The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1940-05-20
Larry Meets An Enemy

the horse quit pitching, was ready
to go TO work, Larry rode over to
Monnie.
Next time, pick a really tough
one" he said. Hope you've en-
loved the SHOW havel"
He dismounted, slipped through
the corral bars and walked to the
clubhouse,
Barnes came up TO the girl
THAT boy can ride, all right"
Maybe" Monnie conceded, "but
he still looks like a tenderfoot -
or someone that has no business
being on the Hayhook. He did
ride the black, Pete, and without
caring him down. Even you can't
do that"
II know 1t, Miss Monnie. That
boys all right. Make a good hand,
Don't be too tough on him. You've
paid him back for the affair in
town. Why not forget 1t and be
friends now? I like the young
ster"
so do I, Peter - but he's up to
something" She stared off into
the distance, saying nothing for a
few minutes. Pete rolled a
cigaret, waited.
Pete" she said at last, THAT
canyon fence, up toward Bentley'S
Us that still DOWN."
Barnes nodded. Been goin gto
send someone up to work on that
for week. Never got around TO
II. Why?"
put Collins on 1t, Couple OF
days digging post holes won't hurt
him-much."
"okay, Miss Monnie I'm
sure glad you amt mad at me-"
Sweat poured of Larry Collins,
His back ached, His arms ached,
His hands blistered. He tamped the
earth viciously around another post.
1t was hundred In the shade --
and there was no shade. None ex-
cept that little patch Of black UNI
der the wagon. The mules stood
there In the heat, heads down,
asleep on their feet, That patch
Of shade was inviting, So was the
water jug, beside the wagon
wheel.
Larry threw down his tamping
bar picked up the post hole dig
gers, He sighted the fence line,
CLAIMED the diggers into the
ground, The canyon floor, tramped
by thousands Of hooves. was like
concrete. Ten posts, Two more
TO 90. And Steve Clark called
himself slave driver.
Larry smiled TO himself. II
Steve could see him now. He
knew his sweat-dust grimed face
was almost black. His shirt was
wringing wet.
And Steve called pounding a
typewriter work. Wonder how
long Steve would last at this jobp
Steve would have quit after the
first post was set,
Larry worked mechanically
slamming the spade.like Jaws OF
the diggers into the packed
ground, spreading the long wood
handles TO scoop up the loosened
dirt, lifting the riggers out OF the
ground with their handful Of
earth.
Dig spread lift. Dig
spread lift. He'd dug O
hole half way to China already
Just because a fool girl was mad
because she had almost run into
him . , Dig spread
hit, Trying to break his neck on
that horse. Dig And Barnes
too Spread Barnes wasn't
such a bad guy Lift
The last post was set. Time for
drink and smoke. Never
realized water could taste so good
warm water, too. Larry
rolled a cigaret, stretched out In
the shade, his back against q
wagon Wheel
Monnie Shed look swell
In an evening dress, dancing at
the Roof Shed looked swell
In a house dress, too, waiting for
him to come home at night.
But II wasn't worth II. Shed
be getting Barnes to send him out
10 FIX more fence-and no woman
on earth was worth digging post
holes for. He wouldn't dig any
more post holes, In this heat, not
II old Colonel Miles gave him the
whole Hayhook.
He'd finish up here, 20 back Il
the ranch and quit There were
other ways OF checking up on
Hughs accident. How could he
hope TO find out anything, out here
In a canyon, with nothing around
but q team OF mules and few
stray cows? He was Just wasting
time, sticking around here. He
rubbed the fire from his cigaret
out on the wagon wheel, lifted O
spool OF barbed wire from the
wagon and kicked 1t down to the
first post.
Two men were riding down the
canyon toward him. One Of them
looked like an ordinary cowhand