United States or Dominica ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
The cow-puncher's eye rested a moment amiably upon me. "You can play whist with your brains," he mused, "brains and cyards. Now cyards are only one o' the manifestations of poker in this hyeh world. One o' the shapes yu fool with it in when the day's work is oveh. Maybe it will be a mean, triflin' army, or an empty six-shooter, or a lame hawss, or maybe just nothin' but his natural countenance.
There must be a good deal of money in them, he supposed, with a live man to manage them. The victim was flattered. No other person at the table had been favored with so much of the tall cow-puncher's notice. He responded, and they had a pleasant talk. I did not divine that the Virginian's genius was even then at work, and that all this was part of his satanic strategy.
"Don't you like music?" inquired Billy. "Yes," said Lin. Ladies with their husbands and children were passing and meeting, orderly yet gayer than if it were only Sunday, and the salutations of Christmas came now and again to the cow-puncher's ears; but to-day, possessor of his own share in this, Lin looked at every one with a sort of friendly challenge, and young Billy talked along beside him.
"What was that cow-puncher's name?" asked Vuyning, "who used to catch a mustang by the nose and mane, and throw him till he put the bridle on?" "Bates," said Emerson. "Thanks," said Vuyning. "I thought it was Yates. Oh, about that toggery business I'd forgotten that." "I've been looking for some guy to put me on the right track for years," said Emerson.
Strength was flowing back into him each day, and Judge Henry's latest messenger had brought him clothes and mail from Sunk Creek and many inquiries of kindness, and returned taking the news of the cow-puncher's improvement, and how soon he would be permitted the fresh air.
Texas immediately repaired to the general store, where he purchased a new scarlet bandanna for the occasion; also a cake of soap with which to rout the alkali dust that had filtered into every pore of his hands and face from a long ride across the desert. Came supper and Texas simultaneously, the cow-puncher's face scrubbed to an apple shine.
He half drew back his fist to strike as Banker rose, fumbling at his gun. But one of the other men suddenly struck out, with a fist like a ham, landing beneath the cow-puncher's ear. He went down without a groan, completely knocked out. The man got up, seized him by the legs, dragged him to the door and threw him into the road outside.
"I know that Tennyson is what she is what's wanted," he muttered; and, feeling himself nudged, looked around and saw Lin's extended fist. This gesture he took for a facetious sympathy, and, dolorously grasping the hand, found himself holding a lump of bills. Sheer amazement relaxed him, and the cow-puncher's matted wealth tumbled on the floor in sight of all people.
The latter carries the revolver on the left, the butt pointing forward. An essential part of the cow-puncher's outfit was his "rope." This was carried in a close coil at the side of the saddle-horn, fastened by one of the many thongs scattered over the saddle. In the Spanish country it was called reata and even today is sometimes seen in the Southwest made of rawhide.
"Well, put your hand on his heart." "No! I I don't want to." "What you afraid of?" "Well, I just don't want to touch him, that's all. It's bad luck. YOU feel his heart." "You can't always tell by that." "How can you tell, then? Pshaw, you fellows make me sick. Here, let me get there. I'll do it." There was a long pause, as the other bent down and laid his hand on the cow-puncher's breast. "Well?"
Word Of The Day