The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-01-30
TcHAprRR

was land Of spllntered peaks,
pi deer. dry gorges, OF barren
masasE burnt by tho suns Of q mil.
Hon torrfd summers. The normal
condition Of 1t was warfare. Life
here had to protect itself with q
tough callous find. Only the tit
survived.
Around the campfire the drivers
ot the trail herd squatted on their
peels or lay sprawled at iudolant
ease The glow Of tho leaplng
flames from tho twisted mesquite
Ut their lean faces, tanned to
hronzed health by tho beat Of an
nntempered sun and the sweep Of
pafthed Winds.
Ont Of the soft shadows Of the
summer night a boy moved from
the raInuda toward the campfire.
Hewasa lean, sandy.haired Young
GLOW his figure still lank and un.
tNteas AS he sat down on the wag.
on tongue the stringiness OF his up.
pearance became noticeable.
a young man waved "a hand to.
ward him by was. OF Introduction,
Gents Of the d Bar Lazy r outfit,
w David Sanders, formerly OF
Artzona, viii make Grafton on the
wherefore, and how: come.it OF
thiqutttbss superiority to all other
eauines whatever"
ia like right well to make love
20 that pinto my own self, Bob
commented a weather.beaten punch.
err Any old time Dave wants ia
NAY hiinaofs onto me at sixty dol.
ihas I'm here to do business"
You're sure an cay mark, Buct,. /,
grntted largesfat man. His white
face and soft hands differentiated
him rom the cough r%ange.rlders,
He did not belong with the outfit,
but hadjolned II the day before with
George oble, a half.brother OF the
iran foreman, to travel with It as
far o. Malapl. He was known al
Ad MIlieE.
pohle9 backed up his partner,
Sure are, Buck. I can get COW.
ponies for ten and fifteen dollars
MI 7 want Of en- he said, and con.
htyedA by the lift OF his lip to make
the remark offensive.
No ponies like Chiquito," ven.
tured Sanders amiably.
He's some bronze Explained Bob
Hart. Got o bagful OF tricks, a nice
disposition, and sure can burn the
winds
you don'tssay." Tho voice OF the
man was heavy with sarcasm.
and on5top Of all that eddjucation
he can run, too"
The temper OF Sanders began TO
take nEedge. II don't claim nv
pintoss racer, but he can travel;
"Iimpln grunted Miller skepti.
Don't look to me like no racer.r
Doble dissented. "Why, I'd be
most willin' to bet that pack.horse
or ours. Whiskey Bill, can beat
0Bob Hart helped things along.
wv got ten bucks says the pinto
can beat yore Whtskey Bill"
Go you once" answered Doble
laftcr a moments apparent consid.
GRAFTON. Il got fifty dollars more
. hack tho pack.horse. How about
II Sanders? You got the sand 10
cover that?n
Betcha a months pay-thirty
i've dollars," retorted Dave.
Night 'as well lose a few bucks
myself. seeing as Whiskey Bill be.
longsYto5me." said Miller with his
wheezyEi laugh. "Who wants to take
j whifls boys?"
Inside OF three minutes he had
laced ashundred dollars. The terms
Of the race were arranged and the
money put In the hands OF the
foreman.
An hour later Buck Bylngton
drew Sanders aside.
Dave. you're a chuckle.headed
rabbit. ~ ever I seen tinhorn sports
them two is such. They're collect.
in d Twin, off'n suckers. Didn't
You sabe That come-on stuff? Their
pacshorse is ia ringer. Both OF
EN- are crooked as a dogs hind
laig
MaSbeso. admitted the youns
man. 4But Ghiuuito never went
back on mesyet. These fellows NAV
be oyerplavin' their hand, don't
you reckonN
Not Q chanct. Tho tumblebuc
Miller IS one fishy proposition, and
his sideskick Doble-say, he's the
kind Of birdsthat shoots you in the
#oniach while he's shakin' hands
With YOU Me, l aim TO button M
my pocket when them guys arc
around.
CHAPTER Il.
A eoprse was chosen for the
race. From ia selected point the