Part 14 (1/2)

”And if you got pinched, first thing you'd sing out 'Fadeaway,' and then me for over the road, eh?”

”Honest, Fade. I'll swear that I won't give you away, even if I get caught. Here's my hand on it.”

”Give me nine hundred and I'll go you,” said Fadeaway, shaking hands with his companion.

Corliss hesitated. Was the risk worth but half the money involved?

”Five's a whole lot, Fade.”

”Well, seein' you're goin' to do the gettin' at it, why, mebby I'd risk it for five hundred. I dunno.”

”You said you'd stand by a pal, Fade. Now's your chance.”

”All right. See here, Bill. You cut out the booze all you can to-day.

Foot it out to the Beaver Dam to-night and I'll have a hoss for you.

We can ride up the old canon trail. n.o.body takes her nowadays, so we'll be under cover till we hit the ford. We can camp there back in the brush and tackle her next evenin'. So-long.”

Fadeaway was downstairs and out on the street before Corliss realized that he had committed himself to a desperate and dangerous undertaking.

He recalled the expression in Fadeaway's eyes when they had shaken hands. Unquestionably the cowboy meant business.

CHAPTER IX

SUNDOWN'S FRIEND

Bud Shoop was ill.u.s.trating, with quaint and humorous gestures and adjectives, one of his early experiences as Ranger on the Apache Reservation. The men, grouped around the night-fire, smoked and helped the tale along with reminiscent suggestions and e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.i.o.ns of interest and curiosity. In the midst of a vivid account of the juxtaposition of a telephone battery and a curious yet unsuspicious Apache, Shoop paused in the recital and gazed out across the mesa.

”It's the boss,” he said, getting to his feet. ”Wonder what's up?”

Corliss rode into camp, swung from the saddle, and called to Shoop.

The men gazed at each other, nodded, and the words ”Loring” and ”sheep,” punctuated their mutterings.

Shoop and Corliss talked together. Then the foreman called to Hi Wingle, asking him how the ”chuck” was holding out.

”Runnin' short on flour and beans, Bud. Figured on makin' the Concho to-morrow.”

Corliss and his foreman came to the fire. ”Boss says we're goin' to bush here the rest of this week,” and Corliss nodded.

”I'm expecting company on the west side,” explained Corliss,

The men gazed at each other knowingly.

”All right,” said Wingle. ”Four sacks of flour and a sack of frijoles'll see us through. Got enough other stuff.”

”Send some one in for it,” ordered Corliss. ”I'm going to stay with the outfit, from now on.”

The men cheered. That was the kind of a boss to work for! No settin'

back and lettin' the men do the fightin'! Some style to Jack Corliss!

All of which was subtly expressed in their applause, although unspoken.