pattullo george - the sheriff of badger

8/12/2019 Pattullo George - The Sheriff of Badger

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The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Sherif

of Badger, by George B. Pattullo

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anywhere at no cost and with

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Title: The Sheriff of Badger

A Tale of the Southwest Borderland

Author: George B. Pattullo

Release Date: November 11, 2010 [EBook

#34281]

Language: English

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK


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THE SHERIFF OF BADGER ***

Produced by Roberta Staehlin, David

Garcia, Mary Meehan

and the Online Distributed Proofreading

Team at

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The SHERIFF OFBADGER

A TALE OF THE

SOUTHWEST

BORDERLAND


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BY GEORGE

PATTULLO

ILLUSTRATED

D. APPLETON AND

COMPANY

NEW YORK AND

LONDON: MCMXII

Copyright, 1912, by

D. APPLETON AND

COMPANY


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Copyright, 1909, 1911, by

The Curtis Publishing

CompanyCopyright, 1911, 1912, by

Street and Smith

Copyright, 1910, by thePearson Publishing Company

>Published June, 1912

Printed in the United Statesof America

Acknowledgments are due toThe Saturday EveningPost,

Pearson's Magazineand The


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Popular Magazinefor

permission to use some of the

material in this book.

TO

A. W. BALLANTYNE


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The Sheriff of Badger


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CONTENTS

CHAPTER I. Lafe Johnson Arrives a

Lazy L Ranch

CHAPTER II. Certain Complication

Result

CHAPTER III. Concerning a Baby's Wail

CHAPTER IV. Out of a Job

CHAPTER V. An Incipient Love AffairCHAPTER VI. Discomfiture of

Gunfighter

CHAPTER VII. Johnson is Elected Sherif

of BadgerCHAPTER VIII. A Feud and What Cam

of It

CHAPTER IX. An Inquest and a Surprise

CHAPTER X. A Journey To Satan'


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Kingdom

CHAPTER XI. A Waitress to the Rescue

CHAPTER XII. The Sheriff Settles

Conjugal DisputeCHAPTER XIII. And Hetty Comes t

Badger to Live

CHAPTER XIV. The Sheriff Ensnared

CHAPTER XV. How He Won a WifeCHAPTER XVI. The Gunfighter Return

and Delays Wedding

CHAPTER XVII. Johnson Meets a Frien

of Hetty's

CHAPTER XVIII. A Sacrifice and It

Punishment

CHAPTER XIX. Buffalo Jim Gives WisCounsel

CHAPTER XX. The Sheriff Purges Tow

of Badger

CHAPTER XXI. A Fight in the Dark


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CHAPTER XXII. Capture of Moffatt, th

Gunman

CHAPTER XXIII. The Wedding

CHAPTER XXIV. The Bride is LostCHAPTER XXV. Johnson Becomes Bos

of the Anvil

CHAPTER XXVI. Enters Trouble

CHAPTER XXVII. A Clever Woman ana Misunderstanding

CHAPTER XXVIII. ReconciliationMrs

Vining Experiences a Change of Heart

CHAPTER XXIX. Lafe Helps a Deserter

CHAPTER XXX. And Discovers Hetty'

Brother

CHAPTER XXXI. Great Expectations iJohnson Family

CHAPTER XXXII. Birth of Lafe Johnson

Jr.

CHAPTER XXXIII. Johnson Once Mor


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CHAPTER XLV. The End


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LIST OF

ILLUSTRATIONS

The Sheriff of Badger

"She and Johnson rode together ever

day"

"As Lafe was coming from dinner ... Mexican handed him a letter"

"So now Lafe, Jr., flattened out in hi

fissure in equal danger with his father"


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THE SHERIFF OF

BADGER


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CHAPTER I

LAFE JOHNSON ARRIVES

AT THE LAZY L RANCH

t may come as a shock to many to lear

hat we have in cowland a considerabl

number of full-blooded men who hav

never made it a practice to step outsid

he door of a morning and shoot a fellow

citizen before breakfast. This is true; vita

statistics and fiction to the contrarynotwithstanding. They are well-grown

wo-fisted men, also, and work very har

seven days in the week, and wheneve

hey go to town they get drunk. But in th


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main they are law-abiding, and stea

calves only for their employers.

There was Lafe Johnson. This story hahim for its central figure.

"It's right queer about men," Lafe used t

say, when in a reflective mood. "A felle

will knock in a friend what he'd be like t

do himself. And he'll act mean one day so

he's sure ashamed of it the next. Yes, sir

he best of 'em will. It all depends on howa man feels, I reckon, and what shape hi

stomach's in. No man ain't always going t

do the right thing, and I've never met

feller yet who was all bad. What's morenobody thinks he's bad, or I expect h

wouldn't be. Don't you reckon? Why,

man'll be plucky one day and the nex

morning he'd cry if a jackrabbit was t


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slap him in the face."

Lafe started man's estate as a cowboy

What his antecedents were I don't knowand don't care, nor did anybody else in ou

country. We have so many more importan

matters to engage us. Punching cattl

happened to be his profession. In everother respect Lafe was a norma

ndividualno better than you or I, an

assuredly no worse. Some thought he wa

worse, and among them a Mrs. Traceyor she pretended towho thought that an

a few other things besides. That was wh

Mrs. Floyd, just before Johnson departe

he ranch, insisted that he accompany heo the Tracey home in Rowdy Caon.

"I'll tell her to her face what I think," sh

said.


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Lafe tried to pacify her.

"I ain't much of a fighter, ma'am," he said

"You'd better go alone and have it outMiz Tracey, she's got me scared off the

map right now."

"You'll come, too!" Mrs. Floyd assured

him, pulling on her gauntlets.

This is what Mrs. Floyd said, sitting he

horse in front of the Tracey gate, he

erstwhile friend being on the veranda

"I've heard the stories you've bee

spreading about me, Tracey!"

"Stories? Gracious, what's got into youSally? I never mentioned your name! D

you reckon I've got nothing better to tal

about?"


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discover any grounds for pride in Mr

Johnson's acquaintance. Upon which sh

slammed the door.

"Now, I wonder if that lady mean

something?" Lafe murmured gently.

That was forever the way. People wer

never indifferent to Johnson. They eithe

swore by him or execrated his name

which ought to be held to his credit. A

man's virtues must be negative if he makno enemies.

Here is the story of Lafe's advent in ou

part of the worldmerely the facts, an

not the tale Mrs. Tracey spread. No man

will blame him, and let those of her se

udge Mrs. Floyd who have never erred

hair's breadth. We will then consider the


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ury.

The Lazy L outfit was loading a train wit

cattleones and twos, graded stuff ansome bullswhen Johnson first appeared

He arrived on a freight, presumably. It i

my belief he was heading back for Texa

on the bumpers of an eastbound thapassed. It stopped for water and h

dropped off when he perceived u

shipping.

Forty yearlings had been manhandled an

heaved into a car, and one old bull wa

added which would eventually visi

eastern parts in tins. Perhaps the rangmonarch had some suspicion of this, for h

urned round to walk out. They yelled, an

prodded at his neck and ribs with poles

but the bull shook his head in settle


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determination and started down the chute

f he gained the crowding pen, wher

more yearlings and another bull waited

here would be a fight and a lot of mussinand long delay. The boss danced up and

down, swearing like a moss-trooper.

"Bar the chute! Bar the chute!" he yellefrom the top of the corral fence.

Ere the poles could be thrust in, a seed

ndividual stepped down directly in fronof the giant Hereford and began to las

him furiously over the face with a rope.

"Come out of there! You'll get killed

Come out!" cried the boss.

The bull bellowed with rage, but the stin

of the blows forced his head up. Bloo


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rickled down his nose, and there wer

ivid wales above the eyes. One lurc

forward and this man would be crushed

but the rope cut fiercely and withoupause, and the bull began to back. Th

stranger did not let up, but drove him int

he car with savage recklessness.

"What the Sam Hill are you, anyhow?

said the boss, straddling the fence. "A

circus or a town cowboy?"

ow, a "town cowboy" is a term o

reproach among us, signifying a youn

man who never did range work, but wear

he clothes and does trick roping for thdelectation of visitors. Ultimately he join

a Wild West show and instructs the rising

generation.


