CHAPTER SEVEN
THE BOYS PUT THEY FOOT IN IT
"WAL, Hairoil," I says, "I shore am a' unlucky geezer! Why, d' youknow, I don't hardly dast go from one room to another these days ferfear I'll git my lip pinched in the door."
Hairoil, he clawed thoughtful. "You and the boss had a talk oncet onthe marryin' question," he begun. "It was out at the Bar Y." (Wewas settin' on a truck at the deepot again, same as that other time.)"A-course, I don't want t' throw nothin' up, but--you tole him thenthat when it come you' _own_ time, _you_ wouldn't have no trouble.Recollect braggin' that-a-way?"
"Yas," I answers, meeker'n Moses. "But Hairoil, that was 'fore Imet Macie."
"So it was," he says. Then, after a minute, "I s'pose nothin' couldkeep her in Briggs much longer."
I shook my haid. "The ole man won't let her fetch a dud offen theranch, and so she's havin' a couple of dresses made. I figger thatwhen _they_ git done, she'll--she'll go."
"How long from now?"
"About two weeks--accordin' to what Mollie Brown tole me."
"Um," says Hairoil, and went on chawin' his cud. Fin'lly, he begunagain, and kinda like he was feelin' 'round. "Don't you think MaceSewell is took up with the _ro_mance part of this singin' proposition?"he ast. "That's _my_ idear. And _I_ think that if she was showedthat her and you was _also_ a _ro_mance, why, she'd give up goin'to Noo York. Now, it _might_ be possible to--to git her t' see thingsright--if they was a little scheme, say."
I got up. "No, Hairoil," I says, "no little scheme is a-goin't' be played on _Macie_. A-course, I done it fer Rose and Billy; butMacie,--wal, Macie is diff'rent. I want t' win her in the open. AndI'll be jiggered if I stand fer any underhand work."
"It needn't t' _be_ what you'd call underhand," answers Hairoil.
"Pardner," I says, "don't talk about it no more. You make me plumbnervous, like crumbs in the bed."
And so he shut up.
But now when I _re_call that conversation of ourn, and think back onwhat begun t' happen right afterwards, it seemed _blamed_ funny thatI didn't suspicion somethin' was wrong. The parson was mixed up init, y' savvy, and the sheriff, and Billy Trowbridge--all them three I'dhelped out in one way 'r another. And Hairoil was in it, too--and he'dsaid oncet that he was a-goin' t' marry me off. So _why_ didn't Iketch on! Wal, I shore _was_ a yap!
Next day, Hairoil didn't even speak of Mace. I thought he'd cleanfergot about her. He was all _ex_cited over somethin' else--the'lection of a sheriff. And 'fore he got done tellin' me about it,I was some _ex_cited, too--fer all I was half sick account of my owntroubles.
The 'lection of a sheriff, y' savvy, means a' awful lot to a passelof cow-punchers. We don't much keer who's President of the UnitedStates. (We been plumb _covered_ with proud flesh these six years,though, 'cause Roos'velt, _he's_ a puncher.) We don't much keer,neither, who's Gov'ner of Oklahomaw. But you can bet you' bottomdollar it makes a _heap_ of diff'rence who's our sheriff. If yougit a friend in office, you can breathe easy when you have a littledisagreement; if you don't, why, _you_ git 'lected--t' the calaboose!
Now, what Hairoil come and rep'esented to me was this: That HankShackleton, editor of _The Briggs City Eye-Opener,_ 'd been lickerin'up somethin' _turrible_ the last twenty-four hours.
"Hank?" I says to Hairoil, plumb surprised. "Why, I didn't know heever took more 'n a glass."
"A _glass!_" repeats Hairoil disgusted. "He ain't used no glass_this_ time; he used a _funnel_. And you oughta see his paper that comeout this mornin'. It's full on the one side, where a story's allusprinted, but the opp'site page looks like somethin' 'd hit it--O. K.far's advertisements go, but the news is as skurse as hen's teeth,_and not a word about Bergin._"
"You don't say! But--what does that matter, Hairoil?"
"What does that _matter!_ Why, if Hank gits it into his haid to keepon tankin' that-a-way (till he plumb spills over, by jingo!) the_Eye-Opener_ won't show up again fer a month of Sundays. Now, weneed it, account of this 'lection, and the way Hank is actin' hascome home to roost with ev'ry _one_ of us. You been worried, Cupid, andyou ain't noticed how this sheriff sittywaytion is. The Goldstone_Tarantula_ is behind the _Re_publican can_di_date, Walker----"
"_Walker! That_ critter up fer sheriff?"
"Yas. And, a-course, Hank's been behind Bergin t' git _him_ re'lectedfer the 'leventh time."
"_I_ know, and Bergin's got t' _win_. Why, Bergin's the only fitman."
"Wal, now, if our paper cain't git in and crow the loudest, and tellhow many kinds of a swine the other feller is, _how's_ Bergin goin't' win?"
"I don't know."
"Neither do _I_. (You see how ticklish things is?) Wal, here's Hankin _no_ shape to make any kind of a newspaper fight, but just achin' t'use his gun on anybody that comes nigh him. Why, I never _seen_ such achange in a man in all my born _life!_"
I was surprised some _more_. I didn't know Hank _packed_ a gun. Hewas a darned nice cuss, and ev'rybody shore liked him, and he'd neverbeen laid up fer _re_pairs account of somethin' he'd put in his paper.He was square, smart's a steel-trap, and white clean through. Had ahandshake that was hung on a hair-trigger, and a smile so winnin' thathe could coax the little prairie-dawgs right outen they holes.
Hairoil goes on. "I can see Briggs City eatin' the shucks when itcomes 'lection-day," he says, "and that Goldstone man cabbagin' thesheriff's office. Buckshot Milliken tole me this mornin' that the_Tarantula_ called Bergin 'a slouch' last week; 'so low-down he'deat sheep,' too, and 'such a blamed pore shot he couldn't hit the sideof a barn.'"
"That's goin' too far."
"So _I_ say. I wanted Bergin t' go over to Goldstone and give 'ema sample of his gun-play that'd interfere with the printin' of theyone-hoss sheet. But Bergin said it was no use--the _Tarantula_ editor iswearin' a sheet-iron thing-um-a-jig acrosst his back and his front, andhas to use a screw-driver t' take off his clothes."
"The idear of Hank actin' like a idjit when the 'lection depends onhim!" I says. "Wal, things _is_ outen kilter."
"Sh-sh-sh!" says Hairoil, lookin' round quick. "Be awful keerful whatyou say about Hank. We don't want no shootin'-scrape _here._"
But I didn't give a continental _who_ heerd me. I was sore t' thinka reg'lar jay-hawk 'd been put up agin our man! Say, that Walkerdidn't know beans when the bag was open. His name shore fit him,'cause he couldn't ride a hoss fer cold potatoes. And he was thekind that gals think is a looker, and allus stood ace-high at a dance.Lately, he'd been more pop'lar than ever. When we had that littleset-to with Spain, Walker hiked out to the Coast; and didn't show upagain till after the California boys come home from Manila. Then, he hittown, wearin' a' army hat, and chuck full of all kinds of storiesabout the Philippines, and how he'd been in _turrible_ fights. Thatgot the girls travelin' after him two-forty. Why, at Goldstone, theywas _all_ a-goin' with him, seems like.
I didn't want _him_ fer sheriff, you bet you' boots. He wasn't nofriend to us Briggs City boys any more 'n we was to him. And then,none of us believed that soldier hand-out. Y' know, we had a littlebunch of fellers from this section that went down t' Cuba with ColonelRoos'velt and chased the Spanish some. Wal, y' never heerd _them_crowin' 'round about what they done. And this Walker, he blowed toomuch t' be genuwine.
"If he's 'lected sheriff, it's goin' t' be risky business gittin'in to a' argyment with anybody," I says. "He'd just _like_ t' gitone of us jugged. Say, what's goin' to be did fer Hank?"
"Wal," answers Hairoil, mouth screwed up anxious, "we're in a rightserious fix. So they's to be a sorta convention this afternoon, andwe're a-goin' t' cut out whisky whilst the session lasts."
"I'll come. _Walker_ fer sheriff! _Huh!_"
"Good fer you! So long."
"So long."
We made fer the council-tent at three o'clock--the bunch of us. Thedeepot waitin'-room was choosed, that bein', as the boys put it, "themost _re_spectable public place in town that wouldn't want rent."Wal, we worked our jaws a lot, goin' over the sittywaytion from startto finish. "Gents let's hea
r what you-all got to say," begun ChubFlannagan, standin' up. Doc Trowbridge was next. "_I ad_vise you torope Shackleton," he says, "and lemme give him some hoss liniment t'put him on his laigs." (We was agreed that the hull business dependedon the _Eye-Opener_.) But the rest of us didn't favour Billy's plan.So we ended by pickin' a 'lection committee. No dues, no by-laws, nochairman. But ev'ry blamed one of us a sergeant-at-arms with orders t'keep Hank Shackleton _outen the saloons_. 'Cause why? If he could buckup, and _stay_ straight, and go t' gittin' out the _Eye-Opener,_Bergin 'd shore win out.
