South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-12-08
THE LONESOME ROAD By O. Henry

across the plaza like coyote. with
the bullets putting up the dust all
around him Then the gang went
20 work in the saloon. drinking
what they wanted and smashing
what they didn't.
Me and Perry both knew that
gang, and they knew u.s. The year
before Perry married. him and me
was IN the same ranger company
and we fought that outfit down on
the San Miguel, and brought back
Ben Trimole ana two others for
murder.
We can't get out I says. Wen
have TO stay in here till they leave.
Perry looked at his watch.
Twenty 20 seven says he.
We can finish that game. / got two
men on you. It's your move. Buck.
1 got to be home at seven, you
know
We sat down and went on play
ing. The Trimble gang had a
roughhouse for sure. They were
getting good ana drunk. Theyd
drink a while and holler a while.
and then they'd shoot up a few bot
ties and glasses. Two or three times
door. Then there was some more
SMOOTHING outside. and I looked out
the window again. Ham Gossett,
the town marshal had a posse in
the houses and stores across the
street, and was trying to bag a
3-OHENRY STORY
Trimble or two through the win
dows.
II lost that game of checkers.
I'm free in saying that / lost three
kings that I might have saved if ]
had been cOrralled in a more peace
full pasture. But that dwelling
married man sat there and cackled
when he won a man like an unin-
telligent hen picking up a grain of
corn.
when the game was over Perry
gets up and looks at his watch
I've had a glorious time. Buck,
says he, but I'll have to be going
now. It's a quarter 10 seven, and
I got to be home by seven. you
know
II thought he was joking
They'll clear out or be dead
drunk in half an hour or an hour.
says I. You amt that tired Of be-
ing married that you want to COM
yOu?' says I, giving him the laugh.
lone time says Perry. 7 was
half an hour late getting home.
met Mariana on the street looking
for me. If you could have seen
her. Buck-but you don't under
stand. She knows what a wild kind
of a snoozer I've been, and she's
afraid something will happen. I'll
never be late getting home again.
I'll say goodbye 10 you now, Buck
II got between him and the door.
Married man. says I, 1 know
you was christened a fool the min
ute the preacher tangled you up,
but don't YOU never sometimes think
one little think on a human basis
There's ten of that gang in there.
and they're pizen with whiskey and
desire for murder. They'll drink
you up like a bottle of booze before
you get halfway 10 the door. Be
intelligent, now, and use at least
wild-hOg sense. Sit down and wait
till we have some chance to get out
without being carried in baskets.
~ got TO be home by seven,
Buck repeats this henpecked thing
Of little wisdom. like an unthinking
poll parrot Mariana says he. II
De looking out TOT me. Anu ne
reaches down and pulls a leg out
of the checker table. I'll go
through this Trimble outfit says
he, like a cottontail through a
brush corral. I'm not pestered any
more with a desire to engage in
rucuses. but I got TO be home by
seven. You lock the door after me.
Buck. And don't you forget won
three out of them five games. I'd
play longer, but Mariana
'THush up, you old locOed road
runner I interrupts. Did you ever
notice your Uncle Buck locking
doors against trouble2 I'm not
married. says I. but I'm as big a
d-n fool as any Mormon. One
from four leaves three says 7. and
gathers out another leg of the
table. Wen get him by seven,
says T. whether it's the heavenly
one or the other. May I see you
home2' says I. you sarsaparilla-
drinking playing gluttOn
for death and destruction
1--WE opened the door easy, and
then stampeded for the front. Part
Of the gang was lined up at the
bar: part Of 'em was passing over
the drinks. and TWO or three was