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"I reckon you're cleverer than me,

Johnson said, "but you ain't awake to m

yet. Turn over. You're on your back."

Without concerning himself further abou

he boss, he clambered out on to th

platform and threw the borrowed rope t

Reb. We saw that he was tall and big obone, and his shoulders had an indolen

droop. Although he could not have bee

over twenty-five, his hair was plentifull

flecked with gray.

Presently Buffalo Jim, who was keepin

ally of the cattle going through the chute

ost count and admitted frankly that hcould not say whether there were thirty

seven or forty in the car. He tried to

appear grave in confessing this, but wa

unable to repress a snigger. Everythin


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would have gone smoothly, he contended

had he not chanced to recall a story Uncl

Hi Millet had told him the previous night.

"If that feller could count up to fifty," said

Johnson, in an aside to the buyer, "h

would be back in Texas still, a-teaching

school."

"Hello, Lafe!" the other exclaimed

"Where did you drop from? Want a job?

Seventy a month?"

"Eighty."

"No, sir; seventy."

"Eighty. I got a lot of unfinished busines

down the line unless."

"Have it your own way. Eighty it is. Fly a


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t."

Johnson replaced Buffalo Jim and sat on

board between two posts, dangling hiegs, staring at everything but the plungin

steers. Yet he never once failed to tally.

The boss's wife rode up to the corrals

With her was Mrs. Tracey.

"Who's them there ladies?" Laf

whispered to a cowboy who wielded

prodpole.

"That pretty one's Miz Floyd. I cain

rightly see the other. Oh, yes. Shore. She'

a widow womanowns a flock of mineway up in them mountains."

"The pretty one's the one I meant," sai

Lafe.


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We sealed the door of the last car, and a

brakeman waved to the engineer to pul

forward. The buyer grabbed Lafe by th

shoulder and jabbered instructions into hiear. Then he caught the caboose rail as i

sped by, and Johnson informed the amazed

Floyd that he had been commissioned t

receive the other herds when gathered.

"And he don't even know your name? Oh

he does? All the same, that's sure rushin

t. Glad to do business with you, anyhowwant you to be acquainted with my wife

Shake hands with Mr. Johnson, Sally."

Mrs. Floyd came down the platformstriding like a man. She was wearing

divided skirt, very useful-looking spurs o

her high-heeled boots, and a man's felt hat

All the cowboys stopped work to eye her


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She was only twenty-two and had a

amazingly trim figure. With tha

meaningless smile of polite welcome wit

which a woman greets her husband'friends, Mrs. Floyd drew off a glove t

give Johnson her hand.

"Lafe Johnson! Lafe!" she squealed. Andwith that she was pumping the big fellow'

arm up and down, her cheeks red wit

excitement.

"Why, it's li'l Sally!"

"I take it you two know each other," said

her husband mildly.

"Do we? Why, we were raised together

Tom. Lafe was one of my best beaux

Weren't you, Lafe?"


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manner of executing it.

"What does she mean by that?" said Sall

hotly."Who? What?"

"The way she went off there. Didn't yo

see her? You'd think weoh, I don't knowhow to say it."

"I reckon this lady knows her way about

ma'am?"

"She's awfully nice, Lafe. Really she is

When we're alone, I love her. Bu

sometimes, when men are aroundwelyou saw how she acted."

"Sure," said Lafe, in his soft bass, and h

grinned at her. "It ain't what she does, bu


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t's what she don't do. That smile sh

smothers, now"

"Have you noticed that, too? Tom didvery first thing. He doesn't like her."

Johnson asked her of her marriage an

how it had come about. It was five year

since he had seen her, wasn't it? Mrs

Floyd said four, and he murmured that i

seemed longer. She laughed, but wa

pleased, nevertheless. As they rode, shstudied him without disguise, an

remarked that the gray in his hair was a

mprovement. He was dressed ver

poorly, and his boots were down at thheel and worn through the soles, but sh

did not appear to notice their plight and h

suffered no confusion therefrom. Twice

she detected him looking from her to Tom


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ever sober you," she called over he

shoulder. "RememberI'm a married

woman, Lafe Johnson."

"I won't forget it if you don't, ma'am," h

said amiably, upon which she gave him

fearfully stern look and giggled.


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CHAPTER II

CERTAIN

COMPLICATIONS RESULT

Many authorities assert that a man's look

count for nothing in the pursuit of wome

and the game of love. And they seem to

have the rights of the matter. Citations can

be had in plenty. Take the case of the Lazy

L boss. Floyd was not unlike an amiabl

gorilla. Well over the two-score mark inyears, he rambled somewhat in his shape

n the first place, his shoulders were to

broad for his height, and his jaw an

mouth were entirely too wide. Moreover


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his legs had the liveliest scorn one for th

other. The boss always compelled interes

and respect, it is true; but so does

bulldog. Yet he owned the Lazy L and alts herds; he had the prettiest wife in th

country, and there were those who said

she adored him; and he had a son and heir

wo years old. All of which set Lafe tomarveling over the inscrutable contriving

of Providence.

t was seven miles from the shipping peno the ranch, another seven to the Trace

home. Consequently the widow stayed t

supper, though it meant enduring Floyd'

cold scrutiny for an hour of chat. The boswas civil to her in a heavy, formal way

bestowing sidelong looks when he wa

persuaded she could not see him


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However, there was a full moon and i

would fall to Johnson to take her home

She was a persevering woman.

Floyd presented himself to his wife on th

second day and said, in his usual blun

style: "Sally, better be decent to tha

fellow Johnson. Will you?"

"Why, sure, Tom. What's got into you

head now?"

"Some of this last bunch of cattle ar

awful poor stuff. Where the tarnation Re

picked up these brindles and swayback

and old, hipped long-horns beats me. Laf

will cut 'em all back. He'll just go throug

hat herd like a prairie fire. So keep him i

a good humor, Sally, will you? Is it a go?


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"Tom, you're dreadful. Do you think I'l

help you cheat Mr. Horne by flirting wit

Lafe? You ought to be ashamed o

yourself, Tom Floyd."

"Who asked you to flirt? I've seen yo

mighty handy with them eyes of yours o

other fellows, without being asked," hsaid good-humoredly.

"Oh, what a lie, Tom! I won't. Remember

won't."

But, being a good wife, she did.

Autumn was rattling the dry bones o

summer, and she and Johnson rodogether every day. A keen southwes

wind swirled the dead grass and leave

about their horses' feet. He would listen t


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her chatter by the hour, watching the pin

grow in her cheeks. Lafe was very good

humored, indeed. With the improvement i

his circumstances had come a markemprovement in appearance. He ha

mported what is known as a "hand-me

down" suit at the cost of a week's pay, and

he took a pardonable pride in it, for threason that the tailors expressly stated i

heir advertising that they catered only t

gentlemen of refined tastes. Also, he had

done some trafficking with Buffalo Jim

hereby obtaining a pair of whole boots.


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did not perceive what was growing i

Johnson during those two weeks o

companionship, although we may b

convinced that even a stupid woman casense it a mile off; and Mrs. Floyd wa

clever. But she would not give ear to he

own doubts.

"That widow won't get him, anyhow," sh

said, standing in front of a mirror. Sh

could not resist giving her hips a

approving pat, and she smiled.

One evening, as they sat on the veranda

Lafe put up a forefinger languidly an

ouched a stray curl. She dashed his hanaway.

"It's just as black and silky as ever," h

said.


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"Perhaps. But you keep your hands off! D

you hear?" Then she added: "There's n

gray in it, anyhow."

Just for whom this shaft was meant wil

ever remain a profound mystery. Bot

Lafe and Mrs. Tracey had gray in thei

hair. That night Sally was demonstrativwith Floyd, hanging over the back of hi

chair with her hands locked under his chi

and her face snuggling against the top o

his head. The boss blew clouds of smokand seemed gently amused. Thes

manifestations of devotion had becom

frequent of late, but it should not be hastil

nferred that because Lafe was a spectatohey were done for his benefit. That coul

not be, because he took them with suc

extraordinary fortitude. If he wa


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harassed, Johnson stifled all expression o

his condition grandly.

Floyd was much away from homeSometimes he was in the south, buyin

stock cattle. Again, he went north and eas

o sell of his herds. Sally told Lafe that h

eft her alone too much. Lafe coughed ansaid something unintelligible, and lighte

a cigarette.

