The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1921-02-11
Chewing the
Corners
By WILLETT STOCKARD
tCopyrig ht.)

ming on the SlatOn ranch was to bt
In any way different from countless
other evenings at that season Of the
year. The outfit was hard at work a,
the time.
After supper they gathered in from,
of the house and passed away the
hour or two till early bedtime in con
versation.
Most of them were reclining On the
seated upon the steps Holmes and an
other or two were resting upon large
fiat stones a few yards from the house.
Their conversation was casual, as
usual.
Carnes had developed an unde-
served and ~unaccountable attack of
~hiccoughs.
"Id give $40 to be rid of these
things" he remarked as one COnvulsed
his frame.
off," Peters said as he gingerly
touched his lips. but darned if my
mouth don't feel like it was as big as
q couple of hams"
Big Fultz, who was the veteran Of
the gang. arose slowly. stretched him.
self and started into the house.
n by one the others got up.
yawned. and prepared to follow him
all Of them. that Is, with the exception
of Holmes.
Il guess l got a little something to
say to you all first! !" he said.
The others halted instantly and
turned toward him. struck less by his
words than by The odd note in his
voice.
We'll. what's the matter with your
Fultz demanded.
Il have been studying about this for
quite a SPELL" Holmes began in a con-
strained voice.
II been studying about whether to
let 1t drop or bring 1t up and have
a settlement about it. 1 reckon you
all have noticed that | amt been my
self iately?"
Say. what is It you're dom all this
ravin' about?" some one put IN.
You know ] went INTO town yes
terday after that load of alt for the
cattle. Well. while I was there |
heard something that showed that
somebody had been telling lies on me.
Its somebody on this ranch. some
body right here in this crowd that
I'm talking to now. and he's a Teller
that has always pretended to be a
friend of mine"
The others pressed about him. silent
and preternaturally serious.
well, com right on out with It,"
FultZ commanded. Name who you
think it was without making all the
Of us uncomfortable about it."
~ don't care to say who told them,
as ] done said. without giving the
man plenty of time to own up to EN-.
and l won't say who they were told
to but it was over in town, and IL was
last Saturday"
Somebody from this ranch that
in town Saturday" Fultz repeat
ed slowly.
Jim. you and Carnes and Peters
was the only ones from here IN town
last week"
You don't mean me. ] reckon. do
you, HOlmes?" Jim spoke up at once.
The other shook his head.
Was IT me. ,hen?" Peters demand
I'd. 81 reckon you'll have 10 say wheth-
'r you think IT was or not"
mo, ] didn't think it vas you, Pc
Holmes replied kindly.
The situation had become even more
.ense.
CarneS stepped forward. crOwding
he rest back. and stood directly IN
'rOnt of the other, only a step away.
That seems to narrow things down
right smart" he said, in a voice that
vas ven through an effort. You Jest
aid it was one of US three, and now
let the others out. The way | FIG
re from that, ] reckon you must have
ONE intention of limiting that it was
ne. Am l reasoning right about it?"
II said l wasn't going to call any
Iames, and ! didn't" Holmes an
wered. 81 didn't think you would
ONE out in the open about 1t, unless
here wasn't any way for you TO crawl
ut Of it altogether; and since you've
acknowledged. well just settle the
usiness right mere and have it over
81 reckon we amt goin' to have no
erious trouble about this. Holiness"
'arnes said. There's a mistake out
and I'm just as anxious to
ct at the bottom of 1t as you are.
You done right in speaking up
bout it; but ] think we can straight
n up any trouble between ME and you
'ithOut argument"
You might as we'll cut that out"
re other retorted angrily. IF there
as any possible chance in the world
T 1t being a mistake, ] wouldn't We
lken the stand ] do. The goods are
n you and you Can't back down in
ny such way as trying TO make out
s all a mistake"