Part 37 (1/2)
Yet, somehow, in some unique and extraordinary way that only a ”dude”
would think of, he had managed to come out on top.
But the real basis for Canby's grievance, and one which he would not admit even to himself, was that however Wallie was criticized, Helene Spenceley never failed to find something to say in his defence.
There was not much that Canby could do in the present circ.u.mstances to put difficulties in Wallie's way, but the next day he found it convenient to turn a trainload of long-horn Texas cattle loose on the adjacent range, and posted warnings to the effect that they were dangerous to pedestrians, and persons going among them on foot did so at their own risk.
CHAPTER XX
WALLIE QUALIFIES AS A FIRST-CLa.s.s HERO
Pinkey took a triangular piece of gla.s.s from between the logs in the bunk-house and regarded himself steadfastly in the bit of broken mirror.
He murmured finally:
”I ain't no prize baby, but if I jest had a cla.s.sy set of teeth I wouldn't be bad lookin'.”
He replaced the mirror in the crack and sauntered down to the cook-shack where he seated himself on the door-sill. The chef was singing as if he meant it: ”Ah, I Have Sighed to Rest Me Deep in the Silent Grave.”
Pinkey interrupted:
”How do you git to work to get teeth, Mr. Hicks, if they ain't no dentist handy?”
Like Mr. Stott, no question could be put to Mr. Hicks for which he could not find an answer. He now replied promptly:
”Well, there's two ways: you can send to Mungummery-Ward and have a crate sent out on approval, and keep tryin' till you find a set that fits, or you can take the cast off your gooms yourself, send it on and have 'em hammer you out some to order.”
”Is that so? What kind of stuff do they use to make the cast of your gooms of?”
”Some uses putty, some uses clay, but I believe they generally recommend plaster of Paris. It's hard, and it's cheap, and it stays where it's put.”
A thoughtful silence followed; then Pinkey got up and joined Wallie, who was sitting on the top pole of the corral, smoking moodily.
The ”dudes” were at target practice with 22's and six-shooters, having been persuaded finally not to use Mr. Canby's range as a background.
They now all walked with a swagger and seldom went to their meals without their weapons.
Pinkey blurted out suddenly:
”I wisht I'd died when I was little!”
”What's the matter?”
”Oh, nothin'.”
It was plain that he wished to be interrogated further, but Wallie, who was thinking of Helene Spenceley and her indifference to him, was in no mood to listen to other people's troubles.
After another period of reflection Pinkey asked abruptly: