The Coming of Cassidy-And the Others

immy, looking fondly at the mongrel as they rode

ad emphatically.

chfully. "Lookit ho

ht to. You feed an' scratch him, an' he 'll go

ound," guessed

-God help it-at th' e

he ain'

e, not if I

good, is he?"

nk? They look-Good G-d!" he exclaimed as he glanced through an opening in the hills. The ring of ashes that had been a corral still smolder

nodding, rode hurriedly to the ruins, wheeled sharply and returned, shaking his head slowly. There was no need to explain Apache methods to his com

'em, anyhow. Would n't Sharpsville be disgusted if they went north?

," Bill smiled. "But I ain't

tered Jimmy. "If they only know

ckon I 'm easy, but I 'll bite

on the opposite hill. "Come here, 'Sylum!" he thundered. Bill wheeled, and smothered a curse when he

d Jimmy, following. "Just like a baby

his sombrero. "Howd'y," he said. "Wher

eins. "Sharpsville. And

out through the opening i

ose spectacular sliding stop was purely for her benefit, though she knew it

in' to Logan an' we 'll take you as far as th' Logan-Sharpsville trail," he

e are very fortunate in having met you gentlemen

om. "But where is Shar

ded spur. His horse could cavort beautifully under persuasion. "Logan, ma'am," he said, indifferent to the antics o

ance behind his shoulder and the canvas was opened wider. "You found it!" snorted George. "You mean, I fo

ge," chided

e should have followed that mot

gs I couldn't pick out those having a flicker of intelligence hovering a

ded Mollie,

Friends, I beg thee to take charge of this itinerant asylum and its charmi

our orders, though I reserve the right to beat him to a pleasing pulp when

unk guide, in there?"

observed George. "We 'll have to t

been that way?"

I doubt if he were ever really sober. He is a peripatetic distiller

inserte

ossified and petrified. He could neither see, eat nor talk. Strange creatures peopled his imagination. He shot at one before we could get his gun

"At this moment I have my foo

ou'll hurt him!

k. He 's bey

ll! It isn'

d about him, Sis," int

your sympathy until he gets

the brothers there flashed in quick succession mystification, apprehensive doubt, fear and again doubt. But a sudden backward jerk of Bill's head made them glance at the ruined 'dobe and the doubt melted into fear, and remained. George was the first to reply and he spoke to his sister. "As long as you fear for his facial beauty, Sis, I 'll look for a better place for my foot," and he disappeared behind the drooping canvas. Jimmy's words

stion. "Yes, we did have a bad fire," h

it happen?"

ned like this, ma'am," he floundered. "You s

antly replied. "I presume

g into the breach with promptness and assurance. "We fired a Greaser yesterday," he explained. "An' last night th'

way by this time?" s

an' graspin'. I reckon he was a heap disappointed when he found we got out alive, an' I reckon he 's in these hills waitin' for us t

n't you hun

on't understand Greasers, ma'am," he asserte

, and he continued. "You see, h

s doin'," cheerfu

aid that before,

ghed Bill. "H

snapped Jimmy,

are you going away and let

the facts. "He won't show hisself an' we can't track him in th' hills without gettin' picked off at long range. It would be us that 'd have to do th' movi

y was the smoothest liar he had ever listened to. "An'

t," she responded, "but I certa

ed George, "I

this: How can these gentlemen take us to Logan if they are going only

, "that th' Logan-Sharpsville trail is about

better move. Jimmy, tie that wolf-hound to th' axle-it won't make him drunk-an' then go ahead an' pick a new trail to L

of a hill and glanced over the top, ducked quickly and backed down with undignified haste. He fervently endorsed Bill's wisdom in taking a different route to Logan, for the Apaches certainly would strike the other trail and follow hard; and to have run into them would have been disastrous. He approached

ye," replied

ed George, uneasily, "before we wipe out the game of this large sec

ge stroked his rifle nervously and felt little drops of cold water trickle from his armpits. Mollie instinctively drew her skirts tighter arou

ome back," and he was gone. Tom gripped the reins more firmly and waited. Nothing short of an earthquake would move that wagon until he had been told to drive on. George

nk went the wagon at an angle that forced a scream from Mollie. The dog, having broken loose, ran with it, eyeing it suspiciously from time to time. Jeff Purdy, the oblivious guide, slid swiftly from the front of the

ousand-pieces!" Her hair, loosening more with each jolt, uncoiled and streamed behind her in a glorious flame of gold. Suddenly the wagon stopped so qu

