The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1936-09-18

ALIVE. yes" interposed Carpy. "bu,
sick man. Have you had a horse
race this morning. Henry?" asked
Carpy In teasing fashion.
SAVOY snOrted. "Hintin' at that sell
Yesterday. Ell? No horse race at all
ne went on angrily. 1T was Just a
plain steal. Doc-besgin' your pardon
| miss-a steal put up by this saloon
Keeper. Boland. and a crooked cowman
McCrossen. and that Thief River butch.
er, Clubf0ot."
Jane started. McCrossen was the
Van Tambel foreman at Gunlock Ranch.
But what about this racer" persist
ed Carpy. "Slt down. Henry"
why keep rOpin' at dead corpse,
Door" protested SAVOY. And turning
to Jane: "Do you know this man?" he
asked, nodding toward the doctor.
Slightly" smiled Jane. II hope to
know him better"
Don't get too well acquainted" ad-
vised Sawdy. Hes got trick OF dig
gin into your sore spots"
Tell us about that race" interrupt
ed Carpy.
WELL" began the cowman reluctant
ly, might before last we bedded the
herd down about three miles below
Thief River town. About shutdown
ClubfoOt rode into camp on a good
lookin' bay mare. l didn't see him,
was on guard. He said he was on his
way up to Sleepy Cat. John Lefever. our
foreman, invited him to take supper
and bunk for the night
He said he was a prospector goin'
out on the GunlOck range. He started
talkin' horses and said he wanted to
sell his pOny-claimed he had the fast
est mare along the Sinks. He blowed
about that pony until John got touchy
about his own little chestnut gelding,
and John finally promised him race
when we got to Sleepy Cat. Nobody in
our bunch not havin' seen the fellows
horse run. John waited till everybody
got to sleep and takes Clubfoot's mare
off her picket rope for a tryOut.
Shucks She had no speed at all.
"Next day they arranged the race,
and we boys put up our dough-every
dollar in the outfit. What do you think
Of us for suckers? When the race start
ed, that cussed prOspector-beggin
your pardon, misS-run in q ringer on
us-anOther bay mare. looked exactly
like the one he rode into camp. That
mare run like streak-cOvered five
hundred yards before Johns gelding
got his feet picked up. Then we got
the story.
"ClubfOot turned out to be side
swipe for this saloon keeper Boland
here. So we smashed up Bolands glass
ware and loolin'- glass last night,
proper"
THAT wasn't right, Henry" expos
tulated Carpy with perfect gravity.
THAT birds got five hundred of our
dough-" continued Sawdy grimly.
"Henry. thought you and John were
too wise to get stung like that. How
you going to get even? Smashing glass
ware won't do It,"
II don't know, Doc, don't know"
Henry" observed Carpy. what you
mean is you know but you won't tell"
1.-The races amt all over yet. Then
there's the rOpin' and throwin'-"
Carpy nodded.
md the trick ridin'. All I'll say
is" SAVOY hesitated.
"Say all you want to before this
young lady. She won't SPILL I'll guar
antee her. said Carpy.
well, II that's so. miss-and you
certainly look up to the brag-I1l say
McCrossen. that new foreman Of yours,
was in on that skinnln' we took-at
least, we think so. That's nothin' in
the world against you"
Jane spoke frankly: "Oh, I'm glad.
Mr.. SAVOY, you don't bring me into 1t,
for I really don't know any more about
1t than babe unborn"
81 hear McCrossen is quite rider"
observed SAVOY tentatively.
That's what everybody says" re-
turned Jane. ale certainly is wonder.
full In the saddle"
SAVOY nodded wisely. as If merely to
say. ut is we'll"
SANDY demanded Carpy, what
you got up your sleeve?"
Nothih III all Doc-not thing In
the world"
"You can't fool me, you old desert
rat" persisted Carpy.
"Well. Doc, since you're so smart.
will you back what I've got I'd nv
sleeve for fifty dollars? VIII you do
1t, Doc? I've just come from Jake
SPOTS place. He lent me fifty"
Carpy reached into his trousers peck
ct and drew out a roll Of bills Go
along, you crltter" he exclaimed In.
dignantly. 81 might have known your
long-winded story would cost me