The Press., 1916-02-23

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I'm particularly looking for eyelasl
restorer," explained Tony earnestly
1--WE had trouble with falling eye
lashes ever since / had that terribl,
scare in Wildcat canyon"
The stranger shivered a little ant
glanced over his plump shoulder at tn,
darkness behind.
wildcat canyon-that sounds rathe
dubious" he said, with sickly smile
II hope it doesn't lie along the road
back to town"
Its still there, right alongside the
trail to Red Spider said Tony heart
lessly, "but it amt to be feared now
the way it used to be when SataI
Peterby lived hereabOuts."
The salesman started at the name.
Satan Peterby?' he questioned
"Who is hep
Tony settled back to enjoy himself
Before he made reply he rolled another
cigarette and lighted it leisurely. Wher
his sardonic smile was wreathed in
smoke he proceeded to enlighten the
nervous stranger.
"Satan Peterby was daredevil cow
boy who used to be the terror Of Red
Spider. When he was good he was ter
ribly mild and good and just like the
little girl in the rhyme-he wouldn't
play poker them times or drink any
thing except plain sody water, which
same is like soapsuds If you ever tasted
it; he wouldn't shoot up the town as
was his custom now and then, and
nowadays there amt SO many Red
Spiderites going around with clipped
ears and holes III their hat crowns as
there used to be in the days Of Satan
Peterby.
when Satan was good he was most
uncommon dull, but his companions
didn't mind him. He was their idol;
idle and lazy, too, If you don't mind a
pun, stranger!
But when Satan Peterby was on the
warpath-whoopee! Look out; there
was something doing all the time, and
poor Satan didn't know what he'd done
till the day after 1t was all over. Some
times he'd be up before a coroner's
jury trying to explain about several
corpses that was ornamenting the
streets Of Red Spider, and once he was
assisting at lynching bee-chief per-
former, so to speak-but he got away
somehow.
"Oh, yes, he's seen around these parts
now and then, else it's his spook.
That's how I lost my eyelashes. 1 was
riding along the edge of Wildcat can
yon one night-just about such night
as this, only an hour later, it was
when, pop, out Of the thicket there,
comes wild eyed little man-that was
Satan Peterby, thank you'll"
The stranger uttered startled bleat
and closed his sample case
'Was that long ago?" he asked fear
fully.
Mr.. Golf surveyed his comrades with
inquiry in his dancing eyes. s.
Seems like it was most two weeks
ago." he said reminiscently. "Boys,
wasn't it two weeks ago that we saw
the last of Satan Peterby?"
at sure was" agreed Mason Pepper,
rolling over and propping his chin in
his cupped palms. 'I'll never forget
the sight of you standing against that
cottonwood tree, Tony, and Satan1usipg
you for target
"a target?' repeated the stranger
weakly.
Tony Golf nodded and took sup the
story.
'You see, knew Satan Peterby well.
He used to borrow money off Of me
every pay day till got SO found out
that he'd forget to pay it back. So
when I stopped lending it to him he'd
hold me up now and then for half
months pay-and, by Jimmy, he'd get
it too"
"Why?" asked the stranger, choking
4 little.
Because he'd think nothing of shoot
ing to kill if refused. Once offered
to give him my note for thirty days in
place Of cash, and he riddled my new
hat so full of bullet holes that it looked
more like a fly trap than it did like a
eight dollar hat.
''This particular time speak about /
vas riding home with just about $40 In
ny clothes when, as say, out pops
Satan Peterby. Hands up, Tony says
he in that cold and deadly tone Of his.
You can guess how it sounded" Tony
nodded at the salesman.
Eyes. I've read considerable western
murmured the other.
els that ALP he asked when I hand
ID over the $40, and I shook in my
BOOTS when 1 says Yes you can bet.
"'Wen,' says Satan Peterby, for
that bit of carelessness, Tony, I'll shoot
your eyelashes off one at a time, 50
say your prayers
"Of course praying didn't do any
good then, with him already popping
away at me. What saved my life,
don't know, stranger, but there
wasn't one of them bullets hit me,
only they come so close they just fan
ned the eye winkers off me, one at a
time. Then, with horrid laugh, Sa-
tan rode away. That's two weeks
ago tonight, and he's due to ride again
this evening""
"That so?" asked the stranger ris-
ing stifly and sending a wide smile
around the circle. "Then better be
SctlluS dlOuS. H
"But you haven't took our ORDERS"
protested Tony Golf, who was willing
to pay for his evenings amusement. !.
Whereupon the salesman, though APP
parently scared at the lonely ride be-
fore him. thriftily took seven orders
for combination boxes of toilet requi.
sites and cheerfully received the cash
in advance for sauna
Then, Mason Pepper having brought
around the ancient nag, the pie faced
stranger turned his specialized eyes
,nce more around the company, smiled
| pleasant good evening and disap-
,eared in the darkness.
When they had ceased from their
ecstasy of mirth over this adventure
Tony Golf sat up and wiped his eyes.
Speaking of Satan Peterby," he said, |
I'd sure like to see that boy again. He |
vas the finest puncher and the best |
nan that ever threw leg over a boss
N this outfitv' f.
Ont Of tho darknoSs hohind thor,