwise, according to how the tall interrogator marked the newcomer.
 Sure. Ord's little strange 70 me. Of the railroad some, ain't 1t? Funny trails hereabouts"
 How fur was you goin'T'
 'T reckon I was goin' as far as could" replied the stranger, with a hard laugh.
 His reply had subtle reaction on that listening circle. Some of the men ex- changed glances. Fletcher stroked his dropping mustache. seemed thoughtful. but lost something of that piercing scrutiny.
 Wal, Ord's the jumpin'-off place." he said, presently. Sure you've heerd of the Big Bend country?'
 'T sure have, an was maxim tracks fer it." replied the stranger.
 Fletcher turned toward a man Tn the outer edge of the group. "Knell, come in heah"
 This individual elbowed his way In and was seen to be scarcely more than q boy, almost pale beside those prong ed men, with a long. expressionless face. thin and sharp.
 "Knell, this heah's-" Fletcher wheeled to the stranger. "What d you call yourself:'
 ''rd hate to mention what I've been callin' myself lately"
 This sally fetched another laugh. The stranger appeared cool, careless, indifferent.
 Knell stepped up. and 1t was easy to see, from the way Fletcher relin- quished his part in the situation, that a man greater than he had appeared upon the scene.
 Any business hereT he queried, curtly. When he spoke his expression less face was in strange contrast with the ring, the quality, the cruelty of his voice. This voice betrayed an ab- sence of humor, of friendliness, of heart
 Nope" replied the stranger.
 "KLow anybody hereabouts?"
 "Nary one."
 "Jest ridln' throughT
 "Yep."
 "Siopin' fer back country. ehr'
 There came a pause. The stranger appeared to grow a little resentful and drew himself up disdainfuily.
 "wal, considerin' you-all seem so damn friendly an oncurious down here in this Big Bend country. don't mind sayin' yes-I am in on the dodge" he replied, with deliberate sarcasm. From west of Ord-out Fl Paso way. mebbe"
 Sure"
 "A-huh! Thet so~ Knell's words cut the air, stilled the room. You're from way down the river. Thet's what they say down there-'on the dodgc.' Stranger, you're a liarr'
 With swift clink of spur and thump of boot the crowd split, leav- ing Knell and the stranger in the center. The stranger suddenly be- came bronze. The situation seemed familiar to him. His eyes held a efnguIar njercioo Iiohf that danced