The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1937-01-21
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wooden steps leading from the side
walk to the hotel office. Cary
hailed him. Sawdy poised under an
overwhelming sombrero, turned and
walked toward the doctor and his
guest.
"Henry!" exclaimed the doctor.
''You blamed old longhorn, I never
looked to see you back in Sleepy
Cat"
"Ain't no warrants out agin me,
are there?" asked SAVOY in calm,
blunt, but spirited fashion.
There must be one or more agin
you down along the Rio Grande,
Henry" retorted the doctor, cor you
wouldn't be so far from the tinkle of
the guitar with winter coming on.
Meet Miss Van Tambel-newcomer
since you went south. Mr.. Sawdy,
Miss Jane"
Hat in hand, SAVOY started: miss
Van Tambel?" he echoed. did I get
the name right" he asked as Jane
nodded to his greeting.
'You got it right" remarked Car
py dryly.
well" returned SAVOY, swallow
ing, eff you could get few more
newcomers like this, Doc, you'd have
a live town. She's no relation to"
Gus Van Tambel?" nodded Car
py, easily anticipative. 'She's his
daughter-only daughter; only child,
in fact"
SAVOY swallowed again. well, I'll
say any man might be proud to
claim her. I used to work for your
father. Is he alive YETI"
"Alive, yes" interposed Carpy,
''but a sick man. Have you had
horse race this morning, Henry?"
asked Carpy in teasing fashion.
Sawdy snorted "Hintin' at that
sell yesterday, Ell? No horse race at
ALL he went on angrily. 1T was just
a plain steal, Doc-beggin' pardon,
miss-a steal put up by this saloon
keeper, Boland, and crooked cow
man, McCrossen, and that Thief Riv-
er butcher, Clubfoot"
Jane started. McVrossen was the
Van Tambel foreman at Gunlock
Ranch.
Tell us about that race, interpos-
ed Carpy.
well" began the cowman reluc-
family, might before last we bedded
the herd down about three miles be-
low Thief River town. About SUM-
down Clubfoot rode into camp on al
good-lookin' bay mare. I 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 go
in out on the Gunlock range He
wanted to sell his pony-claimed he
started talkin' horses and said he
had the fastest 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 hores
run, John waited till everybody got
to sleep and takes Clubfoot's mare
off her picket rope for a tryout.
Shuck! 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 started, that cussed prospec-
tor-beggin' your pardon, miss-run
in a ringer on us-another bay mare,
looked exactly like the one he rode
into camp. That mare run like
STRAIGHTFORWARD 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"
Henry, I thought you and John
were too wise to get Stung like that.
How you going to get even? Smash
ing glassware won't do it."
81 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 riding. All I'll say
is" Sawdy hesitated.
'Say all you want to before this
young lady. She won't spill.Tn guar
antee her." said Carpy.
well, if that's so, miSs-and you
certainly look up to the brag-I'll
say McCrossen, that new foreman of
yours, was in on that skinnin' we
took-at least, we think so. That's
nothing in the world against you"
Jane spoke frankly: ooh, I'm glad,
Mr.. SAVOY, you don't bring me into
it, for I really don't know any more
about it than a babe unborn"
GT boor McCroSSnn iS c.1Iitn rid |
err" observed Sawdy tentatively.
''That's what everybody says" re-
turned Jane "He certainly is Won
derful in the saddle"
SAVOY nodded wisely, as if mere
1y to say, ut is we'll"
SANDY" demanded Carpy, "what
you got up your sleeve?"
'eNothin' at all, Doc-not thing
in the world