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grave and she was still reluctant to let him out of her sight。
So Ned Bannister told his story once more； and out of the alcove came
the happy foreman and Nora to listen to the tale。 While he told it his
sweetheart's contented eyes were on him。 The excitement of the night
burnt pleasantly in her veins； for out of the nettle danger she had plucked
safety for her sheepman。
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WYOMING：A STORY OF THE OUTDOOR WEST
CHAPTER 20。 TWO CASES OF
DISCIPLINE
The Fourth of July celebration at Gimlet Butte had been a thing of the
past for four days and the Lazy D had fallen back into the routine of ranch
life。 The riders were discussing supper and the continued absence of
Reddy when that young man drew back the flap and joined them。
He stood near the doorway and grinned with embarrassed guilt at the
assembled company。
〃I reckon I got too much Fourth of July at Gimlet Butte； boys。 That's
how come I to be onpunctual getting back。〃
There was a long silence； during which those at the table looked at him
with an expressionless gravity that did not seem to veil an unduly warm
welcome。
〃Hello； Mac！ Hello； boys！ I just got back；〃 he further contributed。
Without comment the Lazy D resumed supper。 Apparently it had not
missed Reddy or noticed his return。 Casual conversation was picked up
cheerfully。 The return of the prodigal was quite ignored。
〃Then that blamed cow gits its back up and makes a bee…line for
Rogers。 The old man hikes for his pony and〃
〃Seems good to git my legs under the old table again；〃 interrupted
Reddy with cheerful unease。
〃loses by about half a second；〃 continued Missou。 〃If Doc hadn't
roped its hind laig〃
〃Have some cigars； boys。 I brought a box back with me。〃 Reddy tossed
a handful on the table； where they continued to lie unnoticed。
〃there's no telling what would have happened。 As 'twas the old man
got off with a〃
〃Y'u bet； they're good cigars all right；〃 broke in the propitiatory Reddy。
The interrupted anecdote went on to a finish and the men trooped out
and left the prodigal alone with his hash。 When that young man reached
the bunkhouse Frisco was indulging in a reminiscence。 Reddy got only the
last of it； but that did not contribute to his serenity。
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WYOMING：A STORY OF THE OUTDOOR WEST
〃Yep！ When I was working on the Silver Dollar。 Must a…been three
years ago； I reckon； when Jerry Miller got that chapping。〃
〃Threw down the outfit in a row they had with the Lafferty crowd；
didn't he？〃 asked Denver。
Frisco nodded。
Mac got up； glanced round； and reached for his hat。 〃I reckon I'll have
to be going；〃 he said； and forthright departed。
Reddy reached for HIS hat and rose。 〃I got to go and have a talk with
Mac；〃 he explained。
Denver got to the door first and his big frame filled it。
〃Don't hurry； Reddy。 It ain't polite to rush away right after dinner。
Besides； Mac will be here all day。 He ain't starting for New York。〃
〃Y'u're gittin' blamed particular。 Mac he went right out。〃
〃But Mac didn't have a most particular engagement with the boys。
There's a difference。〃
〃Why； I ain't got〃 Reddy paused and looked around helplessly。
〃Gents； I move y'u that it be the horse sense of the Lazy D that our
friend Mr。 Reddy Reeves be given gratis one chapping immediately if not
sooner。 The reason for which same being that he played a lowdown trick
on the outfit whose bread he was eating。〃
〃Oh； quit your foolin'； boys；〃 besought the victim anxiously。
〃And that Denver； being some able…bodied and having a good reach；
be requested to deliver same to the gent needing it；〃 concluded Missou。
Reddy backed in alarm to the wall。 〃Y'u boys don't want to get gay
with me。 Y'u can't monkey with〃
Motion carried unanimously。
Just as Reddy whipped out his revolver Denver's long leg shot out and
his foot caught the wrist behind the weapon。 When Reddy next took
cognizance of his surroundings he was serving as a mattress for the
anatomy of three stalwart riders。 He was gently deposited face down on
his bunk with a one…hundred…eighty…pound live peg at the end of each arm
and leg。
〃All ready； Denver；〃 announced Frisco from the end of the left foot。
Denver selected a pair of plain leather chaps with care and proceeded
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WYOMING：A STORY OF THE OUTDOOR WEST
to business。 What he had to do he did with energy。 It is safe to say that at
least one of those present can still vividly remember this and testify to his
thoroughness。
Mac drifted in after the disciplining。 As foreman it was fitting that he
should be discreetly ignorant of what had occurred； but he could not help
saying：
〃That y'u I heard singing； Reddy？ Seems to me y'u had ought to take
that voice into grand opera。 The way y'u straddle them high notes is a
caution for fair。 What was it y'u was singing？ Sounded like 'Would I were
far from here； love。'〃
〃Y'u go to hell；〃 choked Reddy； rushing past him from the bunkhouse。
McWilliams looked round innocently。 〃I judge some of y'u boys must
a…been teasing Reddy from his manner。 Seemed like he didn't want to sit
down and talk。〃
〃I shouldn't wonder but he'll hold his conversations standing for a day
or two；〃 returned Missou gravely。
At the end of the laugh that greeted this Mac replied：
Well； y'u boys want to be gentle with him。〃 〃He's so plumb tender now
that I reckon he'll get along without any more treatment in that line from
us；〃 drawled Frisco。
Mac departed laughing。 He had an engagement that recurred daily in
the dusk of the evening； and he was always careful to be on time。 The
other party to the engagement met him at the kitchen door and fell with
him into the trail that led to Lee Ming's laundry。
〃What made you late？〃 she asked。
〃I'm not late； honey。 I seem late because you're so anxious；〃 he
explained。
〃I'm not；〃 protested Nora indignantly。 〃If you think you're the only
man on the place； Jim McWilliams 〃
〃Sho！ Hold your hawsses a minute； Nora； darling。 A spinster like y'u〃
〃You think you're awful funnywriting in my