Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-04
o. Henry r1n"',iaF Stories By Charles Caldwell Dobie

physical content which was stealing over nlms
there arose q suspicion OF Jim BledsoeN
presence, a premonition that this old partner
of his had sought him out deliberately foR
some sly purpose he could not define 1t all
came out finally, at the appointed time for
mems revelations-over the inevitable and
pungent pipes. 1t was Jim Bledsoe who
opened fire.
II warnt at all sure I'd ketch yer" he
broke out suddenly, without warning.
How'd yer know was here?"
IT met man working up toward Winda
gate-Bud Starbuck. He said he'd seen YAK
:. But he lowed you'd be headin' fer Mess
quite by this time. {. But, dunno, SOmea
thin seemed to tell me you was right here /"
Hank Wheelock felt the necessity for exc
PLANTATION. Il was amin to leave today.
Somethin' eat must have put me of my feed,
I Jest felt ALTERED ornery. :. /. Were yer Gala
culatin' to swing over to Mesquite with me?"
Jim Bledsoe shook his head and o little
gurgling note of triumph issued from hie
throat.
NO. Stree not me. Twarnt for that reason
trotted after yer. =. But I was jest like q
fool woman-bustin' to tell yer the news. g
He cleared his throat. Hank Wheelock, YOU
and me don't have to go traipsin' around this
here alkali no more, tryin' to hog-tie fortune.
I struck somethin' up in that Heron Falls
country, jest like said would =. Oh, II
amt nuthin' suddin'-Ive bin flirting round
with it fer nigh on to six months. now. !.
Yes, stree, fishing amt the only thing done
up there. :. Jest laid low and said nuthin,s
working it all up on the sly. -. Well, got
man ready to give me quarter OF q
million teri hand over my option. ). O.course,
he'll pull out 10 times that. !. But fingered
you and me couldn't spend much moren he
offered before we cashed in" He gave O
chuckle "Leastways, not onless we got d
couple of gals to give us a hand" ls
drovp VII MIN
A quarter of a millionl :. Old Jim Bledsoel
1t was incredible But more incredible still
was the simplicity of including partner who
had so unceremoniously cut adrift from him,
Hank had no words of gratitude to meet such
situation, so instead he found himself saying,
with almost sheer:
II don't see where come in, now!"
Say, yer don't think fer one moment Hank
Wheelock I'd hold out on yer jest because yer
kicked over the traces once in 40 years? IN
allow was sore-at furst! :. But pshaw, Il
amt as If you and me was strangers.
Besides, know what you'd ha' done If you'd
bin in my place!" s.s. go
A flush spread over Hank Wheelocks faces
the sort of flush that used to rise when as d
boy his mother had imputed undeserved
virtues to him. sudden and secret shame
overwhelmed him. and the bitter truth rose
perversely to his lips. &
"Oh, yer do, do vert" he sneered. Well
: let me tell yer one thing. yer wrongi
If you'd ditched me, Jim Bledsoe, I'D ha' leo
yer starve-that's what I'd ha' done!"
Jim BledSoe shook his head. Yer don't
:. have. to tell me, Hank Wheeiock-I know what
I'm talking About!"
For q moment the feeling Of relief which
swept him was almost painful. It wasn't any
use telling Jim Bledsoe the truth Why
bother, then? what folks didn't know
wouldn't sicken them. He might Just as well
~ In fhn nc A uaAa~ -
AT last he could take 1t easy!
80 ~. ~ M, assgs sas.3sz ss.ss @ss.-s.saas
Put this gust Of satisfaction passed swiftly
4 and left him as chilled Is when he had
Stood with his finger on the trigger Of his sain.
watching starbuck bending over the nre.
No. it couldn't be done: it wasn't sporting
He'd been gambler all his life and he'd MAIDS
mistakes. but he'd never cheated He couldn't
horn in on q game he'd dropped out Of; hi
couldn't keep on playing when he knew that
there had been q misdeal passed hand
was passed hand And dissolved partners
ship was dissolved: there wasn't nothing else
to it, Besides, q man had his pride. He wasnV
no beggar! =. He wasn't dead yet. neithexS
and there were just as good claims In this
hills as ever were dug.
He scrambled to his feet and he knew thaa
his voice was clear and cold and triumphant
as he lied: <4
wal, I've got some news fer you too. :
You amt the only ones bin working on th6
sly. .. got somethin' pretty nice staled out
over in that Mesquite Range. . It won't b6
quarter Of million, but it will be enough
fer mel"
Jim Bledsoe rose more slowly. "Jest as VOC
say: But don't feel comfortable, s0nes
how. We was partners, yer know. whei. I
fust came, on that holdin'. should have
told yer right off,"
hot breeze began to catch UP little whirls
Of sand and loose the pungent odors Of the
sagebrush; An intolerable longing for SONS