The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1921-03-03
Chewing the
Corners

By wiLLETT SToCKARD

was nothing to indicate that the eve-
ming on the Slaton ranch was TO be
In any way different from countless
other evenings at that season OF the
year. The outfit was hard at work at
the time.
After supper they gathered In front
OF the house and passed away the
hour or two TIL early bedtime In con
| yersation.
Most OF them were reclining on the
low porch; Carnes and Big Futz were
seated upon the steps; Holmes and un'
other or two were resting upon large,
fat stones few yards from the house
Their conversation was casual, as
usual.
Carnes had developed an unde-
served and unaccountable attack Of
hlccoughs.
"Td give $40 to be lid OF these
things" he remarked as one convulsed
his frame
you can go TO bed aud sleep them
on" Peters said as he gingcrly
touched his lips. "but darned II my
mouth don't feel like 1t was as big as
couple of hams"
Big FultZ, who was the veteran OF
the gang. arose slowly. stretched him.
self and started into the house.
one by one the others got up,
yawned ana prepared TO follow him
all OF them. that Is. with the exception
of Holmes.
II guess | got little something to
say TO you all first !" he said
The others hated instantly and
turned toward him. struck less by his
words than by the odd note In his
voice.
"Well. what's the matter with your
Fultz demanded.
Il have been studying about this for
quite spell" Holmes began In a con.
strained voice.
II been studying about whether Ia
LET II drop or bring It up and have
settlement about 1t. reckon you
all have noticed tia. elm. been any
self latelyf"
Say. what Is II you're dom oil this
ravin' aboutf" some one put In.
you know went into town yes
terday after that load OF salt for the
cattle. Well. while was there
heard something that showed that
somebody had been telling lies on me
IT'S somebody on this ranch, some
body right here In this crowd tha
I'm talking to now. and he's fellel
that has always pretended 10 be I
friend OF mine"
The others pressed about him, silen
and preternaturally serious.
"Well, come right on out with II ;,
Futz commanded. "Name who yol
think It was without making all IN,
rest OF us uncomfortable about IT,"
~ don't care TO say who told them
as ] done said. without giving th'
man plenty of time to own up to EN-
and l won't say who they were tolt
to; but II was over In town. and Il wa
last Saturday"
Somebody from this ranch tina
was In town Saturday" Fultz repeat
ed slowly.
"Jim. you and Carnes and Peter
was the only ones from here In towi
last week"
"You don't mean me. reckon, d,
you. Holmesf" Jim spoke up at once
The other shook his head.
"Was II me, then?" Peters demand
ed. II reckon you'll have to say wheth
er you think II was or not"
"No. didn't think II was you. PC
ters," Holmes replied kindly.
The situation had become even NOR
tense.
Carnes stepped forward, crowdln
the rest back, and stood directly Il
front OF the other. only step away.
THAT seems TO narrow things dow
a right smart" he said. In voice tina
was even through an effort. "You jes
said II was one OF us three. and no,
you let the others out. The way fil
ure from that, reckon you must hav
some Intention of limiting that II wa
! me. Am reasoning right about III
II said wasn't going TO call an
names, and didn't" Holmes an
swered. II didn't think you woul
come out In the open about II, unles
there wasn't any way for you to craw
out Of It altogether; and since you'v
acknowledged. we'll just settle IN
business right here and have 1t owe
with"
~ reckon we aIn't golr' to have n
serious trouble about this. Holmes,
Carnes said. There's a mistake ou
somewhere. and I'm just as anxious I
get at the bottom OF II as you are.
"You done right In speaking u
about It: but think we can stralgh
en- up any trouble between me aud yo
without argument"
, "You might as well cut that out
the other retorted angrlly. III ther
! was any possible chance In the worl
OF II being mistake, ] wouldn't v
, taken the stand do. The goods er
! on you. and you can't back down
any such way as trying TO make OF