Read Online Oliver Strange - Sudden Westerns 07 - Sudden Rides Again(1938) by Oliver Strange - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Oliver Strange
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four to the Twin Diamond an’ let ‘em see we ain’t
romancin’. That’ll put a crimp in the game.”
The
idea seemed sound, and having bunched the four animals which had been operated
upon, and sent the others scampering into the open, they set out. To a question
about burying the dead rustlers, Sudden replied harshly, “D’yu reckon they’d
‘a’ done that for us? Besides, buzzards has to live.”
One
look at the stern face and Frosty said no more. Brief as was their
acquaintance, he had already divined that here was a man who, though not much
older than himself in years, was immeasurably so in experience. Hazing their
little herd ahead of them they rode in silence for a while. Then Sudden spoke:
“ Them three skunks who skedaddled were Scar an’ two o’ the
fellas I flung outa Black Sam’s. How did they know I was comin’ here?”
“They
couldn’t have—it just happened so,” the other replied. “Though
it is claimed that Satan hombre is a wizard.”
Sudden
grinned in derision. “Yu ain’t believin’ it, are yu?”
“Mebbe
not, but it’s amazin’ the things he finds out,” was the dubious answer, and
then, “Why, damn it, nobody ‘mowed till we started out this mornin’.”
“On’y
the man who sent us,” came the sardonic reminder.
Frosty’s eyes widened. “Oh, hell, Jim. I don’t like
Steve, but he wouldn’t …”
“Mebbe
not, an’ then again, lie might. Worth
rememberin’, anyways. What’s Merry like?”
“Short,
fat, an’ got the easiest laugh I ever heard—might ‘a’ been made to fit his
name. He’s ‘bout the on’y fella around here who can talk back to the Colonel,
but when he scores yu he does it with a smile that takes the sting out. His
outfit swears by him.”
“That
tells me plenty,” Sudden said.
Two
hours later they halted their charges in front of a long, squat timber edifice
which was sadly in need of repair. Cracked, even broken, curtainless windows
gaped at them, and in several places the roof quite evidently was a poor
protection from the elements. The bunkhouse, barns, and corrals were in little
better shape. Frosty noted his companion’s surprise.
“One
o’ these days the scrap-heap will tumble in an’ Merry will crawl out’n the
ruins an’ just tell the boys to build another,” he said. “No, there ain’t a
female on the premises, as yu might guess; he’s got a Chink cook.” He raised
his voice in a cry of “Hello, the house!”
In
response, a man nearly as broad as he was high, with a huge sombrero tilted
back from his round, red face, came waddling out. His mouth split into a wide
grin when he saw the visitors.
“Why,
Frosty, what’s fetched yu here?” he bellowed. “Light an’ rest
yore saddles.”
They
got down and seated themselves on a bench by the ranch-house door. The cattle,
tired by the long tramp, were contentedly cropping the sparse brown herbage.
Frosty duly presented his companion. The rancher studied the young man in
silence for a moment, and then, with twinkling eyes, remarked:
“Pleased
to know yu, Green. Yu got the second best boss in the country; if he don’t
treat yu right, come an’ see the best.”
The
Double K puncher chuckled. “I told yu he was a modest fella, Jim,” he remarked.
“Well,
boys, spill the beans, or mebbe yore throats need irrigatin’,” Merry said, and
when Frosty promptly retorted that they did, he shouted, “Hi, Chang, there’s a
couple o’ thirsty gents here; fetch a jug o’ water.”
For
a moment the cowboy’s
romancin’. That’ll put a crimp in the game.”
The
idea seemed sound, and having bunched the four animals which had been operated
upon, and sent the others scampering into the open, they set out. To a question
about burying the dead rustlers, Sudden replied harshly, “D’yu reckon they’d
‘a’ done that for us? Besides, buzzards has to live.”
One
look at the stern face and Frosty said no more. Brief as was their
acquaintance, he had already divined that here was a man who, though not much
older than himself in years, was immeasurably so in experience. Hazing their
little herd ahead of them they rode in silence for a while. Then Sudden spoke:
“ Them three skunks who skedaddled were Scar an’ two o’ the
fellas I flung outa Black Sam’s. How did they know I was comin’ here?”
“They
couldn’t have—it just happened so,” the other replied. “Though
it is claimed that Satan hombre is a wizard.”
Sudden
grinned in derision. “Yu ain’t believin’ it, are yu?”
“Mebbe
not, but it’s amazin’ the things he finds out,” was the dubious answer, and
then, “Why, damn it, nobody ‘mowed till we started out this mornin’.”
“On’y
the man who sent us,” came the sardonic reminder.
Frosty’s eyes widened. “Oh, hell, Jim. I don’t like
Steve, but he wouldn’t …”
“Mebbe
not, an’ then again, lie might. Worth
rememberin’, anyways. What’s Merry like?”
“Short,
fat, an’ got the easiest laugh I ever heard—might ‘a’ been made to fit his
name. He’s ‘bout the on’y fella around here who can talk back to the Colonel,
but when he scores yu he does it with a smile that takes the sting out. His
outfit swears by him.”
“That
tells me plenty,” Sudden said.
Two
hours later they halted their charges in front of a long, squat timber edifice
which was sadly in need of repair. Cracked, even broken, curtainless windows
gaped at them, and in several places the roof quite evidently was a poor
protection from the elements. The bunkhouse, barns, and corrals were in little
better shape. Frosty noted his companion’s surprise.
“One
o’ these days the scrap-heap will tumble in an’ Merry will crawl out’n the
ruins an’ just tell the boys to build another,” he said. “No, there ain’t a
female on the premises, as yu might guess; he’s got a Chink cook.” He raised
his voice in a cry of “Hello, the house!”
In
response, a man nearly as broad as he was high, with a huge sombrero tilted
back from his round, red face, came waddling out. His mouth split into a wide
grin when he saw the visitors.
“Why,
Frosty, what’s fetched yu here?” he bellowed. “Light an’ rest
yore saddles.”
They
got down and seated themselves on a bench by the ranch-house door. The cattle,
tired by the long tramp, were contentedly cropping the sparse brown herbage.
Frosty duly presented his companion. The rancher studied the young man in
silence for a moment, and then, with twinkling eyes, remarked:
“Pleased
to know yu, Green. Yu got the second best boss in the country; if he don’t
treat yu right, come an’ see the best.”
The
Double K puncher chuckled. “I told yu he was a modest fella, Jim,” he remarked.
“Well,
boys, spill the beans, or mebbe yore throats need irrigatin’,” Merry said, and
when Frosty promptly retorted that they did, he shouted, “Hi, Chang, there’s a
couple o’ thirsty gents here; fetch a jug o’ water.”
For
a moment the cowboy’s
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