The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1917-02-01


leaning against a h%itching-rail. were
men Of varying ages, most Of them
slovenly In old jeans and slouched
sombreros. Some we're booted. belted.
and spurred. No man there wore a
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 ldlers:
what else. perhaps, was easy to con-
lecture. Certainly to this arriving
| stranger, who flashed n keen eye over
them, they wore an atmosphere never
associated with work.
Presently n tall man, with n droop-
Ing, sandy mustache, ~leisurely detach-
ed himself from the crowd.
"Howdy, stranger" he said.
The stranger had bent over to
loosen the cinches; he Strengthened up
and nodded. Then: "Tm thirsty"
That brought a broad smile to faces.
II was characteristic greeting. One
and all trooped after the stranger Into
the hotel. II was a dark. ill.smelling
barn Of n place, with n bar as high as
a short mans head. A bartender with
n SCARED face was serving drinks.
Zine 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,
fhn,,yh ha mani thrn,nh tho tnnftnnS-
he did not drink Mt 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 II
amt" he replied. "What do you call
this burgi"
stranger, this heah metropolis
bears the handle Ord. Is tibet new to
youf"
He leaned back against the bar, and
now his little yellow eyes. clear as
crystal, fiawless as n hawks, fixed on
the stranger. Other men crowded
close. forming n circle. curious, ready
to be friendly or otherwise, according
TO how the tall interrogation marked
1 the newcomer.
"Sure, Ord's a little strange 90 me.
trails h~erenbouts."
How fur was you goin'?"
az reckon / was goIn' as far rs I
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 m%ustache, seemed
thoughtful, but lost something Of that
piercing scrutiny.
oval, Ord's the jumpin'-of place."
he said, presently. "Sure you've heerd
Of the Big Bend country7"
II 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 a long, expressionless
face. thin and sharp.
"Knell, this heah's-" Fletcher
wheeled to the stranger. "What d you
cali yourself?"
"Td hate to mention what I've been
CALM myself lately"
This sally fetched another laugh,
The stranger appeared cool, careless,
Indifferent.
Knell stepped up, and II was easy
to see, from the way Fletcher relin'
pushed his part in the situation, that
n man greater than no had appeared
upon the scene.
"Any business heref" he queried
CURLY. 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 alb
sence Of humor. OF f~riendliness. o.
heart.
"Nope," replied the stranger.
"Know anybody hereaboutsf"
"Nary one"
"Jest rldln' through"
"Yep."
"Slopin' fer back country, chi"
There came n pause. The stranger
appeared TO grow a little r~esentful ant
drew himself up disdainfully.
"Wal, conslderin' you-all seem 81
damn friendly an oncurious down her
In this Big Bend country. l don't mint
sayln' yes-I am In on the dodge" h
replied. with deliberate sarcasm.
"From west Of Ord-out Ell Pas,
way. mebbeT"
"Sure."
"A-huhi Thet sof" Knell's word
cut the air, stllled the room. "You'r,
from way down the river. Thet's wha
they say down thereon the dodge
q. . . Stranger, you're a Hart"
With swift clink Of spur ant
/, thump of boot the crowd split, leav
ing Knell and the stranger In tn,
center. The stranger suddenly be