"What did you say?" she asked sharply.

"When a feller is getting old and ain't go

ong to live"

"You quit that kind of talk right now. won't stand for it."

t was the first time she had been reall

angry at any of his frequent sallie


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concerning Floyd, and it put them at onc

on a different footing. The safe franknes

of raillery was gone.

Alas, that Lafe could draw the line s

sharply between business and th

courtesies of leisure hours. A trail herd

arrived. They plied Johnson with strondrink and worked in relays to get hi

drunk. He partook sociably, but withou

noticeable impairment of his faculties, an

he cut the herd ruthlessly to a remnant. Thboss grew dizzy figuring his losses an

departed from the roundup, unable t

endure the spectacle without interference

eaving instructions to be notified whehe fool was done.

"I'm working for Horne," said Laf

cheerfully. "Did you think I couldn't tell


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wo-year-old from a three, Floyd? Thos

boys tried to run a bunch by me."

Mrs. Tracey drove over to the Floydheadquarters twice, on matters relating t

a recipe for a cake and certain patterns

and then asked her friend and Mr. Johnso

o dinner. She invited Floyd, too, but iwas done so perfunctorily that Sally fel

he stab and was furious. However, sh

went. The widow was as sleek as a kitte

and wore such a secretive air that MrsFloyd had much ado to keep her tempe

during the meal. Afterward, Mrs. Tracey

excused herself for a few minutes on som

pretext and left them alone in the sittingroom. When she had to pass through o

her way upstairs, she hurried as thoug

ntruding, and said: "Oh, I beg you


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pardon!"

"The cat!" Mrs. Floyd cried, gritting he

eeth."There wasn't no call for her to say that?"

"Of course there wasn't, booby. Tha

doesn't make it any better. It makes iworse."

Two days later: "Now guess what?"

"I done quit guessing," Johnson answered

"That Tracey woman tried to tell me thi

morning that my Tom was too friendly

with one of those Baptismo girls."

"Pshaw!" said Lafe. "Pshaw! What doe

she want to go and tell them lies for? Wha


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good does it do?"

"You don't see?"

"I reckon I'm dull."

"Oh, you great baby!" Mrs. Floyd gurgle

delightedly.

This display of malice disturbed Laf

greatly. Such weapons were beyond hi

knowledge and capacity, and he felt hotl

uncomfortable when Sally intimated thahey might expect Mrs. Tracey to b

alking of them nextif, indeed, she ha

not done so already. She was for going to

Rowdy Caon without delay to bestow ongue-lashing on the widow.

"What's the use?" the cowboy said. "He

alk can't hurt nobody. They all know


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you."

"Some people will believe her."

"Some people will do anything. Nevebother with poor trash, Sally. It don

matter what that kind thinks. Leave her be

What can you expect from a pig but

grunt?"

That was no way to speak of a lady, bu

Mrs. Floyd jumped from her chair an

cried "Goody!", greatly consoled. Jus

before the evening meal, she put on a pin

dress for which Lafe had professe

admiration, and parted her hair in th

middle. Had there been a woman withi

seven miles, she would not have done this

but Lafe liked it that way. So also did he

husband, for that matter.


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"As if I'd get jealous of Tom!" she sniffed

"Huh! you won't get Lafe that way, m

ady."

have said that they rode together ever

day. Sometimes Floyd watched the two

meditatively. His instructions were bein

carried outno doubt of thatanJohnson was good-natured. But the bos

was a silent man and opposed n

objection. As for Sally, if she gave it a

hought at all, she probably founustification in a dozen reasons a woma

would appreciate, which are beyond mal

ken.

Lafe helped her down from her horse lat

one afternoon, though she needed no help

And he held her for just the fraction of

second. She stiffened with an injured air


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but she did not reprove him. On anothe

occasionthey were on the veranda and i

was growing to duskafter starin

helplessly at her for a full quarter of ahour, while she purposely said as little a

possible and toyed with the lace of he

handkerchief, her head on one side that h

might get the benefit of her profilesuddenly he seized her in his arms an

ried to kiss her. He did, in fact, obtain th

merest peck at the tip of her ear.

"You darn fool!" she said, tearing loose.

Then she saw his face, and went hastil

ndoors and huddled in a chair in a darcorner. She sat there until called to

supper, striving to fix recent happenings i

proper sequence.


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After putting the baby to bed, sh

beckoned Lafe on to the veranda. He

manner was hurried.

"Lafe, you've got to go away. You've go

o go to-morrow."

"Why? I can't, Sally. There's thre

housand more"

"You must! You must! Can't you see?

You've got to go. We're"

"Sure, I see," he said. It was very dark an

he came closer. "You care! That's what i

s. You used to, Sally, and you do now."

"Lafe, let me go! Pleaseplease!"

She broke away and gained the door. Sh

was panting. In the lighted entrance, sh


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o harness for his employer. He neve

gave an order, yet the boys obeyed hi

slow-voiced suggestions with the sam

promptitude they gave to the boss's crispcommands. Lafe could always ge

obedience without visible exercise o

authority. He knew his business and

followed it without fluster.

At sunset, a cloud of dust whirled madl

across country, with the rain close behind

t. Sally ate aloneLafe had evidentlstayed at the bunkhouseand she fel

vaguely resentful. About nine she tucked

he child into his bed and went out on t

he veranda. The wind was dying, and thrain fell in a soft, steady murmur.

Johnson came running along the pathwa

and took the steps at a jump. He was wet


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but jeered at her suggestion that he change

"Only got this one suit," he said. "If it get

o shrinking much more on me, I'll havfor to steal a blanket to-morrow, Sally."

He took a chair beside her and the

watched the lightning play above the blac

umble of hills to the east. Sally uttere

hardly a syllable. When she spoke at al

he words came jerkily. Lafe leaned ove

once to brush some sparks of his cigarettfrom his coat. A delicate perfume reached

him.

"The river," he said, clearing his throat

"the river'll be way up. Bridge is like t

go out."

"I'm afraid so. Oh, dear! Tom promised


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CHAPTER III

CONCERNING A BABY'S

WAIL

He was gripping both her hands and sh

had not moved. Her lips were open, bu

she seemed powerless to speak. A loud

hump startled the pair. A shrill wail from

he bedroom and Mrs. Floyd sprang up.

The baby had fallen from the bed and wa

now engaged in howling himself purple i

he face. Mrs. Floyd swooped down o

him in a tremor, and gathering him in he

arms, went all over his sturdy body wit


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speed and precision, to ascertain in jus

how many places bones were broken.

"Lafe," she cried, "he's bumped his headOh, just look at this lump! My ow

precious darling! Lafe, get the witch

hazel! Quick! No, no! In the bathroom, o

he window sill. Oh, he's holding hibreath! Baby! Baby!"

She shook Tommy until he was forced to

release the air in his lungs, which he let gwith a tearing yell. Johnson brought th

bottle and stood awkwardly holding i

while she applied some of the contents t

a red spot on the baby's forehead. Sallsat in a chair, rocking back and forward

with her lips against her child's neck an

her arms holding him close. Little Tom

clutched her tightly and gradually his crie


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and sobs ceased. Lafe tiptoed to the door

He remained there a few minutes to watch

eaning against the jamb. But Sally did no

appear to notice him as she crooned to thbaby, who was sinking to sleep.

Johnson was standing at the edge of th

steps, staring into the blackness, when shcame out. He threw away his cigarette o

hearing her call his name.

"Just look at that dark, Sally, will you?he said. "It beats all."

At the tone of his voice, she cried: "Oh

Lafe, Lafe! I'm so glad!"

Mrs. Floyd did not specify why she wa

glad, nor did Johnson ask her. She gav

him both hands without hesitation, an


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and Floyd stepped stiffly out of the saddle

He gave the reins to Miguel, wh

disappeared toward the corrals at

gallop. The boss was spattered with mudand wringing wet and dog-weary. As he

came into the light, he dragged his feet

and water ran in streams from his overall

and seeped from his boots.

"Tom!" His wife ran to him.

"Don't," he said. "I'm soaking."

"How did you get here? Mercy! You're a

sight. Don't let the rain drip on the rug

Stand over here."

"How's the bridge, Floyd?" Johnso

asked.

