Wolfville

ded with cut plug. Inevitably the old gentleman must smoke. His tone and air as he made the remark quoted were those of a man whose convictions touching the one discussed were not to be shaken. "

s girl, as well as his remark as she left on the stage, I should hol

oax the old gentleman

nt!' says you. This party Cherokee is that benev'lent he'd give away a poker hand. I've done set an' see him give away his hand in a jack-pot for two hundred dollars to some gent 'cross the table who's organizin' to go ag'in him an' can't afford to

this fashion so's he don't wound the feelin's of this yere victim of his gen'rosity. Thar's folks who turns sens'tive an' ain't out to take alms none, who's feelin's he spar's that a-way by l

t gamble for. Nothin' common, though; I sees him one night when he sets ca'mly into some four-handed poker, five thousand dollars table stake, an' he's sanguine an' hopeful about landin' on his feet as a Cimmaron sheep. Of course times is plenty flush in them days, an' fi

ain't talkin' much, an' he ain't needin' advice neither, more'n a steer needs a saddl

rdin' of two young-ones; which them infants might have been t'rant'lers an' every one a heap happier. Sorter as range-boss of the whole out.

n he gets settled back an' the stage is goin', I an' I'm

h has vogue in this yere clime is some various, an' I did think I shorely tests 'em all

ire of sin. Don't you know,' he goes on to Texas, 'my perishin' friend, you are bein' swept

I don't. I allows I'm maki

back like he's plumb dejected that a-way an' hopeless. 'I

s, gettin' restless, comes tumblin' over onto Cherokee an' is searchin' of his pockets for mementoes. Which this is about as refreshin' to Cherokee as bein

lack-coat gent, addressin' of Texas; 'an' what

lly, pard, you might not think it, but all that gent knows about settin' up kyards, or dealin' double, or anv sech sinful scheme, is mere tradition.' "'Brother,' says the female, bristlin

n his belt to amoose 'em, she sasses him scand'lous, an' allows she ain't needin' no attentions from him. Then she snorts at Texas an' Cherokee contemptuous. The young-ones keeps on yellin' in a mighty on

sees inebriates ere now, but at least they ha

ampedes Texas complete,

long late in the mornin' when the stage strikes

e bad. Nothin' ever ha

und plenty loose, an' it's mighty possible to

who's drivin' regards it s'picious. "'Send 'em through on the jump, Monte,' says Cherokee, stickin' out his head. "The six hosses lines out at a ten-mile gait,

through the canyon, when up on both sides a select assortment of Winchesters begins to bang an' jump permiscus; the same goin' hand-in-hand with whoops of onusual merit. With the fir

ch their bullets with a ten-foot pole, they'

ulder of his coat, his face turns pale, an' Cherokee knows he's creased. "'Did they get you,

mblin' down onto the trail an' gives chase, a-shootin' an' a-yellin' a heap zealous. As they's on foot, an' as Old Monte

uck they's due to down either a hoss or Monte-mebby both; in which event the stage shorely stops, an' it's a fight. This bein' troo, an' as I'm 'lected for war anyhow, I'm goin' to caper out right

'Shall we take this he-shorthorn along?' An' he p'ints where the

hard hit to go, Texas, yourse'f. So take my regards to Enright an' the

xas. 'My stack goes

as bled more'n he thinks. The first m

enin' the door of the stage, jumps plumb f

the lope. Texas is still in a fog, speakin' mental, an' about bled

let through his laig, an' thar he is with his back ag'in a rock wall, his Winchester to the front, his eyes glitterin', a-holdin' th

ee,' says Enright; 'playin' eve

ays Cherokee, 'over behind

spread out; an', comin' along a li

ys Jack, 'which break

xa

mbers now than is two. The kyards is co

ght, an' next day 'round comes t

hank my defend

the canyon to doin' it at the ford; that's all. It's only a matter of straight business; nothin' more'n a preference I has. Another thing, ma'am; you-all forgives it, seein' I'm a ge