Partners of Chance

eft foot know what his right foot was doing. Lon Pelly, just in from a ride out to the line shack, remarked to the boys in the

n the first line ended with "Pelly" followed by the rhymed assertion that the gentleman who bore that pecul

erson, felt that Cheyenne's retaliation was just. Moreover, Lon, who never did anything hastily, let it be known casually that he had seen three riders west of the line shack some

?" queried

rs with him,"

him, Cheyenne?

t's

he hat," suggested

aim to shoot Panhandle a little game. Then you guys can pass the hat for the loser. Panha

at Pan pulled one on

t them dice," asserted Cheyenne. "I suspicioned

vite him to shoot a little game, when y

t's

ferred to Bartley--"is

t think," said Cheyenne. "He's

d. He looks like a p

ueried Cheyenne

ot up, trailin' a couple of twenty-d

ain'

nce, when you're singin'. They do all

hat can listen to you, without blushin'.

walkin'," sugg

. Bartley! Shake hands with Lon Pelly--but I guess you met him, over to

to interrupt--

us. "We're just listenin' to Cheyenn

d never keep his hands still, toyed with the dice. Presently one of the boys suggested that Che

artley intimated that he would like

y fella here for ten buck

er. "We ain't givin' our doug

yenne. "I'll shoot the spot of a playin'-card, if

is was a test of his nerve, and, while he didn't like the idea of engaging in a William Tell performance he realized

it out of shootin',"

He won't disappoint you," he st

eyenne stepped off fifteen paces. Bartley's hand trembled a little. Cheyenne noticed it and turned to the group, saying something that made them laugh. Bartley's fingers tensed

s right hand, hung the gun, by its trigger guard on his right forefinger, lowered his hand and tossed the

t and I'm broke," laughed Cheyenne

onct. It was a twenty-dollar J.B., when I sailed it. When it hi

xclaimed

nt clean through bo

is gun and dropped

n horses. Panhandle's name was mentioned. And the name of another man--Sneed. Ch

the boys who had not left for the line shack were discussing horse-thieves in general and Panhandle and Sneed in particular. B

rtist--and the biggest coward that ever c

d in Wyoming,"