"The bridge is down," the boss answered


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"We done swum the river." Then he

chuckled grimly. "Miguel, he was plumb

scared, but I pulled a gun on him and mad

him go ahead."

He threw himself into a chair an

removed his muddied spurs.

"I never dreamed you'd get back to-night,

said Sally.

"I said I would, didn't I?"

Johnson, resting his shoulders against th

sitting-room mantel, suddenly bethough

himself and went to his room, whence h

returned briskly with a bottle of whisky.

"This'll keep the cold out."

"Why, you must be half dead, you poor


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running to the kitchen for hot coffee an

oast. Lafe sat backit being his custo

o bring his mouth down to his fork

nstead of his fork up to his mouthansurveyed the scene with much approva

Mrs. Floyd was at that moment pressin

her husband to a second plate o

scrambled eggs.

"There's nothing like a home, after all,

said the boss, with a sigh of satisfaction

"You ought for to get married, Lafe."

"Hell!yes!" said Lafe, who wa

sometimes careless in his speech.


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CHAPTER IV

OUT OF A JOB

Three days later Johnson left us to gnorth with his last load of cattle. Floy

and his wife were at the pens to say good

by, and waved at him until the caboos

followed the rest of the train around curve. Even Tommy flapped his chubby

fist. And in the course of time Horne paid

him off.

That was in Kansas City. Johnson spen

his earnings in something under thirt

hours and made the return in a day coach

having no money for a berth. Indeed, hi


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ast meal, which he procured at a waysid

unch counter in New Mexico, he wa

compelled to charge. It was made easie

for him to do this inasmuch as he haalready eaten the meal. The landlord, afte

slowly thinking it over, said he would

rust Lafe.

ow he was back in the cow country

hopeful that Horne might find furthe

employment for him, for that was the onl

work in which Lafe was content. And hwent to Badger, his credit being good

here until they should discover he had n

money. It behooved him to get a job, wit

winter almost on them, yet the prospecdid not distress Lafe in the least. H

oitered around the Fashion, waiting fo

something to turn up.


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On a November morn, Buffalo Jim rod

nto Badger from the Lazy L, leading

pack-horse that carried all his worldl

possessions on its back. Buffalo waifted up in heart and scornful of roundups

having just sold a mine. It does no

concern us what sort of mine he sold

although a gentleman from Illinois grewvery nasty over this point subsequently

Suffice that Jim had four hundred dollars.

He told Lafe that he was through with thLazy L and sick cows, and would devot

his future to prospecting. Nobody woul

ever order him around again; he wouldn

stand to be roused out of bed at four in thmorning by Floyd, or any man alive. A

week's work in the hills, a vein of coppe

and here he was with money in hi


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never takes a jaunt into the pleasant by

ways?

So then, Lafe Johnson and Buffalo Jiproceeded to enjoy life in Badger in th

only way they knew. There was really no

adequate physical reason for Shortredge'

name of Buffalo Jim. If one scrutinizehim closely, the difference could b

discerned with comparative ease. Ye

Shortredge possessed traits that made th

appellation peculiarly fitting. Whestorms brew, a buffalo will drift into the

head on, being so constructed by th

Creator. It is yet to be learned that Ji

ever permitted trouble to overtake hiwith his back turned.

They were lying under a pool table in th

Fashion one gusty November dawn, lost i


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danced two Paul Joneses with her

followed them with a two-step and

waltz; and by that time Miss Hawes wa

giggling in half-hysterical mirth over hepartner's unusual sallies. She slappe

playfully at Lafe when he leaned close t

her ear to whisper.

"Say, you've got your nerve," she said

covering her face with her hands in a

ecstasy of laughter.

"No, I ain't. Honest I ain't. I'm sure shy a

a teeny li'l' rabbit with other girls."

"What makes you go to say them thing

hen?"

"You do. You make me brighten up a

heap. And I'd kind of like to learn to talk


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"Now I've got you. Sure. He's th

gunfighter. So that's Steve Moffatt?"

Lafe's eyes brightened and one woulhave thought that this discovery was th

only thing needed to complete hi

satisfaction. He grinned genially a

Moffatt when they chanced to meet at MisHawes's side, and exchanged polit

surmises on the outlook for more rain

Said Mr. Johnson, knowing well to th

contrary: "Running sheep?"

"Cattle," said Moffatt shortly.

He studied Lafe with an oblique glance

not at all sure that no insult lurked in th

query. Presently he whisked Miss Hawe

away. The majority of the gentlemen at th

ball held their partners with both hand


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around the shoulders, and this metho

afforded excellent opportunity for Grac

o gaze up into Moffatt's eyes. Her ow

were deep blue and singularly enticingSteve's were brown and very, very aler

and steady, and Miss Hawes rapidl

discovered that they refused to waver an

grow uncertain, as was the habit of mosmasculine orbs. To Johnson, thi

exhibition seemed crude, even raw. H

went outside where the refreshments wer

cached in order to find Buffalo.

"Say, Jim, I swan that don't seem the righ

way to dance," he said. "It don't loo

proper, hugging a girl that away."

"Huh! It don't, hey? You took to it smar

enough. You weren't hollering. Why, you

didn't know whether you was on the floo


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cowboy. "I done told him so twice."

"Go on and dance," Moffatt ordered

"Here, you. Here's your guitar. Take to itAnd when a gen'l'man asks you to slow up

again, you slow up. Savez?"

Miss Hawes took his arm, with a soft

prideful sigh, and they moved off. It wa

glorious to be the center of all eyes, an

she was very proud of him just then. H

dominated the assembly with sucdisdainful unconcern. She had seen th

Tumbling K boy actually shrink. Realizin

quickly the need of smoothing out th

situation, Lafe created a diversionAdvancing to the center of the floor, h

shouted: "The next'll be a quadrille. Ge

your partners for a quadrille. H

everybody! Step to it."


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Thus harmlessly did the incident pas

over. Lafe was famous at calling off

dance and soon Grace found hersel

wavering in her allegiance. It is true thaMoffatt was extremely handsome, but Laf

had a way. He might be too stooped and

ndolent for grace of movement, but

Johnson's voice came to her over thheads of the whirling crowd, and sh

forgot to reply to a question from he

partner.

"First lady to the right, the right hand gen

he right hand round. Partner by the left a

you come round. Lady in the center, al

hands round," he yelled, and there was swirl of skirts and lifting of dust t

stamping feet.

"Head lady and opposite gent forward an


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back," he chanted again.


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Give right hand half way round;

Back with left, left hand round.

Promenade the corner as you

come around.

When the dance ended, it was th

conventional thing for a gentleman t

abandon the lady where they chanced tfind themselves at the moment and go o

about his business. Taking advantage o

his custom, Lafe descended upon Mis

Hawes and bore her off; nor did he oncgive her up until the stars paled in the sky

Then he asserted his right to take he

home.

On the way he fell silent. All his glibnes

of tongue deserted him abruptly, and

Grace was mightily pleased over th

symptom.


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"What's the matter, Mr. Lafe?" she asked

"Why don't you say a word?"

"I'm studying over something," saiJohnson.

After a moment he inquired, withou

ooking at her: "You done give me two

Paul Joneses, didn't you?"

"Sure I did. Why? Weren't they enough?"

"Yes. And four waltzes and four twosteps. Ain't that the tally?"

"You've got it right. But what's the matter

Mr. Lafe?"

"And you done let me have the Hom

Sweet Home waltz, too?"


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"Look a-here, Mr. Lafe, what're yo

driving at?"

Johnson pondered darkly for a full minute"What'd you give that feller Steve?" h

said finally.

"You'd like to know, wouldn't you? Say

you've got your nerve." She tilted her chi

upwards and flashed a look at him.

"What did you let that feller have?" h

said again.

"I won't tell you: so there. Not near s

much as you got, Lafe Johnson. Now, ar

you satisfied?"

"Pretty near. Leastways, for a while."

She gave Lafe her hand at parting, and h


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Jim had staked him. The cowboy too

counsel of friends. Buffalo Jim wa

disposed to hold Miss Hawes lightly.

"I ain't no prude," he explained. "You

boys know that right well. You-all know

me. I like a girl what's got ginger. But

don't figure on marrying a whole can of inor I don't calculate to see ol' Lafe get i

smeared over him that way, neither."

"Well, what're you aiming to do?"

