Evening star., 1925-06-27
Tim of Bush Valley
- BY A. M. CHISHOLM.
BY A. M. CHISHOLM.


advised. especially on cold mornings.
Don't leave your drafts open too long
Lots OF fires start that way"
Il know" Tim nodded.
well" said Hake. swinging into
the saddle and turning up the collar
wind, III be along every so often.
So long, SON.
He made a point Of riding that
way. and he told the Risneys' nearest
neighbors to keep an eye on them and
report to him at once If anything un.
toward occurred. But nothing did
And SO time drew on into a bleak
December which brought no snow to
mufne the tron-hard trails.
Old Man Sankey, like Young Lochin.
var, rode out Of the West and he rode
all alone; but there his resemblance
to the gay young gallant of the ballad
ended. He was not seeking a bride,
having left such frivolities behind him
with the years, as memories that burn
ed rather than blessed. He rode a big,
sure-footed buckskin cayuse with the
peculiar back stripe which is popu-
larly supposed to indicate excellent
horsef1esh. He rode alone for personal
and private reasons and to all ap-
pearances he rode unarmed, though
an inspection of the blanket roll tied
to his saddle cantle would have re-
vealed a late model OF the handy in
vention Of the late Col. Colt. caliber
As. oddly assorted with a. set of
climbing irons such as are used by
telephone linemen, and q heavy pair
Of cutting pliers bound with insu-
lating tape.
Mr.. Sankey logged out of the hills
and down Bush Valley. and for rea-
sons Of his own he avoided ranches
and chance wayfarers. But a mile
or SO from the Rigney ranch a per-
sistent clicking attracted his atten-
ton. knowing quite well what caused
it, he dismounted and lifted the buck
skins nigh front hoof. Loose shoe
Mr.. Sankey expressed his opinion of a
certain smith in verbiage which should
have created a limited torrid zone in
his immediate vicinity, did the best
he could with couple Of stones and
rode on very slowly till he came in
sight of the Rigney ranch, where Tim
was busy with his evening chores
Mr.. Sankey, regretting the necessity,
rode in.
Evening, son." he observed, with a
benevolent smile, for a long life had
taught him that politeness is a cheap
coin of surprising purchasing power
j m wonderin' If you got q few horse
shoe nails and a hammer l could bor-
row"
Tim had. He produced a hammer.
nails and pair of pincerS. Mr.. San
key smiled approvingly and proceeded
to reset the shoe.
That cayusa Is fresh shod," Tim
observed as he watched him. II guess
you've been up against a bum black
smith, mister
80 I have, by the glory eternal, i"
Mr.. Sankey admitted, softening the
nature of the assurance quite need
lessly out of Difference to the age of
his auditor. You got a good eye"
"Corkin' dulls darn quick on frozen
trails when there's no snow"
So II does. Mr.. Sankey agreed, re-
sretfully. He let the leg from the
grip of his knees and Strengthened
his back. Here's a dollar for you,
son, and thanks
Nope" said Tim, shaking his head.
Hey" Mr.. Sankey calculated in as
tonishment. You pison rich or p'ison
proud?"
Cant take nothin' for helpin' a man
out" said Tim.
1T used to be that way when the
West was a white mans country"
Mr.. Sankey returned. well, son, I'm
obliged
Sail right said Tim. You bet
ter stay for supper. It'll be ready in
10 minutes.
Il wouldn't want to put your ma
out" said Mr.. Sankey.
Mas dead" Tim informed him,
bluntly.
That's too bad" Mr.. Sankey synn-
pathized. Who does the cookin'o
Your pa?'
My sister does it. Pas in the hos
pital with a busted leg. There's just
me and the kids"
Why. how old be you, SOM"
Fourteen" Tim told him.