"Gents," says Monkey Mike, "soon as ever Briggs hears of ourcommittee, we're a-goin' t' git pop'lar with the nice people, 'causewe're tryin' t' help Hank. And we're also goin' t' git a black eyewith the licker men account of shuttin' off the Shackleton trade.A-course, us punchers must try t' make it up t' the thirst-parloursfer the loss, though I _ad_mit it 'll not be a' easy proposition.But things is _desp_'rate. If Walker gits in, we'll have a nastydeputy-sheriff sent up here t' cross us ev'ry time we make a move. Wegot t' _work,_ gents. You know how _I_ feel. By thunder! Bergin treatedme square all right over that Andrews fuss." (Y' see, Mike's agrateful little devil, if he _does_ ride like a fool Englishman.)
"Wal," says Buckshot Milliken, "who'll be the first sergeant? I callfer a volunteer."
All the fellers just kept quiet--but they looked at each other, worriedlike.
"Don't all speak to oncet," says Buckshot.
I got up. "_I'_m willin' t' try my hand," I says.
"_Thank_ y', Cupid." It was Buckshot, earnest as the dickens."But--but we hope you're goin' to go slow with Hank. Don't donothin' foolish."
"What in thunder 's got _into_ you fellers?" I ast, lookin' at 'em."Is Hank got the hydrophoby?"
"You ain't saw him since he begun t' drink, I reckon," says Chub.
"No."
"_Wal,_ then."
By this time, I was so all-fired et up with curiosity t' git a look atHank that I couldn't stand it no more. So I got a move on.
Hank is a turrible tall feller, and thin as a ramrod. He's got hair youcould flag a train with, and a face as speckled as a turkey aig. And whenI come on to him that day, here he was, stretched out on the floor ofDutchy's back room, mouth wide open, and snorin' like a rip-saw.
I give his shoulder a jerk. "Here, Hank," I says, "wake up and payfer you' keep. What's got into you, anyhow. My goodness me!"
He opened his eyes--slow. Next, he sit up, and fixed a' awful ugly lookon me. "Wa-a-al?" he says.
"My friend," I begun, "Briggs City likes you, and in the present caseit's a-tryin' t' make 'lowances, and not chalk nothin' agin y',but----"
"Blankety blank Briggs City!" growls Hank. "Ish had me shober and ishhad me drunk, and neither way don't shoot."
"Now, ole man, I reckon you're wrong," I says. "But never mind,anyhow. Just try t' realise that they 's a 'lection comin', andthat you got t' help."
"Walkersh a friend of mine," says Hank, and laid down again.
Wal, I didn't want t' be there all day. I wanted t' have _some_ timeto myself, y' savvy, so 's I could keep track of Mace. So I grabbedhim again.
This whack, he got up, straddlin' his feet out like a mad tarantula,and kinda clawin' the air. They wasn't no gun visible on him, but hewas loaded, all right. Had a revolver stuck under his belt in front, so's the bottom of his vest hid it.
I jerked it out and kicked it clean acrosst the floor. Then I drug himout and started fer the bunk-house with him. _Gosh!_ it was a job!
Wal, the pore cuss didn't git another swalla of forty-rod that day;and by the next mornin' he was calm and had a' appetite. So threeof us sergeant-at-arms happened over to see him. Bill Rawson was therea'ready, keepin' him comp'ny. And first thing y' know, I was handin'that editor of ourn great big slathers of straight talk.
"_I_ know what you done fer me, Cupid," says Hank. "And I'mgrateful,--yas, I am. But let me tell you that when I git starteddrinkin', I cain't _stop_--never do till I'm just wored out 'rstone broke. And I git mean, and on the fight, and don't know whatI'm doin'. But," he _con_-tinues (his face was as long as you'arm), "if you-all 'll fergive me, and let this spree pass, why, I'llgo back t' takin' water at the railroad tank with the Sante Feeingines."
"Hank," I says, "you needn't t' say nothin' further. But packno more loads, m' son, pack no more loads. And _try_ t' git out another_EyeOpener_. Not only is this sheriff matter pressin', but the lit'rarystandin' of Briggs City is at stake."
"That's dead right," he says. "And I'll git up a' issue of the_Opener_ pronto--only you boys 'll have t' help me out some on thenews part. I don't recollect much that's been happenin' lately."
