e must surely back into his den for lack of room to turn round. His presentment at the arched loophole in his stockade was formidable. Hi

ccordingly. I reckon he's boss of that thing while he's in there. He's a Populist, but he's regularly appointed by the President, and I don't see that we're in

and the Grampa to the south. Aside from the post-office, it possessed two saloons, a store, a boarding-house or two, and a low, brown station-house.

d away his last steer, and, being about to take t

are extra boozed already. It's up to

do," answered Roy. "We'll camp at

before dark-every mother's son o

to get drunk in order to punctuate a paragraph in their life. There was not a disengaged woman in the burg, and bad whisky was merely a sad substitute for romance. T

ubber, their faithful feet clung to their stirrups like those of a bat to its perch. In camp they scuffled, argued, ran foot-rac

loo Roy, the cow-boss, rode, w

f a gun one of these days

ll

wasn't a United States

Wouldn't he shuffl

' he barked out at me. Didn't eve

id he d

pistol out of the wind

h you

I says, 'come out o' your den, and I'll pepper you so full of holes that

t," persisted R

a little two-for-a-cent town like Eagle is goin' to put it all over me that way and not

. "The old skunk treated me just about the same way. I don't blame you; a feller sure

e was a youth of power, and besides they had all been roiled by the grizzled

an's shack, shouting and yelling and raising Cain. He'll come out of his hole to order us off, and I'll rope him before he k

urbanity of manner, and at last five of them agreed to stand their share of the riot, alt

two-foot gun," retorted Roy,

away as stealthily as the leader of a band of Indian scouts. He made straightway over the divide to the east,

k door; then when I strike a light you fellows come in and swirl round the shack like a gust o' hell. The old devil will come out the back door to se

low in the telegraph office, and the air was keen and crisp with frost. As he approached the Badger's shack Pierce detected a gleam of light be

pened, a tall young girl appeared in a wide flare of yellow light which ran out

t you,

s to his horse and vanish. His next was to tear off his disguise and wait, for the

e again called out: "Who a

ounting and stepping into the light.

h shrill whoopings, with flare of popping guns, Roy's faithful herders came s

"Whoo-ee!" with which he was wont to head off and turn a bunch of steers. "Stop it! Get out!" he shouted as he suc

, as abruptly, as they came, leaving their leader in panting, breathles

gue intent to apologize. Something very sudden and

tion he knocked t

gone?" the

't mean no harm, I reckon. I want to

ery pale and held a pistol in her hand, but her voice was calm. "

eman for McCoy, a cat

lly a band

nch of cow-punc

ean co

f havin' fun. I reckon they didn't kn

un

n the po

es

was he

six o'clock. I didn't get here till t

the ail

alk, and he's stiff as a stake. O

ving. "I'll try to

h you

en't al

home to her baby. She said she

he stood looking into the pale

, shivering with a sense of guilt. "The poor old cuss! Pro

wired to Claywall, the county-seat, for another physician. He also secured the aid of Mrs. James, the landlady of the Palace H

she said. "His teeth are

e pose, his hands clenched, his mouth foam-lined. Roy, unused to sickness and death, experienced both pity and awe as he looked down upon the prostrate form of the man he

rful body was glowing with health, and her lips and eyes were deliciously young and sweet. Her anxious expression passed away as

hurt him a bit. One funny thing-he never had 'em while in the saddle. They 'mo

reported to her his message to Claywall. "A doctor will

en she explained to Mrs. James that Mr. Pierce had just dri

don't bat an eye when they shoot up the street. They're all a lot of cheap skates,

orous defender of the innocent; but agreed with her that "the boys were j

e girl asked the woman, with

od. I'll just keep an eye on him and

e lately he couldn't keep things in order, and I haven't had any chance since I

, AREN'T YOU?" SHE S

exclaimed Roy

as easily the most stirring and amazing hour of his life. While his pony slowly slid away up the hill to feed, he,

r is not very well, and father is East, so I had to come. Uncle Dan was pretty bad when

a serious view of the matter, now that he was in the midst of a charming and i

val of his boldness. "You're pretty sw

e in this country,"

gaze disarmed her. "You've been very nice," she said, "and I feel very gra

get I chased off

they wer

d; I wanted to

s bluffing. "I don't believe t

re cowboys, they

told you I feel gratef

go over till to-morrow. Did I tell you

remembe

l his wad on faro and drink-not on your life! I've got some ready

kettle of slop out and empty it. And wha

rs could ride to the north pole, his pony might starve, the Cannonball Express go ov

e repeated to himself. "Suppose I'd

, and the room in such order as it had never known before. The sight of her standing there, flushed

be a long time getting

o say! What do you mea

ou go away. No more lon

gain I will not speak to you,"

er for keeps, and you can't lose me, no matter where you go.

and joined Mrs. James in the inner room,

swift," he admitted; "but,

"Will you please go to meet the doctor?" she a

st about starting," h

oung man, and was much pleased to find that the sharp-to

she explained. "If he makes

king up to me? I ne

lf an eye that he was naturally rustlin' round y

t way. Of course I couldn't help being grateful, after all he'd done; but I think it's

hty slick girl, and these boys don't see many like you out here in the sage-brush and pi?ons. Facts are,

do anything more for me. I don't wan

s a plump, dark little man of impassive mien, but seemed to know his business.

"but it's plenty serious enough. You see, the

through with the ruddy sympathy of a handsome, picturesque young cavalier. She could not be really angry with him, though she was genuinely shocked by his reckless disregard of the proprieties; for he came at such a dark and lonely and helpless hour

d till he gets well," he said,

edly; "for here comes the sun." And as she spoke the light of

cried Roy, and his smile was of a