Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1923-12-21


of the cheeriest traveller.
1t had required all Walhe's will
power. when he had arrived at mid.
night, to rise above the depression
by these surroundings.
His luggage was piled high in the
corner, while the two trunks setting
outside his doorway already had
been the cause of threats Of an
alarming nature, made against the
owner by sundrys guests who had
bruised their shins on them in the
ill-lighted corridor.
Pinkey's arrival had cheered him
wonderfully. Now when that per-
son observed tentatively that $1,000
was "a good little stake" Wall!e
blithely offered to count 1t.
"You got it with your"
Wallie nodded.
'9That's chancey," Pinkey CON-
mented. "They's people in the coun
try who would stick you up II they
howed you carried It,"
II should resist If any oneDattemp'-
ed to rob me-" Walle declared as he
sat down on the rail gingerly witn
his bullying wallets.
What WITH" Pinkey inquired. hui
morously.
Wallie reached under his pillow
and produced pearl-handled revol
yer of 80 calibre.
Before leaving l purchased this
pistol"
Pinkey regarded him with a panied
expression.
Don't use that dude word, Teller
Say gun 'gat,' 'six-shooter,' any
thing, but don't ever say pistol
above whisper"
A little crestfallen, Wallie laid II
aside and commenced to count his
money. Pinkey. he could see, was
not impressed by the weapon.
Eyes, eighteen hundred exactly.
spent $3.50 purchasing camping ou.
| fit"
| Pinkey looked at him incredulous
ly. He was thinking of the frying
pan, coffee-pot, and lard-kettle OF
which his own consisted. He made
no comment, however, until Wallie
mentioned his portable bathtuo
which, while expensive, he declared
he considered indispensable.
"Yes," Pinkey agreed, dryly
you'll be needin' portable bath
tub something desperate. I wisht
had one. The last good wash tooh
was in Crystal Lake the other side
Of the Beartooth Mountain. When
was done l stood out till the sur
dried me, then brushed the mud on
with whisk-broom."
THAT must have been uncomfort
able" Wallie observed, politely. q
hope you will feel at liberty to use
my tub whenever you wish"
THAT won't be often enough tt
wear it out" said Pinkey, candidly
But you'd better jump into you,
pants and git over to the land-office
We want to nail that 100 before
some other 'Scissor-bill' beats yor
to It,"
Under Pinkey's guidance Wallie
went to the land-office, which was In
the rear of secondhand store kept
by Mr. Alvin Tucker, who was also
the land commissioner.
Mr.. Tucker had been backing a
stove and had not yet removed the
traces of his previous occupation, 30
| when Pinkey introduced him his
hand was of color to make Wall!e
hesitate for the fraction of a second
before taking it.
Mr.. Tucker being man Of great
good nature took no offense, al
though he could scarcely fail to no
tice Wallie's hesitation: on the con.
trary. he inquired with the utmost
cordiality:
We'll, gents, what can I do for
you this morning?" His tone implied
that he had the universe at his dis
posal, and he also looked 1t as ne
tipped back his swivel chair and re-
garded them.
He wants to file on the $50 on
Skull Crick that Boise Bill aban.
doned," said Pinkey.
fuckers gaze shifted.
"I'm not sure It's open to entry
he replied, hesitatingly.
Yes, it is. His time was up a
month ago, and he amt even fenced
It,"
"You know he's quarrelsome,
Tucker suggested. Perhaps 1t
would be better to ask his inten-
tons"
HE amt got none" Pinkey de-
cfared bluntly. HE only took 1t up
to hold for Candy, and he's never
done a Lick of work on it,"
"Of course, it's right in the middle
Of Canby's range" Tucker argued,
''and you can scarcely blame him fol-
not wanting 1t homsteaded Why
don't you select place that won't
conflict with his interests?"
why should we consider his in
49, 49, ~