"Leave it to me. I'll fix it," said Jim.


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yelps at the end of each line, like a coyot

n the full swing of his nightly paroxysm.

"I don't like that song," she said decidedly"Cut it out. It's fierce."

"I reckon it ain't true," Lafe admitte

amely, and tried another, a plaintive ditty

of Little Joe, the horse wrangler.

Hardly had he finished than Moffa

knocked and was admitted. Steve had on

new, yellow silk neckerchief, and Johnso

cursed his want of foresight in no

purchasing some finery. To-morrow tha

would be rectified: he recalled a gree

one he had seen in the store window.

The gunfighter let two six-shooters slip

from his waist when he entered


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a gun," Steve said. He added critically

"You look stout enough."

"I'm feeling pretty tol'able fair, thanks."When Lafe got home that night, Jim wa

sitting up for him, thumping his heel

against the edge of the bed. He was s

much concerned for his friend that he di

not feel like sleep. After a tentative puff o

wo on a cigarette, and some coughing, h

got it out. Did Lafe know that GracHawesJohnson silenced him curtly, and

hey lay down, back to back. But Buffal

was undaunted by a sleepless night. Hi

was a staunch soul, and early next morninhe repaired to the Cowboys' Rest t

nterview Miss Hawes.

"You say he's been married before?


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great many fam'lies, Miss Hawes. Just

few, scattered here and there."

"Get out!" said Miss Hawes. "Get out, andon't you never show your face round her

again. Married? Huh, you can't go to foo

me! You quit trying to crowd into my

affairs or it'll be the worse for you, MrBuf'lo."

"Certainly, ma'am. Certainly, Mis

Grace," Jim said, seizing his hat. "Excusme, ma'am, will you, please?"

He decided to say nothing of the visit t

Lafe.

When Johnson reached the Cowboys' Res

hat evening, Moffatt was alread

ensconced in the wicker rocking-chair


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Lafe was momentarily cast down. A

conference had revealed that he an

Buffalo had no more money. They must go

n search of work without delay.

"Oh, Mr. Lafe," was Grace's greeting

"guess what! I've been asking Steve abou

shooting, and he done promised to keep can in the air for five shots to-morrow."

"That's good shooting," said Johnson

accepting a chair.

"Ain't it wonderful? I do love a man wh

can shoot. When I marry, I want a ma

who knows how to keep other men scared

used to tell my sister back in Abilene

she ain't like me. No, indeed. She's

society lady, my sister is. I done said to

her, 'Mary Lou, when'"


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"Yes, it takes nerve to be a gunfighter,

Lafe interrupted.

"Oh, it's grand, I think." Miss Haweclasped her hands and rolled her eyes.

"Yes, sir; yes, ma'am, it sure takes nerve

A gunfighter always gives the other felle

an even break. And he don't care how

even it is, does he, Moffatt?"

"I don't take you," Moffatt said doubtfully

"Why, there's all kinds of nerve in thi

world, Miss Hawes," said Lafe. "When

man knows he's better at a thing than th

next man, he's liable to be awful nervyTake a bronc buster, now. He knows he

can clean a horse, and he ain't scared s

you could notice it. And a gunman. If th


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other feller was a mite quicker, I wonde

f he'dWhat do you think?"

Said Moffatt: "I don't know what you'rdriving at."

"Well, look a-here. Supposing I was to pu

t up to a gunfighterto Mr. Moffatt here

say'Let's go into that back room wit

ust our bare hands and lock the door an

ay the key on the table.'"

"What for?" Miss Hawes aske

breathlessly.

"The best man to open itI wonder now

what a gunmanwhat Mr. Moffatt herewould say to that?"

"I ain't a fool," was what Moffatt had t

say to that.


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"Or," Lafe resumed, "what if I put it up

his way to some of them terrible fighters

What if I said, 'Let's put two guns on

able, draw off to opposite sides of throom, let another feller count three, an

he man who gets to 'em first, lives?'"

one of the three moved when Johnsohad finished. The alarm clock on th

flimsy, draped mantel-shelf ticked loudly

Miss Hawes's breathing sounded strained

"Ol' man Haverty wanted to see you dow

at the Fashion, Moffatt," Lafe said at last.

"You coming, too?"

"I reckon so."

"You're on," said Moffatt.


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CHAPTER VI

DISCOMFITURE OF A

GUNFIGHTER

Grace accompanied them to the door.

"Everybody'll know you're fighting abou

me," she whispered, twittering witexcitement. "Everybody is sure to know

he row is over me?"

"Yes. I'm afraid so," said Lafe, staring aher.

"Oh. All the girls will be wild."


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There was not an instant's hesitation i

Haverty's acceptance of the mastership o

ceremonies. He took Moffatt's two guns

examined them thoroughly and removehe cartridges. The weapons were exactl

alike. Then he reloaded them an

stationed the men.

"Both your hosses is ready saddled," h

announced. "So one of you kin get over th

Border."

"That suits me," said Steve.

They were stationed in opposite corner

of the rear room in the Fashion, a tabl

placed accurately half-way between. O

he table were two six-shooters, the butt

outward. Johnson had the ball of one foo

braced against the wall.


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"All ready?" Haverty said crisply. "One

wothree!"

Johnson gained the middle of the room at bound, seizing his gun and overturning th

able with one movement. It crashe

against Moffatt's chest and his hand

failed to grasp the weapon. Lafe jammehe .45 close to his ribs and pulled twice.

"Help, boys!" Moffatt shrieked, sinking t

he floor. "Help! He's murdering me!"

He threw an arm upward, as though t

ward off the death he had meted out t

others. Johnson remained over him, th

smoking gun in his hand.

"Get up," he said. "Get up and run."

"I can't. You got me twice. I'm done for,


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reckon."

"Pshaw!" said Haverty. "You ain't even

hit. Just scorched, Moffatt. Them wablank kattridges."

From the floor, the gunfighter gazed

stupidly at the two. He arose slowly an

dusted himself.

Outside in the crowded bar, nobod

ventured to gibe at him, for Moffatt wa

always a dangerous man, and mos

dangerous when beaten or humiliated. H

went quickly in search of his horse.

"You'd better go back to Grace," Johnsonsaid, following to see him safely out o

own.

"Not me. I'm overdue at the ranch already


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She's yours. I wish you joy of her, Lafe."

He rode out of town at a purposely slow

dogtrot. Some time afterward he killed Mexican vaquero in a dispute over

bridle, and fled south.

Johnson was saddling next day, whe

Grace Hawes swept into the yard of th

stable and confronted him.

"What's this I hear?" she shrilled. "What'

he meaning of it, Lafe Johnson? Where'r

you going?"

"I've got to go to the ranch to-day, Grace."

"You mean you're through with me, Lafe

Johnson?"

"I wouldn't go to put it that way, Grace


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Don't take on so."

"I willI will! I don't care who hears

You're a villainthat's what you are. Youpromised last nightyou said"

"A man had ought to be sociable with

adies," said Lafe, busy with the cinch.

"You done run off a man who was worth

wo of you any day, Lafe Johnson. And

hen you go to leave me. You leave me

here to be laughed at. You ... here, wait

Don't go, Lafe. Lafe, I didn't mean .

please, Lafe ... oh, please ..."

Johnson and Buffalo ambled side by sidalong a mesa covered with mesquite. Ji

had promise of a job from Floyd an

assured Johnson of one, also. Bot


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planned to eschew the frivolities of cit

ife henceforth. Buffalo asked suddenly

"What made you draw off so sudden tha

way, Lafe?"

Johnson grinned at him.

"It's right queer, Jim," he said. "But whe

she saw us off to go to fighting, some wa

begun to think of my li'l' sister. You

knew my sister Kitty, back in Texas, didn'

you, Buf'lo? She's got yallow hair."

"I shore did," said Jim, in some confusion

"Well, I sort of begun to wonder what I'd

hink of Kitty if she served a man like thatt was all off then. If Kitty tried a gam

ike that, Buf'lo, I'd sure take to her righ

smart with a rope end."


