Rimrock Trail

at he dared not tilt, gazing dreamily at the saw-toothed mountains

l Arizona with thr

the superfluous oil from the rev

te, Cactus, Catt

ee," said the managing part

t down his harmonica on which he had been p

ith a 'C.' You can't. 'Cordin' to yore argymint you should spell Africa with a 'Z' 'cause they rais

n sno

here I was workin'. Colonel Pawlin's wife has a cold snack ready, it bein' middlin' warm. The perfesser makes a pretty speech, after he'd eaten two men's share of victuals tryin', I reckon, to put some flesh on to his bones. An' he calls the lunch a col-lay-shun! L

Joe, his half-breed helper,-had departed, clad in their best shirts, vests, trousers, Stetsons and bandannas of silk, some seeking a poker game on a neighboring rancho, some bent on c

and the most aggressive, coolest and swiftest of action, had gloriously bucked the faro tiger and won enough to buy the Three Star Ranch and certain rights of free range. The purchase had not included the brand of the late owner. Originally the holding had been called the Two-Bar-P. As certain cattlemen wer

Water Sam-whose nickname was satirical-opined, smacked of the saloon rather t

erred to his grit. He was broad-shouldered, tall and lean, weighing a hundred and seventy pounds of well-strung frame. His eyes were gray and

knees without interference. Otherwise, Sam, whose last name was Manning, was mainly disti

woman-shy, he was high-stomached, too stout for saddle-ease to himself or mount, sun-rouged wh

capital, occasioned by Sandy's preference for modern methods as evidenced by thoroughbred bulls, high-grad

ousehold chores, tagged with a last attempt to persuade Mormon to marry some comfortable person who would

verhauling his two Colts and Sam furnishing orchestra on his harmonica. Now he put it to his lips, unable to find a sufficiently crus

ical bass, supplied the cow

s I lay in the

t the stars

d if ever

to that swee

on, ro

i'l' dogie

staring at the fringe

"Got his nerve with him, the mangy calf

own his h

id. "But he'd scoot if I moved. Slip in a she

eyes. Mormon, you need glasses fo' yore old age.

and cook shack; its daring proclaiming it anything but a cowardly, foot-hill coyote. Its coat was whitish gray. Its b

Sandy. "Pore devil'

ust in his voice. "Hell of a ga

g toward the tenaya where it smelled the slumbering Pedro and Joe. It halted

Mormon, take that hair out of that pan

agingly, and the tired animal seemed suddenly to make up its mind. Ignoring the water, it came straight to Sandy, uttered a harsh whine, catching at the leather tassel on the cowman's worn leather chaparejos, tuggin

the open jaws, upon the swollen tongue. The dog licked his hand, whined again, tried to stand up,

and pulled, looking up in

e more wateh. Let me look at that paw." He gently took the foot that clawed at his chaps and examined it. The pad was wo

shot his-self," grumbled Sam. "Someth

er that way," said

ing his fingers beneath the ruff, scratching gently in sign of friendship, he discove

rop. P.

d fixin' if you're goin' to take us to him. You'll have to hoof it till we cut fair trail. Sam, fetch me

or? The

sure. May have t

soon have a sick rattler around. M

e with his knife, put them on the abrasions, held them there for the warmth of his palm to set them. Grit licked at his ha

ood," said Mormon. "His dawg. Reckon y

f you w

idin' through the week than I care f

in' what time we'll git back," said Sandy. "I'll take along some grub an'

ifteen bucks a quart on a

ow then, Grit," he went on to the dog in a confidential tone, "you-all have got to git grub an'

, gave a little whine of impatience, accepted the situation philosophically as he listened to sounds from the corral that told hi

and "tied them to the ground" with trailing reins as Sandy came out bear

de yore bottle,

nd it, you holler-l

, Sam," said Sandy. "Here, Gri

t the food from his hand w

s, Mormon,"

idge belt, holster and pistol, fixed his spurs, tied the package of food to his saddle, filled two canteens and did the same with them. Sandy-offered the pan of water

ked for the first time. As Sandy and Sam mounted, the latter leading the gray mare, Grit ran ahead of them and came back to make certain they were following. Then he headed for the sp

hair in the water the dog had left and went on with his plaiting:

ste of time an' yarn. If I'd taken it I'd have had to take her along with it. Wimmen is sure persistent. Seems like I must look like a dogie to