Oxford Democrat., 1921-07-12
Too Much
Mounted Police
(Copyrightl
sy EDWARD PERRY

The mounted police rode past a
landmark he had been expecting. Then
he turned In his saddle and looked
upon the Canadian end Of the continent
with the expression every homesick
Englishman throws backward. when
his thoughts and footsteps have turned
to the island whence comes his name
and fame.
A moment only, and the horse loped
southwark into Montana. Delay Is
never advisable when deserting the
Canadian service.
1t was only step TO England now,
a bit Of . way down the country to
New Orleans. and then just over the
water. Two years Of chasing his
legs OF after beggarly Indians and
white men not worth the killing. And
she waiting, while the folks were
growing old, and 1t was time a girl
should be settled In home Of her
own.
He was going back where he left
her. with her blue eyes among the
roses, the channel-wind running
through her hair. What difference did
It make to anybody but him and the
girlf
When he pulled up again he un-
rolled his blanket and shortly remount-
Cd. merely an Enslishman In miners
outfit.
Presently the Englishman entered
the mountain-hotel barroom. He found
the place nlled with miners. heavily
quiet under the restraint Of some com.
mon purpose. The Englishman en-
countered the conclusion Of its clinch-
Ing argument:
Law and order Is the proper COM
bination where 1t works right. It's
weak. slow medicine for murder and
horsestealing together. Wsal ake q
drink now
The Englishman participated in the
public drink. but not tho public con-
Adence.
thinking Of banging somebodyT
he inquired. In the general uplift OF
glassware.
mot thinking on I'll we're drink
ing on It." bar neighbor responded.
The Englishman accepted this state
ment Of the situation without further
question or comment. II was not his
affair, anyhow. 80 he'd Just stroll round
q bit and get away.
On the heels Of that conclusion he
turned the hotel corner and directly
confronted the strictly local issue"
It was projected through barred
window, from q face as young and as
tanned as his own.
$50, you're the chap they're going
to hangT he conflded BY way Of greet
ing.
The face hardened into display Of
desperate interest which forced ex-
preston In one word:
"Whenr
They evolve curious but comprehen-
sive forms Of conveying Information
In the Rockies
'.It won't be long TIL DARK" the Eng
lishman answered.
"You might 90 easier II You told me
about It." the Englishman suggested.
1T makes you feel lot better. Hap
pen you've owned upr
-Owned Hadesi I'm going clean
and game. l never killed him. Some
body round here must know I amt
lying, but likely he'll be too busy with
the rope tonight to mention 1t"
The Englishman asked particulars.
TITS q hard-luck layout You cant
beat" the window narrative ran bit
terly. II came out here to get gold
mine. There's little girl back In
Indiana nothing else's going to do
justice to. promised 70 get her one.
Just a little girl with blue eyes, fool
ing around among the roses, waiting
for me and that gold mine. but most
ly me.
~Luck's against Us every turn. I
miss the gold mine all along. The
general idea 10 that I'm broke and
hopeless, which u 50 near the truth
Il amt worth while to contradict It,
"An old-timer round here had a
bunch Of ponies, and I made deal
for one, seeing I'd have to locate that
gold mine somewhere else. didn't
tell anybody about my plans, and the
last seen Of me was when went over
to the old mans claim In the evening
to get my pony and pull out, quiet and
cool, In the moonlight
-Next day I'm camped and asleep,
when I'm walked. with the muzzle Of a
rifle and the information that TN a
r,rrdoror apd q h0rsn-thief Know