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CHAPTER VII

JOHNSON IS ELECTED

SHERIFF OF BADGER

For you or for me a certain embarrassmen

would attach to a return to work at a plac

we had sworn to avoid forever. Nothin

of the sort appeared to trouble Buffal

Jim. A month previous he had left the Lazy

L, scornful of cow work, vowing that h

would live like a gentleman all his daysow, penniless and unrepentant, he cam

back as a matter of course.

ndeed, Shortredge put his horses into th


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corral at headquarters as a man might wh

had reached home from a long trip. And

here was not a vestige of surprise o

Floyd's face when he greeted Jim. He dit casually, and shook hands with Lafe and

said that he was glad to see him. Then h

gave Buffalo certain orders for th

morrow, touching the matter of salt for thcattle, just as though Jim had never bee

off the ranch. The cowboy merely said

"You stayed a week longer'n we figured

on, Buf'lo."

So Buffalo Jim went to work at daybrea

and Johnson loitered at headquarters. Mrs

Floyd was unaffectedly glad to see hiand was not too inquisitive as to why h

happened to be there. Indeed, sh

appeared to take his arrival as quit


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natural, which spared Lafe muc

confusion. He played with Tommy most o

he time, and on the third day of his stay h

sounded Floyd on the subject of a job. Thboss had expected it, and surmising tha

Lafe was hard up, attempted to drive

hard bargain. A prudent man, such was hi

practice. It may be, too, that the boss dinot especially relish the notion of Johnso

being permanently on the place.

"Oh, no," said Lafe, "I couldn't take that."

He was never one to accept anythin

handed him merely because his situatio

ooked desperate. That policy ocompromise might befit the weak, bu

Johnson was made of sterner stuff. N

matter in what straits his mistakes lande

him, he forever kept his own valuation at


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certain figure. And usually other me

accepted his estimate.

"That's the best I can do," Floyd ended"I've got a range boss already, and a top

hand ain't worth over fifty a month, Lafe."

"All right. I'll be drifting."

"Stick around a bit, anyhow. We migh

strike a trade later. Say, come up to the

house. The missus wants you to stay wit

us instead of down here at the bunkhouse.

"Thanks," said Lafe, "but your cook's bee

sick since that weddin'. No, I reckon I'

best hang round with the boys down here.

He remained at the Lazy L a week, hal

expecting that Horne would send

message to bespeak his services again. I


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paying him off, the cowman had intimate

hat he would shortly have other deals t

be put through. A message arrived, but no

from the cattle buyer. The bearer came, hsaid, from Turner, the storekeeper and

ustice of the peace of Badger. Afte

istening for a moment, Lafe led hi

behind the barn for further converse.

"They want me to run for Sheriff o

Badger," he told Buffalo Jim that night.

"Go to it," said Jim. "It'll make the town

heap pleasanter for us. We'll feel safer

The boys'll sure be pleased."

t would appear that Johnson's bloodles

defeat of Moffatt had made a deep appea

o the citizens of Badger. They reasoned

hat a man who dared make a fool of


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notorious character should be able t

make short work of lesser fry

Accordingly, their message was that th

aw-abiding residents of the town werdesirous of securing Mr. Johnson'

services; and would he come forthwith

To this Lafe answered that he would

return to Badger in a day or two, and thmessenger departed. And for two solid

days Johnson dawdled abou

headquarters, absolutely idle. He had a

dea that to show eagerness would be t

weaken his position. This surmise prove

correct.

Badger leaped at once to the conclusiohat they could not get him. Yes, he had

seemed reluctant, said the messenger

ow, the average man does not want


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hing badly until he is persuaded he ca

obtain it only by strenuous effort. And

masses are like individuals, in thi

respect. That was why, as Lafapproached the town, he met a small part

of horsemen headed for the Lazy L. It wa

a deputation of citizens, set out to cajol

him into accepting the office. Briefly anearnestly they explained how things stoo

n Badger.

"All right," said Lafe, "I'll run. Buremember thiswhen I'm elected, you-al

ook alike to me. I won't play favorites

There'll be law and order in Badger."

"Sure," the committee agreed. "That's th

icket, Lafe. Well, let's have a li'l' touch

ust for luck."


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Johnson's opponent in the election wa

simply nowhere. The tale of Lafe'

prowess grew with every telling. Ti

Haverty asserted on his hopes of heavehat Lafe could take a six-shooter an

drive the nails into the shoes of a runnin

horse. Personally, I suspect Mr. Haverty

o have been guilty of some slighexaggeration. Still, there was ampl

evidence that Johnson could handle a gun

and nobody on the Border doubted hi

courage. Led by Turner, the respectable

element voted for him as a unit. The other

the hard drinkers, and the gamblers, an

men of no steady means of supportranged with Lafe, too. They had know

him as a "good fellow," a man liberal wit

his money and equally liberal in hi

views. Therefore they anticipated n


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rouble to themselves from his election.

n this manner was Lafe Johnson electe

sheriff of Badger. When made acquaintedwith the result, he took a long breath an

grew very solemn.

"Gentlemen," he said, "I thank you fo

your support. And I'll sure do my duty."

The opportunity was afforded him tha

same night. Some of them who ha

worked most ardently for Lafe wer

gathered in the Cowboys' Rest, and ther

was considerable drinking. A dispute

arose, and in the course of it the landlor

aid out one of the disputants with a chair

A panicky person fired a gun. That brough

Lafe into the Rest at a quick run.


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on, now. Get moving."

The landlord gaped a moment and the

announced that he hoped to be damned ihe went. If Lafe thought he could double

cross him in that manner, he had a few

hings to learn. The sheriff made a step

forward and the landlord reached undehe bar for his .45. Before he could rais

t, Johnson gripped his wrist and with hi

free hand struck him over the head wit

he butt of Tommy's gun. The landlordgave a grunt and dropped into the sheriff'

arms like a sack of meal. Five minute

ater he went before the justice of th

peace very quietly, along with Tommy.

"Understand me"the new sheriff face

he crowd that followed, some of the

murmuring"I'd arrest my best friend i


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he broke the law. Remember that."

"Hell, Lafe," they protested, "this i

running it over us.""We're going to have order here in

Badger. Come on, you two," said Johnson

Then he went bail for his prisoners.


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CHAPTER VIII

A FEUD AND WHAT CAME

OF IT

They had hanged a man in the Willows

He was swinging from a lower limb of

ree sixteen feet in diameterthe native

call it the Mother of Cottonwoods. Th

sheriff of Badger and I cut him down, an

because the time was summer and the flie

were bad, we buried him with all haste ihe sand, beside a chiming stream. Then

hat no prowler might despoil, we pile

rocks above, and got to horse withou

delay.


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"He don't look like nothing now," said

Lafe, "but it's Tom Rooker. You remembe

ol' Rooker? He always bummed hi

drinks, Tom did."

We rode through a pleasant grove, where

t was eternally twilight by day. A squirre

chattered above us and the streawhispered here in a sandy bed. At a bend

we came upon three cows wading belly

deep in the current and eating o

watercress. Some birds cheeped in a leafhicket beside the trail. The Willows wa

a paradise. Then a black shadow flitted i

front, as we emerged into a glade wher

he light was stronger, and a blearbuzzard settled leisurely on the topmos

branch of a tree. He gazed at us with cal

nsolence. I looked hastily away


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remembering what we had laid out.

After a while, the sheriff said: "I shouldn

have left town, Dan. I shouldn't havgone."

"You had to go."

"They wouldn't have got away with it, i'd been home. Poor ol' Tomhe wa

awful good-natured when he was sober."

We left the Willows behind and traversedopen country, heading up the San Pedro

Valley. As we went, the sheriff talked o

he hanging. He spoke in a hushed tone, a

hough there were ears to hear; or, it mabe, he could not get the dead man out o

his thoughts.

"This is some of Bud Walton's work," he


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how I am situated. And they've been awfu

careful, them two have."

He fell to communing with himself, anwe went steadily forward, the ponie

shuffling the dust in a dejected chop-trot

t was almost noon, and the heat wave

were lifting from the ground like thsmoke of an oil flame. We passed a dead

ree, and the sheriff roused from reverie.

"They done hung Dave Pearsall from thersix years back," he said, with a jerk of hi

head.

glanced around for the grave, it being th

custom to inter close to the scene of th

aking-off.

"It's over beyond. No, you can't see it


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Presently he began to speak of the feu

which had been the bane of his offic

during four of the six months of his tenure

When I proffered the suggestion, in a spiriof hope, that there must have been

beautiful fight before the Walton faction

secured Rooker, he dismissed tha

possibility with an impatient snort. It waike that Jeff Thomas had been away, h

said; probably south of the Border, o

some meanness or other. As for Tom, he

had not mixed much in the trouble in town

Perhaps they had picked on him becaus

he was Jeff's closest friend.

"We'll know right soon now. Gee, ain't theheat a fright? Say, Dan, if you take m

advice, you'll hit the grit out of Badge

ust as hard as you can make it."


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resolutely declined to hit the grit a

proposed. Soon we came in sight of th

own. It showed uncertainly on the horizo

ike a lake of mist, with a few waverinwindmills swaying therein; it might hav

been an impressionistic painting of

Dutch canal. A mile from the first house

he sheriff pulled up and bade me remaiwhere I was, whilst he entered Badger

His instructions were that I should hol

back for ten minutes precisely, the

proceed casually into town, leaving m

horse at the cattle company's corral, an

meet him at dinner in the Fashion.

"No, you can't come with me," he said"So let that soak into your hide. It's lik

some fool will start something and I don

want you on my mind. You'd only be in the


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way."

This was not flattering, but every man t

his business. The sheriff madpreparations for his by looking carefull

o his six-shooter. Then he nodded and

rode ahead into Badger. Ten minutes and

en seconds later, I followed.

Badger suggests in its exterior a woman o

he street, made up carefully as to the fac

and run-down at the heel. To left and toright as you enter from the west, are th

Fashion and the Cowboys' Rest, both o

frame, and pretentious structures for tha

region. Then there is the Wells-Fargoexpress office, with a tin roof whic

catches all the heat of the ages and sends i

sizzling over Badger. There are a genera

store and a butcher shop; two Eatin


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Houses, one at the Fashion, the othe

conducted by a Chinaman; and a broke

ine of one-story, two-roomed dwelling

of rough boards. Beyond that again, a fewadobe huts straggle for a full half-mile

They are the abodes of natives. The cattl

company's corral is at the extreme edge o

own, and there is a stable attached. Frohere one can see the habitation of Dutc

Annie and her handmaidens. Usually th

inkle of a piano greets the wayfarer, and

sometimes bursts of laughter which hav

no tinkle in them, nor any musical qualit

whatever.

The sheriff's horse slouched in front of thFashion as I proceeded down the street

ot a human being moved in sight. Th

express agent waved a friendly hand at m


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from the interior of his darkened office

and bestowed a sardonic grin. Then h

made a fanciful gesture, as of drawing

oop around his neck. Next, he wafighting violently for breath, and he wa

still engaged in this agreeable pantomim

when I passed beyond his ken. A mongre

collie, stretched in the hot dust, retreatesluggishly to give me right of way, and

sitting on his rump, began to scratch fo

fleas.

"Say, Dan, hell's a-poppin'," said Tim

Haverty cheerfully.

Mr. Haverty takes care of the company'corral and counts that day lost when n

fracas promises. He told me all about i

now, with a most unholy glee, although h

s an old, old man, who ought to be givin


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order to preserve peaceto wit,

division of the city of Badger. All north o

he street was to be Thomas' huntin

ground; the section to the south was free tBud to wander in at his pleasure. Bot

men had been prevailed upon to accep

his arbitrationThomas, with a show o

reluctance, but real willingness; the othergrudgingly, after persuasion.

"If you ast me," said Old Man Havert

udicially, "if you ast me, Dan, I'd say Budhas got it on Thomas in some ways. Yes

sir; Jeff, he's scared of that feller, excep

when he's good and mad."

Such apportionment of a town has no

been uncommon in the southwest in time

past. I know of two communities similarl

divided, at present writing. The armistic


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makes for temporary peace, but has

decided tendency to be irksome to citizen

who would be nonpartisan, and it usuall

ends by a casual trespass, or one of intentprompted by bravado or rye. After whic

he deceased gentleman's record i

horoughly threshed out and it is agreed o

all sides that he was a pretty good fellow"but"

The sheriff and I sat later at a table in th

Fashion, toying with a pile of dominoesAnd we discussed these things. It i

etiquette for a visitor, on entering the city

o hand over his gun to the bartender of th

first place of call. This signifies that hidesigns are peaceful, and perhaps hones

and it also keeps him out of a heap o

mischief. Besides, if he does not do that


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he sheriff is apt to seek him out and tak

he weapon, anyway. Therefore, th

gentleman who was swabbing the bar wit

a damp towel had possession of my .4Colt.

ight fell. Daniel Boonefat and fifty

who claimed descent from the greapioneerwas at a table in a corner b

himself, practicing sleight-of-hand with

pack of cards, faro being his profession. I

uck favored Daniel, some plump lamwould be delivered to his fleecing befor

another dawn broke.

Jeff Thomas came in, walked to the baand ordered a drink. The Fashion being o

his domain, this occasioned no surprise

Then he espied the sheriff and clanke

across to our table.


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"Hello, Johnson. Say, Walton's been

making threats against my life," he said.

"Huh-huh?" said the sheriff carelessly"Seems to me, Jeff, him and you both'v

been doing a pile of talking."

"But he done told some fellers he'd get m

nside forty-eight hours."

"I reckon you'd better keep out of his way

hen, Jeff."

"But look here, Johnsonoh, pshaw, let'

alk sense. He's made threats, I tell you.

done got a permit from the justice of th

peace to pack a gun. Turner, he give it tome for my own protection."

"Well?"


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"Well? WELL? What're you going to do

about it? That's what I want to know

You're sheriff, ain't you?"

My friend lighted a cigarette from the stub

of another. Afterwards he studied the nail

of his fingers with elaborate interest. A

protracted pause, and he addressed casual remark to me as though Thoma

were not present.

"Cut that, Johnson. I'm a-talking to youWhat're you going to do about it?"

On this, the sheriff whirled sharply in hi

chair. He clipped his words, so that each

seemed to snap.

"I'll show you what I'll do. You two

yellow pups start something, and I'll show


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you what I'll do."

Daniel Boone folded his cards and stol

softly out of the room. I looked furtivelfor a sheltering nook. Only the shiny top o

he bartender's bald head was now visibl

above a beer keg. But either Thomas di

not want a row, or he could not affordone.

"Well," he said finally, with an uncertain

augh, "that's different again, ain't itThere's no use getting all swelled up abou

his thing, Lafe. Let's have a snort."

When the ceremony had been fitl

observed, Thomas seated himself at th

hird table in the saloon, in no very goo

humor, and removed his hat. Shortl

Daniel Boone returned, padding in like


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wary cat, and resumed his interrupte

studies of faro and its uses. We settled

once more to our talk and piled th

dominoes in unreckoned combinations.

The main door opens directly from th

saloon on to the street. At the far end o

he bar is another door, which leads into dining-room that is run as an annex to th

Fashion. Jeff occupied the table neares

he bar, sitting sideways to it so as to fac

he entrance. Back of him was a doorlesexit, which gave on to a dark passage

This led somewhere into the outer back

regions and was in frequent demand whe

a patron found himself overcome by thfumes of rejoicing and desired air, withou

publicity.

n the corner remote from the street Mr


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Boone was established, his leg

embracing the legs of a chair, and h

placidly dealt cards to an imaginar

player. The sheriff and I were in the lefforeground, close enough to the window t

see through it, had a curtain not bee

discreetly drawn to the height of a grow

man's head.

Tilly entered from the dining-room

patting her hair with both hands, an

arried for an instant at the bar, talking tohe man behind it. She waited on table i

he Fashion annex, and was not withou

charm, both of person and mind. Indeed

her repartee would set a room to laughingbeing forceful as a clout on the head

which may have been why she was sough

after by sundry residents of those parts fo


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wife. Whence she came or why, nobody

knew. Badger held her for an honest girl

n spite of what Tilly's unchampioned

contact with the world had done to rub ofhe first blush. Leaving the bartende

choking with delight, Tilly sauntered ove

o Jeff's table, where she pretended t

examine the snake-skin band of his hatWe saw her speak to him, but could no

catch the words. He glanced up alertly an

gave an emphatic nod.

"Well, well," murmured the sheriff, and

smiled. When she had gone back to th

dining-roompausing to exchange a las

cheerful sally with her friend of the bottlethe sheriff said: "Dan, there's a might

fine girl. Or I reckon I ought to sa

woman.' If she'd only got a different star


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"

"What about it?"

