Crooked Trails and Straight

lare upon the table. Behind the players were other smaller tables littered with cigars, discarded packs, and glasses full or empty. The men were in their shirt sleeves. Big bro

orners, hard eyes that judged a man and his claims shrewdly and with good temper.

him as first in whatever company he chose to frequent. A good friend and a good foe, men thought seriously before they opposed him. He had made himself a power in the Southw

ks ordered. Conversation reverted to the ordinary topics that interested Cattleland.

to the picture. Flandrau, Senior, continued to shuffle without turning his head. Cullison also had his back to the door, but the man hung his broad-rimmed gr

that Del Oro claim of you

ards, so that he missed the embarrass

day the law allows," C

I reckon Cass Fendri

coolly the black, wrathful eyes

otions when you took up the c

uck the dealer as unusual. He looked

I put my foot in it sure that time. I ce'tainl

Fendrick acidly. The words were flung at Flandrau, bu

atured reproof. "I shouldn't wonder, Cass, but your name i

in this, Yesler," Fend

easily. He pushed a stack of chips toward

d fortifying, for he knew that since he had embarked in the sheep business he was not welcome at this club, that in fact certain me

ers had not come in against his strong hands. On a straight flush he had drawn down the ante and nothing more. To say the least, it was exasperating. But his face

y-five hundred dollars behind the game. He owed Mackenzie twel

s the room, he found it a little difficult to say

e to ask you to let it stand for a fe

to read. He knew quite well that Luck's word was a

e to us, Cass," the owner of

ee, Luck," returned the younger man with a

g for i

ure. Any law ag

him. "See you on Thursday

mine go till after the roundup if

day su

his clothes, from the high-heeled boots to the very wrinkles in the corduroy coat he

hurry y

down to the hotel?" Luck was reaching for his

at Fendrick, he led

t their interests overlapped. Luck was capable of great generosity, but he could be obstinate as the rock of Gibraltar when he chose. There had been differences about the ownership of calves, about straying cattle, about political matters. Finally had come open hostility. Cass leased from the forestry department the land

ilable. The Circle C cattle and those of Fendrick came down from the range to the Del Oro to water at a point where the ca?on walls opened

, put up a shack at a point which commanded the approach, and set a guard upon it day and night. Open warf

ass knew that if he did so it would practically put him out of business. He would be at the mercy of

ered unneighborliness and by his overreaching disposition. A hundred times he had blacknamed himself fo

he thought of eating humble pie to Luck came into his mind, the rage boiled in him. He s

nd on the rack, Cass passed out of the