Eugene Manlove Rhodes

“ Wheeler's feet to the precipice, and in those scanty yards a single-track railroad, the wagon-road and the big Dona Ana Mother-Ditch crowded, following the river's curve.
Far down the narrow highroad a shod hoof rang on a stone. A string of horses swung jauntily into sight,. A tall horseman lolled easily in the saddle, one comfortable leg curled round the horn. ”

“ Tubs Wheeler towered tiptoe. "Look here, Spud—I ain't got anything against you, as a man, but a fellow that wants a wife has got a right to get some stuff together first."
"Well," drawled Spud reflectively, "what's the matter with my little bunch of cows?"
"That's just it. You don't know nawthin' but cows—and cows is nix, nada. That day's over. Summerford, Joe Haskell, Herron—they got farms for themselves ready for the big ditch. Look at Joe Haskell, now. He's got as fine a piece of land as there is in the bend. And when there's no work for him on the farm, he goes teamin' on the dam. ”

“ To steady himself in crossing the gully, Mr. Panky's hands had gripped at seat and stanchion. He now rigidly held that strained position. The car stopped astride the ditch.
A man stepped cautiously from the washout—a little man with a long 30-40 repeater. He looked very much indeed like Mr. Charlie Simpson. He held the muzzle of the long rifle within a foot of Mr. Panky's ribs.
"Put your hands on the back of the front seat!" he ordered. "Shut your eyes!" ”

“ Look now—I got a mount of horses up here, squandering all over the country. I'll round 'em up and put 'em in the pen first, before they stray off. I'll be right back. Any wagon that come along, you want to make 'em drive on the other side of the road."
BUT half an hour after Spud's departure, Joe Haskell rode down from his farm. In the corral he found Spud's mount, and on the porch he found Spud himself in joyous conference with Miss Gertie Wheeler. ”

“ A COOL breeze tossed the wayside mesquites; a far mountain notched black and sharp across the red sun, the car came again to Lookout Draw. It chugged up the sandy slope, it turned across the plain to the chuck-wagon.
A horseman trotted out to meet the car, waving his arm. "Gee whiz! Ain't you got no sense?" he cried in an angry voice. "Get away with that devil-wagon. You'll stampede these cattle. Go 'way round, if you want to get to camp." ”

“ He likes some one else better than he does Gertie."
"Who?" demanded Mr. Tubs Wheeler, sharply.
"Why, just himself. So we'll leave him out of the question. And Herron?" Spud said consideringly. "H'm-m! Well, really"——
"Well, what about Herron? Don't you ever take a drink?"
Spud slid from the saddle. "I don't care if I do," he said.
"You banshee!" cried Wheeler. His scowl ended in a broad grin. "Come along with you."
When they returned to the porch, Spud Wallis sank into a chair .
A touring car stood in the deep road between track and ditch. ”

“ It ought to be cheaper. Only one patch of land to buy, and that don't seem to be worth much—all grown up to tornillo and cottonwood saplings."
Wheeler's jaw fell. "Cracky, they could do that! Well!" he exclaimed. "That ground, now—it belongs to old Pablo Montoya's boy. Used to be a farm there twenty year ago. I'll just go over there and buy it to-morrow—then I'll be fixed, either way. Well, I'm sure obliged to you, Spud."
"Oh, that's all right," said Spud generously. "Let's go see what's lost."
THE strangers met them at the car. ”

“ Dwyer shook his head. "Thank you very much, but we'll just wash up and go on. We have an excellent lunch with us. The road, we hear, is very slow and sandy, and we want to be on time. Come, Robert."
The car drew up before the store. Spud leaned over the rail.
"Find it?"
"No," said Wheeler. "They're going on. This way, gentlemen."
He ushered his guests in, with a black look for the young couple as he passed. He came back out at once.
"What's this? What's all this? Gertie, go in the house this minute and start dinner. Confound you, Spud, you're a triflin' scoundrel. Where's Joe?" ”

“ Wheeler shortly.
Mr. Wallis rolled his eye at the sun. "I can terrapin along up there this evenin'. After dinner," he added pointedly.
Mr. Tubs Wheeler spoke accusingly: "Now, young man, you just natchelly mosey right along out of this!"
"Why, Mis-ter Wheeler! An old-timer like you, and grudge a body a meal's victuals."
"Meal's victuals be blowed!" said Wheeler wrathful! "I ain't going to have you making up to my girl."
"Oh-h! I see-ee! Gertie?" said Spud. He looked up, frank-eyed. "Say, that's a good idea. I'll go see her right away now!" ”

“ Why wouldn't you have us pay you a good cash percentage right here, and let us have that reward, while you go free?"
"They might send you up for a long term, you know. You never can tell," urged Whalen. "Why, you might get sick and die there. ”

“ If you got any more you can keep it. But you got to go back the way you came. I'm goin' north—and I need room. The boys won't lynch him—not with you bringin* him in that way. They'll take him to Dona Ana for you. That's my last word. Take it or leave it."
The money changed hands. Under Hank's gun, Panky was trussed up with suit-case straps, his hands behind his back, and was assisted into the car. Then his ankles were strapped together. Whalen took the steering wheel, with Dwyer beside him and the two Bills in the tonneau. The car turned back toward the Point of Rocks ”