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〃ErI'm him；〃 confessed Bandy…legs meekly； and circled the two dubiously。
〃I guess you've heard uh Eagle Creek SmithI'm him。 The Cross L belongs to
me。〃
Rowdy let out an explosive； and showed a row of nice teeth。 〃Well； I ain't
hard to please；〃 he added。 〃I won't kick on that； I guess。 I like your looks
tolerable well； and I'm willing to take yuh on for a boss。 If yuh do your
part； I bet we'll get along fine。〃 His tone was banteringly patronizing
〃Anyway； I'll try yuh for a spell。 You can put my name down as Rowdy
Vaughan； lately canned from the Horseshoe Bar。〃
〃What for？〃 ventured Bandy…legsrather； Eagle Creekstill circling Rowdy
dubiously。
〃What for was I canned？〃 repeated Rowdy easily。 〃Being a modest youth； I
hate t' tell yuh。 But the old man's son and me； we disagreed； and one of his
eyes swelled some； so did mine； a little。〃 He stood head and shoulders above
Eagle Creek； and he smiled down upon him engagingly。 Eagle Creek capitulated
before the smile。
〃Well； I ain't got any sonsthat I know of；〃 he grinned。 〃So I guess yuh
can consider yourself a Cross L man till further notice。〃
〃Why； sure！〃 The teeth gleamed again briefly。 〃That's what I've been telling
you right along。 Where's old Wooden Shoes？ He's responsible for me being
here。〃
〃Gone to Chinook。 He'll be back in a day or two。〃 Eagle Creek shifted his
feet awkwardly。 〃Say〃he glanced uneasily behind him〃yuh don't want t'
let it get around that yuh sort of hired mesee？〃
〃Of course not；〃 Rowdy assured him。 〃I was only joshing。 If you don't want
me； just tell me to hit the sod。〃
〃You stay right where you're at！〃 commanded Eagle Creek with returned
confidence in himself and his authority。 Of a truth； this self…assured；
straight…limbed young man had rather dazed him。 〃Take your bed and war…bag
up to the bunk…house and make yourself t' home till the boys get back；
andsay； where'd yuh git that pack…horse？〃
The laugh went out of Rowdy's tawny eyes。 The question hit a spot that was
becoming sore。 〃I borrowed him this morning from Mr。 Rodway；〃 he said
evenly。 〃I'm to take him back to…day。 I stopped there last night。〃
〃Oh！〃 Eagle Creek coughed apologetically； and said no word； while Rowdy led
Chub back to the cabin which he had pointed out as the bunk…house； he stood
by while Rowdy loosened the pack and dragged it inside。
〃I guess you can get located here；〃 he said。 〃I ain't workin' more'n three
or four men just now； but there's quite a few uh the boys stopping here； the
Cross L's a regular hang…out for cow…punchers。 You're a little early for the
season； but I'll see that yuh have something t' dojust t' keep yuh out uh
devilment。〃
Rowdy's brows unbent； it would seem that Eagle Creek was capable of
〃joshing〃 also。 〃It's up t' you； old…timer；〃 he retorted。 〃I'm strong and
willing； and don't shy at anything but pitchforks。〃
Eagle Creek grinned。 〃This ain't no blamed cowhospital；〃 he gave as a
parting shot。 〃All the hay that's shoveled on this ranch needn't hurt
nobody's feelings。〃 With that he shut the door； and left Rowdy to acquaint
himself with his new home。
CHAPTER 4
Pink as 〃Chappyrone。〃
Rowdy was sprawled ungracefully upon somebody's bunkhe neither knew nor
cared whoseand he was snoring unmelodiously； and not dreaming a thing； for
when a cow…puncher has nothing in particular to do； he sleeps to atone for
the weary hours when he must be very wide…awake。 An avalanche descended upon
his unwarned middle； and checked the rhythmic ebb and flow of sound。 He
squawked and came to life clawing viciously。
〃I'd like t' know where the devil yuh come from；〃 a voice remarked
plaintively in a soft treble。
Rowdy opened his eyes with a snap。 〃Pink！ by all that's good and bad！ Get up
off my diaphragm； you little fiend。〃
Pink absent…mindedly kneaded Rowdy's stomach with his knuckles； and
immediately found himself in a far corner。 He came back； dimpling
mischievously。 He looked much more an angel than a fiend； for all his Angora
chaps and flame…colored scarf。
〃Your bed and war…bag's on my bunk； you're on Smoky's； and Dixie's makin'
himself to home in the corral。 By all them signs and tokens； I give a
reckless guess you're here t' stay a while。 That right？〃 He prodded again at
Rowdy's ribs。
〃It sure is； Pink。 And if I'd known you was holding out here； I'd 'a' come
sooner； maybe。 You sure look good to me； you darned little cuss！〃 Rowdy sat
up and took a lightning inventory of the four or five other fellows lounging
about。 He must have slept pretty sound； he thought； not to hear them come
in。
