Sundown Slim

iend's disposal. If the friend prove worthy,-and your Westerner is shrewd,-a lifelong friendship is the result. If the friend prove unworthy, it is well for him to seek other latitu

cattle than about psychology, the rancher wasted no time in trying to analyze his feelings. If the tramp had courage enough to walk another thirty miles across the mesas to get a job cooking, there must be something to him besides legs. Possibly the cattle-man felt that he was paying a tribute to the memory of his brother. In any event, he greeted Sundown next morning as the latter came to the water-hole to drink. "You can't lose your way," he said, pointing across the mesa. "Just keep to the road. The first ranch on the right is the Concho. Good luck!" And he led Chinook th

r. The Mexican cook, or rather the cook's assistant, was the only one present when Sundown drifted in, for the Con

nd appreciated. A group of riders swung in in a swirl of dust,

ash and make ready for supper. One of the men

r the boss?

im. I'm lookin'

Saw off the mister an

said Sundown, rather awed by the

im at A

e said for me to tell you if I wa

says goes. Had any

a rabbit yest

shucks! You fan i

hay from the long feed-rack and munch lazily. Suddenly he jerked up his hand and jumped round. The men, loafi

a vague way that his virtuous intent was not appreciated, not reasoning that the men knew nothing of his wanderings, nor cared to know anything other than as to his ability to cook. So he timidly stroked the long muzzle of the wolf-dog, and was agreeably surprised to find that Chance seemed to like it. In fact, Chance, having an instinct superior to that of his men companions of the Concho, recognized in the gaunt and lonely figure a kindred spirit; a b

chest and stood with his paws on the tramp's shoulders. Sundown shrunk back against the c

eat Scott!" exclaimed Shoop. "Come 'ere,

is feet and wagged h

s," explained Shoop, slipping his hand in

e, I knowed the boss's brother Billy, what passed ove

know that. I'll chain him up till

elt relieved. The solicitude of the forema

He did fairly well, and the men rode aw

n of boiling water. "And speakin' of locality color," he murmured, grinning at the possibilities before him, "how's that, Johnny?" And he rolled out a thin layer of pie-dough and taking the spur for a "pattern-wheel," he indented a free-hand sketch of the Concho brand on the immaculate dough. Next he wheeled out a rather wobbly cayuse, then an equally wobbly and ferocious cow. Each pie came from the oven with some symbol of the range printed upon it,

rawling spurs. Silence-as silence is wont to do in dramatic moments-reigned supreme. Then it was that

Bud Shoop, swinging an imaginary

aimed a puncher fr

mounted," remarked ano

o for a steer," of

at hoss of yours h

yours," said "Sinker," a youth whose ea

n, but it's sure a calf. And this ain't no rooster. Th

herdin' 'em in," s

When it leaked out that he had wrought his masterpieces with a spur, there was some murmuring. Being assured by the assistant that the spur had been previously boiled, the murmuring chang

Mexican spurs, silver-mounted and altogether formidable. Like many an historic adventurer, he had won his spurs by a tour-de-f

aining that he was accustomed to sleep in all kinds of places, and that the unused box-stall with fresh clean straw and bl

boots. Hitherto, Sundown had been too preoccupied with culinary matters to pay much attention to his clothing. Incidentally he was spending not a little time i

advent, had a stimulating effect on the new cook.

w and stamped a distorted silhouette of the low-roofed ranch-buildings on the hard-packed earth. In the corral the shadow of a restless pony drifted back and forth. Chance, chained to a post near the bunk-house, shook himself

ance, proclaimed his distrust by a long nerve-reaching howl. Some one in the bunkhouse muttered. Sundown squatted hastily in the shadow of the trough. Bud Shoop rose from his bunk and crept to

nny-sack and slipped shivering into his new raiment. "That there September Morn ain't got nothin'

e sleep of one who has atoned for his sins of o

ake pondering. "Takin' a bath sure does make a fella feel like the fella he wants to feel lik

e. Presently the dream-dog ran ahead and disappeared beyond a rise. Sundown sank to the desert and slept. He dreamed within his dream that the dog was curled beside him. He put out his hand and stroked the dog's head. Presently a side of the box-stall took outline. A ray of sunlight filtered in; sunlight fl

in the straw again a

the day's work. Chance pricked his ears. "I guess it's up to me and you to move lively," said

w depart on foot, taking the trail to Antelope? Chance knew quite as well as did the men that something unusual was in the air. Hi Wingle, the cook, had returned unexpectedly that night. Chance had listen

i Wingle was already installed in his old quarters, but

gered up to Sundown. "How you makin' it this mornin'?" he inquired. There wa

crutches," replied

p a cayuse for you. We're goin' to fan

go,

pie only onct a year? You bet y

t I ain't

I'd contract to ride white-lightnin' bareback. I'd just curl 'em 'round and grab hol

down. "It's the only pair I go

nce loose?" quer

sleepin' in the stall

Thought mebby a coyote or a wolf

t they get a drink

the water-trough. They come in frequent. But

the habits of coyotes and wolves. When he again came to the corral, m

olves and coyote

oks like they come down last night. Som

e-at night?" queried

door. I never miss a chance. Cut loose every time I see one st

'd knowe

S

gun off you and set up a

ing a cinch on Sundown's pony, that

d motioned to Shoop. "How's t

in

odestly to the of

as a ranch. Then, next thing after that, Chance slips his collar and goes and bushes with the Bo-sleeps with him till this mornin'. And you can rope me for a parson if that walkin'

dream

g foreman. "You watch him. D

s a spectator and not a participant. Bud Shoop had served him well and faithfully, tiding over many a threatened quarrel among the men by a humorous suggestion or a seemingly impersonal a

adeaway's stri

it. Catc

ing away, suddenly evolved a plan. He knew that the horses had all been watered. "Hey!" he called to Sundow

arched to the water-trough. The pony sniffed at the water a

liss, meanwhile wat

hat trough again. No wonder the hosses won

ly. Slowly the light of understanding dawned, rose, and radiated in the dull red of the new cook's face. He was hurt and a

lf, about midnight." Then he addressed Shoop singly. "If I was you, and you got kind of absent-minded and do

up to Sundown and slapped him on the back. "Cheer up, pardner, and listen to the good n

I hadn't been feelin' all-to-Gosh happy at h