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Updated: June 13, 2025
"What do you think, Luke?" queried Racey. "Have I got too much to say?" "You heard what Lanpher said," replied the cautious Luke. "Yep, I heard all right. I just wanted to get yore opinion, because I ain't through yet through talking, I mean. What I was going to say is that I wouldn't be particular about catching Lanpher round Moccasin Spring.
"Lanpher," said Racey without preliminary, "I want to serve notice on you here and now that if I catch you within one mile of Moccasin Spring you come a-shooting because I will." Lanpher's hand remained motionless on the desktop. Then the man picked up a pencil and began to tap it on the wood. He licked his lips cat-fashion. "Is that a threat or a promise?" he asked.
He understood well enough that Rod and the other two punchers would not interfere in any way with him and whatever acts he might be called upon to perform during his conversation with Lanpher. Loyal to the last cartridge and after whenever it was ranch business, none of the 88 punchers ever felt it incumbent upon him to go out of his way so far as Lanpher personally was concerned.
"Alicran," said Racey, holding his alert attitude, "the first false move you make Lanpher gets it." "I ain't makin' a move," said Alicran, thumbs hooked in the armholes of his vest. "I got plenty to do minding my own business." "Huh?" Thus the sceptical Racey, who did not trust Mr. Skeel as far as he could throw a horse by the tail.
You got another guess, Racey, and it's me that will get the most out of that laugh. If it's like I say, even if Lanpher and Tweezy are trying a game you don't get paid a nickel if Jack Harpe and his cattle ain't in on the deal. You done put in the Jack Harpe end of it yoreself. I heard you. So did Tom Loudon, and Swing, too. Jack Harpe. Yeah. He is the tune you was playing alla time.
I was afraid he'd fix it so as to take my ranch away from me if he knowed how bad and what for I needed it." "But ain't that exactly what the Marysville bank could 'a' done if it wanted?" demanded Racey, aghast at the Dale obtuseness. "Yeah, but I had hopes of standing off the bank, and " "But you ain't got any hope of standing off Lanpher and Tweezy. Nary a hope.
At any rate, he did not pursue further the subject of the 88 cowboys cast as an eviction gang. "I'll talk to you later, Alicran," said he in a tone he strove to make grimly menacing, but which actually imposed upon no one, least of all the truculent Alicran. "We won't need yore boys, Lanpher," said Racey. "The sheriff will attend to it."
At this juncture hoofbeats sounded sharply on the trail behind them. Racey turned in a flesh, his right hand dropping. But it was only Lanpher and the stranger riding out of a belt of pines whose deep and lusty soughing had drowned the noise of their approach. Lanpher and his comrade rode by at a trot. The former mumbled a greeting to Racey but barely glanced at the girl.
With slightly narrowed eyes he stared at the gate behind which Jack Harpe and his two friends had been standing. "Now I wonder," mused Racey Dawson, "I shore am wonderin' what kind of skulduggery li'l Mr. Lanpher of the 88 is a-trying to crawl out of and what Mr. Stranger is a-trying to drag him into. Nebraska, too, huh? I was wondering what that feller's name was."
Women did not interest Lanpher. He was too selfishly stingy. The stranger was more appreciative. He gave the girl a stare of frank admiration before he looked at Racey Dawson. The latter perceived that the stranger's eyes were remarkably black and keen, perceived, too, that the man as he rode past and on half turned in the saddle for a second look at the girl.
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