The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-09-02


 again, and another tin can bites the dust, jest as free and easy as if he wasn'. keepin' guard over thirty or forty thousand dollars worth of gold dust and trouble, and jest as if he ain't got no lungs at all"
 Overland Red was concluding his "the night the Plancher boys shot up Abilene"
 It was exactly o'clock by Dr. Mar shalls watch.
 Both my guns was choked up witt burnt powder. I reached down ant borrowed two guns off a gent what wasn't usin' his jest then. Next day was elected sheriff unanimous. They was seven of us left stapdin'. That was back in '98" Overland yawneG and stood up.
 "The boys are all asleep now" said Walter Stone. We have plenty of room here. You'll not ot iect to taking one of the guest rooms as you find it, I'm sure."
 . "For better or for worse, as the pote says" And Overland grinned. But I got to put that little ehaffer to roost somewhere"
 "That's so."
 "rll go wake. him up." And Over land strode to the racing car The ''chaffer" had departed for parts un- known.
 6a vyo rod 0f To grade" said Overland, returning to the house. He's gone. He must a been scared to beat it back down the road afoot."
 Perhaps he has gone to the stables said Stone. "Well, we'll take care of you here. You can see Collie in the morning"
 Overland, closing the door of the spacious, cool guest room, glanced about curiously. What was it made the place seem so different from ever the most expensive hotel suits? The furniture was very plain. The decora- tions were soft toned and simple "It's-it's because the rose girl lives here, guess" he soliloquized. "Now. this kind of roost would jest suit Bil ly, but it makes me feel like walkin' on eggs. This here grazin' is too good for me"
 He undreesed slowly. folding his un accustomed garments with great care. He placed his automatic pistol on the chair by the bed Then he crept be meath the sheets. forgetting to turn out kt,n lntk HrVh 4x,s o1 fv1d cd like the old perfessor what picked up a hairbrush instead of lookin glass to see if he needed shavin'. He was dunn near scared to 0eath to see how his beard was. growin'." And Overland chuckled as he turned out the lights.
 He could not go to sleep at onee. He the stars. T left here in a hurry once," he muttered. "'Bout three years ago. Then was kiddin' Collie about wearin' silk pejammies. Now I got 'em-got lem on. by thunder! Don't know as feel any heftier in the 1 tntellec'. And can't show 'em to no | body. Whats the good of havin' 'em if nobody knows it? But I can hang lem on the bedpost in the mornin' careless-like, jest like was raised to 1t. Them pejammies cost $4 leg. Some class!" And he drifted to sleep. 1 After breakfast Dr. Marshall, who had taken a fancy to Overland, strolled with hin over to the bunk house. Most of the men were on the range. Collie was assembling bits and brides, sad dles, cinchas and spurs to complete an equipment for the proposed camping trip in the hills. He was astounded at Overland's appearance. However, he had absorbed western ideals rapid ly. He was sincerely glad, overjoyed, to see his old friend, but he showed little of it in voice and manner. He shook hands with a brief How, Redr' and went on with his work. Dr. Marshall, after expressing inter- est in the equipment, excused himself and wandered over to the corrals, where he admired the horses. Where did you get 'em2" queried Collie, adjusting the length of pair of stirrup feathers.
 "These?" And Overland spread his coattails and ruffled. "Why, out of the old Mojave. Dug lem up with little pick and shovel"
 "You said in your letter you found the cisim."
 'Ubuh Almost fell over it before ] did, though. We never found the other things by the track. New ties. Nc mark. Say, that Billy Winthrop writ about is the brother of them folks stayin' here: What do you think.
 .Wish was out there with you fel lows," said Collie.
 You're doin' pretty good right here kiddo. The boss don't think you're tba worst th&t ever came acrost, and expect the ladies can put up with hay in you on the same ranch by the way they talk Got hoss of your owr yet?"
 Nope. I got my eye on one, though