"You can see for yourself. She's gettingougher in her talk every day. If Tilly don

hitch up soonwhy, look at the way thes

fellers are running after her"

"But," I said, for I had faith in Tilly

"they're all crazy about her. Don't you fret

That girl's the gamest girl I ever saw

Lafe. She can take care of herself. Sur

hey run after her. They all want to marry

her."

"Some of 'em doyesbut" he brokoff and considered for a moment. "Did

ever tell you how Bud Walton run it ove

hat big Slim Terry? He done run him ou


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of town. Slim was awful stuck on Tilly

oo."

"What did Tilly do?""What could she do? She wouldn't believ

t first when Bud told her. Then she swor

most dreadful. She slapped Bud's face, to

a little later, this was."

A boy shoved his head inside the saloo

and peered all about. It was Turner'

youngest son, an urchin of about twelv

years.

"Say, Mr. Johnson," he piped, "Sam want

you over to the express office right awayHe says he cain't leave, so for you t

come."

"All right, Tommy, boy. You run home


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CHAPTER IX

AN INQUEST AND A

SURPRISE

was looking toward Thomas at th

moment. His face blanched, but his han

sped to his breast, where a gun wa

secreted in a holster sewed to the insid

of his shirt bosom. Before he could draw

Walton pulled on him once. This much

saw and then dived under the table. Thercame another shot. Bud stood a second o

wo, with a sort of wondering, puzzle

ook in his eyes. He swayed and san

gently to the floor, almost within touch o


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his enemy.

Jeff lurched to his feet and leaned over th

fallen man. He fired twice in quicsuccession, but his hand shook so that th

bullets tore splinters in the boarding a

either side of Walton. Then he desisted

and stood waiting, the six-shooter hanginimply from his fingers.

"There," he said, as the sheriff ran in

"You see, I've done it. I've killed thebastard."

The sheriff knelt beside Bud and turne

him over. Walton was shot through the

forehead and must have been dead befor

he hit the floor.

"Hem," said the sheriff. He got up an


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requested the surrender of Jeff's gun

which was given up without question

Johnson inspected it with care.

"You fired three, hey, Jeff?"

"Three," answered the other, his gaz

fixed on the body.

The sheriff was scrutinizing the six

shooter and its empty chambers. H

scratched his head. Thomas turned to th

bar. His nostrils were straining and ther

was an unnatural distension of the eye

balls.

"Gimme a drink," he said.

Daniel Boone emerged from the corne

where he had thrown himself flat, and th

Fashion filled with men. They grouped i


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a semi-circle about the corpse an

regarded it soberly.

"You're under arrest, Jeff," said thesheriff.

"Sure."

"Gentlemen, I'll have to ask you-all teave. Clear the bar, gentlemen, please

The inquest'll be to-morrow morning ove

n Bob Turner's place. Step lively

gentlemen. I've got a pile of things to do."

was shoved from the saloon with th

others and went only too willingly

Shortly afterwards three men bore thremains of Walton out of the Fashion and

aid them in an empty room abov

Turner's store. The proprietor was justic


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of the peace and would sit as coroner.

Badger filled the court-room on th

morrow. The crowd overflowed into thstreet, and there was much jostling an

frantic efforts at peering over the heads o

neighbors; also, requests to witnesses t

speak louder, that all might hear. Followa rough transcript of the evidenc

presented.

Bartender.It was ten o'clock. There wanobody in the bar except Dan Booneh

was playing solitaire in the far corner

and Jeff Thomas, and a fat party unknow

o him. The fat party had come in with thsheriff and sat over against the window

Jeff was alone and was monkeying wit

his fingers on the tablesort of playin

unes. He, the bartender, was reading


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Jeff Thomas.He was waiting in th

Fashion for one of the Lazy L boys to

come along. They had a horse trade on

Bud Walton appeared at the door. Hepulled a gun on him. Bud got the first sho

nhe was positive of that. He fired onc

and Walton went down. Not being certain

Bud was really done for, he pulled couple of times more, but thought he ha

missed.

Yes, they had long been enemies. Waltonwas always abusing him behind his back

He had made threats. Some of his friend

had strung up Tom Rooker, too. Tom

wouldn't never harm a fly in his life. Onlhe day before, Bud had told some me

Jeff knew, that he would get Thoma

within forty-eight hours. So witness ha


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swayed toward it eagerly.

"Why, that's mine," the coroner said.

t was, in truth, one that Bob had carrieoff as a Sunday School prize, when a boy

n Ohio. It was so stiff that the cove

cracked when it was opened; but th

eather binding was ripped and torn, an

he leaves were plowed into pulp fo

hree-fourths of its thickness. At this poin

he sheriff explained that the bullet habeen deflected into the solid wood of th

able. He had dug it out.

Coroner."Where did you get this her

book?"

The gunfighter looked rather sheepish.

"I'm sort of superstitious," he confessed


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"and when I seen that in your office th

other day, Bob, I stuck it inside my shirt."

A murmur swept over the court-room andbeat against the walls.

Coroner."You've killed six men, ain'

you?"

"No, sir; you're wrong. Only four,

Thomas corrected, licking his dry lips.

"Gen'l'men," said the coroner, not withousternness toward Thomas, "this hits m

ike so plain a case of shooting in self

defense, that I reckon we don't need t

bother no more about the evidence."

"Hold on," the sheriff said. "Hold on

here; I'd like for to say something."


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Being duly sworn, he started off like this

"Gentlemen, this wasn't a killing. It was

murder."

Everybody waited open-mouthed to hea

more. Thomas turned on him a quick

startled glance. Then someone said

"What's the matter with you, Lafe?"

"It's just what I done said. Murder."

There was a stir, and a ripple o

unbelieving laughter. "Order!" the corone

cried. He was looking to Johnson fo

explanation.

"I was kind of wondering," the prisonemuttered, half aloud, as though no

altogether surprised at the turn of events.

"Yes, sir, Bud Walton was murdered. Thi


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man here didn't kill him at all. Here'

Jeff's gun. Take a look at it. It's a .45. Bud

he was killed with a 30-30 rifle. Here'

he bullet. Jeff's first shot went way abovhis head into the ceiling, and the next tw

are in the boards."


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CHAPTER X

A JOURNEY TO SATAN'S

KINGDOM

"What're you giving us?" "Go on, Lafe.

"Hush, let's hear him." "Quit crowdin

here, will you?" "Say, are you looking fo

rouble?" "Well, quit it." It was long

before quiet could be obtained.

The sheriff waited for absolute silenc

before taking up the thread of hi

explanation again. Then he said, slowl

scanning the faces around him"Mr

Coroner, if you'll adjourn this here cour


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for two days, I'll bring the murderer here.

The inquest adjourned in confusion

Thomas was released, only to brearrested.

"I'll learn fellers like you a lesson," th

sheriff told him. "Bob, give him thirt

days for stealing that there Bible o

yours."

The justice of the peace imposed th

sentence with alacrity. It had th

appearance of spite, but Jeff exhibited n

resentment and left for the county town i

charge of a deputy, without a word o

protest. To me, he appeared a broken man

ot a word of enlightenment would th

sheriff give, although all Badger was ago


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with excitement and babbled question

wherever he moved. They would cling t

his arm in their eagerness, but he shoo

hem off. At dinner, he ordered me to fetchmy horse, for he planned a hard ride.

t was early afternoon when we set out fo

Satan's Kingdom. Our way took us throughe Willows, which we threaded at dusk

We were passing a certain pile of rocks

when the sheriff pointed with hi

forefinger.

"Look," he said.

The Mother of Cottonwoods towere

above the lesser trees, plain to the sigh

She was black and stark, bare as thoug

blasted by lightning. We jogged along

mutely.


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"Look a-here," the sheriff said, as w

neared the mountain village, "you don

heard that shooting. What did you hear

Tell me as near as you can."

strove to focus all my faculties on th

ask.

"There was a first shotthat must hav

been Bud's."

"Never mind whose it was," said Johnson

"Then there seemed to be two very clos

ogether. I'm not sure about that, Lafe

because it might have been one, sort o

drawn out. But I w

pattullo george - the sheriff of badger

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