ona," offered Racey Daws

round. Swing bent two suspicious eyes upon h

acey. "I've been think

d Swing. "That's a

ed Racey. "It ain'

s repartee was concerned. "Is that so? What you gassing

ty," he amended. "Yep, Swing, old-timer, I'll bet the Bar S or the Cross-in-a-box would hire us just

r in four states meani

you, so I was a liar. I admit it. I might 'a' known you wouldn't appreciate my kind wo

isery. You had four extra sack

und my warbags, have you? How ma

eft

ething besides the evening now and then? Gawda-mighty, you sit on yore coin closer than a hen with one egg! I'll gamble that Robinson Crusoe spent more money in a week tha

the buttons was off, and if they's anything I despise it's a undershirt without any buttons. Sort

ly. "We was talking about a job here in

a, huh? You're ser

'Course I mean it. Ain't I been saying

s plain enough. And

why

se up the best part of two days on a trip I could make in ten hou

u talkin

? I'd ask that, I would. Yeah

hing like that when he began to talk so funny. Now I'm shore of it. You tie a wet towel rou

ill close yore traps and lemme sleep," growled a pee

tone of vast surprise, "there

of the Starlight," ha

" corroborated the voice, "and I w

ree country. And every gent is entitled to life, liberty, and t

of the Starlight Saloon. "If you wanna make a speech

oes delightedly. "Gentleman says you gotta shut up. Says h

ut

y, struck by a brilliant idea.

t even thought of his gun but was peaceful

ven in fun. It might go off. You can't tell. You're so all-fired careless with a sixshooter,

r. A door flew open and slammed. The parting guest padded d

last of him,"

iding out of his trousers and folding them tidily beside his boots.

every

by myself, nobody to talk to nor nothing, do yo

ou for them kind words," he said. "I knew you'd stick by me. I knew I could depend on old Swin

Racey's chest, straightened the leg, and deposited Ra

idn't say anything about sticking by you, neither. And when it

w," interrupted Racey, rubbing his

ng Swing. "You're tryin' to get off the trail a

-in-a-box and get that job. Shore we did. You got a memory like all outdoors. Swing. It plumb a

manner, Racey Dawson began to bl

lkily down upon an elb

stall. "W

meone knocked upon

" said Ra

he ruthless profile walked into the room. He closed the door withou

studiedly low tone, a tone that, heard through a part

abit in this hotel," commented Racey, tactfull

d bootless. Evidently he had been on the point of retiring when the s

bly yanking his trousers from the onl

his bare ankles and accorded the stranger his closest attention. To the casual observer, however, Racey looked u

eeks. Now he was clean-shaven and attired in nothing but a flannel shirt. True, the stranger must have heard him singing to Miss Dale. But a singing voice is far

the sulks, continued to lie quietly, his head supported on

air, and levering with his toes

g for a job in the morning," the

right," n

orking for the Bar S o

er of us, but so long as we got to work the ranches with good cooks ha

t was very thick hair, oily and coarse. When sufficiently smoothed it presented t

in perfect adjustment with its

holding a outfit together. Money ain't to be sneezed at, neither. Good wages paid

felt as if a steel drill were boring into his brain. But he returned the stare withou

l all the comforts of home you were just now talking abou

tranger's eyes shifted

en the two words uttered by Racey Dawson. Pauses signify a great deal at times. This might be one of those times and it might not.

him. And he knew why. So he smiled with

ges?" he

r," was t

he

Dogville-the R

? I thought that w

r, smoothly. "My name's Harpe, Jack Harpe. What ma

y. "He don't own more'n forty cows. What you want with tw

"But everything has to have a beginning. I'm figuring on a ri

sition maybe?" pr

ver can

e outfit so close to the south thataway would shore give him something to think about. Then there's the Anvil ranch east

ck Harpe. "I guess I got as goo

next gent see yore side of

ng to listen to reaso

You ain't looked at the whole of the

tone of surprise. "What'll I have t

eyes more stupid than eve

sound. It seemed to be a ha

and I are just friends, thassall. My cattle won't gr

r S?" sugge

the B

ey, watching closely Jack H

r man's eyes? He thought it did. Certainly Jack

th either the 88 or the Bar S. Of course Baldy Barbee and the Anvil

you're payin

ep. Gotta be prepared

d the Anv

ch you napping. You would look foolish then, wouldn't you?"

quired Jack Harpe. "Are y

o know right n

for you to begin for two or three weeks, but knowing wou

know day after to-mor

s th

en if you don't begin work for a month yet. All I'd ask is for y

d the door without a sound. He regained his own room in equal silence. Racey did not hear the shutting

and Jack Harpe's ears were too long and sharp for him to risk even the tiniest of whispers. With his hand h