The Sunset Trail

thirds of whom were squaws and pappooses, broke from the soldiers and fought his way to his old home in the North, whipping the cavalry once, twice, thrice; yielding only and at l

s of men. However, here is not the place nor this the time; for what c

on in hand it wore a look of occupation and serious business. This business expression was fairly founded; a s

ek. And thereafter he never rode back. It was understood that he bore official papers to serve upon a certain miscreant who dwelt on Sand Creek. The Sa

nd had not been lifted over its head, to hang by the bits and drag about its hoofs. Later, the missing one's six-shooter and belt, the latter tooth-marked, together with shreds of clothing, scraps of leather leggings, and sundry bones gnawed white, were found an hour's ride out on the trail. The pistol possessed a full furnishment of six une

deductions. These found setting forth in the remarks of Mr. Wright, th

him as among the best intelligences in camp, "those bridle reins on the pony's neck shows that Dave went out o' the saddle a heap sudden. If Dav

e in Mr. Short, "your Sand Cr

o, could have been rubbed out, an' never get a shot. Dave wasn't that easy. Besides, if the Sand Creek hold-up had bumped Dave off, he'd have cinched the pony. Ge

odge was aware of sheriffs in their evanescence. They were as grass; they came up like the flowers to be cut down. What discouraged Dodge was the commonplace character of that officer's exit, as so convincingly expla

would quit his constituents under noblest conditions must perish in the smoke of conflict, defending communa

bucked into a better life, inadvertent, is as onrom

d. The slain sheriff, his head pillowed in his saddle, his guns by his side, would have lain in state. Dodge, crape on its sombrero and with bowed head, would have followed the catafalque, while a brass band boomed the dead march; the rites, conducted in a mood of gloomy elevation, would have

nister sense of party, had never reared its viper head in Dodge; there existed no such commodity of misrule. Also, the s

swings and rattles on the boys who drive the herds. It isn't commercially expedient to put a crimp in one of 'em for trivial cause. Of course, should the most free-handed consumer that ever

, with a view of focussing suggestion, advanced the name of Mr. Mast

e can you find a cooler head

n Bill. "He's down on the Medicine Lodge, ki

Masterson. An informal count displayed among his supporters such popular towers as Mr.

t cool an' steady, but, bar Mike Sutton

ainy of disposition was half atoned for by an ability to put one hundred miles between

Wright. "Bat's modest, an' if you spring this on him

ron Bill. "I shore can't rope up Bat witho

degraffe up for the opp'sition. Tell him that Walker of the Cross K, an'

. Here was pitched the buffalo camp of Mr. Masterson, and therefrom, aided and abetted by his brother Ed and Mr. Tighlman, he issued forth aga

campfire, peering into a little memorandum book by the dancing light of the flames.

ing all that was mortal of two hen turkeys-wild and young and lively the night before. "And," concluded Mr. Masterson, with just a shade

ighlman was the camp's cook, having a mysterious genius for biscuits, and k

rom the drying-grounds, where he had been staking out and scraping, with an instrument that resembled a short-handed adz, the fresh hides of that day

he circle of firelight. It was as one hundred to one there abode no danger; the Cheyennes had not yet recovered from the calm

"Do you-all prairie dogs reckon that, if I was goin' to jump y

Mr. Masterson, discarding his ri

addle off the malevolent

by the fire and pulled the bake-kettle towards

n the office of sheriff, and said that it was proposed to fill the same with Mr. Short. Cimarron Bil

pdegraffe?" ask

er of the Alamo, Mr. Peacock of the Dance Hall,

r. Masters

oth Mr. Masterson. "Ed and

defrauded into Dodge, and learned of those hon

f reproach, "that you'd cap me up against a game like this

ready been in the field two days, with Updegraffe in oppo

chicane which had announced Mr. Masterson as a ca

ame had been used; his opponent was in the field; Mr. Masterson could find no avenu

asterson. Mr. Peacock, for the Updegraffe three, made primary explanation. He and his fellow commissioners had observed a falling off in trade. The Alamo was not taking in one-half its normal profits; the same was true of the Dance Hall. The

