rd of him. I'd shore have asked aboot you."

"How am I going to find out quick if Dad is here, and where?"

"Easy as pie. Go to the stage office, where they get the mail an'
express. Matty Smith has been handlin' thet since this heah burg was a
kid in short dresses."

"Good. I'll go the first thing in the morning.... Now, you little
knock-kneed, bow-legged two-bit cowpuncher! What're you doing with
those things on your boots?"

"Huh! What things?" queried Moran.

"Why, those long shiny things that jingle when you walk."

"Haw! Haw! ... Say, Pan, I might ask you the same. What you travel
with them spurs on your boots fer?"

"I tried traveling without them, but I couldn't feel that I was moving."

"Wal, by gum, I been needin' mine. Ask Gus there. We've been
wranglin' wild hosses. Broomtails they calls them heah. We've been
doin' pretty good. Hardman an' Wiggate pay twelve dollars an' four
bits a hoss on the hoof. Right heah in Marco. We could get more if we
could risk shippin' to St. Louis. But thet's a hell of a job. Long
ways to the railroad, an' say, mebbe drivin' them broomies isn't tough!
Then two of us anyhow would have to go on the freight train with the
hosses. Shore we cain't figger it thet way now. But later when we
ketch a thousand haid we may try it."

"A thousand head! Blinky, are you still on the ground? You're talkin'
fifteen thousand dollars."

"Shore. An' I'm tellin' you, Pan, thet we can make it. But ketchin'
these wild hosses in any number hasn't been done yet. Hardman has an
outfit ridin'. But them fellars couldn't get away from their own dust.
We're not so blame swift, either. S'pose you throw in with us, Pan.
You've chased wild hosses."

"Not such an awful lot, Blink. That game depends on the lay of the
land."

"Shore. An' it lays bad in these parts. Will you throw in with us?
An' have you got any money?"

"Yes to both questions, old-timer. But I've got to find Dad before I
get careless with my money. Where are you boys staying?"

"We got a camp just out of town. We eat at the Chink's when we're
heah, an' thet's every few days. We got lots of room an' welcome for
you, but no bedroll."

"I'll buy an outfit in the morning and throw in with you.... Hello,
there's shooting. Gun play. Let's get out of this place where there's
more room and air."

With that they, and many others, left the hall and joined the moving
crowd in the street. The night