The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1920-06-25
By Joseph Hall

| comes down to cases with him that
time, but jeff says "all right" and
goes on out to the bunk-house and
finds place on the gallery off to one
end. It's still daylight, and he is by
himself, so he takes a letter out of
his coat pocket, which he's got the
night before over to the postof11ce at
bedding and reads it over.
Friday old Tom goes into town in
1.-THE blackboard, like he does every
month, to get the money for his pay
roll and other expenses out on the
ranch. He doesn't get back to the
ranch till abous shutdown, and he jest
throws his ole in box in the safe in
the Office ana goes on out to supper.
Along about elevent thirty that
night, Slim Bursby, over at the Ruby
Light in Bedding, looks at his watch
and begins to unite his long, white
apron. The Ruby Light has been
pretty quiet all evenin', and the last
convivial citizen of Bedding has left a
hour before. He got his apron half
off when there was a sound of hoof-
beats outside, and a cowpony stops in
front of his place. Slim reties his
apron and picks up his towel.
In about minute jeff comes in by
himself. It's shore strange time of
night for lone puncher to be gettin'
to town, but Slim don't bat a eye.
JEFF has got on his chaps and spurs,
but he has also got on that there
lavender shirt and boiled collar that
he wears when lie calls on Annetec.
By the time jeff has got his foot on
the rail, Slim is slippin' him the bot
tie.
"Howdy, SLIM" he says.
In spite of his fancy fixins Jeff is
lookin' tired and haggard around the
eyes, and there's lot of dust in his
voice. He don't look at Slim, pour
ing out big drink and liftin' her
quick.
Slim is restin' his elboys on the
bar, leanin' his chin in his hands that
away, and while Jeff is takin' another
drink he's givin' him the once over
pretty keen.
kind of late, amt you, Jeff" al
lows Slim judicious and inquisitive.
jeff mighty near jumps, but he
catches himself and pours out another
couple of fingers.
"Yes," he says. 81 got late start"
The whiskey is gettin' into his blood
and he don't look so haggard and
hunted. He even looks at Slim over
his glass.
What time does the eastbound
train come through Slim?" he asks
casual
Twelve five," says Slim, standin'
up and rollin' a cigaret. "You AIM
figgerin' on leavin' the Lonesome L
none are you, jeff"
jeff finishes his drink and begins to
pour out another one. Thereain't a
sound except the whiskey gurglin' out
of the bottle and splashin' into the
glass, jeff holdin' the bottle little
too high, and his hand shakin' jest
a trifie.
81 got telegram today" says JEFF
slow, "sayin' my old man is about
to check out. That's why I'm in such
rush. The eastbound stops at Beld-
ing, don't she, slim?"
Slim is leanin' on the bar again,
smokin', and there amt nothin' about
Jeff that's got by him.
"Shore she stops" says the bar
tender.
"Well, 1 guess I'll be movin' then"
allows Jeff, shown his glass away
from him. He puts his hand in his
pocket and brings out a twenty-dollar
gold piece one of them big yellow
boys. He sees what he's done too
late and his face goes funny but he
threw her over on the counter.
Slim starts to make the change but
it looks like he's having trouble, and
bonds the double eagle back to JEFF.
81 amt got the change, JEFF" he
says. "You can just owe the house
for the drinks tonight and pay up
when you git back"
JEFF acts like he's goin' to object.
but he don't and jest slips the money
back into his pocket. He makes an
other mistake there, because he let it
go too quick and it made noise when
it hit what else was in his pocket.
"All right, Slim" he says. Don't
| Iaf mo forOof II and If don't nQUnr