The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1921-03-17
CHAPTER TX.
A Whit of New Atmosphere.

Rifles found the journey westward
tireSOme affair. 1t was his first long
rail journey in oyer 20 years. but his
thoughts were on the cost of travel
rather than on the wonderful strides
which had been made in its comfort
and convenience.
As fate would have it. Rifles selected
as the base of his homestead opera
lions the very foOthilI town to which
Beulah Harris had come a few weeks
before. He sought out the cheapest
hotel. and having thrown his few be
lOngings on the bed, betoOk himself to
the bar room, which seemed the chief
center of activity, not only of the no
tel itself. but of the little town. Men
were lined three deep against the ca
paciOus bar. shouting. swearing, and
singing. and spending their money with
an abandon not to be found in mil
1iOnaireS.
Rifles debated with himself whether
the occasion justified the expenditure
of 10 cents for a drink when. a hand
was placed on his shoulder. and
voice said, "Have one with me, neigh
Dor" He found himself addressed by
a man of about his own age. shorter
and somewhat lighter of frame and
with a growing hint of cOrpuIence.
The stranger wore good pepper-and-
salt suit, and the stone on his finger
danced like a real diamond.
Don't mind if I do, since v mention
it, said Rifles. with an attempted smile
which his bad eye rendered futile. One
Of tho bor+o1do-S mt s,oooofbi00 in
his glass which cut all the way down,
but Rifles speedily forgOt it in a more
exciting incident. The man in the
pepper-and- suit had laid half a
dollar on the bar, and no change came
back. Rifles congratulated himself on
his own narrow escape.
you'll be looking for Iand?" in
duired the stranger, when both were
breathing easily again.
well, maybe I am, and maybe
amt" said Rifles guardedly. He had
heard something of the ways of conf
dence men and was determined not to
be taken for an easy mark.
"a man of some judgment I see, :"
said his new acquaintance, quite IN
abashed. "WeIi, I don't blame you for
keeping your own counsel. The rush
of people and money into the West has
brought all kinds of floaters in its
train Why'-with growing confidence
the other night"
What happened the other night re-
manned untold. for at that moment
came a gathering of horses hOOfs on
the wooden walk at the door. and a
moment later a gayly arrayed cowboy
rode right into the room, his hiVrse
prancing and bodying from side to side
to clear the crowd away, then facing
I'D to the bar as though it were his
manger. Rifles expected trouble, and
was surprised when the feat evoked a
cheer from the bystanders-
'sThat's Horseback George" said the
man in the pepper-and-salt. They
say he sleeps on his horse Rides
right into bar as a matter of course,
and maybe shoots a few bottles off the
shelves as a demonstration before he
goes out. But ne always settles, and
nobody minds his little peculiaTities.'
Horseback George treated himself
twice, proffering each glass to his
horse before touching it himself, and
stroking with one hand the animals
ears as he raised the liquor to his lips
Then he threw bill at the bar tender
and. with a wild whOOp. slapped the
horses legs with his hat, and dashed
at a gaIlop out of the bar room and
away down the trail.
| Rifles betoOk himself to his room. He
had just got into bed when a knock
came at the door.
who's there?'' he demanded.
"GenPman to see Mr.. Riles," said
the porter.
"Well, shoot i'm in. The door amt
| locked said Riles. in considerable
wonderment as to who his visitor
might be.
The door opened, and a well-dressed
man of average height, with carefully
| combed hair and clean-shaven face
save for a light mustache, stood re
veaIed in the uncertain glow Of the
match with which Rifles was endeavor
/ ing to find his lamp. His visitor was
man of twenty-eight or thirty years
with clear eyes and welI-cut face, and
yet with some subtle quality In his eG
preston that implied that under his
fair exterior lay deep cunning, and
that he was a man not to be trusted
in matters where his own interest:
might be at stake.
Hello, Hiram" he said quietly
you didn't figure on seeing me here
did your
AT first glance Rifles did not recog
nize him, and he raised the oil LAM
to turn the light better on the strang
| er's face.
.sWel. If 1t amt Gardiner i. he az