WOLF RIVER
A uniformed flagman, with his flag and a handful of torpedoes swung
from the platform and started up the track.
"What's the trouble up in front?" asked the girl as Endicott assisted
her to the ground.
"Cloud busted back in the mountains, an' washed out the trussle, an'
Second Seventy-six piled up in the river."
"Oh, a wreck?" she exclaimed. "Will we have time to go up and see it?"
"I'd say it's a wreck," grinned the trainman. "An' you've got all the
time you want. We're a-goin' to pull in on the sidin' an' let the
wrecker an' bridge crew at it. But even with 'em a-workin' from both
ends it'll be tomorrow sometime 'fore they c'n get them box cars drug
out an' a temp'ry trussle throw'd acrost."
"What town is this?"
"Town! Call it a town if you want to. It's Wolf River. It's a
shippin' point fer cattle, but it hain't no more a town 'n what the
crick's a river. The trussle that washed out crosses the crick just
above where it empties into Milk River. I've railroaded through here
goin' on three years an' I never seen no water in it to speak of
before, an' mostly it's plumb dry."
The man sauntered slowly up the track as one who performs a merely
nominal duty, and the girl turned to follow Endicott. "It would have
been easier to walk through the train," he ventured, as he picked his
way over the rough track ballast.
"Still seeking the line of least resistance," mocked the girl. "We can
walk through a train any time. But we can't breathe air like this,
and, see,--through that gap--the blue of the distant mountains!"
The man removed his hat and dabbed at his forehead with a handkerchief.
"It's awfully hot, and I have managed to secrete a considerable portion
of the railroad company's gravel in my shoes."
"Don't mind a little thing like that," retorted the girl sweetly.
"I've peeled the toes of both of mine. They look like they had scarlet
fever."
Passengers were alighting all along the train and hurrying forward to
join those who crowded the scene of the wreck.
"It was a narrow escape for us," said Endicott as the two looked down
upon the mass of broken cars about which the rapidly falling waters of
the stream gurgled and swirled. "Had we not been running an hour late
this train would in all probability, have plunged through the trestle."
"Was anybody hurt?" asked the girl. The train conductor nodded toward
the heap of debris.
"No'm, the crew jumped. The fireman an' head brakeman broke a leg
apiece, an' the rest got bunged up a little; but they wasn't no one
hurt.
"I was just tellin' these folks," he continued, "that they'll be a
train along on the other side in a couple of hours for to transfer the
passengers an' mail."
The girl turned to Endicott. "There isn't much to see here," she said.
"Let's look around. It's such a funny little town. I want to buy
something at the store. And, there's a livery stable! Maybe we can
hire horses and ride out where we can get a view of the mountains."
As the two turned toward the little cluster of frame buildings, a tall,
horse-faced man clambered onto the pilot of the passenger locomotive
and, removing his hat, proceeded to harangue the crowd. As they paused
to listen Alice stared in fascination at the enormous Adam's apple that
worked, piston-like above the neckband of the collarless shirt of vivid
checks.
"Ladies an' gents," he began, with a comprehensive wave of the
soft-brimmed hat. "Wolf River welcomes you in our town. An' while
you're amongst us we aim to show you one an' all a good time. This
here desastorious wreck may turn out to be a blessin' in disguise. As
the Good Book says, it come at a most provincial time. Wolf River,
ladies an' gents, is celebratin', this afternoon an' evenin', a event
that marks an' epykak in our historious career: The openin' of the Wolf
River Citizen's Bank, a reg'lar bonyfido bank with vaults, cashier, an'
a board of directors consistin' of her leadinist citizens, with the
Honorable Mayor Maloney president, which I introdoose myself as.
"In concludin' I repeet that this here is ondoubtfully the luckiest
wreck in the lives of any one of you, which it gives you a
unpressagented chanct to see with your own eyes a hustlin' Western town
that hain't ashamed to stand on her own legs an' lead the world along
the trail to prosperity.
"Wolf River hain't a braggin' town, ladies an' gents, but I defy any
one of you to name another town that's got more adjacent an' contigitus
territory over which to grow onto. We freely admit they's a few
onconsequential improvements which is possessed by some bigger an' more
notorious cities such as sidewalks, sewers, street-gradin', an' lights
that we hain't got yet. But Wolf River is a day an' night town, ladies
an' gents, combinin' business with pleasure in just the right
perportion, which it's plain to anyone that takes the trouble to
investigate our shippin' corrals, four general stores, one _ho_tel, an'
seven saloons, all of which runs wide open twenty-four hours a day an'
is accommodated with faro, roulette, an' poker outfits fer the benefit
of them that's so inclined to back their judgment with a little money.
