Wolfville | Page 8

yours conceals, but jest
the same I tells you what I'll do. Climb right onto the layout, body, soul,
an' roll, an' put a figger on your worthless se'f, an' I'll turn you for the
whole shootin'-match. You're in yere to make things interestin', I sees
that, an' I'll voylate my business principles an' take a night off to
entertain you.' An' yere Cherokee lugs out a roll of bills big enough to
choke a cow.

"'I goes you if I lose,' says the Stingin' Lizard. Then assoomin' a
sooperior air, he remarks: 'Mebby it's a drink back on the trail when I
has misgivin's as to the rectitood of this yere brace you're dealin'. Bein'
public-sperited that a-way, in my first frenzy I allows I'll take my gun
an' abate it a whole lot. But a ca'mer mood comes on, an' I decides, as
not bein' so likely to disturb a peace- lovin' camp, I removes this trap
for the onwary by merely bustin' the bank. Thar,' goes on the Stingin'
Lizard, at the same time dumpin' a large wad on the layout, 'thar's even
four thousand dollars. Roll your game for that jest as it lays.'
"'Straighten up your dust,' says Cherokee, his eyes gettin' a kind of
gleam into 'em, 'straighten up your stuff an' get it some'ers. Don't leave
it all spraddled over the scene. I turns for it ready enough, but we ain't
goin' to argue none as to where it lays after the kyard falls.'
"The rest of us who's been buckin' the game moderate an' right cashes
in at this, an' leaves an onobstructed cloth to the Stingin' Lizard. This
yere's more caution than good nacher. As long as folks is bettin' along
in limits, say onder fifty dollars, thar ain't no shootin' likely to ensoo.
But whenever a game gets immoderate that a-way, an' the limit's off,
an' things is goin' that locoed they begins to play a thousand an' over on
a kyard an' scream for action, gents of experience stands ready to go to
duckin' lead an' dodgin' bullets instanter.
"But to resoome: The Stingin' Lizard lines up his stuff, an' the deal
begins. It ain't thirty seconds till the bank wins, an' the Stingin' Lizard
is the wrong side of the layout from his money. He takes it onusual
ugly, only he ain't sayin' much. He sa'nters over to the bar, an' gets a
big drink. Cherokee is rifflin' the deck, but I notes he's got his gray eye
on the Stingin' Lizard, an' my respect for him increases rapid. I sees he
ain't goin' to get the worst of no deal, an' is organized to protect his
game plumb through if this Lizard makes a break. "'Do you--all know
where I hails from?' asks the Stingin' Lizard, comin' back to Cherokee
after he's done hid his drink.
"'Which I shorely don't;' says Cherokee. 'I has from time to time much
worthless information thrust upon me, but so far I escapes all news of
you complete.'

"'Where I comes from, which is Texas,' says the Lizard, ignorin' of
Cherokee's manner, the same bein' some insultin', `they teaches the
babies two things,-never eat your own beef, an' never let no kyard- thief
down you:
"'Which is highly thrillin',' says Cherokee, 'as reminiscences of your
yooth, but where does you-all get action on 'em in Arizona?'
"'Where I gets action won't be no question long,' says the Lizard,
mighty truculent. 'I now announces that this yere game is a skin an' a
brace. Tharfore I returns for my money; an', to be frank, I returns
a-shootin':
"It's at this p'int we-alls who represents the public kicks back our chairs
an' stampedes outen range. As the Lizard makes his bluff his hand goes
to his artillery like a flash.
"The Lizard's some quick, but Cherokee's too soon for him. With the
first move of the Lizard's hand, he searches out a bowie from som'ers
back of his neck. I'm some employed placin' myse'f at the time, an'
don't decern it none till Cherokee brings it over his shoulder like a
stream of white light.
"It's shore great knife-work. Cherokee gives the Lizard aige an p'int, an'
all in one motion. Before the Lizard more'n lifts his weepon, Cherokee
half slashes his gun-hand off at the wrist; an' then, jest as the Lizard
begins to wonder at it, he gets the nine- inch blade plumb through his
neck. He's let out right thar.
"'It looks like I has more of this thing to do,' says Cherokee, an' his tone
shows he's half-way mournin' over it, ` than any sport in the Territory. I
tries to keep outen this, but that Lizard gent would have it.'
"After the killin', Enright an' Doc Peets, with Boggs, Tutt,