Read Online The Lone Ranger and Tonto by Fran Striker, Francis Hamilton Striker - Free Book Online
Authors: Fran Striker, Francis Hamilton Striker
Tags: Western
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think more clearly.
The grass was moist with dew. He removed his neckerchief and wiped it through the tall blades until it was quite moist. Then he wiped his face and neck. Though the moisture would remove the stain he used as part of his disguise, the coolness was refreshing and helped considerably in clearing his head. Still sitting on the ground, the masked man turned to view the row of buildings. They rose in square, dark blocks against the lights in the street beyond. He could hear the voices of men who still loitered around the cafés and realized that he was in a dangerous place.
He rose to his feet, and once more his head seemed to ring, but the sensation soon passed. Standing there in the light of the moon, the Lone Ranger worked his arms, bent his knees and flexed his muscles. In his splendid physical condition, he found the stiffness and lameness disappearing as if by magic, after several minutes of simple exercising. Then he climbed up the bank of the arroyo. It was fortunate that he looked to his left as he came to the level ground. If he hadn't, the chances are he would have been seen by the approaching men before he sighted them. As it was, he caught a glimpse of dark forms coming toward him and quickly dropped flat on the ground.
The grass concealed the masked man quite effectively. He parted the growth just enough to give him a view of the oncoming men. One of the men was tall and lanky with trousers that were inches too short. He wore a limp-brimmed hat and walked with something of a shuffle. The other man was in direct contrast, and his outline was an amazing one. He might easily have been mistaken for some kind of gigantic ape. Though he was quite short in comparison to the thin man, he had shoulders of tremendous breadth, powerful arms swung low from his shoulders, and his hands came almost to his knees. He was the sort of man who would be dangerous in any fight and particularly in a free-for-all struggle. The Lone Ranger, watching him, did not doubt for a moment that those long arms could snap a man's backbone in a bear-hug grip. The strange man's head seemed small in proportion to the rest of him, and looked as if it rose from the shoulders without benefit of a neck.
As the two came nearer, the Lone Ranger pressed close to the ground. They were going to pass within a few feet of him. Swiftly, he snaked one of his six-guns from a holster and brought it close to his eyes to have it ready in the event of discovery. But the two men seemed engrossed in conversation. "Don' git me wrong," the tall man was saying, "fo' bits is fo' bits shore 'nuff an' I'm downright anxious tuh git the same. I'll keep my word an' point out tuh you whar Steve Delaney lives an' you'll pay me fo' bits fo' that info'mation."
"That was the agreement," growled the stocky man in a throaty, husky voice. "Now how'd you like to git an extra four bits?"
"Sho' nuff ah would!" replied the tall man enthusiastically.
"Good enough. I'll pay yuh one dollar, which is eight bits all told, if you can just forget you ever seen me around Snake River."
"Pahdnuh, already yo' an' me is total an' complete strangers. Ah nevah seen no sign of yo'."
"And if anyone asks you if you've seen any strangers, you just tell 'em no."
"Sho'nuff."
"What's more, don't let Steve Delaney know that anyone has been askin' about him."
"Ah won't, suh, now what about them eight bits?"
"You'll get it," said the husky voice, "when you've shown me the rear of Delaney's place."
"Yo' stop right heah," the tall man. said. The Lone Ranger saw the two men stop less than twenty yards away, between him and the row of buildings.
"We-uns has arrived, so perduce that thar cart-wheel an' I'll go on about mah business o' fergit-tin' all about yo'!"
The short man drew something from his pocket and handed it to the tall, lean individual. This worthy bit it with his teeth, then muttered, "Thanks," and shuffled on in the direction he had been going.
One of the apelike arms shot
The grass was moist with dew. He removed his neckerchief and wiped it through the tall blades until it was quite moist. Then he wiped his face and neck. Though the moisture would remove the stain he used as part of his disguise, the coolness was refreshing and helped considerably in clearing his head. Still sitting on the ground, the masked man turned to view the row of buildings. They rose in square, dark blocks against the lights in the street beyond. He could hear the voices of men who still loitered around the cafés and realized that he was in a dangerous place.
He rose to his feet, and once more his head seemed to ring, but the sensation soon passed. Standing there in the light of the moon, the Lone Ranger worked his arms, bent his knees and flexed his muscles. In his splendid physical condition, he found the stiffness and lameness disappearing as if by magic, after several minutes of simple exercising. Then he climbed up the bank of the arroyo. It was fortunate that he looked to his left as he came to the level ground. If he hadn't, the chances are he would have been seen by the approaching men before he sighted them. As it was, he caught a glimpse of dark forms coming toward him and quickly dropped flat on the ground.
The grass concealed the masked man quite effectively. He parted the growth just enough to give him a view of the oncoming men. One of the men was tall and lanky with trousers that were inches too short. He wore a limp-brimmed hat and walked with something of a shuffle. The other man was in direct contrast, and his outline was an amazing one. He might easily have been mistaken for some kind of gigantic ape. Though he was quite short in comparison to the thin man, he had shoulders of tremendous breadth, powerful arms swung low from his shoulders, and his hands came almost to his knees. He was the sort of man who would be dangerous in any fight and particularly in a free-for-all struggle. The Lone Ranger, watching him, did not doubt for a moment that those long arms could snap a man's backbone in a bear-hug grip. The strange man's head seemed small in proportion to the rest of him, and looked as if it rose from the shoulders without benefit of a neck.
As the two came nearer, the Lone Ranger pressed close to the ground. They were going to pass within a few feet of him. Swiftly, he snaked one of his six-guns from a holster and brought it close to his eyes to have it ready in the event of discovery. But the two men seemed engrossed in conversation. "Don' git me wrong," the tall man was saying, "fo' bits is fo' bits shore 'nuff an' I'm downright anxious tuh git the same. I'll keep my word an' point out tuh you whar Steve Delaney lives an' you'll pay me fo' bits fo' that info'mation."
"That was the agreement," growled the stocky man in a throaty, husky voice. "Now how'd you like to git an extra four bits?"
"Sho' nuff ah would!" replied the tall man enthusiastically.
"Good enough. I'll pay yuh one dollar, which is eight bits all told, if you can just forget you ever seen me around Snake River."
"Pahdnuh, already yo' an' me is total an' complete strangers. Ah nevah seen no sign of yo'."
"And if anyone asks you if you've seen any strangers, you just tell 'em no."
"Sho'nuff."
"What's more, don't let Steve Delaney know that anyone has been askin' about him."
"Ah won't, suh, now what about them eight bits?"
"You'll get it," said the husky voice, "when you've shown me the rear of Delaney's place."
"Yo' stop right heah," the tall man. said. The Lone Ranger saw the two men stop less than twenty yards away, between him and the row of buildings.
"We-uns has arrived, so perduce that thar cart-wheel an' I'll go on about mah business o' fergit-tin' all about yo'!"
The short man drew something from his pocket and handed it to the tall, lean individual. This worthy bit it with his teeth, then muttered, "Thanks," and shuffled on in the direction he had been going.
One of the apelike arms shot
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