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would feed； Eagle Creek went calmly on as he had done always。 He shipped
what beef was fit and that； of a truth； was not much！and settled down
for the winter； trusting to winter snows and spring rains to refill the
long…dry lakes and waterholes； and coat the levels anew with grass。
But the winter snows had failed to appear； and with the spring came no rain。
〃April showers〃 became a hideously ironical joke at nature's expense。 Always
the wind blew； and sometimes great flocks of clouds would drift
superciliously up from the far sky…line； play with men's hopes； and sail
disdainfully on to some more favored land。
It is all very well for a man to cling stubbornly to precedent； but if he
clings long enough； there comes a time when to cling becomes akin to crime。
Eagle Creek Smith still stubbornly held that rangecattle should be kept to
the range。 He waited until May was fast merging to June； watching； from
sheer habit； for the spring transformation of brown prairies into green。
When it did not come； and only the coulee sides and bottoms showed green
among the brown； he accepted ruefully the unusual conditions which nature
had thrust upon him； and started 〃Wooden Shoes〃 out with the wagons on the
horse round…up； which is a preliminary to the roundup proper； as every one
knows。
CHAPTER 6
A Shot From the Dark。
〃I call that a bad job well done；〃 Pink remarked； after a long silence； as
he gave over trying to catch a fish in the muddy Milk River。
〃What？〃 Rowdy； still prone to day…dreams of matters domestic； came back
reluctantly to reality； and inspected his bait。
〃Oh； come alive！ I mean the horse round…up。 How we're going to keep that
bunch uh skeletons under us all summer is a guessing contest for fair。
Wooden Shoes has got t' give me about forty； instead of a dozen； if he wants
me t' hit 'er up on circle the way I'm used to。 I bet their back…bones'll
wear clean up through our saddles。〃
〃Oh； I guess not；〃 said Rowdy calmly。 〃They ain't so thinand they'll pick
up flesh。 There's some mighty good ones in the bunch； too。 I hope Wooden
Shoes don't forget to give me the first pick。 There's one I got my eye
onthat blue roan。 Anyway； I guess you can wiggle along with less than
forty。〃
Pink shook his head thoughtfully and sighed。 Pink loved good mounts； and the
outlook did not please him。 The round…up had camped； for the last time； on
the river within easy riding distance of Camas。 The next day's drive would
bring them to the home ranch； where Eagle Creek was fuming over the
lateness of the season； the condition of the range； and the June rains；
which had thus far failed even to moisten decently the grass…roots。
〃Let's ride over to Camas； all the other fellows have gone；〃 Pink proposed
listlessly； drawing in his line。
Rowdy as listlessly consented。 Camas as a town was neither interesting nor
important； but when one has spent three long weeks communing with nature in
her sulkiest and most unamiable mood； even a town without a railroad to its
name may serve to relieve the monotony of living。
The sun was piling gorgeous masses of purple and crimson clouds high about
him； cuddling his fat cheeks against their soft folds till； a Midas； he
turned them to gold at the touch。 Those farther away gloomed jealously at
the favoritism of their lord； and huddled closer togetherthe purple for
rage； perhaps； and the crimson for shame！
Pink's face was tinged daintily with the glow。 and even Rowdy's lean； brown
features were for the moment glorified。 They rode knee to knee silently；
thinking each his own thoughts the while they watched the sunset with eyes
grown familiar with its barbaric splendor； but never indifferent。
Soon the west held none but the deeper tints； and the shadows climbed； with
the stealthy tread of trailing Indians； from the valley； chasing the
after…glow to the very hilltops； where it stood a moment at bay and then
surrendered meekly to the dusk。 A meadow…lark near…by cut the silence into
haunting ripples of melody； stopped affrighted at their coming； and flew off
into the dull glow of the west； his little body showed black against a
crimson cloud。 Out across the river a lone coyote yapped sharply； then
trailed off into the weird plaint of his kind。
〃Brother…in…law's in town to…day； Bob Nevin saw him；〃 Pink remarked； when
the coyote ceased wailing and held his peace。
〃Who？〃 Rowdy only half…heard。
〃Bob Nevin；〃 repeated Pink naively。
〃Don't get funny。 Who did Bob see？〃
〃Brother…in…law。 Yours； not mine。 Jessie's tin god。 If he's there yet； I bid