Pink read the look； and bethought him of the necessary introductions。 〃This
is my side…kicker over the line thatyou've heard about till you're plumb
weary； boys；〃 he announced musically。 〃His name is Rowdy
Vaughanbronco…peeler； crap fiend； and all…round bad man。 He ain't a safe
companion； and yuh want t' sleep with your six…guns cuddled under your right
ear； and never； on no account； show him your backs。 He's a real wolf； he is；
and the only reason I live t' tell the tale is because he respects
m' size。 Boys； I'm afraid for yuhbut I wish yuh well。〃
〃Pink； you need killing； and I'm tempted to live up to my rep；〃 grinned
Rowdy indulgently。 〃Read me the pedigree of your friends。〃
〃Oh； they ain't no worsewhen yuh git used to 'em。 That long…legged jasper
with the far…away look in his eyes is the Silent Oneif he takes a notion
t' you； he'll maybe tell yuh the name his mother calls him。 He may have seen
better days； but here's hoping he won't see no worse！ He once was a
tenderfoot； but he's convalescing。〃
The Silent One nodded carelessly； but with a quick； measuring glance that
Rowdy liked。
〃This unshaved savage is Smoky。 He's harmless； if yuh don't mention
socialism in his presence； and if yuh do； he'll
down…with…the…trust…and…long…live…the…sons…uh…toil； all hours uh the night；
and keep folks awake。 Then him and the fellow that started him off 'll
likely get chapped good and plenty。 Over there's Jim Ellis and Bob Nevin；
they've both turned a cow or two； and I've seen worse specimens running
around looseplenty of 'em。 That man hidin' behind the grinyou can see
him if yuh look closeis Sunny Sam。 Yuh needn't take no notice of him；
unless you're a mind to。 He won't carehe's dead gentle。
〃Say；〃 he broke off； 〃how'd you happen t' stray onto this range； anyhow？ Yuh
used t' belong t the Horseshoe Bar so solid the assessor always t' yuh down
on the personal…property list。〃
〃They won't pay taxes on me no more； son。〃 Rowdy's eyes dwelt fondly upon
Pink's cupid…bow mouth and dimples。 He had never dreamed of finding Pink
here； though； when he came to think of it there was no reason why he
shouldn't。
Pink was not like any one else。 He was slight and girlish to look at。 But
you mustn't trust appearances； for Pink was all muscle strung on steel wire；
according to the belief of those who tried to handle him。 He had little
white hands； and feet that looked quite comfortable in a number four boot；
and his hair was a tawny gold and curled in distracting； damp rings on his
forehead。 His eyes were blue and long…lashed and beautiful； and they looked
at the world with baby innocencewhereas a more sophisticated
little devil never jangled spurs at his heels。 He was everything but
insipid； and men liked himunless he chose to dislike them； when they
thought of him with grating teeth。 To find him bullying the Cross L boys
brought a warmth to Rowdy's heart。
Pink made a cigarette； and then offered Rowdy his tobacco…sack； and asked
questions about the Cypress Hills country。 How was this girl？and was that
one married yet？and did the other still grieve for him？ As a matter of
fact； he had yet to see the girl who could quicken his pulse a single beat；
and for that reason it sometimes pleased him to affect susceptibility beyond
that of other men。
It was after dinner when he and Rowdy went humming down to the stables；
gossiping like a couple of old women over a back fence。
〃I see you've got Conroy's Chub yet；〃 Pink observed carelessly。
〃Oh； for Heaven's sake let up on that cayuse！〃 Rowdy cried petulantly。 〃I
wish I'd never got sight of the little buzzard…head； I've had him crammed
down my throat the last day or two till it's getting plumb monotonous。 Pink；
that cayuse never saw Oregon。 He was raised right on this flat； and he
belongs to old Rodway。 I've got to lead him back there and turn him over
to…day。〃
Pink took three puffs at his cigarette； and lifted his long lashes to
Rowdy's gloom…filled face。 〃Stole？〃 he asked briefly。
〃Stole；〃 Rowdy repeated disgustedly。 〃So was the whole blame' bunch； as near
as I can make out。〃
〃We might 'a' knowed it。 We might 'a' guessed Harry Conroy wouldn't have a
straight title to anything if he could make it crooked。 I bet he never
finished paying back that money yuh lent himout uh the kindness uh your
heart。 Did he？〃 Pink leaned against the corral fence and kicked meditatively
at a snow…covered rock。
〃He did not； m' son。 Chub's all I ever got out uh the dealand I haven't
even got him。 I borrowed him from Rodway to pack my bed overborrowed the
blame' little runty cayuse that cost me sixty…four hard…earned dollar