the clerk who records the decree, on down to that ornery auctioneer of
a sheriff who sells up my stock at public vandoo for costs an' al'mony
the time my Laredo wife grabs off her divorce, every stick-up among
'em's a democrat. An' while I don't know nothin' about pol'tics, an'
never aims to, you can go the limit on it I ain't nothin' them bandits
be. Which I'd sooner be a prohibitionist!'

"Enright an' Peets an' Texas keeps on discussin' ontil the
misonderstandin' is laid bar', an' Texas is quick to admit that he's
been mistook. Tutt, who's willin' an' ready, is brought in, an' the
pa'r reeconciled.

"'An', old man,' says Tutt, usin' both hands to shake with Texas, 'I'd
on the level feel a heap better if it's me who gets busted in the
laig.'

"'Don't mention it, Dave,' returns Texas, who, now he reelizes what
he's done, is deeply affected. 'I was plumb wrong; I sees it now.
Also, if in the fullness of time Annalinda declar's in favor of
weddin' little Enright Peets, I yereby binds myse'f to back them
nuptials for a thousand head of steers.'

"'Texas,' an' the water stands in Tutt's eyes, 'while it's the first I
hears of sech a racket, yere's my hand that I'll go with you, steer
for steer an' hoof for hoof.'

"What Peets calls 'the logic of the sityooation' p'ints to licker all
around; an', as we-all drinks to the onclouded future of Annalinda an'
little Enright Peets, Texas an' Tutt ag'in shakes mighty fervent for
the second time."

XI

THE FUNERAL OF OLD HOLT

"That Turner person! Does he remain in Wolfville long?" The old
cattleman repeated my question as though feeling for its bearings.
"Well, he don't break no records. Which I should say now he sojourns
with us mebby it's six months before he ups stakes an' pulls his
freight back East. Oh, no; it ain't that any gent who's licensed to
call himse'f a molder of public opinion, sech as Enright or Peets,
objects to the Turner person's further presence none. Speakin'
gen'ral, the heft of feelin' is in his favor. Not but what he has
deeficiencies. It's no easy shot, offhand, to tell you preecisely whar
this Turner person is camped in common esteem. Perhaps it's enough to
say he's one of them parties who, while they don't excite your
disapproval, is shore to keep you loaded with regrets.

"Ain't you met up frequent with that form of horned toad? Thar's
nothin' you can lodge ag'inst 'em, nothin' at which a vig'lance
committee can rope an' fasten; they'r