Wal, things looked cheerfuller. So, 'fore long, I was back at thedeepot, settin' on a truck and watchin' the eatin'-house windas,and the boys--Bergin and all--was lined up 'longside Dutchy's bar,celebratin'.
But our work was a long, l-o-n-g way from bein' done. Hank keptsober just five hours. Then he got loose from Hairoil and made fer athirst-parlour. And when Hairoil found him again, he was fuller'n a tick.
"I'm blue as all git out about what's happened," says Hairoil. "ButI couldn't help it; it was just rotten luck. And I hear that when the_Tarantula_ come out yesterday it had a hull column about that Walker,callin' him a brave ex-soldier and the next sheriff of Woodward County."
"And just ten days 'fore 'lection!" chips in Bill Rawson. "Cupid,it's root hawg 'r die!"
"That's what it is," I says. "Wal, I'll go git after Hank again."
He was in Dutchy's, same as afore. But not so loaded, this time, anda blamed sight uglier. Minute he _seen_ me, his back was up! "Here, yousnide puncher," he begun, "you tryin' to arrest _me?_ Wal, blanketyblank blank," (fill it in the worst you can think of--he was beefin'somethin' _awful_) "I'll have you know that I ain't never 'lowed_no_ man t' put the bracelets on me." And his hand went down and begunfeelin' fer the butt of a gun.
"Look oudt!" whispers Dutchy. "You vill git shooted!"
But I only just walked over and put a' arm 'round Hank. "Now, come onhome," I says, like I meant it. "'Cause y' know, day after t'-morraanother _Eye-Opener_ has _got_ to rise t' the top. Hank, think ofBergin!"
He turned on me then, and give me such a push in the chest that I sitdown on the floor--right suddent, too. Wal, that rubbed me the wrong way.And the next thing _he_ knowed, I had him by the back of the collar, andwas a-draggin' him out.
I was plumb wored out by the time I got him home, and so Chub, he stayedt' watch. I went back to the deepot. And I was still a-settin' there,feelin' lonesome, and kinda put out, too, when here come BuckshotMilliken towards me.
"I think Hank oughta be 'shamed of hisself," he says, "fer the wayhe talks about you. Course, we know why he does it, and that it ain'ttrue----"
"What's he got t' say about me?" I ast, huffy.
"He said you was a ornery hoodlum," answers Buckshot, "and a loafer,and that he's a-goin' t' roast you in his paper. He'd put Oklahomawon to _you,_ he said."
"Huh!"
"And you been _such_ a good friend t' Hank," goes on Buckshot. "Wal,don't it go to show!"
"If he puts on single _word_ about me in that paper of hisn," I says,gittin' on my ear good and plenty, "I'll just natu'ally take himacrosst my knee and give him a spankin'."
"And he'll put enough slugs in you t' make a sinker," answersBuckshot. "Why, Cupid, Hank Shackleton can fight his weight in wildcats._You go slow._"
"But _he_ cain't shoot," I says.
"He cain't _shoot!_" repeats Buckshot. "Why, I hear he was a reg'largun-fighter oncet, and so blamed fancy with his shootin' that he coulddrive a two-penny nail into a plank at twenty yards ev'ry bit as goodas a carpenter."
"Wal," I says, "I'll be blasted if that's got _me_ scairt any."
Buckshot shook his haid. "I'm right sorry t' see any bad blood 'twixty'," he says.
Next thing, it was all over town that Hank was a-lookin' fer me.
Afterwards, I heerd that it was Hairoil tole Macie about it. "Youknow," he says to her,
"whenever Hank's loaded and in hollerin'distance of a town, you can shore bet some one's goin' t' git hurt."
Mace, she looked a little bit nervous. But she just said, "I reckonAlec can take keer of hisself." Then off she goes to pick out a trunkat Silverstein's.
I reckon, though, that ole Silverstein 'd heerd about the trouble, too.So when Mace come back to the eatin'-house, she sit down and writ me aletter. "_Friend Alec,_" it said, "_I want to see you fer a minuteright after supper. Macie Sewell._"
It was four o'clock then. Supper was a good two hours off. Say! how themtwo hours drug!
But all good things come to a' end--as the feller said when he wasstrung up on a rope. And the hands of my watch loped into they placeswhen they couldn't hole back no longer. Then, outen the door on thetrack side of the eatin'-house, here she come!
