The Desire of the Moth; and the Come On

d fe

!" said A

of Dona Ana, bent a hard

e must have all the respectable and responsible people

Anastacio. "Myself, I

ing to lay

at way-yes. Kit Foy is ju

ntrol, will decide the election. Foy is half a hero with them, because of these vague old stories. But let him be stirred up to violence now an

order, s

ff's heavy face and thick neck

ide all these men of substance will be with us unconditionally? I tell

-six, didn't you? And I never could hear that our side had any the best of it or that the good name of Dona Ana was in any way bettered by our wars. Come, Mr. Lisner-the Kingdom of Lady Ann has been quiet now for nearly

heriff. "Besides your own cinch, you have one of yo

a merely ornamental chief deputy, it will never be denied that I am a very careful chief to my gente. Be sure that I

peak p

e solid. Make no mistake, Mr. Lisner. You need me

like to be sh

smiling. "Now that I am so old, and so wise and all, it is clear to see that neither m

l of the best interests of the de

e planning that men shall die; that other men shall rot in prison. Why? For hate and revenge? Not even that. Oh, a little spice of revenge, perhaps; Foy a

you get yo

of miles from one edge to the other; ten cents a mile each way for each and every arrest and subpoena. You drag them to court twice a year-the farmer at seed time and harvest, the cowman from the spring and fall round-ups. It hurts, it cripples them, they ride thirty miles to vote against you; it costs you all the extra mileage m

wil

e to the clear olive of An

ace to any of them, sher

raight games. You better toddle your little trotters off to bed." The words alone

ding the exodus. Since that, Pringle had suffered, unprotesting, more gratuitous insults than he had met in all the rest of his stormy years. His curiosity was aroused; he played

sleepy a-tall

asy shot; he chalked his

round!" bawled Max, the bartender. "

ames I lost, didn't I?" as

as warm, though the wind

lay any more with you," sn

a sad and lingering backward look Pringle slouched

ellers-have

lin. "I'm a-tryin' to th

in, with legs, arms, and mustaches disproportionately long for his dwarfish body. His black, wiry hair hung in ragged wit

ld man," said Creagan. "Yo

sleepy, I

eaped up,

aybe? Bell, I theenk thees hombre

is shoulder his beady little

eet-a tall man, well set up, with a s

jug." He threw back the lapel of

tested John Wesley meekly. "Y

t you make one wrong move

the sh

Go to h

after a swift search of

ld you so,

vas. You got to take your gun off fifteen minutes after you get in from the roa

ice regulations

ty-five years. Say, you doddering old fool,

o to bed," said P

ck I'll throw you out," m

ily; he opened it noisily; he took his sixshooter and belt from the wall quietly and closed the door, noisily a

*

table near the pool-room door, the law planned ways and means in a slinking undertone. "You keep in the background, Joe. Let us do the talking. Foy just natural

er Ben don't

and assessing fatiga work. Every last man with a water right will be there, sure, and Foy's got a doze

hile you see his gun. You tell him he's under arrest for carryin' concealed weapons. You

ll stick to that. S

ong. His face was resolute, vivacious, intelligent; his eyes were large and brown, pleasant and fearless. A wide black hat, pushed back now, showed a broad forehead white against crisp coal-black hair and the pleasant tan of neck and cheek. But it was not his dark, forceful

r a second; A

ght not have fancied this particular bunch-hey? All over now,

moke,"

," said

Ben Creagan passed behind the bar and hand

n I borrowed of you when I

e the hammer was on an empty chamber

crappers and irrigating hoes nowad

e soaks it up he gets discontented over old times, you know." Applegate lowered his voice, with

idered h

ard," he rep

not looking for any trouble now. Dick is. And I'm afraid he'll keep on till he gets it. Me and the sheriff we managed to get him off

and shook

it would only make hi

y and keep out of his

tay with the Bar Cross

up th

w you run away to keep from meeting Di

o be married soon; and I don't want to fight anyone. Besides, quite apart from my own interests, other men will be drawn into it if I shoot it out with Marr. No knowing where it will stop. No, sir

job offered to him o

te, bri

d the end from a cigar and obtained a light from a shapely bronze lady with a torch. When

ys," said Foy. "This one's on

nkin' none thees times. Eef I dreenk so

y. "Take somethi

alin became suddenly aware of something round and hard and cold pressed against his right temple. Mr. Espalin felt some curiosity, but he sat perfectly still. The object shift

ed, hidden by the partition and by Espalin's body. Mr. Espalin gathered that Pringle desired no outcry a

Foy, and raised his

Applegate fell, sprawling. Foy hurled himself on Creagan and bore him crashing to the floor. Foy whirled over; he rose on one hand and knee, gun drawn, visibly annoyed; also considerably astonished at the unexpected advent o

ou!" chal

ersign. Don't shoot! D

to be an ally. But to avoid mistakes, Foy's gun followed Pringle's motions, at the same time willing a

! My Mexican friend, join Mr. Max. Move, you poisonous little spider-jump! That's better! Gentlemen-be seated! Right there-smack, slapdab on the floor. Sit down and think. Say! I'm serious. Am I going to have to kill some f

ed Applegate, as fiercely as his

t square with me, George-but you'll never be square with anyone.

n to rise, but reconsidered it as he note

ne side of me. You couldn't arrest one of my old boots! Listen, George! You heard this Chris-gentleman give his reasons for wanting peace? Yes? Well, it's oh-so-different here. I hate peace! I loathe, detest, abhor, and abominate peace! My very soul with strong disgust is sti

Creagan; but Pri

talking. I just love to talk. I am the original tongue-tied man; I eb

ated amaze, now rose. Creagan

y. "Neatest bit of work I ever saw. Sir, to you! My compliments!" He placed a chair n

ppen to be here so

hand. All evening they been instructing me where I got off. They would-ed I had the wings of a

esent," la

iber-slipped off my boots, tippytoed down the back stairs like a Barred Rock cat, oozed in by the side door-and here I be! I overheard their pleasant little plan to do you. I meant to do the big re

re was no powder. The four men on the floo

heerfully. "I don't know the rules well enough to break

e war here a spell back. I suspect they wanted to stir

our side lose one vote-fixed good and proper. The Ben-boy was to let your right hand loose and the Joe-boy was to shoo

I am greatly obl

en you were drinking with should be very grateful to you. They had just h

dered a

as Uvas warriors seldom ever bother the Bar Cross Range. My horse is hitched up the stree

k I'll settle down here after a bit. Some of the young fellows are shy on good manners. But I can teach 'em. I'd enjoy it…. Now, let's see: If you'll hold these lads a few minutes I'll get my boots

ed out-with one addition: After Foy brought his

ut of town. And I thought you ought to know that the police force is all balled up. They're here at the Gadsden Purchase. Bell Applegate is sick-se

benevolently

though the old mouse said: 'Little mice, beware! When the owl comes singing "Too-whoo" take care!' If you do it again we shall consider it deliberately unfriendly of you…. Well, I'll todd

street, turned again, and slowed to a gallop. Pringle

ittle owls flew b

nky, doo

little mice make us

nky, doo

gan to sing, 'To

much of this

hing about it-'ti

nky, doo

open; the gallo

at the cross-roads above t

where, but you can tell me. I go to a railroad

yself?" said Foy. "You did

ing

heard Stella talk about you a thousand times. Say, I'

. "I think I've heard St