The Texan

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The Texan

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Title: The Texan A Story of the Cattle Country
Author: James B. Hendryx

Release Date: October 31, 2005 [eBook #16976]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE
TEXAN***
E-text prepared by Al Haines

THE TEXAN

A Story of the Cattle Country
by
JAMES B. HENDRYX
Author of
"The Gun Brand," "The Promise," etc.

A. L. Burt Company Publishers New York Published by arrangement
with G. P. Putnam's Sons Made in the United States of America
Copyright, 1918 By James B. Hendryx
Fourth Printing

This edition is issued under arrangement with the publishers G. P.
Putnam's Sons, New York And London

CONTENTS.
Chapter
A
PROLOGUE I. THE TRAIN STOPS II. WOLF RIVER III. PURDY
IV. CINNABAR JOE V. ON THE FLAT VI. THE RIM OF THE
BENCH VII. THE ARREST VIII. ONE WAY OUT IX. THE
PILGRIM X. THE FLIGHT XI. A RESCUE XII. TEX DOES SOME
SCOUTING XIII. A BOTTLE OF "HOOCH" XIV. ON ANTELOPE
BUTTE XV. THE TEXAN HEARS SOME NEWS XVI. BACK IN
CAMP XVII. IN THE BAD LANDS XVIII. "WIN" XIX. THE END
OF THE TRAIL

THE TEXAN
A PROLOGUE
Exactly twenty minutes after young Benton dismounted from his big
rangy black before the door of a low adobe saloon that fronted upon
one of the narrow crooked streets of old Las Vegas, he glanced into the
eyes of the thin-lipped croupier and laughed. "You've got 'em.
Seventy-four good old Texas dollars." He held up a coin between his
thumb and forefinger. "I've got another one left, an' your boss is goin'
to get that, too--but he's goin' to get it in legitimate barter an' trade."
As the cowpuncher stepped to the bar that occupied one side of the
room, a group of Mexicans who had lounged back at his entrance
crowded once more about the wheel and began noisily to place their
bets. He watched them for a moment before turning his attention to the
heavy-lidded, flabby-jowled person who leaned ponderously against
the sober side of the bar.
"Who owns this joint?" he asked truculently, as he eyed with disfavour
the filthy shirt-sleeves rolled back from thick forearms, the sagging
vest, and the collarless shirt-band that buried itself in a fold of the fat
neck.
"I do," was the surly rejoinder. "Got any kick comin'?"
"Nary kick." The cowpuncher tossed his dollar onto the bar. "Give me a
little red licker," he ordered, and grinned at the sullen proprietor as he
filled his glass to the brim.
"An outfit," he confided, with slow insolence, "that'll run an eagle-bird
wheel ain't got no more conscience than a _hombre's_ got brains that'll
buck one. In Texas we'd shoot a man full of little holes that 'ud try it."
"Why'n you stay in Texas, then?" growled the other.
The cowman drank his liquor and refilled the glass. "Most fat men," he

imparted irrelevantly, "are plumb mindful that they're easy hit, an'
consequent they're cheerful-hearted an' friendly. Likewise, they mind
their own business, which is also why they've be'n let grow to onhuman
proportions. But, not to seem oncivil to a stranger, an' by way of gettin'
acquainted, I'll leak it out that it ain't no fault of Texas that I come away
from there--but owin' only to a honin' of mine to see more of the world
than what Texas affords.
"The way to see a world," I debates, "is like anythin' else--begin at the
bottom an' work up. So I selects seventy-five dollars an' hits fer Las
Vegas."
The fat man pocketed the dollar and replaced it with a greasy fifty-cent
piece, an operation which the Texan watched with interest as he
swallowed his liquor.
"They ain't nothin' like eagle-bird wheels an' snake-liniment at two bits
a throw to help a man start at the bottom," he opined, and reaching for
the half-dollar, tossed it to a forlorn-looking individual who lounged
near the door. "Here, Greaser, lend a hand in helpin' me downward!
Here's four bits. Go lay it on the wheel--an' say: I got a hunch! I played
every number on that wheel except the thirteen--judgin' it to be
onlucky." The forlorn one grinned his understanding, and clutching the
piece of silver, elbowed into the group that crowded the roulette wheel.
The cowpuncher turned once more to the surly proprietor:
"So now you see me, broke an' among