zens--and then again I might have took to gambling and
drinking and raising blazes, and broke my poor wife's broom-handle
with my hard head. So I reckon we'll let it slide as it is. Now
you straddle that cayuse of yours and come along with me and I'll
show you some rattling colts."

The Golden Ford

Reddy was on the station platform, walking up and down, looking
about him anxiously. We caught sight of each other at the same
time.

"Hi, there!" said he and jumped for me. "Gad-dog your little
hide!" he cried as he put my right hand in line for a pension. "I
thought I was booked to go without saying good-bye to you--you got
the note I pinned on your shack?"

"Sure."

"Well, there's time for a chin before the choo-choo starts--thought
I'd be early, not savvying this kind of travelling a great deal.
Darned if you ain't growed since I saw you--getting fat, too!
Well, how's everything? I didn't say nothing to the other boys
about pulling my freight, as I wanted to go sober for once. You
explain to 'em that old Red's head ain't swelled, will you? Seems
kind of dirty to go off that way, but I'm bound for God's country
and the old-time folks, and somehow I feel that I must cut the
budge out of it. 'Nother thing is I'm superstitious, as you may or
may not have noticed, and I believe if you try the same game twicet
you'll get just as different results as can be the second time--you
heard how I hit it in the mines, didn't you? No? Well, that's so;
you dint seen many people out on the flat, have you? Hum. I don't
know principally where to begin. You remember Wind-River Smith's
pardner that the boys called Shadder, because he was so thin? Nice
feller, always willing to do you a favour, or say something comical
when you least expected it--had kind of a style with him, too.
Yes, sir, that's the man. Well him and me was out in the Bend one
day, holding a mess of Oregon half-breeds that was to be shipped by
train shortly, when old Smithy comes with the mail. 'Letter for
you, Shadder,' says Smith, and passes over a big envelope with wads
of sealing wax all over it. Shadder reads his letter, and folds it
up. Then he takes a look over the county--the kind of a look a man
gives when he's thinking hard. Then says he, 'Red, take off your
hat.' I done it. 'Smithy, take off your hat.' 'All right,' says
Smith; 'but you tell me why, or I'll snake the shirt off you to
square things.'

"'Boys,' says Shadder, 'I'm