"In concloodin' I'll say that owin' to the openin' of the bank about
which I was tellin' you of, Wolf River is holdin' the followin'
programme which it's free to everyone to enter into or to look on at.
"They'll be a ropin' contest, in which some of our most notorious
ropers will rope, throw, an' hog-tie a steer, in the least shortness of
time. The prizes fer this here contest is: First prize, ten dollars,
doneated by the directors of the bank fer which's openin' this
celebration is held in honour of. Second prize, one pair of pants
doneated by the Montana Mercantile Company. Third prize, one quart of
bottle in bond whiskey doneated by our pop'lar townsman an' leadin'
citizen, Mr. Jake Grimshaw, proprietor of The Long Horn Saloon.
"The next contest is a buckin' contest, in which some of our most
notorious riders will ride or get bucked offen some of our most fameous
outlaw horses. The prizes fer this here contest is: First, a pair of
angory chaps, doneated by the directors of the bank about which I have
spoke of before. Second prize, a pair of spurs doneated by the Wolf
River Tradin' Company. Third prize, a coffin that was ordered by Sam
Long's wife from the Valley Outfittin' Company, when Sam had the
apendiceetis of the stummick, an' fer which Sam refused to pay fer when
he got well contrary to expectations.
"Both these here contests is open to ladies an' gents, both of which is
invited to enter. They will also be hoss racin', fancy an' trick
ridin', an' shootin', fer all of which sootable prizes has be'n
pervided, as well as fer the best lookin' man an' the homliest lady an'
vicy versy. Any lady or gent attendin' these here contests will be
gave out a ticket good fer one drink at any saloon in town. These
drinks is on the directors of the bank of which I have before referred
to.
"An', ladies an' gents, in concloodin' I'll say that that hain't all!
Follerin' these here contests, after each an' every lady an' gent has
had time to git their drink they'll be a supper dished out at the
_ho_otel fer which the directors of the bank of which you have already
heard mention of has put up fifty cents a plate. This here supper is
as free as gratis to all who care to percipitate an' which will
incloode a speech by the Honorable Mayor Maloney, part of which I have
already spoke, but will repeat fer the benefit of them that hain't here.
"Followin' the supper a dance will be pulled off in Curly Hardee's
dance-hall, the music fer which will be furnished by some of our most
notorious fiddlers incloodin' Mrs. Slim Maloney, wife of the Honorable
Mayor Maloney, who will lead the grand march, an' who I consider one of
the top pyanoists of Choteau County, if not in the hull United States.
It is a personal fact ladies an' gents, that I've heard her set down to
a pyano an' play _Old Black Joe_ so natural you'd swear it was _Home
Sweet Home_. An' when she gits het up to it, I'll promise she'll
loosen up an' tear off some of the liveliest music any one of you's
ever shook a leg to.
"An' now, ladies an' gents, you can transfer an' go on when the train
pulls in on t'other side, or yon can stay an' enjoy yourselves amongst
us Wolf River folks an' go on tomorrow when the trussle gits fixed----"
"Ye-e-e-e-o-o-w! W-h-e-e-e-e."
Bang, bang, bang! Bang, bang, bang! A chorus of wild yells, a
fusillade of shots, and the thud of horses' hoofs close at hand drew
all eyes toward the group of riders that, spreading fan-like over the
flat that lay between the town and the railway, approached at top speed.
"The cowboys is comin'! Them's the Circle J," cried the Mayor.
"Things'll lively up a bit when the T U an' the I X an' the Bear Paw
Pool boys gits in." The cowboys were close, now, and the laughing,
cheering passengers surged back as the horses swerved at full speed
with the stirrups of their riders almost brushing the outermost rank of
the crowd. A long thin rope shot out, a loop settled gently about the
shoulders of the Mayor of Wolf River, and a cowhorse stopped so
abruptly that a cloud of alkali dust spurted up and settled in a grey
powder over the clothing of the assembled passengers.
"Come on, Slim, an' give these folks a chance to get their second wind
while you let a little licker into that system of yours."
The Mayor grinned; "Tex Benton, hain't you had no bringin' up whatever?
That was a pretty throw but it's onrespectable, no mor'n what it's
respectable to call the Mayor of a place by his first name to a public
meetin'."
"I plumb ferget myself, your Honour," laughed the cowpuncher as he
coiled his rope. "Fact is, I learnt to rope mares back in Texas, an' I
ain't----"
"Yip-e-i-e!"
"Ropin' mares!" The cowboys broke into a coyote chorus that drowned
the laughter of the crowd.
"The drinks is on me!" sputtered the Mayor, when he was able to make
himself heard. "Jest you boys high-tail over to the Long Horn an' I'll
be along d'rectly." He turned once more to the crowd of passengers.
"Come on, gents, an' have a drink on me. An' the ladies is welcome,
too. Wolf River is broad in her idees. We hain't got no sexual
restrictions, an' a lady's got as good a right to front a bar an'
nominate her licker as what a man has."
Standing beside Endicott upon the edge of the crowd Alice Marcum had
enjoyed herself hugely. The little wooden town with its high fenced
cattle corrals, and its row of one story buildings that faced the
alkali flat had interested her from the first, and she had joined with
hearty goodwill in the rounds of applause that at frequent intervals
had interrupted the speech of the little town's Mayor. A born
horsewoman, she had watched with breathless admiration the onrush of
the loose-rein riders--the graceful swaying of their bodies, and the
flapping of soft hat brims, as their horses approached with a thunder
of pounding hoofs. Her eyes had sparkled at the reckless swerving of
the horses when it seemed that the next moment the back-surging crowd
would be trampled into the ground. She had wondered at the precision
with which the Texan's loop fell; and had joined heartily in the
laughter that greeted the ludicrous and red-faced indignation with
which a fat woman had crawled from beneath a coach whither she had
sought refuge from the onrush of thundering hoofs.
In the mind of the girl, cowboys had always been associated with motion
picture theatres, where concourses of circus riders in impossible
regalia performed impossible feats of horsemanship in the unravelling
of impossible plots. She had never thought of them as real--or, if she
had, it was as a vanished race, like the Aztec and the buffalo.
But here were real cowboys in the flesh: Open-throated, bronzed man,
free and unrestrained as the air they breathed--men whose very
appearance called to mind boundless open spaces, purple sage, blue
mountains, and herds of bellowing cattle. Here were men bound by no
petty and meaningless conventions--men the very sight of whom served to
stimulate and intensify the longing to see for herself the land beyond
the valley rims--to slip into a saddle and ride, and ride, and ride--to
feel the beat of the rain against her face, and the whip of the wind,
and the burning rays of the sun, and at night to lie under the winking
stars and listen to the howl of the coyotes.
"Disgusting rowdies!" wheezed the fat woman as, dishevelled and
perspiring, she waddled toward the steps of her coach; while the Mayor,
his Adam's apple fairly pumping importance, led a sturdy band of
thirsters recruited from among the train passengers across the flat
toward a building over the door of which was fixed a pair of horns of
prodigious spread. Lest some pilgrim of erring judgment should mistake
the horns for short ones, or misapprehend the nature of the business
conducted within, the white false front of the building proclaimed in
letters of black a foot high: LONG HORN SALOON. While beneath the
legend was depicted a fat, vermilion clad cowboy mounted upon a
tarantula-bodied, ass-eared horse of pink, in the act of hurling a
cable-like rope which by some prodigy of dexterity was made to describe
three double-bows and a latigo knot before its loop managed to poise in
mid-air above the head of a rabbit-sized baby-blue steer whose horns
exceeded in length the pair of Texas monstrosities that graced the
doorway.
"We're goin' to back onto the sidin' now," announced the conductor,
"where dinner will be served in the dinin' car as ushool."
The cowboys had moved along to view the wreck and were grouped about
the broken end of the trestle where they lolled in their saddles, some
with a leg thrown carelessly about the horn and others lying back over
the cantle, while the horses which a few moments before had dashed
across the common at top speed now stood with lowered heads and
drooping ears, dreaming cayuse dreams.
The engine bell was ringing monotonously and the whistle sounded three
short blasts, while the passengers clambered up the steps of the
coaches or backed away from the track.
"Let's walk to the side track, it's only a little way."
Alice pointed to where the flagman stood beside the open switch.
Endicott nodded acquiescence and as he turned to follow, the girl's
handkerchief dropped from her hand and, before it touched the ground,
was caught by a gust of wind that swept beneath the coaches and whirled
out onto the flat where it lay, a tiny square of white against the
trampled buffalo grass.