My little gal! I was hungry t' talk to her, and git holt of one of herhands. But whilst I watched her walk toward me, I couldn't move, itseemed like; and they was a lump as big as a baseball right where myAdam's apple oughta be.
"Macie!"
She stopped and looked straight at me, and I seen she'd been cryin'."Alec," she says, "I didn't mean t' give in and see you 'fore Iwent. But they tole me you and Hank 'd had words. And--and I couldn'tstay mad no longer."
"Aw, honey, thank y'!"
"I ain't a-goin' away t' stay," she says. "Leastways, I don't_think_ so. But I want a try at singin', Alec,--a chanst. Paw's downon me account of that. And he don't even come in town no more. Wal, I'msorry. But--_you_ understand, Alec, don't y'?"
"Yas, little gal. Go ahaid. I wouldn't hole you back. I _want_ youshould have a chanst."
"And if I win out, I want you t' come to Noo York and hear me sing.Will y', Alec?"
"Ev'ry night, I'll go out under the cottonwoods, by the ditch, andI'll say, 'Gawd, bless my little gal.'"
"I won't fergit y', Alec."
I turned my haid away. Off west they was just a little melon-rind ofmoon in the sky. As I looked, it begun to dance, kinda, and change shape."I'll allus be waitin'," I says, after a little, "--if it's fiveyears, 'r fifty, 'r the end of my life."
"They won't never be no other man, Alec. Just you----"
"Macie!"
That second, we both heerd hollerin' acrosst the street. Then here comeHairoil, runnin', and carryin' a gun.
"Cupid," he says, pantin', "take this." (He shoved the gun into myhand.) "Miss Macie, git outen the way. It's Hank!"
Quick as I could, I moved to one side, so's she wouldn't be in range.
"_Ye-e-e-oop!_"
As Hank rounded the corner, he was staggerin' some, and wavin' hisshootin'-iron. "I'm a Texas bad man," he yelps; "I'm as ba-a-adas they make 'em, and tough as bull beef." Then, he went tearin'back'ards and for'ards like he'd pull up the station platform."Hey!" he goes on. "I've put a _lot_ of fellers t' sleep withthey boots on! Come ahaid if you want t' git planted in my privategraveyard!"
Next, and whilst Mace was standin' not ten feet back of him, he seenme. He spit on his pistol hand, and started my way.
"You blamed polecat," he hollered, "_I'll_ learn you t' shoot offyou' mouth when it ain't loaded! You' hands ain't mates and you'feet don't track, and I'm a-goin' t' plumb lay you out!"
I just stayed where I was. "What's in you' craw, anyhow?" I calledback.
He didn't answer. He let fly!
Wal, sir, I doubled up like a jack-knife, and went down kerflop. Theboys got 'round me--say! talk about you' pale-faces!--and yelled toHank to stop. He drawed another gun, and, just as I got t' my feet, wentbackin' off, coverin' the crowd all the time, and warnin' 'em nott' mix in.
They didn't. But someone else did--Mace. Quick as a wink, she reachedinto a buckboard fer a whip. Next, she run straight up to Hank--and givehim a _turrible_ lick!
He dropped his pistols and put his two arms acrosst his eyes. "Mace!don't!" he hollered. (It'd sobered him, seemed like.) Then, he turnedand took to his heels.
That same second, I heerd a yell--Bergin's voice. Next, the sheriff cometearin' 'round the corner and tackled Hank. The two hit the ground likea thousand of brick.
Mace come runnin' towards me, then. But the boys haided her off, andwouldn't let her git clost.
"Blood's runnin' all down this side of him," says Monkey Mike.
Shore enough, it was!
"Chub!" yells Buckshot, "git Billy Trowbridge!"
"Don't you cry, ner nothin'," says Hairoil t' Mace. And whilst hehelt her back, they packed me acrosst the platform and up-stairs into oneof them rooms over the lunch-counter. And then, 'fore I could say JackRobinson, they hauled my coat off, put a wet towel 'round my forrid,and put me into bed. After that, they pulled down the curtains, andbunched t'gether on either side of my pilla.
"Shucks!" I says. "I'm all right. Let me up, you blamed fools!"
Just then, Monkey Mike come runnin' in with the parson, and the parsonput out a hand t' make me be still. "My _dear_ friend," he says,"I'm _sorry_ this happened." And he was so darned worried lookin'that I begun t' think somethin' shore _was_ wrong with me, and I laidquiet.
Next, the door opened and in come Mace!
The room was so dark she couldn't see much at first. So, she steppedcloster, walkin' soft, like she didn't want to jar nobody. "Alec!"she says tearful.
"Macie!"
She stooped over me.
The boys turned they backs.
Aw, my dear little gal! Her lips was cold, and tremblin'.
Wal, then she turned to the bunch, speakin' awful anxious. "Is he hurtbad?" she ast, low like.
"Naw," I begun, "I----"
Monkey Mike edged 'twixt me and her, puttin' one hand over my mouth so's I couldn't talk. "We don't know exac'ly," he answers.
"Boys!" she says, like she was astin' 'em to fergive her; and,"Alec!"
Buckshot said afterwards that it _shore_ was a solemn death-bed scene.The parson was back agin the wall, his chin on his bosom; I was chawin'the fingers offen Mike, and the rest of the fellers was standin't'gether, laughin' into they hats fit t' sprain they faces.
Billy come in then. "Doc," says Macie, "save him!"
"I'll do all I can," promises Billy. "Let's hope he'll pullthrough."
"Aw, Alec!" says Mace, again.
Hairoil went up to her. "Mace," he says, "they's one thing you can dothat'd be a _mighty_ big comfort t' pore Cupid."
"What's that?" she ast, earnest as the devil. "I'll do _any_thin'fer him."
"Marry him, Mace," he says, "and try to nuss him back t' healthagain."
I was plumb amazed. "_Marry!_" I says.
But 'fore I could git any more out, Mike shut off my wind!
Dear little gal! She wasn't skittish no more: She was so tame she'd'a' et right outen my hand. "Parson," she says, goin' towards him,"will--will you marry Alec and me--now?"
"Dee-lighted," says the parson, "--if he is able t' go through theceremony."
"Parson," I begun, pullin' my face loose, "I want----"
Mike give me a dig.
I looked at him.
He wunk--_hard_.
And then, I tumbled!
Fer a minute, I just laid back, faint shore enough, thinkin' what aall-fired sucker I was. And whilst I was stretched out that-a-way, Macecome clost and give me her hand. The parson, he took out a little blackbook.
"_Dearly beloved,_" he begun, "_we are gathered t'gether----_"
It was then I sit up. "Parson, stop!" I says. And to Mace, "Littlegal, I ain't a-goin' t' let 'em take no advantage of you. I _wasn't_hit in the side. It's my arm, and it's only just creased a little."
Mace kinda blinked, not knowin' whether t' be glad 'r not, I reckon.
"And this hull bsuiness," I goes on, "is a trick."
Her haid went up, and her cheeks got plumb white. Then, she begun t'back--slow. "A trick!" she repeats; "--it's a trick! Aw, how mean!how _mean!_ I didn't think you was like that!"
"Me, Mace? It wasn't----"
"A trick!" she goes on. "But I'm glad I found it out
--_yas_. Thisafternoon when I was talkin' to y', I wanted t' stay right here inBriggs--I wanted t' stay with you. If you'd just said you wisht Iwould; if you'd just turned over you' hand, why, I'd 'a' give up thetrip. My heart was achin' t' think I was goin'. But now, _now--_" Andshe choked up.
"Macie!" I says. "Aw, don't!" Somehow I was beginnin' t' feelkinda dizzy and sick.
She faced the parson. "And you was in it, too!--_you!_" she says.
"I'd do anythin' t' keep you from goin' t' Noo York," he answers,"and from bein' a' actress."
She looked at Billy next. "The hull _town_ was in it!" she went on."_Ev'ry_body was ready t' git me fooled; t' make me the josh of thecounty!"
"No, _no,_ little gal," I answers, and got to my feet byside the bed."Not me, honey!"
She only just turned and opened the door. "I don't wonder the restof you ain't got nothin' t' say," she says. "Why, I ain't never_heerd_ of anythin' so--so low." And haid down, and sobbin', she wentout.
I tried t' foller, but my laigs was sorta wobbley. I got just a step'r two, and put a' arm on Billy's shoulder.
The boys went out then, too, not sayin' a word, but lookin' some sneaky.
"Bring her back," I called after 'em. "Aw, I've hurt my pore littlegal!" I started t' walk again, leanin' on the doc. "Boys!----"
Next thing, over I flopped into Billy's arms.
* * * * *
When I come to, a little later on, here was Billy settin' byside me, a'awful sober look on his face.
"Billy," I says to him, "where is she?"
"Cupid--don't take it hard, ole man--she's--she's gone. Boarded theEast-bound not half a' hour ago. But, pardner----"
Gone!
I didn't answer him. I just rolled over onto my face.
Alec Lloyd, Cowpuncher Page 7