g but rock," he quietly ordered, and had lifted Mollie in his arms before she knew it. Despite her protests he swiftly carried her to the wall and then slowly up its scored face to a ledge that lay half wa

ite lanes of anger and her eyes snappe

oin' to tell you till I had to. But it don't make no differ

uns, clos

eg your pardon-if I had only

oreself. There's allus da

from her face. "My brot

almly. "Yes. Mebby th' Injuns won't know yo 're here, Ma'am. Me an' J

t he would try to do. "But yourself, and Jim

out of pure devilment, with nothin' to gain. I reckon we got a reason this time, th' best we ever had. I

popped over it and whirled toward him in a high-flung, swirling cloud of dust. Overtaking the lurching wagon, Jimmy shouted a query and kept on, his pony picking its way with the agility and certainty of a mountain cat. The wagon, lurching this way and that, first on the wheels of one side and then on those of th

ening vehicle. He scrambled unsteadily to his feet and shook eager fists after the four-wheeled jumping-jack, and gave the Recording Angel great anguish of mind and writer's cramp. Pausing as he caught sight of the objects on the ground, he stared at them thoughtfully. He had seen many things during the past few days and was not to be fooled again. He looked at the sky, and back to the rifle. Then he examined the mesa wall, and quickly looked back at the weapon. It was still there and had not moved. He closed his eyes and opened them suddenly and grunted. "Huh

aused and half of them wheeled and started back he rubbed his eyes in amazement, damned himself for a fool and sprinted for the mesa wall, up which he climbed with the frantic speed of fear. He was favored by the proverbial luck of fools and squirmed over a wide ledge without being hit. There was but one way to get him and he knew he could pick them off as fast as they showed above the rim. He ro

hey could gain cover. "I was shore wise to leave th' schooner," he grinned. "I allus know when to jump," he said, and then swung the rifle toward the rim as a faint sound reached his ears. Its smoke blotted out the piercing black eyes that looked for an instant over the edge and found eternity, and Mr. Purd

him, the other two searched

own the canyon two Apaches showed themselves for a moment as they squirmed around a projection high up on the wall and not more than ten feet below the ledge. The expressions which they carried into eternity were those of great surprise. The two who kept Mr. Purdy treed on his ledge saw their friends fall, and squirmed swiftly toward their horses. It could only be cowpunchers entering the canyon at the other end and they preferred the company of their friends until they could determine numbers. When half way to the animals they changed their minds and crept toward the scene of action. Mr. Purdy, feeling for his flask, knocked it over the ledge and looked over after it in angry dismay. Then he shouted and pointed down. Bill and Jimmy stared for a moment, nodded emphatically, and separated hastily. Mr. Purdy ducked and hugged the ledge with renewed affection. Glancing around

ove an inch, for this is their game." A roar above him made him glance upward and swear angrily. "Now they 've gone an' done it! After all we 've done to hide 'em!" Another shot from the ledge and a hot, answering fire broke out from below. "My G-d!" said a voice, weakly. Bill shook his head. "That was Tom," he muttered. "Come on, Kid," he growled. "We got to drive 'em out, d-n it!" They were too intere

he rear and he turned like a flash, his Colt swinging first. "Well, I 'm d-d!" he eja

in' glass of yourn shore bothered us. We could n'

"There 's two tender feet up on that ledge, with

Jeff for to guide 'em?" a

Logan ever come to let 'em s

d n't showed up in Sharpsville, nor been seen anywheres near th' trail. Then we remembers Jeff's habits, an', while we debates it, we gets word that th' Injuns was seen north of Cook's ranch yesterday. We moves sudden. Here comes th'

That's twice you 've mentioned it. What gla

t a cussed funny thing that a feller that's got a hardboiled face like his'n would g

"Come on up an' help me get her down," he invited. Jimmy shook his head and refused. "Ah, what's th' use? She 'll only gimme h-l for handin' her that blamed Greaser l

wall and told each other all about it. Jimmy was the important center of interest and he was flushed with pride. It would take a great deal to make him cut short his hour of triumph and take him away from the admiring circle that hedged

in a manner that bid fair to destroy the dignity that Jimmy had striven so hard to build up. "She says all right for you. She 's done let you

a low and friendly

er. "Wish it was me! I

hful." He looked down the canyon and laughed. "There they go to get Purdy off 'n his perch. I 'm natchurally goin' to lick anybody as tries to thrash that man," he muttered,

at the mesa and slowly disappeared from view. Bill saw it and pointed it out to Lefty Dickinson. "There 's th' other eight," he said,