White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1924-02-29

l
til he had saved enough from his
wages as O common cowhand to buy
his homestead outright from the
State. After that he had never saved
cent; on the contrary, he was usu-
ally overdrawn. He gambled, and
lost no opportunity to get drunk, since
he calculated that he got more enter
tainment for his money cut Of that
than anything else, even at the "boot-
logging" price of $50 per quart which
prevailed.
So he had drifted, learning in the
meantime under Pinkey's tutelage to
ride and shoot and handle rope with
the best of them. Pinkey had left
the Spenceley ranch and they were
both employed now by the same cat
| tleman.
He rarely saw Helene, in conse-
quence, but upon the few occasions
they had met in Prouty she had made
him realize that she knew his repu-
tation and disapproved Of it. In the
East she had Knocked him for his in
offensivenes, now she criticized him
for the opposite. 1t was plain, he
thought disconsolately, that he could
not please her, yet it seemed to make
no difference in his own feelings for
her.
His face Redeemed as he recalled
the boasts he had made upon several
occasions and how far he had fallen
short of fulfilling them. He was going
to SOW" them, and now all he had
to offer in evidence was 100 acres
gone to weeds and grasshoppers, his
saddle and the clothes he stood in.
1t was not often that Wallie stopped
to take stock, for 1t was an uncom-
Portable process, but his failure
seemed to thrust itself upon him this
morning. He was glad when Pinkey's
heavy breathing ceased in the cell adj
joining and he began to grumble
Looks like town the size Of
Prouty would have decent Jail in
it," he said, Grossly. "They go and
throw every Tom, Dick and Harry in
this here cell, and some buckaroo has
/ nall tore up the mattress.
"You can't have your private cell,
you know" Wallie suggested.
give paid enough in fines to build
a cooler the size of this one, and looks
like got a little somethin' comm to
me-"
ri suppose they don't take that view
Of it," said Wallie, "but you might
speak to the judge this morning."
After time Pinkey, asked, yawn-
ing:
What did we do last night? Was
we f1ghtin'?"
81 don't know-I haven't thought
about it"
II guess the constable will men
ton it," Pinkey observed, drily. "He
does, generally"
Lets make circle and go and
have look at my place." Wallie
suggestion. "It's not far out of the
way, and we might pick up few
strays in that country"
Pinkey agreed amiably and added:
you'll prob'ly have the blues for
d WSSh oLISl.
The key turning in the lock inter
rupted the conversation.
"You two birds get up. Court is
goin' to set in about 20 minutes" The
constable eyed them coldly through
the grating.
where's my clothes?" Pinkey de-
manded, looking at the Law accus
.ngly.
"How should know?"
II amt got no more pants than
rabbit" Pinkey declared, astonished
"Nor II" said Wallie.
you got all the clothes you had o,
when put you here"
"How kin We go to court?"
"'Tain't fur"
/ "Everybody'll look at u.s." Pinke
g protested.
The constable retorted callously:
won't many more see you than say
you last night dom the stomp dane
in Main Street"
did we do that?" Pinkey asked
startled.
''Sure-right in front of the Prout
House, and Helene Spenceley and
!, lot of folks was lookin' out of tn
| windows"
Wallie sat down on the edge of hi
; cot weakly. That settled it! H
doubted If she would ever speak t.
him.
1--WE got customers waitin'," urge
the constable, impatiently. Wrap
soogan around you and step lively.
There was nothing to do but obey
in the circumstances, so the shame
faced pair walked the short block t
hardware store, in the rear of whic
the justice of the peace was at hi
desk to receive them.
Ten dollars apiece" he said, with
out looking up from his writing. can
half an hour to get out Of town."
Pinkey and Wallie looked at eacl