The Washington herald., 1921-03-13

out the window again. Ham Cos
eett. the town marshal, had Q posse
In the houses and stores across the
street and was trying to bag a
Trimble or two through the win
dows.
Il Iost that game Of checkerr.
I'm free in saying that lost three
kings that might have saved II
1 had been corralIed in a more
peaeefui pasture But that drivel-
ling married man sat there and
cackled when he won a man like an
unintelligent hen picking up a
grain Of corn.
When the game was over Perry
gets up and looks at his watch.
I've had a glorious time. Buck
says he. but I'll have to be going
now. It's quarter to z. and / get
70 De home by z. you know
thought he was joking.
rheyH clear out or be dead
drunk In half an hour or an hour
says 1. You amt that tired Of be-
ing married that you want to COM
init any more sudden suicide, are
you! says i. giving him the laugh.
ohe time, says Perry. I was
haif an hour late getting home. /
met Mariana on the street looking
for me. IL you could have seen her,
Buck-but you don't understand.
She knows what a wild kind Of
snoozet I've been and she's afraid
something will happen. I'll never
De late getting home again. I'll say
goodbye to you now, Buck
I got between him and the door.
Married man. says /. I know
you was christened a fool the min
uted the preacher tangled you up.
but don't you never sometimes think
one little think on a human basis?
There's ten OF that gang in there.
and they're pizen with whiskey and
desire for murder. They'll drink
you up like a bottle Of booze be-
fore you get halfway to the door.
Be Intelligent, now. and use at least
wild hog sense. Sit down and wait
till We have some chance to get
out without being carried in bss-
kets.'
"I got to be home by seven.
Buck repeats this henpecked thing
Of little wisdom. like an unthinking
poll parrot. Mariana says he, I'll
be looking out for me- And he
reaches down and pulls a leg out
of the checker table. I'll go through
this trimble OUTFIT says he. like q
cottontail through a brush corral.
I'm not pestered any more with a
desire to engage in rucuses, but 1
got to be home by seven. You lock
the door after me. Buck. And don't
you forget-I won three out-of them
ave games. I'd play longer but
Mariana
".Hush up. you old locoed road
runner" I interrupts. Did you ever
notice your Uncle Buck locking
doors against trouble: I'm not
married. says j. but I'm as big a
d-n fool as any Mormon. One
from four leaves three says i. and
I gathers out another leg OF the
table. Wen get him by seven.
says 1, whether its the heavenly
one or the other. May see you
home says !. you sarsaparills-
drinking, checker-playing glutton
for death and destruction
I'VE opened the door easy, and
then stampeded for the front. Part
of the gang was lined up at the
bar; part Of 'em was passing over
the drinks. and two or three was
peeping out the door and WINDOW
taking shots at the marshals crowd
The room was so full of smoke we
got halfway to the front door be-
fore they noticed US. Then i hearc
Berry Tremble's voice somewhere
yell out:
How'd that Buck Csperton get
in hereT and he skinned the side OF
my neck with a bullet. j reckon he
felt bad over that miss, for Berry
the best shot south Of the Southern
Pacific Railroad. But the smoke In
the saloon was some too thick tor
good shooting.
ME and Perry smashed over two
of ne gang with out table legs
which didn't miss like the guns dld
and as We run out the door i GRABBED
a Winchester from fellow VINO
was watching the outside, and
turned and regulated the account OF
Mr.. Berry.
Me and Perry got out and around
the corner all right. i never much
expected to get out. but i wasn'
going to be intimidated by that
married man. According to Perry
idea, checkers was the event OF the
day. but IL I am any judge OF gen
tie recreations that little table-les
parade through the Gray Mule
saloon deserved the headlines In
the bill of particulars.
walk fast says Perry. it's two
minutes to seven, and got to De
home by
"'Oh. shut up says I. I had an
appointment as chief performer al
an inquest at seven. and I'm not
kicking about not keeping it
hy parRv'S liffle
house. His Mariana was standing
at the gate. We got there at hNe
minutes past seven.
She had on a blue wrapper. and
her hair was pulled back smooth
like little girls do when they want
to look grown-folksy. She didn't
see us till we got close. for she was
gazing up the other way. Then she
backed around, and saw: DANCED IL
I can describe il. I heard her
you turn her calf in the lot, and
she says: You're late, Perry.
Five minutes says Ferry
cheerful. Ne and old Buck was
having game Of checkers.
Perry introduces me to Mariana
and they ask me to come in. NO.
stree. I'd had enough truck with
married folks for that day. says
I'll be going along. and that I've
spent a very pleasant afternoon
with my old partner-'especiaily.
says I, just to jostle Perry. during
that game when the table legs came
all loose rf ~ ~ - 60 MN
not to let her know anything.
I've been worrying over that
business ever since IT happened
contipued Buck. There's one thing
about 1t that's got me all twisted
up, and 1 can't figure it out
What was that" I asked, as i