Sundown Slim

t into his pocket with the exception of a letter which bore the postmark of Antelope and his addres

niless and sick. Corliss was not altogether surprised except in regard to the intuiti

his brother had not driven out to the ranch, being well known in Antelope and able to command credit. Then he thought o

r. The proprietor drew him to one side. "It's all right for you to see him, John, but I been tr

the stairs. He knocked at a door. The

t?" came in a

said Corliss.

nd murky glasses. The bedding was half on the floor, and standing with hand braced against the wall was Will Corliss, ragged, unshave

laimed, and ex

oned him to a chair. "Well, Will, if you'r

eh? Glad to see m

What do you suppos

I don't care. I'm

been-for the l

een everywhere from heaven to hell-th

you? You want to quit the booze and st

t! Say, Jack, I want

ght. Ho

hundred-for

ou going to

uppose? Not go

you have everything you need. You're of age and can do as y

red at his broth

ack. You didn't used

'm not going to tak

poured himself a half-tumblerful of whiskey a

is disgust. "All right.

d and sat down. "How's the Con

ng pretty fair.

old man

t the

ne into

and straighten

said you'd talk bus

l, you can have Nell and be dam

egan Corliss; then checked himse

d you-

told

hat's mine? You've been piling it up for three years and I've been hitting

enough to be responsible. The will reads, until you come of age, providing you had settled down and showed th

sore at me? All I want is a couple of hundred and I'll get out

ieved to realize that this condition was but the outcome of a rapid lowering of the other's moral and physical well-being. He strode to him and sat beside him. "Will, I'll give anything I have to

good little brother was whining for help? She w

ut I know this: she didn't say anything that wasn't so. If that's the reason y

it? You seem to think that I always need looking a

iss, gesturing toward the washsta

don't wan

and get some clothes and s

me a check-and I won't

wash up! G

f in respectable raiment. "John," he said as they entered the room again, "you've always been a good old stand-by, ever since we were kids. I guess I got in bad this time, but I

"I'll take the room next, here, and

t out. Maybe I will go back

your feet. There's plenty to do and

ay anything?" que

rday we were talking about you. I

ndo

water-hole ranch. He was broke and looking for work. Gave him a job cooking,

e Concho! I never to

e-tracked and had to stay. He didn't know th

ad. We made it clear around, freights, cattle-boats, and afoot. I didn't hit the bo

id Corliss. "He 'tends right t

ill Corliss. "But he is the queer

now, Will. You get to bed. I want to s

e waited until he heard his brother leave the hotel. Then he went downstairs and returned with a bottle of whiske

and returned to the hotel, hoping to induce his brother to come home with him. Will Corliss,

e cash with Banks. He'll give yo

The sh

es

pose you think I'm

ou need me-and take care of yourself. When you get ready to settle d

m had disappeared up the road he walked down the street t

or that m

d the sheriff handed him

," said Corliss, ignoring the

ive you five any time you wa

tting mighty close in

I don'

did he lea

day, as

u go to

"Nope, Billy! I'm goin' to st

offered cigar, picked up the

that way toward folks, reckon he won't get far with John,