Endicott started to retrieve it, but before he had taken a half-dozen
steps there was a swift pounding of hoofs and two horses shot out from
the group of cowboys and dashed at full speed, their riders low in the
saddle and each with his gaze fixed on the tiny bit of white fabric.
Nose and nose the horses ran, their hoofs raising a cloud of white
alkali dust in their wake. Suddenly, just as they reached the
handkerchief, the girl who watched with breathless interest gasped.
The saddles were empty! From the madly racing horses her glance flew
to the cloud of dust which concealed the spot where a moment before had
lain that little patch of white. Her fingers clenched as she steeled
herself to the sight of the two limp, twisted forms that the lifting
dust cloud must reveal. Scarcely daring to wink she fixed her eyes
upon the ground--but the dust cloud had drifted away and there were no
limp, twisted forms. Even the little square of white was gone. In
bewilderment she heard cries of approval and loud shouts of applause
from the passengers. Once more her ears caught the sound of pounding
hoofs, and circling toward her in a wide curve were the two riders,
erect and firm in their saddles, as a gauntleted hand held high a
fluttering scrap of white.
The horses brought up directly before her, a Stetson was swept from a
thick shock of curly black hair, the gauntleted hand extended the
recalcitrant handkerchief, and she found herself blushing furiously for
no reason at all beneath the direct gaze of a pair of very black eyes
that looked out from a face tanned to the colour of old mahogany.
"Oh, thank you! It was splendid--the horsemanship." She stammered.
"I've seen it in the movies, but I didn't know it was actually done in
real life."
"Yes, mom, it is. It's owin' to the horse yeh've got, an' yer cinch.
Yeh'll see a heap better'n that this afternoon right on this here flat.
An' would yeh be layin' over fer the dance tonight, mom?"
The abrupt question was even more disconcerting than the compelling
directness of his gaze.
For an instant, the girl hesitated as her eyes swept from the
cowpuncher's face to the brilliant scarf loosely knotted about his
throat, the blue flannel shirt, the bright yellow angora chaps against
which the ivory butt of a revolver showed a splotch of white, and the
boots jammed into the broad wooden stirrups, to their high heels from
which protruded a pair of enormously rowelled spurs inlaid with silver.
By her side Endicott moved impatiently and cleared his throat.
She answered without hesitation. "Yes, I think I shall."
"I'd admire fer a dance with yeh, then," persisted the cowpuncher.
"Why--certainly. That is, if I really decide to stay."
"We'll try fer to show yeh a good time, mom. They'll be some right
lively fiddlin', an' she don't bust up till daylight."
With a smile the girl glanced toward the other rider who sat with an
air of tolerant amusement. She recognized him as the man called
Tex--the one who had so deftly dropped his loop over the shoulders of
the Mayor, and noted that, in comparison with the other, he presented
rather a sorry appearance. The heels of his boots were slightly run
over. His spurs were of dingy steel and his leather chaps, laced up
the sides with rawhide thongs looked as though they had seen much
service. The scarf at his throat, however, was as vivid as his
companion's and something in the flash of the grey eyes that looked
into hers from beneath the broad brim of the Stetson caused an
inexplicable feeling of discomfort. Their gaze held a suspicion of
veiled mockery, and the clean cut lips twisted at their comers into the
semblance of a cynical, smiling sneer.
"I want to thank you, too," she smiled, "it wasn't your fault your
friend----"
"Jack Purdy's my name, mom," interrupted the other, importantly.
"--that Mr. Purdy beat you, I am sure. And are you always as accurate
as when you lassoed the honourable Mayor of Wolf River?"
"I always get what I go after--sometimes," answered the man meeting her
gaze with a flash of the baffling grey eyes. A subtle something, in
look or words, seemed a challenge. Instinctively she realized that
despite his rough exterior here was a man infinitely less crude than
the other. An ordinary cowpuncher, to all appearance, and
yet--something in the flash of the eyes, the downward curve of the
corners of the lips aroused the girl's interest. He was speaking again:
"I'll dance with you, too--if you stay. But I won't mortgage none of
your time in advance." The man's glance shifted deliberately from the
girl to Endicott and back to the girl again. Then, without waiting for
her to reply, he whirled his horse and swung off at top speed to join
the other cowpunchers who were racing in the wake of the Mayor.