The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-05-18
CHAPTER III


buy pair of cowboy work boots,
two pairs of "levis', a few blue
shirts and a $25 sombrero. When he
checked out Of his hotel, he han
lost all resemblance to the Larry
Collins who worked for Steve Clark,
the Larry Collins whose by-line was
familiar to hundred thousand
readers. He was a cowhand-- His
clothes looked too new, but q few
minutes scuffing along the highway
and crawling under the car would
take care of that.
He remembered to buy Texas
license plates for his car. Not
many cowhands come from New
York.
Larry pointed his car north
ward, picked up his highway
marker and drove steadily. The
picture of the girl, furiously angry,
would not be dispelled. What a
teinperl Monnle Monica Maria
Christina. Must be part Spanish.
That accounted for some of the
temper. And the black hair and
flashing eyes.
II think you're swell Monnie,'
he announced to the world In gen.
eral. Even II you don't think
so much OF my driving. And II
your Dad will give me a Job. you'll
be seeing Larry Collins every day.
Monnie darling!"
Colonel Taylor Miles was mad
He etomped up and down the porch
Of Che ianchouse, punctuated every
step with a few choice words that
are found neither In dictionary MOI
Bible. AS u "cusser" the Colonel was
without equal. With the Colonel,
swearing was an art.
hight now the Colonel was dis
playing his ability, with undimin-
ishing fervor, for the benefit o.
two sheeplsh- looking CoWhandS,
who stood few PAGES away from
the porch.
"And you call yourselves cow
handsl" the Colonel was shouting,
"Rodeo cowboysl You may know
how TO rope, but by the seven
foot horns Of old Alamo, that's no
excuse for breaking the necks Of
half my calves and rope burning
most of my cows.
you've got your money---Get
your stuff and get outl One Of the
boys will take you to town. Get
out of my sight, you--you-" He
stormed off down to the corrals to
see how his foreman, Pete Barnes,
was going TO get along with two
less hands.
II was there that Larry found
the Colonel an hour later. Larry
had read the sign when he met
the Hayhook truck, heading for
town, a few miles from the ranch.
Three cowhands, Warbags and u
saddle. There'd be at least one
Job open on the Miles place, Larry
was sure.
Larry looked for Monnie as he
parked near the bunkhouse, but
there was no evidence Of her nor
OF her car. A houseboy answered
his knock and told him he'd find
the Colonel at the corral. Hell
be cussin'," the boy added.
The Colonel was cussing. Larry
heard him q hundred yards away,
telling Pete Barnes In no uncertain
terms how the cowpunchin' busi-
ness had gone TO the devil, along
with the profits. The Colonel
warmed TO his subject, and was
branching of into politics, when
Larry interrupted.
Colonel Miles? I'm look
Ing for q Job. Top cowhandD"
Can ayou roper the Colonel
reared back at him.
Nope. At least not very we'll"
Larry knew he had TO tell the
truth. It had been years since he'd
ever been on horse.
"Bulldog--wrassle steers7"
"Ever been In rodeo?"
"Nope."
you're hired. Thirty and keep.
Pete, here, will tell you anything
you need to know That your
carr"
Larry nodded.
"Paid for?"
Eyes"
"You must be all right. Where
you from?"
"El Paso, and points west"
A cloud OF dust swirled along
the highway, In the wake OF q
speeding car.
"Monnies home early" the Col
onel grunted at Pete. Then to
Larry: Here comes my daugh-
ter. Keep away from her II you
want to keep your job" He walked
UP to meet her.
Come on" Pete ordered, lead
Ing the way to the bunkhouSe.