The Twins of Suffering Creek

after floundering his way over the in

xistence. They ate to live; they lived to work, ever tracking the elusive metal to the earth's most secret places.

ge from amidst the "dumps." The figure was bearing towards the store in a dusty cloud which his trailing feet raised at every step. His eyes opened wider, and

enly discovered a beetle moving on the veranda he would have found food for reflection in its doings. Such was his mind. A smile stole into his indo

ed, "here's Zip com

equal interest in those inside the store, he returned

this hour?" inquired a harsh

alc'lator," observed Sunny,

the invisible speaker; "guess it '

o' makin' holiday these times. Guess you a

roke on the dro

," said another voice, amids

y?" inquired the harsh voice

atured scorn. "Say, I don't never let a

poker hand could not quite crush out the natural humor of thes

zness?" demanded ano

an on the verand

It lit his unshaven face from his unwashed brow to his chin. And to an onlooker it might well have appeared a pity that

own mind. The ramshackle shanties which lined one side of the trail were passed unheeded. The yapping of the camp dogs at the unusual sight of so deplorable a figure at this hour of the day was quite unnoticed by him. The shelving rise of attenuated grassland which blocked the vi

lded by that individual to anyone. He sat up, and his smile broadened. Then it faded out as h

rtone. Then, with an evident

n a blank way up th

. Then he halted and seemed to pull

d in a mechanic

ter," responded Sunny

upation were inscribed on its pretentious front, and it seemed to bring back his purpose to his distract

sick?" h

e broadened till a mouthful of fairly decent teeth

lin

s I bin ov

too hard in the heat,"

her's allus folk ready to set me workin'. That's just the w

o sta

ooking for

ead backwards in the d

s at work–

ank

terest. With ears and brain alert, however, he waited. He knew that all he required to know would reach him through a channel

himself to hardware and clothing and canned goods, but carried a supply of drugs, stationery and general dry goods, besides liquor in ample quantities, if of limited qua

ere were tables and benches which could be used for the dual purpose of drink and cards. But wherein Minky's store was slightly out of the usual was the fact that he was not a Jew, and adopted no Jewish methods of tra

n opposition to him, but in each case their enterprise had proved an utter failure. Not a man in the place would trade elsewhere

whose present was a thing that none ever saw sufficient reason to question, and whose future suggested nothing so much as the general uncertainty of things human. He was a man of harsh exterior and, apparently, harsh purpose. His eyes were steely and his tongue ironica

did his best to live up to this demand. He was also, by the way, an ex-cowpuncher suffering from gold fever, and between whiles played poker with Wild Bill until he had lost

as good-tempered, and spent large remittances which reached him at regula

looked up swiftly as Scipio entered, and a moment later three

ired Minky, with his

N

mild face, now his mouth was set obstinately, and a decided thrust to his usually retiring chin became remarkable. Even his wispy hair had an aggression in the manner in which it obtruded from unde

ed, a fact which was wholly due to the

d the gambler, withou

at mud lay-out of yours," s

s head, and his

rrow a good horse

nt his action. He sat back in his chair and bit a chew of tobacco off a black plug.

d Bill, without attempting to di

s his brow; a beady swea

a painful attempt at indifference. "I've got to

from eye to eye. Then Sunny Oak's voi

a goodish wa

," said Scip

in the glitter of his fierce eyes. It was not that they softened, only now t

ted with the rusty metal of the gun that bulged its sides. This pressure of interrogation was upsetting the restraint he was putting on himself. All

pay him a 'party cal

ept him silent with a sharp glance. An au

her' you'll locate him

d Scipio doggedly. Then he added, with his ey

sparkle in the

ame?" rasped B

ust no

ssed pause. Then the gambler bro

arryin' a gun," he said, point

inked his astonishment, while Wild Bill thrust his long legs out and aggressively pushed his hat back on his head. It

me," said Scipi

?" demanded the

wi

was busy with thoughts which they were powerless to interpret into words. "Lord" James was a name they had reason to hate. It was a name synonymous with theft, and even worse––to them. He had

u know?"

ote tel

he notioned it?"

s stole my Jessie,"

h her back?" Bill's quest

–she's

ndedness brought forth a sigh of

thod of interrogation

k." There was pity at the man's obstinate

l you," said the gam

Scipio intensely. "An' I'll shoot hi

shooting a man like James was too ludicrous––"you're up agin a bad proposit

hief," brok

of the worst,

hunt him back ther' to his own shack in the foothills with his gang of toughs around him, an' you're goin' to make him hand back

ld face. There was more: there was sympathy and pity for him, feel

is underlip protruded obstinately. His pal

ner changed, and his words came with an irresistible pleading. Hard as was the gambler, th

out a packet of bills from his hip pocket. "You take 'em and keep 'em against the horse. It ain't sufficient, but it's all I got. I'll pay the rest when I've

r. Somehow he felt in a vague sort of way that poor Scipio's spirit was altogether too big for his body. Bigger by far than that of those sittin

n't need 'em. You ken get right out to the barn an' have your pick o' my plugs, an' anythin' you need else. Guess you bes

f the finest in the country, and he worshiped them. He had never been known to lend a horse to his best friend, and no one but himself had ever been allowed to feed or groom them. He was prouder of them than a father might be of his firstborn s

eemed quite unnecessary. For the moment, at least, Bill hated the little man

of his well-shod feet. His cards were forgotten, the men around him were forgotten. Sandy and the storekeeper were watching his harsh face in wond

urried on, "You're helpin' that misguided feller to a dose of lead he'll never have time to digest. If ever Zip runs foul of James, he'll blow him to hell as sure––as ther's al

ed reason, Sunny was a privileged person on Suffering Creek. Nobody paid much attention to the mann

ooked

oast him bad, and tongue-lash him. Anyways, every man's got to play his own hand. An'––it's good to see him playin' hard, win o

looked for him a piece. We know he's got a shanty back in the foothills, but I don't s

lit with a c

" he said quietly. "May

how's them pore kiddi

r some moments. And gradually all eyes fixed themselves upon Bill's face, as thoug

n Sunny loose to

et Sunny plunging headl

y smart settin' folks to work. But this is your game, Bill, an' it's up to you

urned upon the face at the win

tify 'emselves. Get me? You need 'justifyin'.' Wal, I guess you'll see to them kiddies till Zip comes back. It's going to be your work seein' they don't get fixed into any sort o' trouble, an' when Zip get

ied Toby, with a

r's angry face, while Minky

hell for nerv

torted Bill contemptuously. "You'll do it,

the other men's faces, and, quickly resuming his

nch hurriedly, lest fresh demands should be made upon him, and just in t

muscle and bone, with a beautiful small head, and ears that looked little larger than well-polished mussel-shells. She stood pawing the ground impatiently while Scipio tied her to the post, and she nuzzled h

n the blunder, and Sandy

est get that

" laughe

them all short in

laffin' a heap. Quit it, or––" His eyes flashed dangerously. Then, as the men bec

e saddle was set awry upon an ill-folded blanket. It was so far back from the mare's withers that the twisted double cinchas we

rescue in his o

set to work. He quickly unfastened the cinchas, and set the blanket straight. Then he shifted the saddle, and refastened the cinchas. Then he altered the stirrups, and passed

he said. "I neve

hen he went on, as Scipio scrambled into the saddle, "You don't need to worry any 'bout thing

led. He had forg

––yo

d no thanks or

restive mare, which bounded off with the spring of a gazelle. "Ease your hand to her," he called out, so as to dro

aced off in a