United States or Jamaica ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
"He'll make good," soliloquized the supervisor. "He likes horses and dogs, and he knows men. He's all human and there's a lot of him. And they say that Bud Shoop used to be the last word in riding 'em straight up, and white lightning with a gun." The supervisor shook his head. "Take a letter to Collins," he said. The stenographer glanced up. "Senator Collins, Mr. Torrance?" "Yes.
"The White Mountain Apaches are eating a lot of beef these days," he said suddenly. Shoop grinned. "And it ain't all Gov'ment beef, neither. The line fence crost Still Cañon is down. They's been a fire up on the shoulder of Ole Baldy nothin' much, though.
Moreover, with Shoop as supervisor, it was safe to assume that the natives would hesitate to attempt their usual subterfuges in regard to grazing-leases. Bud was too well known for that. Torrance had had trouble with the cattlemen and sheepmen. He knew that Shoop's mere name would obviate much argument and bickering.
A baggage-truck rumbled past and they heard some one shout, "Get out o' that!" In the dim light they saw a figure crawl from beneath the baggage-car and dash across the station platform to be swallowed up in the shadowy gloom of a side street. "I only had seven drinks," said Shoop, gazing after the disappearing figure. "But if Sundown ain't a pair of twins, that was him." "Hold on, Bud!"
Shoop and Hi Wingle spurred ahead while the others questioned Sundown, following easily. When they arrived at the scene of the fight, Corliss was sitting propped against a tree with Shoop and Wangle on either side of him. Corliss stared stupidly at the men. "Who done it?" asked Wingle. "Fadeaway," murmured the rancher. Loring, in the rear of the group, laughed ironically.
Because his master seemed pleased, Bondsman waited to hear the rest of it with head cocked sideways and tail at a stiff angle. "That's all they is to it," said Shoop. Bondsman lay down and yawned. He was growing old. It was only Bud's voice that could key the big Airedale up to his earlier alertness. The office was quiet. The clerk had gone out for his noon meal.
His nod to Shoop was all but imperceptible. "I dunno, Jack. I'd hate to lose them notes." And the sheriff grinned. "Writing a song or starting a bank, Bud?" "Song. I was composin' it to Jack, drivin' in." And the genial Bud grabbed his hat and swept out of the room.
"We'll have to nail it quick. If you file you'll have to quit on the Concho." "Well, then, I quit. Sinker is right in line for my bunk. Me for the big hammer and the little ole sign what says: 'Private property! Keep off! All trespassers will be executed! And underneath, kind o' sassy-like, 'Bud Shoop, proprietor." About midnight Corliss and his foreman were awakened by a cry of "Fire!"
"A right lovely mornin', Miss Bronson. I reckon your daddy is busy." "Here I am," said Bronson, striding out and shaking hands with the supervisor. "Won't you come in?" "About that lease," said Shoop, dismounting. "If you got time to talk business." "Most certainly. Dorothy will excuse us." "Is Adams gone?" "He left this morning." "Uh-uh. Here, Bondsman, quit botherin' the young lady."
Shoop immediately called attention to Bondsman, who was gently tugging at the supervisor's pants leg. "Now, look at that! Do you know what he's tellin' me? He's tellin' me I got a piano in that there cabin and we ain't had a duet for quite a spell. That there dog bosses me around somethin' scandalous." Bondsman slipped from beneath Dorothy's hand as she stooped to pat him.
Word Of The Day