Judsonia weekly advance., 1921-02-24
CHAPTER TX.
A Whiff of New Atmosphere.

SN Ffifti VI IaC" rNttnOSPfiEEC.
 Riles found the journey westward a tiresome affair. It was his first 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 its comfort and convenience.
 As fate would have it, Rifles selected as the base of his homestead opera tions the very foothll 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 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 mil lionaires
 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 a voice said, Have one with me, neigh bor." He found himself addressed by man of about his own age, shorter and somewhat lighter of frame and with growing hint of corpulence. The stranger wore q 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 Rifles, with an attempted smile which his bad eye rendered futile. One of the bartenders put something In his glass which cut all the way down, but Rifles speedily forgot 1t In a more exciting incident. The man In the pepper-and-salt suit had laid half a dollar on the bar, and no change came back. Rifles congratulated himself on his own narrow escape.
 "Youll be looking for land?" in quired the stranger, when both were breathing easily again.
 "Well, maybe I am, and maybe I ain't," said Riles guardedly. He had heard something of the ways of confi- dence men and was determined not to be taken for an easy mark.
 "A man of some judgment I sec" 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 foaters in it's train. Why"-with growing confidence -"the other night"
 What happened the other night re- mained untold, for at that moment came clattering 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 manager. Riles expected trouble, and was surprised when the feat evoked a cheer from the bystanders
 "Thats Horseback George" said the man In the pepper-and-salt. "They say he sleeps on his horse. Rides right into a bar as a matter of course, and maybe shoots few bottles off the shelves as demonstration before he goes out. But he always settles, and nobody minds his little pecull arltles."
 Horseback George treated himself twice. proffering each glass to his horse before touching it himself, and stroking with ono hand the animals ears as he raised the liquor to his lips. Then he threw bill at the bar tender and, with wild whoop, slapped the horses legs with his hat, and dashed at n gallop out of the bar room and away down the trail.
 Files betcok himself 10 hts room. He had just got into led when a knock oame at tho door.