CHAPTER XXXI
AFTERWARD
From Razor-Back ridge the big basin spread away to the Blue Peakmountains. On the opposite side of the ridge began the big plain onwhich, snuggled behind some cottonwood trees, were the Circle Crossbuildings. From where Hollis and Nellie Hazelton sat on the ridge theycould look miles down the Coyote trail, into Devil's Hollow; could seethe two big cottonwood trees that stood beside Big Elk crossing, abovewhich, on the night of the storm, Hollis had been attacked by Dunlavey'smen. Back on the stretch of plain above the basin they could make outthe 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 BluePeaks, though its last rays were just touching the crest of the ridgenear 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 beenwatching him for ten minutes."
Hollis faced the trail and watched also. In a quarter of an hour thehorseman came out of Devil's Hollow. Hollis and Nellie could see himplainly as he guided his pony around the huge boulders that filled theplace. Hollis smiled whimsically.
"It's the poet," he told Nellie, catching her gaze and grinning widelyat her. "I sent him to Dry Bottom this noon for the mail--Potter isgoing to stay in town over night."
For an instant it seemed that Ace would not see them, and Hollis rosefrom the rock on which he had been sitting and halloed to him. Heresponded with a shout and urged his pony up the steep side of the slopeand then along the crest until he came within a few feet of where theysat. He dismounted and came forward, grinning broadly.
"Takin' the view?" he questioned. His eyes twinkled. "Sometimes there'sa heap of poetry could be got out of this county. But--" and hiseyelashes flickered slightly--"a fellow's got to be in the right frameof 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'llbe kickin' because I've been galivantin' around the country for oneletter. 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 itopen 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 bythe breezes and swirled several feet distant. Ace sprang to recover it.When he turned, the letter in hand, he saw something that brought a hugegrin of sympathy to his face. But mingled with the sympathy was anotheremotion.
"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 grinbroadening as he went. He cackled with mirth as Hollis's voice reachedhim.
"Ace," he said gravely, "don't attempt to write a poem on 'Love' untilyou'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
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