Chapter V: Part 5

Mary turned away, her eyes filling with tears. Shell Romaine tried to speak; but his throat contracted, and he turned away. Then they started down the street hand in hand, going to Mary’s home.

“Looky!” said Sleepy hoarsely.

Henry Horsecollar had mounted and was riding slowly up the street, going back to Marie Wicks.

They stood there, watching Mary and Romaine going one way and Henry going the other.

Pat Haley was standing near them, starting to roll a cigaret; his eyes blinking suspiciously fast. Perhaps some flakes of tobacco had blown into his eyes. Hashknife grinned softly, and Pat Haley lifted his head. He glanced down the street, where Mary and Romaine were turning in at the gate, and in the opposite direction, where Henry Horsecollar was fading out down the dusty road, and shook his head slowly.

Then he squinted at Hashknife and said:

“Hartley, ye’re a wonder, so ye are. Ye have done a world of good for deservin’ folks.

“Tramp cowboys, I’ve heard them call ye. If ye are, the title is an honor. Ye have done much for the Mission range, so ye have, and I’m wonderin’ if ye’d do somethin’ for me.”

“Yo’re danged right we will, Pat!” exclaimed Hashknife seriously. “What is it?”

“Will ye roll me a cigaret?”

[Transcriber’s Note: This story appeared in the February 28, 1923 issue of Adventure magazine.]