The Texan A Story of the Cattle Country

d a handful of torpedoes swung from t

nt?" asked the girl as Endico

the mountains, an' was

-six piled up

aimed. "Will we have ti

l in on the sidin' an' let the wrecker an' bridge crew at it. But even with 'em a-workin' from both ends

town i

hat the crick's a river. The trussle that washed out crosses the crick just above where it empties into Milk River. I've r

, and the girl turned to follow Endicott. "It would have been easier to walk th

can walk through a train any time. But we can't breathe air like

erchief. "It's awfully hot, and I have managed to secrete a con

the girl sweetly. "I've peeled the toes of both

e train and hurrying forward to join t

cars about which the rapidly falling waters of the stream gurgled and swirled. "Had we not bee

girl. The train conductor no

rakeman broke a leg apiece, an' the rest got b

they'll be a train along on the other side in a coup

It's such a funny little town. I want to buy something at the store. And, there's a liver

assenger locomotive and, removing his hat, proceeded to harangue the crowd. As they paused to listen Alice stared in fasc

rn out to be a blessin' in disguise. As the Good Book says, it come at a most provincial time. Wolf River, ladies an' gents, is celebratin', this afternoon an' evenin', a event that marks an' epykak in our historious career: T

of you, which it gives you a unpressagented chanct to see with your own eyes a hustlin' Western

notorious cities such as sidewalks, sewers, street-gradin', an' lights that we hain't got yet. But Wolf River is a day an' night town, ladies an' gents, combinin' business with pleasure in just the right perportion, which it's plain to anyone that takes the trouble to invest

t which I was tellin' you of, Wolf River is holdin' the followin' p

: First prize, ten dollars, doneated by the directors of the bank fer which's openin' this celebration is held in honour of. Second prize, one pair of pants doneated by the Montan

a pair of angory chaps, doneated by the directors of the bank about which I have spoke of before. Second prize, a pair of spurs doneated by the Wolf River Tradin' Company. Third prize, a coffin t

er all of which sootable prizes has be'n pervided, as well as fer the best lookin' man an' the homliest lady an' vicy versy. Any lady or gent attendin' these he

per dished out at the _ho_otel fer which the directors of the bank of which you have already heard mention of has put up fifty cents a plate. This here supper is as free as gratis to a

Maloney, who will lead the grand march, an' who I consider one of the top pyanoists of Choteau County, if not in the hull United States. It is a personal fact ladies an' gents, that I've heard her set down to a p

pulls in on t'other side, or yon can stay an' enjoy yourselves amongst

o-o-w! W-h

hud of horses' hoofs close at hand drew all eyes toward the group of riders that, spreading

cheering passengers surged back as the horses swerved at full speed with the stirrups of their riders almost brushing the outermost rank of the crowd. A long thin rope shot out, a loop settled gent

nce to get their second wind while you let

hat was a pretty throw but it's onrespectable, no mor'n what it's respect

e cowpuncher as he coiled his rope. "Fact is, I

-e-i

ke into a coyote chorus that dr

himself heard. "Jest you boys high-tail over to the Long Horn an' I'l

River is broad in her idees. We hain't got no sexual restrictions, an' a lady'

ed the speech of the little town's Mayor. A born horsewoman, she had watched with breathless admiration the onrush of the loose-rein riders-the graceful swaying of their bodies, and the flapping of soft hat brims, as their horses approached with a thunder of pounding hoofs. Her eyes had sparkled at the reckless swerving of the horses when it seemed that

cus riders in impossible regalia performed impossible feats of horsemanship in the unravelling of impossible plot

bellowing cattle. Here were men bound by no petty and meaningless conventions-men the very sight of whom served to stimulate and intensify the longing to see for herself the land beyond the valley rims-to slip into a sad

gious spread. Lest some pilgrim of erring judgment should mistake the horns for short ones, or misapprehend the nature of the business conducted within, the white false front of the building proclaimed in letters of black a foot high: LONG HORN SALOON. While beneath the legend was depicted a fat, vermilion clad cowboy mounted upon a tarantula

announced the conductor, "where dinner wi

saddles, some with a leg thrown carelessly about the horn and others lying back over the cantle, while the horses which a few

ounded three short blasts, while the passengers clambered

side track, it's

the girl's handkerchief dropped from her hand and, before it touched the ground, was caught by a gust of wind that swept

ief, the girl who watched with breathless interest gasped. The saddles were empty! From the madly racing horses her glance flew to the cloud of dust which concealed the spot where a moment before had lain that little patch of white. Her fingers clenched as she steeled herself to the sight of the two limp, twisted forms that the lifting dust cloud must reveal. Scarcely daring to wink she fixed her eyes upon the groun

ted hand extended the recalcitrant handkerchief, and she found herself blushing furiously for no reason at all ben

" She stammered. "I've seen it in the movies, but

owin' to the horse ye

r'n that this afternoon

yin' over fer the d

ore disconcerting than the com

t, the bright yellow angora chaps against which the ivory butt of a revolver showed a splotch of white, and the boots jammed into the broad wooden stirrups, t

ut hesitation. "Ye

e with yeh, then," per

hat is, if I real

mom. They'll be some right lively fiddli

sorry appearance. The heels of his boots were slightly run over. His spurs were of dingy steel and his leather chaps, laced up the sides with rawhide thongs looked as though they had seen much service. The scarf at his throat, however, was as vivid as his companion's and something

," she smiled, "it wasn't

, mom," interrupted t

are you always as accurate as when you l

emed a challenge. Instinctively she realized that despite his rough exterior here was a man infinitely less crude than the other. An ordinary cowpuncher, to

d deliberately from the girl to Endicott and back to the girl again. Then, without waiting for her to reply, he wh