hically, "how it is in business; it's a case

off due to an election interest

xplained Mr. Webster. "Besides, the people of Dodge are a mighty cautious outf

. Short. "But, coming down to the turn, wh

for a week from now, round up the votin' population in the Plaza, say at eight o'clock in the evenin', an' count noses, Masterson ag'in Updegraffe,

f his fellow committeemen when the Updegraff

"considerin' what liars that outfit is, I'm obli

was finally agreed that the proffer of th

on selfish grounds. We base our action on the bluff that the peace of Dodge requires

was a practical man, "for eight o'clock in the evenin'

orted Mr. Short, and th

ppetite for rum. Plainly, Dodge had turned wary in a day that wore a six-shooter, and under circumstances which tested the temp

s of Mr. Masterson developed an irritating fact. There were, man added to man, four hundred and twelve votes in Dodg

The malign influence of that disreputable person controlled full forty votes,

45. These sanitary steps, however, were forbidden by Mr. Masterson; at that the worthy Cimarro

pointing fingers of scorn at Dodge as being unable to elect a peace officer of the coun

serving his grief, Mr. Masterson detailed Mr. Tighlman to be ever at Cimarron Bill's elbow, ready to repress that volati

n behalf of Mr. Updegraffe cunningly, being all unchecked. His

that he would accept a wager of ten cents. This put him beneath the notice of such as Mr. Short, whose limit was one hundred and two hundre

k-a-luck, doubtfully, "I sort o' all

ou want of the best man? You want the worst man, an' so I tell you! Make it Updegraffe," concluded Bear Creek, c

ing was done Mr. Masterson would sup disaster, and even the conservative Mr. Kelly whispered tha

er a bit," said Mr. M

t at the Long Branch and laid bare a plan. Its simplicity impre

ing the poker table about w

hort. "In any event we lose nothin';

, Mr. Kelly was in many of his characteristics one with Cimarron Bill.

ht and Mr. Short and Mr. Kelly craved in thei

at clause which provides for a count of noses in the Plaza. The end in view can be attained by having it understood that at eight o'clock the Masterson forces are to rally in the Long Branch, and the Updegraffe people in Mr. Peacock's Dance Hall. Thus the two sides may be counted separately and the chance of deadly collision eliminated. We will set our watches together so that the count shall occur at eight o'clock sharp. Mr. Kelly for our side will be at the Dance Hall to act wit

is design, a slow look of relief stole into the faces of Mr. Webster and

od overwhelmingly with Mr. Masterson. The offer of a safe separation of forces was a relief, and Mr. Peacock, Mr. Walker and

degraffe began to gather, respectively, at the Long Branch and the Dance Hall. There was never a ripple of disorder; nothing could b

twelve was sure. The minutes went ticking themselves into eternity, and the watches of Mr. Kelly and Mr.

ooms, conditions were much the same. There Mr. Webster and Mr. Short

al. Instantly one hundred shots rang out. Indeed, it was a noble din! The room filled with smoke; excitement mounted! Cimarron Bil

ooked first their amazement, then their delight. As by one impulse they tore through the door and made, hotfoot, for the Long B

ved at the Long Branch th

," remarked Mr. Short; "

s. The astute Mr. Short followed, clos

e must begin to count." It was observable that in the han

not anticipated those frantic excesses of Mr. Tighlman, Cimarron Bill and others of that heroic firing party. Mr.

here's a lot of Upde

s eye. "Every gent inside the Long Branch is for Bat Masterson or he wouldn't be here. Also, to suggest fraud," c

mention of it sent a shiver through Mr. Webster. Without parley he surrendered tamely, and the count at the

," said Mr. Wright, "and see what

fear-ridden in the face of the unknown, just then came into the Long Branch. "Only

ped, but seemed

y a majority of two hundred and twenty-seven. It is a tribute to his popularity. T

people stampedin' about the streets. But, of course, since they weren't in the

shook his head in forlornest fashion. He was too

hed through. Cimarron Bill, who was the soul of business a

ter?" queried Cimarron Bill, main

im up and down with an uneasy, prudent glance. He sm

y comes pirootin' over to move we make th

r. Masterson result in victory;