The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1917-01-11

leaning against hitching-rail, were
men of varying ages, most of them
slovenly in old jeans and slouched
sombrcros Some were booted, belted,
and spurred No man there wore n
coat, but all wore vests. The guns
in that group would have outnumbered
the men.
II was 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 dashed keen eye over
them, they wore an atmosphere never
associated with work.
Presently tall man, with n droop-
ing sandy mustache, lelsurely detach-
ed himself from the crowd.
"Howdy stranger" he said.
The stranger had bent over to
/ loosen the cinchcs; he Strengthened up
and nodded. Then: 'Tm thirsty"
That brought a brond smile to faces.
It was characteristic greeting. one
and all trooped after the stranger into
the hotel. II was a dark, ill-smelllng
! barn of place, with n bar ns high as
n short mans head. A bartender with
n Scared face was serving drinks.
Line up, gents" said the stranger.
They piled over one another to ger
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 laconlcally, never
theless there was tone that
showed he expected to be known.
Something went with that name. The
stranger did not appear to be Inn
pressed.
MY name might be Blazes, but 1t
amt" he replied. "What do you call
this burgf"
stranger, this heah metropolis
bears the handle Ord. Is thet new to
you?"
He leaned back against the bar, and
now his little yellow eyes. clear as
crystal, flawless as 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 merked
the newcomer.
"Sure, Ord's little strange 20 me.
on the railroad some. amt It? Funny
trails hereabouts."
"How fur was you goln'7"
81 reckon l was goln' 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, Ords the jumpln'-off place.
he said, presently. "Sure you've heerd
OF the Big Bend countryT
81 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
n boy. almost pale beside those bronz
ed men, with long, expressionless
face, thin and sharp.
"Knell, this heah's-" Fletcher
| wheeled to the stranger. "What d you
| cnll yourself?"
ara hate to mention what I've beer
calm myself lately"
/ This sally fetched another laugh
/ The stranger appeared cool, careless
Indifferent.
, Knel stepped up, and It was eas,
to see, from the way Fletcher relln
} quished his part In the situation, tina
! man greater than he had appeared
, upon the scene.
: "Any business here?" he queried
/ curtly. When he spoke his expression
less face was In strange contrast viii
=, the ring, the quality, the cruelty o
! his voice. This voice betrayed an alb
sence of humor, of friendllness, o
: heart.
! "Nope," replied the stranger.
. "Know anybody hereaboutsT
"Jest ridin' throughT
: "Yep."
a "Slopin' fer back country, eh2"
a There came a pause. The strange
t appeared to grow little resentful an'
a drew himself up dlsdalnfully.
= 'Wal, conslderin' you-all seem 81
e damn friendly an oncurious down her,
d in this Big Bend country, don't mint
: sayln' ye3-I am In on the dodge" h,
{ replied, with deliberate sarcasm.
"From west of Ord-out El Pas
I way, mebbe?"
y Sure"
g "A-huhl Thet so?" Knell's word
e cut the air, stllled the room. "You'r
e from way down the river. Thet's wha
0 they say down thereon the dodge
8 /. Stranger, you're a llarl"
q with cztrfft clink of cnur an,