Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1922-03-05
n n r. TUBS WHEELER sat on
MI the shady porch before his

store. The store was perched
on wide ridge separating and
overlooking two great valleys. FROM
.he west. a mile OF brown river. the Hto
t;rande. made a dead set at this rioee,
turned southwark. at right ahsies'
and presently swerved to the sou'n-
east, leaving behind it a perpehoic"-
lar bank thirty feet high ana mar
mile long.
II was some eighty yards from Mr.
wheeler's feet to the preclpice' anu
In those scanty yards single TRACK
railroad. the wagon-road and the Dig
Dona Ana MotherTitch crowded. ioi-
lowing the rivers curve.
Far down the narrow highroad
shod hoof rang on stone. A strins
of horses swung jauntily into sisht.
A tall horseman lolled easily In his
saddle.
"Humph. That fool. Spud Wallis"
Wheeler shifted.
The fool, Spud Wallis. drew rein
before the store. He was tall. raw
boned. broad shouldered man with
berry-brown face aud twinkling blue
eyes.
know where the Tumble-T wagon
is?" asked Spud.
left this morning for Point
q. Rocks" said Mr.. Wheeler shortly.
Mr.. Wallis rolled his eye at the SUM-
"I can terrapin along up there this
evenin'. After dinner" he added point
eddy.
Mr.. TUBS WHEELER spoke accus-
VI ingly: Now. young man. you
Just natchelly mosey right along out
of this"
why. Mister Wheeler. An old
timer like you. and grudge a body
meals victuals."
Meals victuals be blowed!' said
Wheeler wrathfully. II amt going to
have you making up to my girl"
"Oh-h. see-ee, Gertie? said
Spud He looked up. frank-eyed.
Say. that's a good idea. I'll go see
her right away now"
Mr.. Tubs Wheeler lowered tiptoe.
Look here, Spud-T amt got any
thing against you, as a man, but
fellow that wants a wife has got a
right to get some stuff together first"
WELL" drawled Spud refectively.
'WndY inc fudltCi WIN ny
bunch of cows
That's just it. You don't know
nawthin' but cows-and cows is nix.
NADIA That days over. Summerford.
Joe Haskell. Herron-they got farms
for themselves ready for the big
ditch. Look at Joe Haskell, now. Hes
got as fine a piece Of land as there is
in the bend. And when there's no
work for him on the farm. he goes
teamin' on the dam. There's fore
handed man."
Yes. Joe stacks up pretty fair
but Joe Haskell don't figure in this
case" said Spud. "He likes some
.one elso better than he does Gertie.
..WhoP demanded Mr. Tubs Wheel
err sharply.
why, just himself So we'll leave
him out of the question. And Her
ROM Spud said consideringly. Him
m. Well. really
We'll. what about Heron? Don't
you ever take a drink
Spud slid from the saddle. Il don't
care IL do" he said.
You banshee!" cried Wheeler. His
scowl ended in a broad grin. Come
along with you"
When they returned to the porch.
Spud Wallis sank into chair.
A touring car stood in the deep road
between track and ditch. Two men
were on their hands. and knees peer
ing under. A sound of blinking steer
came through the heated air.
IT suppose when that good road
gets through to the dam, the cars'll
be thicker'n flies" said the young
man disconsolately
Wheeler chuckled. DO you think
they'll build that good road down
there. where there's no room. and only
a matter of years till the river gnaws
the bank away? No. stree! The Dona
Ana DitchIl go through the hill back
of my house. and the good road will
go over my hill-that's what. And
they'll pay little old Tubs Wheeler
good big price for right OF way.
Maybe the railroad'll have to move.
too. some time. And when Mr.. Big
Old He-Ditch comes here. Mr.. Ditchn
make a big cut-or a tunnel. maybe
through my old ridge-and there's an
other right of way. Four-count 'em
four"
"Jo-ve. Mr.. Wheeler. yuh suhtenly
are a wondah" Spud drawled. "And
YOU want Gertie to have man thatll
cipher out plays like that? What's
the matter with that carr" he in
auired as the automobile. started.
then stopped again.
Lost something, I guess-see 'em
goin' back down the road all stopped
over. Let's go see"
But Wallis dreamily considered the
country beyond the river.
See how the river makes big OK
bow loop opposite here?" he unused
Looks like the roads and bitches
would throw in together and build
wing-dam. slant-wise. where the river
heads this way and turn 1t right
across that neck of land-maybe dig
cling out some for a starter-and
leave this place all safe and hunky.
a mile out of danger and lots of room.
1t ought to be cheaper. Only one
patch of land to buy. and that all
grown up to tornillo and cottonwood
saplings."
y17HEELER'S jaw fell. "Cracky'
w they could do that" he ex-
claimed. THAT ground. now-it De-
longs to old Pablo Montoya's boy. I'll
lust 20 over there and buy it topor-
row-then I'll be fixed. either way.
Well. I'm sure obliged to you. Spud.
"Oh. that's all right" said Spud
generously. Lets go and see what's
loaf''