H. Bedford-Jones

Name: Cactus and Rattlers — Chapter I
Author: H. Bedford-Jones

Cactus and Rattlers — Chapter I (1924)

Summary

“Cactus and Rattlers — Chapter I”, published in 1924, is a work by H. Bedford-Jones. It explores elements such as Stovepipe Springs, Hassayamp and Tompkins.

Quotes from Cactus and Rattlers — Chapter I (H. Bedford-Jones)

H. Bedford-Jones, Cactus and Rattlers — Chapter I (1924)

“ Here, besides the hotel, were five inhabited houses and two stores, a bank and a garage. Had it not been for the literary enterprise of Sagebrush Beam, even the post office would have long since been wiped off the map. The town was a point of call for desert rats, and being at present on a detour of the cross-continent automobile highway, had more business than its looks would warrant. Its inhabitants lived only for the day when some one would strike it rich and bring back the boom. ”

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Source: Wikisource

H. Bedford-Jones, Cactus and Rattlers — Chapter I (1924)

“ Sagebrush grunted, hitched his three burros to the rail, and vanished in the hotel.
ONCE Stovepipe Springs had been a boom mining town, but now it was dead and dried out. To west and north lay desert, to the south lay more desert and the Colorado. To the east was the Chuckwalla Range—in it and beyond it rich cattle country with water galore. Here in Stovepipe Springs, and over across the Chuckwallas, men talked different languages, had different customs and were themselves different. ”

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Source: Wikisource

H. Bedford-Jones, Cactus and Rattlers — Chapter I (1924)

“ Tompkins patiently. "I seek rooms at your hotel, and a guide. I want a man who knows the desert, who can lead me to the haunts of its creatures. Particularly I desire to study the habits of the crotalus cerastes." ”

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Source: Wikisource

H. Bedford-Jones, Cactus and Rattlers — Chapter I (1924)

“ Haywire Johnson, assistant postmaster and general utility man about the hotel, showed up in time to answer this query.
"Hi, Sagebrush! Aint you stoppin' over in town? Things is pickin' up right fast. We got a settler yesterday, and we got a tourist comin' today."
"That's jest it," growled Sagebrush. "A feller can't have no peace no more. That makes three women in town now, not countin' them females over to José Garcia's shack."
"Well, listen!" Haywire laid his hand on the desert rat's arm. ”

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Source: Wikisource

H. Bedford-Jones, Cactus and Rattlers — Chapter I (1924)

“ He was shown to his cell, a room twelve by twelve, furnished with all the comforts of home.
"Don't do no cussing nor singing after midnight," warned Hassayamp as he shoved in the two enormous grips, "'cause a lady's got the next room. When the bell rings for supper, you show up prompt; my old woman's liable to be real ornery if folks don't 'preciate hot vittles. Two-fifty a day. What did you go tangle up with that old desert rat Sagebrush for? ”

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Source: Wikisource

H. Bedford-Jones, Cactus and Rattlers — Chapter I (1924)

“ Sidewinder's feelin' mean today. Him and that female woman have been talkin' chicken-ranches, I reckon. Oh, my gosh! Now that there mistake for a human is headin' this-a-way—"
Mr. Tompkins, indeed, seemed to sense a general lack of cordiality all around him, except in the gaping countenance of Sagebrush, whom he now approached.
"My friend—"
"Pilgrim, don't bother me!" said Sagebrush defensively. "It jest can't be true!"
"I'll pay three dollars a day to a man who knows the desert."
Sagebrush changed countenance. So did the remainder of Stovepipe Springs. ”

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Source: Wikisource

H. Bedford-Jones, Cactus and Rattlers — Chapter I (1924)

“ Two enormous and bulging suitcases, each as big as a small trunk, were in the stage boot, and Hassayamp hauled them out with antagonistic air, and led his victim away.
THE Stovepipe House was built for desert use, not for looks. The front building contained post office and hotel dining-room; and passing through this, Tompkins descended the rear steps and found two long adobe structures stretching in front of him, each divided into cells ”

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Source: Wikisource

H. Bedford-Jones, Cactus and Rattlers — Chapter I (1924)

“ That old rascal would salt hell and unload it on a pilgrim. Don't you trust nobody around here but me. I got two quartz lodes and a placer location that'll make your eyes water—"
"Not interested in mines, thanks," said Tompkins, cutting short the flow of talk. "If I saw a good chicken-ranch, I might invest, but not otherwise. Ever hear of anyone around these parts by the name of Ramsay? Alec Ramsay. Might have passed through here a year or so ago."
"Nope," said Hassayamp, shaking his mustaches. "Well, if ye want anything, come and holler for it."
Hassayamp withdrew ”

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Source: Wikisource

H. Bedford-Jones, Cactus and Rattlers — Chapter I (1924)

“ We shall have to hire an automobile."
"You got to see Sidewinder Crowfoot about that. He owns 'em all."
"Very well. Come to my room in an hour, when I have had a chance to remove the stains of travel. ”

H. Bedford-Jones

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Quotes from Cactus and Rattlers — Chapter I (H. Bedford-Jones)

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