But mebbe not. Mebbe I'm tellin' you about it because I've got
somethin' else in mind. When I first seen you I was filled clear to
the top with doubt. If you had my thousand what would you do with it?"
"Meanin' that if I had your thousand an' was in your place?"
"I reckon."
"That would depend," said the puncher, cautiously. "If I'd robbed a
man, or held up a stage coach, or busted a bank, I'd be burnin' the
breeze out of the country. But if I'd earned it honest I'd blow myself
proper, beginnin' by settin' 'em up to a fool guy which had give all
his coin to some card sharps yesterday."
"None of them things fill the bill," said Calumet. "This thousand was
give to me by a woman. I'm to buy things with it--horses, wagon,
lumber, hardware, an' such truck."
"Shucks," said the puncher, disappointedly. Over his face settled a
glum expression. "Then you ain't got no right to spend it--for
anything but what she told you about. You'd be worse'n a thief to
squander that money."
Calumet looked keenly at him. "I reckon you're more'n half right.
You've settled a thing in my mind. If you're hangin' around here when
I get through buyin' them things I'll be settin' them up to you. If
I've got anything left." He abruptly broke off and urged his pony
about, leaving the puncher to look after him speculatively.
Pages:
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116