for an invite to the 'swatfest。' Or maybe〃a horrible possibility forced
itself upon Pink〃maybe you'll kill the fattest maverick and fall on his
neck〃
〃The maverick's？〃 Rowdy's brows were rather pinched together； but his tone
told nothing。
〃Naw； Harry Conroy's a fellow's liable to do most any fool thing when he's
got schoolma'amitis。〃
〃That so？〃
Pink snorted。 The possibility had grown to black certainty in his mind。 He
became suddenly furious。
〃Lord！ I hope some kind friend'll lead me out an' knock me in the head； if
ever I get locoed over any darned girl！〃
〃Same here；〃 agreed Rowdy； unmoved。
〃Then your days are sure numbered in words uh one syllable； old…timer；〃
snapped Pink。
Rowdy leaned and patted him caressingly upon the shouldera form of irony
which Pink detested。 〃Don't get excited； sonny；〃 he soothed。 〃Did you fetch
your gun？〃
〃I sure did！〃 Pink drew a long breath of relief。 〃Yuh needn't think I'm
going t' take chances on being no human colander。 I've packed a gun for
Harry Conroy ever since that rough…riding contest uh yourn。 Yuh mind the way
I took him under the ear with a rock？ He's been makin' war…talk behind m'
back ever since。 Did I bring m' gun！ Well； I guess yes！〃 He dimpled
distractingly。
〃All the same； it'll suit me not to run up against him；〃 said Rowdy quite
frankly。 He knew Pink would understand。 Then he lifted his coat
suggestively； to show the weapon concealed beneath； and smiled。
〃Different here。 Yuh did have sense enough t' be readyand if yuh see him；
and don't forget he's got a sister with a number two foot； damned if I don't
fix yuh both a…plenty！〃 He settled his hat more firmly over his curls； and
eyed Rowdy anxiously from under his lashes。
Rowdy caught the action and the look from the tail of his eye； and grinned
at his horse's ears。 Pink in warlike mood always made him think of a
four…year…old child playing pirate with the difference that Pink was always
in deadly earnest and would fight like a fiend。
For more reasons than one he hoped they would not meet Harry Conroy。 Jessie
was still in ignorance of his real attitude toward her brother； and Rowdy
wanted nothing more than to keep her so。 The trouble was that he was quite
certain to forget everything but his grievances； if ever he came face to
face with Harry。 Also； Pink would always fight quicker for his friends than
for himself； and he felt very tender toward Pink。 So he hoped fervently
that Harry Conroy had already ridden back whence he came； and there would be
no unpleasantness。
Four or five Cross L horses stood meekly before the Come Again Saloon； so
Rowdy and Pink added theirs to the gathering and went in。 The Silent One
looked up from his place at a round table in a far corner； and beckoned。
〃We need another hand here；〃 he said； when they went over to him。 〃These
gentlemen are worried because they might be taken into high society some
day； and they would be placed in a very embarrassing position through their
ignorance of bridge…whist。 I have very magnanimously consented to teach them
the rudiments。〃
Bob Nevin looked up； and then lowered an eyelid cautiously。 〃He's a liar。 He
offered to learn us how to play it； we bet him the drinks he didn't savvy
the game himself。 Set down； Pink； and I'll have you for my pretty pardner。〃
The Silent One shuffled the cards thoughtfully。 〃To make it seem like
bona…fide bridge；〃 he began； 〃we should have everybody playing。〃
〃Aw； the common； ordinary brand is good enough；〃 protested Bob。 〃I ain't in
on any trimmings。〃
The Silent One smiled ever so slightly。 〃We should have prizesor favors。
Is there a store in town where one could buy something suitable？〃
〃They got codfish up here； I smelt it；〃 suggested Jim Ellis。 Him the Silent
One ignored。
〃What do you say； boys； to a real； high society whist…party？ I'll invite the
crowd； and be the hostess。 And I'll serve punch〃
〃Come on； fellows； and have one with me；〃 called a strange voice near the
door。
〃Meeting's adjourned；〃 cried Jim Ellis； and got up to accept the invitation
and range along the bar with the rest。 He had not been particularly
interested in bridge…whist anyway。
The others remained seated； and the bartender called across to know what
they would have。 Pink cut the cards very carefully； and did not look up。
Rowdy thrust both hands in his pockets and turned his square shoulder to the
bar。 He did not need to lookhe knew that voice； with its shoddy
heartiness。
Men began to observe his attitude； and looked at one another。 When one is
asked to drink with another； he must comply or decline graciously； if he
would not giv