The Bolivar County Democrat., 1921-01-08
CHAPTER TX.
A Whit of New Atmosphere.


Riles found the journey westward
tiresome affair. 1t was his tirsr long
rail journey in over 20 years. but his
thoughts were on the cost of travel
rather than on the wonderful strides
which had been made in it's comfort
and convenience.
AS fate would have it, Riles selected
as the base of his homestead opera
tiOns the very foothil town to which
Beulah Harris had come few weeks
before. He sought out the cheapest
hotel. and having thrown his few be-
long'ngs on the bed, betook himself to
the bar room, which seemed the chief
center of activity, not only of the ho-
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 mill
lionaires.
Rifles debated with himself whether
the occasion justified the expenditure
of 10 cents for drink when a hand
was placed on his shoulder and a
voice said, "Have one with me, neigh
bor." He found himself addressed by
a man of about his own age, shorter
and somewhat lighter Of frame and
with a growing hint of corpulence.
The stranger wore good pepper-and-
salt suit and the stone on his finger
danced like real diamond.
"Don't mind if do, since y mention
It," said Riles with an attempted smile
which his bad eve rendered futile. One
of the bartenders put something in
but Riles speedily forgot 1t in more
exciting incident. The man in the
pepper-and-salt suit had laid half
dollar on the bar, and no change came
back. Riles congratulated himself on
his own narrow escape.
you'll be looking for land?' in
Quired the stranger, when both were
breathing easily again.
"Well. maybe I am, and maybe
amt" said Riles 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 un-
abashed "Well, 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"
;oh
mained 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 horse
prancing and bodying from side to side
to clear the crowd away, then facing
up to the bar as though it were his
manger. Riles expected trouble, and
was surprised when the feat evoked a
cheer from the bystanders.
"That's Horseback George" said the
man in the pepper-and-saIt. ''They
say he sleeps on his horse. Rides
right into q bar as matter of course, |
and maybe shoots few bottles off the
shelves as a demonstration before he |
goes out But he always settles, and |
nobody minds his little peculiarities."
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.
and, with a wild whoop, slapped the
horses legs with his hat. and dashed
at a gallop 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.
"Gen'rman to see Mr.. Riles," said
the porter
"Well. shoot i'm in. The door amt
said Riles. in considerable
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 light mustache. stood re-
vealed in the uncertain glow of the
match with which Riles was endeavor-
ing to find his lamp. His visitor was
man of twenty-eight or thirty years.
with clear eyes and well-cut face. and
yet with some subtle quality in his ex-
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 interests
might be at stake.
Hello. Hiram." he said quietly.
"You didn't figure on seeing me here.
did your"
At first glance Riles did not recog-
nize him, and he raised the oil lamp
to turn the light better on the strang-
20 |