Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1929-01-03

lPublished BY special ArrAngement With The
Chicago Tribune 6yndicatA)
PART ONE

THE blistering Arizona sun was beating
down from a sky of brass upon the
4 sleepy town of Mastadon. That com
munity, not far from the Mexican Dor
der. was made up of a single street. an
kle deep in hot sand like the wash OF
q dry river bed.
On both sides it was thanked by a
struggling row of adobe buildings. the
p~ostoffice and general store, with a big
cotton DOC out in front where COW
ponies stood with trailing brides and
dropping ears. flicking the flies from their
bodies with restless tails. There was q
small brick bank building. three or fouI
saloons. and a few dwellings. mostly the
squat, -four square adobes inhabited by
Mexicans. There was the Grand Palace
his surroundings with a happy-go-lucky
a solitary cowpuncher. chewing a tooth
pick and enjoying the view after his
midday meal.
Slick Jim Kineen was extremely tall
and loose jointed. with legs that had
never known a straight since
he was born. for during practically all
OF his waking hours he had them
wrapped around the ribs Of a horse. He
wore the ordinary puncher's costume
with leather chaps and q brace Of six
guns at his hip. About his s%unburned
neck was a silk bandana of an extremely
brutal shade of magenta. Above it was
a face scorched red from the desert sun
which, nevertheless, seemed rattle boy
his surroundings with a happy go-lucky
smile.
He pushed back the huge gray hat
from his yellow forelock, then felt back
Of his ear for a match to relight his
brown cigaret. Jim felt we'll fed and
happy, at ease with all the world; and
for the moment. he had the benevolent
feeling that everybody else ought to be
equally happy.
Therefore, he was given a severe jolt
when he saw a heavy set man, decorated
with a star, come around the corner o.
the saloon, jerking, beating. and thump.
ing an unfortunate prisoner. This was
no desperate outlaw but a frowsy, IN
shaven derelict in faded blue overalls
and a tattered shirt. On his head wa.
a crumpied felt hat, which was jerkee
to the ground by the deputy sheriff.
violence, and when the hobo tried t
stoop II recover his headgear it wa.
the signal for. a yolley of kicks admin
istered by the officer.
The tramp protested feebly, looking a
his tormentor with a wiStful, fatuou,
grin. He was like a stray dog that il
given q kick in the ribs yet respond.
with q half hearted wagging Of the tail
trying to pretend hat the abuse is *
much rough humor. This sight was too
much for the good natured cowpuncher
who had a sneaking sympathy for mis-
treated animals and humans who were
down OF their luck.
He sang out to the deputy sheriff
Hey, there, u Hardness, where you
amin to take that train robber?"
Train robber, HE'LL" snorted the dep
uty, a black bearded, scowling heavy
weight. This amt nothin' but a dirt,
bum that l warned out of town twice
already. He thought he could outsmar'
me by hidin' among the beer kegs bach
of the saloon. l found him asleep there
and now he is going to see the inside O.
the calaboose."
Jim Kineen had strolled across tn,
street curiously during this explanation
and the three came to a halt before tn,
bank building. From within, the citifiet
clerks gazed with contempt at the down
and-out on his way to Jail. The GOV
puncher got on the other side of tn,
prisoner, took his flabby arm, and tn,
trio started toward the c~alaboose, a wood
en- shed with a tin oof that stood OF
the edge of the town.
Owing to Jim's support, the prisone.
was able to stagger along without fall
ing over his own feet, and consequent,
avoided further punishment. Whether h,
understood the cowboys motive or not
the tramp looked up at his new capto
with a smile that was at once ingratiat
ing and forlorn. Apparently satisfied b,
the careless good humor written on Jim
features, he responded like a stray dol
to a friendly pat. Over his bloated fea
lures there shot a CLEAN of reckless hu
NOR. He Strengthened himself a little
attempted a shuffling Jig step, and re
marked, "Be-dad, now, this is more like
I'm not used to going to the hoOSegoy
with less than two strong men to hol'
me. When l was younger it tool at leas
six"
Shut up. you blank fooll' snortet
Bud Hardness, aiming a blow at the pris
oner with his free hand.
But the cowboy cleverly warded OF
the blow, at the same time smiling SO a
not to give offense. and remarked, lie
him rave if ne wants to, Bud. This old
timer is as good as a minstrel show"
why wouldn't ! be?" chirped up tn
prisoner, with a drunken gfggle. Wash
I end man in Haverley's Minstrels as
lad?"
Jim laughed. "The hell you say! Ant
I reckon 1T was you as showed Buffal,
Bill how to fight Indians"
Buffalo Bill was my right hand man,
declared the prisoner, solemnly. Il Learned
him how to shoot a sixgun."
The deputy growled with impotence
and gave the prisoner a vicious yanl
that nearly swept him off his feet.
You hear that?" he said to Jim. 9TH
crazy bum goes on hat way for hours
Anything big that ever happened, h
was there. Any great man talked abou
this hobo learned him how. Any bat
tie that was fought, he won it. He wa
sayin' yesterday as how it was him tina
shot Billy the Kid"
And it's Gods truth I'm tellin' yum,
declared the derelict. 1T was me sho
that hell poppin' outlaw"
Bud Hardness laughed contemptuousl,
at this, while Jim merely remarked, will
a dry smile, Stranger, If all the old
timer what shot Billy the Kid could b
herded together and trained to vote on
way. they could carry the state of Ar
kansaw for the Republican party
The tramp's reply was a silent grin tina