Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-11-16
I'M KENDR1C had arrived and the

Among the men drawn together in
hourly expectation of the arrival Of
kendric, one remarked thoughtfully:
"Jim's Mex friend is in town"
Ruiz Rios?" some one asked. q
man from the outside.
Been here three days. Just stick.
ing around ard doing nothing but srUoke
cigarettes. Looks like he was wait
ing"
"What for"
Waiting fer jim. mlybr:' VAS ,ug
gcstcd.
Two or three laughed at that. In
their estimation Ruiz Rios might be the
man to knife his way out Of q hole,
but pot one TO go out of his wsy to cross
the trail made wide and recklessly by
Jim Kendric.
"A hGlf hour ago." came the supple.
mentary information from another
quarter, "a big automobile going to beat
the band pulls up in front Of the hotel.
The Mex is watching and when a
woman climbs down he grabs her trap:
and steers her into the hotel.
Immediately this news bringcr was
the man Of the moment. But Ec had
had scant time to admit that he hada t
seen her face. that she had worn a
! thick black veil. that somehow she just
seemed young and that he'd bet she
was too darn pretty to be wasting her
self on Rios. when Jim Kendric him.
self landed in their midst.
He was powdered with alluli dust
from the Solcs of his boots to the crown
of his black hat ana he looked unusually
! tall because he was unusually gaunt.
lie had riddcn far and hard. i'ut the
eyes were Tie SAM, old eyes OF the same
old h"adlong jim Kcndrir. on fire on
the instant, dancing with the JOY of
striking hands with the old timers.
shining with the mans supreme joy of
| life.
''l'm no drinking man and you know
| it, he shouted ut them. his voice BOOM
| ing out and down ,hc quiet blistcring
street. And I'm no gambling man.
! ] M steady and sober and I'm a regu-
lar fool for conservative investments .
| But there's time when Il glass in the
| II
and man wants to spend his money
free. Come on. you bunch of devil
| hounds; lead Inc to it"
1t was the rOlliCking arrival which
| they had counted on. since this was the
only way Jim kcndric knew of getting
! back among old friends and old sur
roundingS. There was nothing subtle
about him: in all things he was open
and fortnight and tcmpcstuouS. In a
mans hardened and buffctcd body he
had kept the heart Of hnrum scarum
boy.
It's only step across the line into
Old TOwa,' he reminded them. "And
the Mexico gents over there haven't got
started reforming yet. Blaze the trail
Benny. Shut up your damned old store
and postotiicc; Homer, and trot along.
IFS close to sunset anyway: I'll finance
the pilgrimage until sunup.
When he mentioned the "p"Stofficc'
Homer Day was recalled TO his official
duties as postmaster. lie gave KcndriC
the letter from Bruce West. kcndrc
ripped open the envelope, glanced at
the contents, skimmng the line irnpa
ticntly. Then lie jammcd the letter into
his pocket.
Just as | Supposed" he announced.
the best cattle range you ever saw; he'll
make money hand over fist. But" and
he chuciled his enjoyment, hes just
q trlfc too busy soaring of Mexican
bandits and close herding his stock tC
get any sleep Of nights. Drop him a
postcard, Homer; tell him ! cant come
Let's step over to Old Town.
Ruiz Rios is in town, Jim," he was
informed.
Il know" he rctortcd lightly. But
I'm not shooting trouble nowadays.
Getting older. YOU know
How'd you knOwE' asked IIomc7.
"Brucc said SO in his letter; Rios IL
n nrighbor down in Lower California
Now forget Ruiz Rios. Let's start
something.
There were six Americans in the lit.
tic party by the time they had walkeL
the brief distance TO the border ant
across into Old Town. Before they
reached the swing doors of the Casa
Grnndc the red ball Of the sun went
down.
Fat Ortcga knows you're coming
JIM" Kendric was advised. II gucS:
everybody in town knows by now
And plainly everybody was interested
When the six meh, going III two By
two. snapped back the swinging door
there were u score Of men in the place
, behind the long bar running along one
side Of the big room two men wer'
busy setting forth bottles and glasses
, The air was hu2y with cigarette smoke
There was business air, nv air o.
. readiness and expectancy about tho
ggaming tables, though no one at this
, early hour had suggested playing. Or
, tegu himself, fat and greasy and pom
; nous leaned against his bar and twisted
, n stogle between his puffy, pendulou'
lips. lie merely batted his eyes at Ken
, dric, who noticed him not at all.
| 4 golden twenty dollar coin spun anC
winkcd upon the bar impellcd by JIM
, big fingers and kcndric'S voice calleC
: heartily:
I'D be happy TO have every man here
, drink with me.
, The invitation was naturally accepted.
The men ranged along the bar, elbow
to elbow; the bartcnders served, and
| with q nod toward the man who stood
trent, poured their own red wine. Ever
Ortcga, though he made no attempt TO-
ward a civil response, drank. The more
, IlinuOr poured into Il mans stomach here
the more money in Ortcga' 5 pocket, ant
, lie was aVarlclous.
He'd drink in his own shop with his
worst enemy provided that enemy paiL
Kcndric's friends were men who wcrc
alwavs glad to drink and play gam,
of cards, but tonight they We're glad.
Ge,. for the chance to talk with "Ol(
Ieadlong." When he had bought the
house couple Of rounds of drinks
, Kendric withdrew to corner table
with a dozen of his old acquaint
ances and for upward of an hour they
sat and found much to talk of. lie
IL Lta ouyn axnarianraa 20 ,aoa,,.A = :,