The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1921-01-20
CHAPTER TX.


lilies IOuIu the JOuTHe. WeStWdTu
tiresOme affair. II 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 II, Riles selected
as the base OF his homestead opera
tlons the very foothill town 10 which
Beulah Harris had come 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 n drink when a hand
was placed on his shoulder. and
voice said, "Have one with me, neigh
Dor" 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 a good pepper-and-
salt suit. and the stone on his finger
danced like n real diamond.
Don't mind II 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 II in a more
exciting incident. The man in the
pepper-and-salt suit had laid half
dollar on the bar, and no change came
back Rifles congratulated himself on
his own narrow escape.
you'll be looking for land?" In
quired the stranger. when both were
breathing easily again.
"Well. mavbc ! am. and maybe
amt" said Rifles guardedly He had
heard something of the ways of conf
dence men and was determined not TO
be taken for an easy mark.
"a man of some judgment I see"
said his new acquaintance. quite I'M
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 loaters in its
train. Why"-with growing confidence
-"the other night"
What happened the other night re-
manned untold. for at that moment
came a gathering of horses hoofs on
the wooden walk at the door. and
moment later a gayly arrayed cowboy
rode right into the room. his horse
prancing and bodylng from side to side
TO clear the crowd away. then facing
M TO the bar as though II were his
manger. Rifles expected trouble. and
was surprised when the feat evoked a
cheer from the bystanderS.
That's Horseback George" said the
man In the pepper-and-salt. "They
say he sleeps on his horse. Rides
right into n bnr as a matter of course,
and maybe shoots n few bottles of the
shelves as demonstration before he
goes out. But he always settles. and
nobody minds his little peculiarities."
Horseback George treated himself
twice. profrering each glass TO his
horse before touching II himself, and
stroklng with one hand the animals
ears as ne raised the liquor TO his lips.
Then he threw a bill AT the bar tender
and with wild wtoop. slapped the
horses legs with his hat, and dashed
NJ y gallop ont Of the bar room and
away down the trail.
Rifles betook himself 10 his room He
had just got into he'd when knock
came at the dorr