Tex""

hades and the closed door would have left him undecided as to whether or not its tenant was within; but the closed windows on such a night as this would have suggested that he w

f the telegraph wires meant anything. In the west gleamed a single glowing eye of yellow-white, where the switch light told that the line was open. To the right of it blotches of more diffused and weaker radiance outlined the windows and doors of the straggling buildings facing the right-of-way. An occasional burst of laughte

its upper parts more and more became silhouetted against a sky of slightly different tone and intensity. First a moving cone, then a saucer-like rim, f

ut a little more distinctly by contrast. The gently rolling tattoo of finger nails on wood could scarcely be heard a dozen feet away and ceased before critical analysis would be able to classify it. Half a minute passed and it rolled out again, a little louder and more imperative. Another wait, and then came a flat clack a

rious voice. "If it's Murphy, he's

nd a chuckle answered the query of the section-boss. "Don't blame y

shman. "Who's wantin' Murphy at

sinking down on the blanket of his compan

inders an' door closed; an' not knowin' what ye might have to talk about I naturally distrusted th' walls. This whole to

fashion, and then seemed to weigh something in his mind, for after a moment he changed

Murphy, "an' won a good hoss. Beats all how a ma

Tex, taking the huge plug. "An' I'll confess that to my way of thinkin' it's th'

," replied Murphy, the twinkle

pplemented Tex, chuckling. "There's some I'd li

lucky if he ain't hit by somethin' solider than to

ex, a sudden sharpness in his voice. "How

s or no Costigans, that little miss will be a widder on her weddin' day, if it gets that far. Th' d--d blackguard! I've kept me hand hid, for 'tis a true sa

human bein'. To flatter th' noble Hennery a little, I'd go so far as to admit it might reach th' dignity of verm

Murphy sententiously.

to dodge a woman," said Tex. "There must

of the monosyllable leaving nothing to

o to Willow,"

't like

'," commented Tex. "I'd take it fr

but she stays

re's not enough work here for a goo

tail. Costigan stays where t

uttered the puncher. "Cussed if there ain't somethin' i

ks to her brother, an' he stays where he's put. He's not strong an' he has

t be pestered for a little while by Hennery--an' then we'll see what we see. I'm unlucky these days:

he deep for a little while; an' meanwhile I'll be tryin' my strength with Lefferts, th' boss at th' Junction. I've hated to

aunders," and Tex explained that, to h

y lad, but run afoul of that Henry an' his precious uncle. Haven't ye been warned yet?" The gleam of hope in his eyes was hidden by the darkness. "Ye'll mebby have trouble with th' last two--an' if ye do, ke

an' pay Tommy a little visit out at his ranch. There is no shuffling, there th' action lies in his true nature. Like Caesar's wife, you know. An', by th' way, Tim: we have some friends in town, an' I'm

as a first-class gunman; but now he follows old Frowsyhead around like a shadder. Cold blooded

sort of a chap." He cogitated a bit. "An' how long has he been playin' shadow to friend Williams?

y longer." He tried to peer through the darkn

nceited, suspicious, and allus lookin' out for

fter a little while Tex arose to leave. He melted out of sight into the night and half an ho

ived a civil greeting from Gus Williams, and after a short, polite pause at t

affably. "Fine night

up. "Not meanin' you no offense, stranger," he h

f the other's countenance. "Barkeep, give us two drinks, ov

ble. "Th' claim's showin' nothin'." He scowled at the bag and then, avarice in his eyes and desperation in his voice, he l

"Oh, I don't care," he asserted, swaggering a little. "Come on; I'll go you. Deck of cards, friend," he called to the dispenser of drinks, and almost at the words they were sailing throug

big pot at stake he pressed the betting on the theory that his opponent was bluffing. Suddenly becoming doubtful, he let a palpable fear master him, refused to see the r

led the prospector. "Th

here he gulped his drink, glanced sullenly around the room, and strode angrily to the stairs to go to his room. Wide and mocking

e, one thumb hooked in an armhole of his vest. He stopped near Williams and beamed at the players, patting hi

low, but now that I can pay for what I want I'm comin'

re and congratulation. The man he had glanced at arose, yawned and stretched, mumbled something about being tired and out

'm goin' to turn

bin. This game's been draggin' all evenin'; mebby it'll move faster if a new man sets in." Waiting a moment for an

water I got is a sump for drinkin' an' cookin' purposes. You know that I ain't th' one to put up no holler as long as I

while. You've had good luck tonight: give it its head while it's runnin' yore way. Besides, a little fun an' comp

ow I got still more faith in my luck. It broke for me tonight an' I'm bettin' it's th' turnin' point; an' if a man ain't willin' to meet a turn of good luck at sunrise, with a smile, he shore don't deserve it. At sunup I'll be in that crick bed with a

t under the table. Looking around, he beckoned to the unselfish player and motioned for him to resume

cared out an' quit. Quit cold without even feedin' in a few more dollars to see th' hand. Left th' table in a rage just because he lost a hundred or two. I was watchin' him as much as I could, an' I could see he was gettin' madder an' m

ght have to bait him ag'in, too; but before he leaves this town I'll git it back, with all he's go

ed his seat and drew up to the table. A broad grin spread itself across his face. "Pro

he bench was a pile of 45's, their bullets greaseless, and he was working assiduously at the slug of another cartridge, his thumb pressing this way and that, and from time to time he turned the sh

ainst its own shell, he emptied the powder from the brass containers and made a little paper package of it. Going to his

ure of the butt of his Colt. This was slower than pounding, but the latter was too noisy a process under present conditions. Dumping the reduced crystals into a shell lined with paper against possible chemical action on the brass, he gently tapped the outside of the container and watched the granules settle until there was room for the lead. He did not dare tamp it for fear it would not easily empty when inverted. Pushing home the bullet he up-ended the cartridge and t

ls as they wake up will expand under sore and inflamed eyelids. They'll sleep tight and not be worth very much for an hour or two after they do awaken. And these men gulp their whiskey withou