Tex""

ble, Tex sauntered down the street after breakfast the next morning and stepped i

, Mr. Jones," he sai

re of him. His coat couldn't be better

im change owners," said Graves, glancing around. "Rub yore

ssed his hand over the flank. The scars were easily found. He wheeled an

he's in other hands. Just because a hoss fights back when he's bein' abused ai

efore replying. "Yes, he can," he admitted. "Anybody in t

He's a good, reliable man an' likes

d at him.

tableman. "Th' rest of

!'" exclaimed Tex. "Who

did, because he's

s it fell, punched it across the stable. Turning gravely he shook hands with the surprised stableman, slapped him on the shoulder and burst out laughing. "Where'n blazes did he dig 'em up? He don't know what one of them names means; There w

and displayed little interest in them

'm afraid it'll miss th' beatin's. There's a closet built across one corner of th'

ves in front of the stable, rode to the hotel to get his saddle. S

huckled, affectionately patting Om

r a king to ride

th' hen ranch comin' alo

ished it. That looks

be lucky. Hello!" he exclaimed, looking at a box across the track. On it we

"It is; and s

s low-hung belt and gun.

y no

m wh

ht h

ee how fast you can get that gun out, an' e

pen and a huge Irishman, rifle in hand, popped into s

ly unbuckled the belt from its owner's waist, took the empty gu

home. Popular feelin', even in this town, frowns at th' shootin

less!" expostulated Jerry

ss before I took it

protection," J

get. "You got somethin' I want plumb bad. You try to stop me from gettin' it, an' I won't listen to you. I force th' hand

coming with unbelievable rapidity. Stepping from the gray fog, Tex pointed. The

. What chance did you hav

ooting!" marveled Je

w was more'n fair, too; better than most gun-toters; but I know two men that would 'a' killed me before I jerked loose from th' leather. I wasn't showin' off: I was answerin' yo

Jerry. "Why wou

nywhere else," replied Tex. "House full of admirers, an' others ta

Henry ever calls at our house she'll scald him. She t

t th' main subject. As I was sayin', bein' a woman, she's not likely to be shot at. But I'm sorry yore Co

said Jerry. He looked a little worr

o put a finger on, but I'm so cussed suspicious of every male biped of th' genus homo that I allus look for th' worst. Anyhow, it wouldn't be no crime if Miss Saunders knew how to use that snub-nosed .38, w

he most out of a gun than yourself," replied Jerr

show off," laughed Tex, "it wouldn't set on me like a calamity.

n't any;

ew th' lovely brown hills an' dusty flats, where every prospect pleases, an' only man is vile. Procrastination never was a sin of mine: it's th' one

o you won't have to get

on't be as ornery as it might be. How is it that no

ed to it by

Tex swung into the

ation to go riding. They examined the coop and yard, talked of numerou

," he said. "The great western target, the ubiquitous tin

ave no gun. Do you think th

we overtake any wild cans you can use mine, although a smaller gun would be more pleasant for you. Too bad you ha

d enjoy a lunch," she murmured. "We co

assured Tex, smiling. "

ng ready when you come. Is there anything in

"Mallard duck stuffed with Chesapeake oysters. Plenty of cold, crisp, tender celery, and any reall

e from hotel food," she laugh

ouse. Then her face brightened a little as she thought of

d the hail and went out t

xed?" h

r better than I do, and how to persuade her without making her frightened. What's i

ed to it,"

ate tonight. If his light's out I'll know he's home.

are serious, or when, you are joking. Was your warning about my gun just a general one, or did it have a special meaning? And about Jane learn

e cogitated, and fell into the vernacular. "She's a fine girl, sis is; but headstrong. Cuss it, if it ain't one thing it's a

t him nothing, and was going riding on the morrow with a very interesting and pretty young woman. Suddenly he took cogn

ct like a man who would go into retirement with a thing like that tagged to him. I reckon he's plannin' a comeback: but a man

without giving it any thought, and when he turned the corner of the store and saw a chained dog being beaten by one of the town's ne'er-do-wells his hand of its own volition loosened the coile

e in a stream of blasphemous inquiry, finishing with a petition. Tex rode along without a backward glance, deeply engrossed by some interesting problem and nearly had

her's remarks and becoming aware of the maledictions behind him, turned languidly in the saddle and

p it, pronto! An' as for you, my Christian friend," he said to the man at the roan's head, "if you ever grab my cayus

yelled the miner, loosenin

hen beats it like he was, ain't got no right to live. If I don't kill

me fully aware of the identity of the dog beater. "I'm nat'rall

ng, but not for one moment losing sight of Whiskey Jim, who at that moment was stooping to pick up a stone lying agai

er, smiling grimly. "I only come in for suppli

I am gettin' to look like I belonged here." He laughed. "I don't know very many, but everybody knows me. They point with

of town. Quickest way is to foller th' track. Be glad

ed Tex. "See much o

grinned the other. "I see you got th' pic

admits," beamed Tex. "

Well, friend, I'm mush

. "Th' north is a better country than this f

ngly. "Yes, reckon it is; but h

e dusty lariat, shook it, and brushed his chaps where it had touched, wav

ey Jim," he sai

ratulat

he livi

ein' what he could steal, but I kicked his pants around his neckban

suggested Tex. "Our friend Gustavus Adol

Whiskey Jim used to ride for him, an' mebby

Now, Carney--I want a good hoss for a lady, an' I'll have a little ride

't thank you much

other ladies that I've seen or heard about. What th' lady don't know won't hurt

" replied Carney, thoughtfully; "but I wonder do you kno

level gaze. "Meanin'

notices posted, an' trespassers w

I act natural; an' after I am, twice as natural, bein' mean by nature an' disposition. All o

ound in th' sun. Th' only remarkable thing about this town is that it's still alive. Th'

. Parenthetically, I wonder if there was ever a time when th' days were anythin' else? Why, everybody is his friend! There's Jake, an' th' nephew, Whiskey Jim, Tim Murphy, Jerry Saunders, Joh

g. His brands, an' he had a-plenty, were copied from some on th' south ranges near th' old trail. A herd comin' up, grazin' wide, or passin' through that scrub an' hill country would near certain pick up a few local head on th' way, cattle bein' gregarious. Whiskey Jim was th' local herd trimmer. He'd throw up a herd, claim any of th' stray brands as belongin' around here. He had th' authority an' t

t was a covered invasion for th' freedom of th' pore, robb

ans on th' old Santa Fe. I called this other one th' third only because of th' number of men who would have been in

t bein' a Texan, my withers are unwrung. Wha

ow flew, to a distant winter ran

r his hosses. I never heard such names. Take my roan, now: his name is Oh My Cayenn

ridin'. Well, he woke up one mornin' after a spree in Williams' stable. As he turned his head to see where he was, th' roan, then a colt, poked its nose over th' stall an' nuzzled him. One of th' boys was just goin' in th' stab

or any cayuse to have a name like that. There goes Bud Haines, ridin' out of town: he ain't ear