Page:Morley roberts--Painted Rock.djvu/195

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AN EXILE FROM "GOD'S COUNTRY"

of high discretion in north-west Texas. So-long!"

I reached town by way of Wolf Creek at sundown, and the first man I saw on the street was Ginger Gillett. The City Marshal looked worried.

"Mr. Gillett, I fear your responsibilities are weighing on you," I said. "You are wearing a sad expression this moment. Who's been shot and killed since I saw you?"

"Peace reigns so far," said Ginger, "and there's no such demand for coffins as to raise the price yet awhile."

"I met Sibley Ranger as I came in, Gillett, and he let on there was trouble sticking out a foot in town."

"Dam-fool Ranger's right," said Gillett. "It's about Habersham. Some woman hez bin raisin' hell in my town by speakin' to him, and if I could locate her I'd do some talkin'. Poor Ben's mad: he ain't spoke to Mis' Habersham for three days, and he caymps out on the verandy. She kem to me weepin' some, and she let on there'd be killin' if he warn't calmed down. She vows she don't know what's

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