Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1916-12-21

1 was at the tune taxing TO barnes
at his hotel and saw them from a dis
lance hitching their animals outside
Morton's. They stayed there for some
time, then came out, unhitched their
horses, led them as far as the Empire,
hesitated, finally again tied the beasts
and disappeared. In this manner they
gradually worked along to the Bella
Union, where at last l recognized them
as McNally and Buck Barry, our com
rades Of the Porcupine. OF course I
at once rushed over to see them.
l found them surrounded by q crowd
to whom they were Offering drinks
free handed. Roth were already pref
ty drunk, but they knew me as soon
rs l entered the door and surged to-
ward me hands out.
well, we'll, well!" cried McNally
delightedly. And here's himself!
And who'd have thought of seeing you
here? l made sure you were In the
valley and out Of the country long
since. And you're just in time. Make
a name for it? Better call it whisky
straight Drink to us, my boy! Come,
join my friends! We're all friends
here! Come on, and here's t o luck,
the best luck ever! We've got two
horse loads Of gold out there-nothing
but gold-and it all anne from our old
digging. You ought to have stayed.
We had no trouble. Bagsby was an
old fool!" All the time he was drag
ging me along by the arm toward the
crowd at the bar. Barry maintained
an air Of owlish gravity.
where's Missouri Jones?" 1 in
CURED, but might as well have asked
the stone mountains. McNally chat
tered on. excited, his blue eyes dane
ing. Dragging yer and over about his
two horse loads Of gold.
The crowd took his whisky, laughed
with him and tried shrewdly to pump
him us to the location of his diggings.
McNa!l.E gave them no satisfaction
there. but even when most hilarious
retained enough sense TO put them off
the track.
AS will be imagined. / was nos IN
easy about the whole proceeding and
tried quietly to draw thy. two men off.
NO, sir" cried McNnlly. not any!
.les' struck town and am goin' to have
Il time" in which determination he
was checred by all the ~bystanders. l
did not know where to turn. Johnny
was away on II of his trips. and
Danny Randall was not to be found.
Finally inspiration served me.
Come down first and see Yank," l
urged. Poor old Yank is crippled
and can't move"
That melted them at once. They I'M
tied their long suffering animals. and
we staggered off down the trail.
On the way down l tried. bu. in
vain. to arouse them to a sense of
danger.
you've let everybody in town know
you have a lot of dust" | pointed out.
MrEal!y merely laughed rccklessly.
Good boys" he cried. "Wouldn't
harm Il fly" And | could veer him to
no other point Of view. Barry agreed
to everything. very solemn and very
OWliSh.
We descended Oh Yunk like n storm.
I viii say that McNally 1t any time
was Irresistible and irrcpressible, but
especially SO in his cups. We laughed
ourselves sick that afternoon. The
Morenas were enchanted. Under in
structions. and amply supplied with
dust. MoTena ven to town and re-
turned with various bottles. Sonora
Morena cooked n fine supper. In the
meantime |, as apparently the only re-
sponSible member Of the party, I'M
saddled the animals and brought their
burdens into the cabin. Although Nc
Nally's statement as to the loads con-
sisting exclusively Of gold was some
what Of an exaggeration, nevertheless
the cantinas We're very heavy. Not
knowing what else to do with them, l
thrust them under Yank's bunk.
The evening was lively, l will con-
fcss it, and under the influence Of it
my caution became hazy. Finally,
when at last made my way back to
my own camp. I found myself vastly
surprised to discover Yank hobblinS
hloni, by my side. | don't know why
he came with me. and | do not think
he knew either. Probably force of
habit. At any rae. We left the other
four to sleep Nipl., tlNy would. ! re-
member we liz: ~"r..c difficulty in find
ing places to lie.