AFTERWARD
From Razor-Back ridge the big basin spread away to the Blue Peak
mountains. On the opposite side of the ridge began the big plain on
which, snuggled behind some cottonwood trees, were the Circle Cross
buildings. From where Hollis and Nellie Hazelton sat on the ridge they
could look miles down the Coyote trail, into Devil's Hollow; could see
the two big cottonwood trees that stood beside Big Elk crossing, above
which, on the night of the storm, Hollis had been attacked by Dunlavey's
men. Back on the stretch of plain above the basin they could make out
the Circle Bar buildings, lying close to the banks of the river.
It was in the late afternoon and the sun had gone down behind the Blue
Peaks, though its last rays were just touching the crest of the ridge
near Hollis and Nellie. He had called her attention to the sinking sun,
telling her that it was time they started for the Circle Bar.
"Wait," she said; "someone is coming up the Coyote trail. I have been
watching him for ten minutes."
Hollis faced the trail and watched also. In a quarter of an hour the
horseman came out of Devil's Hollow. Hollis and Nellie could see him
plainly as he guided his pony around the huge boulders that filled the
place. Hollis smiled whimsically.
"It's the poet," he told Nellie, catching her gaze and grinning widely
at her. "I sent him to Dry Bottom this noon for the mail--Potter is
going to stay in town over night."
For an instant it seemed that Ace would not see them, and Hollis rose
from the rock on which he had been sitting and halloed to him. He
responded with a shout and urged his pony up the steep side of the slope
and then along the crest until he came within a few feet of where they
sat. He dismounted and came forward, grinning broadly.
"Takin' the view?" he questioned. His eyes twinkled. "Sometimes there's
a heap of poetry could be got out of this county. But--" and his
eyelashes flickered slightly--"a fellow's got to be in the right frame
of mind to get it out. I reckon you two----"
"I suppose you got the mail?" interrupted Hollis, grimacing at him.
"I sure did," returned the poet, "one letter. I reckon the blacksmith'll
be kickin' because I've been galivantin' around the country for one
letter. Here it is." He passed an envelope to Hollis, and the latter,
with a quick glance at the legend in the upper left hand corner, tore it
open and read. It was from Weary.
Dear boss i got cleaned out agin what did you send me a hundred
dollars for you might have knowed that id make a gol darned fool
of myself with so much coin i never could keep no coin no how
but its all right anyway cause me an eds comin home tomorrow eds
all right except bein a littel week which the doc says he git
over in a littel while.
ta ta.
WEARY
P.S. i might have telegraphed but ed says it dont make no
difference cause the letter will git there quick enough any way
an hes afraid a telegram will scare some one. im dam glad i got
a return ticket.
WEARY
After reading the letter Hollis passed it over to Nellie, watching her,
his eyes alight with satisfaction.
"Oh!" she said. "Oh!" The letter dropped from her hand, was caught by
the breezes and swirled several feet distant. Ace sprang to recover it.
When he turned, the letter in hand, he saw something that brought a huge
grin of sympathy to his face. But mingled with the sympathy was another
emotion.
"Boss," he said, as Hollis, disengaging himself, turned and faced him,
"I've writ quite a nice little thing on 'Love.' Mebbe you'd like to----"
He caught Hollis's frown and immediately retreated to his pony, his grin
broadening as he went. He cackled with mirth as Hollis's voice reached
him.
"Ace," he said gravely, "don't attempt to write a poem on 'Love' until
you've had some experience."
"You havin' yours now?" insinuated Ace, as he mounted his pony.
He alone caught Hollis's reply. It was an expressive wink.
THE END
End of Project Gutenberg's The Coming of the Law, by Charles Alden Seltzer