Sundown Slim

. Several men loafed at the bar. The cowboy, known as "a good spender when flush," was made welcome. He said nothing about being out of employment, craftily anticipating the possibili

Their talk centered on the Concho. Gradually they drew away from the group at t

estioned the puncher. "Had

I did. He fired me,

ul

p. John hung it onto me, seein' Chance wa

uess he is. I tried to touch him for two hundred of

three year and more. Reckon, by the way the Concho is makin' goo

you think of that! And I own half the Concho! I guess I'd like to ride range with a lot of-well, yo

talkative. He posed as one wronged by soc

lly. No use advertisin'. Come on over here." And Fadeaway

ood-natured interference with his right to free speech,

g to say in confidence. Corliss f

e and it won't help you any to let 'em know you're sore at him. I ain't feelin' lik

to do with me?" i

ly there's been doin's since you lit out."

mea

ghts. Mebby I'm ridin' over the line some to say it, but from what I seen since you been gone, Jack ain't goin' to cry any if you never come back.

I don't know that! But he ha

dn't work on no cattle-ranch, either. I'd sure

he will which covered the contingency he was illustrating by his conduct. Fadeaway again cautioned him as he became loud in his invective against his brothe

yours!" They drank together. The cowboy rolled a cigarette, tilted back his chair, and puffed thoughtfully. "Yes, she's makin' good. Why, Bud is gettin' a hundred and twenty-

rub it in," said

illy. I'm out of a job myself

d-lined face was unreadable. The cowboy saw a question in the other's eyes and cleverly ignored it. Since meeting the broth

So long, Billy. If you ever need a

ade. What's

ella. Mebby I'l

iss

broke. The Concho pays off Monday, next week. The boys go

ght John pa

Things are goin' to be lively between Loring and the

hat that's got to

I'm game to stand

mea

hinkin' what could be pulled off

sion. He anticipated that John Corliss would be away from the ranch frequently, owing to the threatened encroachment of Loring's sheep on the west side of the Concho River. Tony, the Mexican, would be left in charge of the ranch. Will Corliss knew the combination of the safe-of th

ered to the street. He gazed up and down the straggling length of

r, which he declined. "Better sit

said Corliss. "You k

e to hand you five a day for a week. You got clothes, grub, and a place to sleep and all paid for. You could go out to the ranch if you want

the limit!" ex

is, Billy. H

ips the red mist swirled away. The dingy interior of the saloon, the booted and belted riders, the grimy floor littered with cigarette-ends, the hanging oil-lamp with its blackened chimney, flashed up and spread before him like the speeding film of a picture, stationary upon the screen of his vision, yet trembling toward a change of scene. A blur appeared in the doorway. In the nightmare of his intoxication he welcomed the change. Why didn't some one say something or do something? And the figure that had appeared, why shou

man in the face. He felt himself jerked backward and the shock cleared his vision. Opposite hi

"Got you that t

f the men. "Don't get het up,

He was playing his part well. Accident had helped hi

extended his hand. "Shake, Billy. I guess you didn't know w

t the other with

and him one, but he's all in now, I reckon. That's what

ared about stupidly. Then

nd seized his arm. "Come on up and forget

w repentant Corliss, whose stubbornness had given way to tearfu

about one more and he'll take a sleep," soliloquized the cowboy. "I

y entered the hotel, asked for a room, and clumped upstairs. He rose early

and stared at him stupidly. "

t. Got any cash,

What yo

he other laughed. "All right, pard

ntrary to Fadeaway's expectations, the other was apparently

ht," said Corliss, glancing

some of this. The

are you

Blue. Got a job

When did you say the Concho paid off?

d surprise. "The Concho?

I was just

y word to Jack?"

Thanks, just t

I guess I'l

n't be in a rush.

tood looking out on the street. His

think we could-coul

xclaimed the c

! What you sa

forgot this mornin'. I get to joshin' when

ey-at th

e a try for it; there's Chance like to be prowlin' around and the safe ain't s

ow the combination to the safe, if it hasn't been chan

in', Bill. 'Sides, I wouldn't touch a

u-for fiv

nds on who I w

ive you five hundred i

Billy. 'Course you mean all right-but I reckon

flashed Corli

inued the cowboy. "I wouldn

iss, now assuming, as Fadeaway had intended,

o get clear-when

get to Sagetown. He'll do anything for money. I could b

ing you'd sing out 'Fadeaway,' an

won't give you away, even if I

l go you," said Fadeaway, sha

worth but half the money invol

he gettin' at it, why, mebby I'd r

nd by a pal, Fade.

t and I'll have a hoss for you. We can ride up the old ca?on trail. Nobody takes her nowadays, so we'll be

mitted himself to a desperate and dangerous undertaking. He recalled the expression i