Frederick Robert Buckley

“ His cold blue eyes turned downward, and focused again with piercing attention on the younger man’s upturned face. The bills were stowed in a pocket of the belt right next one of those gold-mounted guns which, earlier in the evening, had covered Willie Arblaster’s heart. For. a moment, the lean man’s hand seemed to hesitate over its butt: then, as Willie smiled and nodded, it moved away. The match burned out.
“Let’s get out of here,” the younger urged; whereupon the hand vows had hovered over the gun-butt grasped Will Arblaster’s shoulder. ”

“ The elder slipped back into its holster the gold-mounted gun he had drawn, glanced once at the obscured window, and again, piercingly, at the boy whose face now showed white in the light of the rising moon. Then he turned his pony and mounted.
“Come on,” he commanded
FIVE minutes later the two had passed the limits of the town, heading for the low range of hills which encircled it to the south—and Will Arblaster had given the details of his job to the unemotional man at his side
“How do you know the old guy’s got the money?” came a level question. ”

“ Another match scratched and sputtered, and then, with a hoarse cry of triumph, was flung down. Running feet padded across the short grass and Will Arblaster drew up, panting
“Got it!” he gasped. “The old fool! Put it in a tea-canister right on the mantelshelf. Enough to choke a horse! Feel it!”
The lean man, unemotional as ever, reached down and took the roll of money
“Got another match?” he asked. ”

“ He hunched there, his face in his hands, while she struck a match and laid the flame to the wick of the lamp on the table. As it burned up, she went back her father, knelt by him, and threw her arms about his neck
“Now, now, now!” she pleaded. “Now, Daddy, it’s all right Don't take on so. It’s all right.”
But he would not be comforted.
“I can't replace it!” cried Pa Sanderson, dropping trembling hands from his face. “It’s gone! Two years you've been away from me; two years you've slaved in a store; and now I’ve
“Hush, hush!” the girl begged. “Now, Daddy—it’s all right. ”

“ Don't you move, you! I’ve got you covered. I'll take the money out myself.”
His revolver-muzzle under his companion’s nose, he snapped open the pocket of the belt and extracted the roll of bills. Then, regardless of a possible shot in the back, he swung off his horse and hambled, with the mincing gait of the born horseman, into the lighted doorway of the cabin. ”

“ All things bein’ equal,” he said, first tell me how you got round to callin’ me Tommy. askin’ people in the street?”
No,” said the boy. “I only got into town this afternoon, an I aint a fool, anyway. ”