human
There's nothin' to worry about, my boy. An' that's one of the first things you'll learn--not to worry. A dozen things can happen to delay anyone, an' they're hardly ever serious. If it'll ease your mind any, we'll ride down town, maybe she stopped to take in the excitement, an' if she ain't there we'll ride out on the trail a piece.
gpt
Looks like there'd been a battle,
human
I'll tell a hand it was a battle! vouchsafed a bystander.
gpt
That there Texian, onct he got a-goin', was some ructious! He made his brag that he was a wolf an' it was his night to howl. An', believe me! He was a curly wolf! An' he howled, an' by God, he prowled! An' he's prowlin' yet--him an' his woman, too.
human
Texan!
gpt
Woman! shouted Endicott.
human
What woman?
gpt
What woman d'ye s'pose? growled Barras, glaring wrathfully from the bar.
human
I don't know what woman. His woman, I guess--anyways they got plumb away after we had him all _see_rounded, an' all over but the shoutin'--an' all on account of Timber City's got a marshal which his head's solid bone plumb through, like a rock; an' left the keg shoot wide open fer him to beat it!
gpt
If you're so damn smart, why didn't you think of the keg shoot? retorted the representative of law and order.
human
You know'd it was there an' I didn't.
gpt
You lie! Unless you've fergot a whole lot sence--
human
Hold on, Pete, don't git to runnin' off at the head an' say somethin' yer sorry fer----
gpt
You'd be the one to be sorry, if folks know'd----
human
Talkin' don't git you nothin'. You listen here. We'll git this party yet. If the boys that took after him don't bring him in, I'll post a reward of a hundred dollars cash money out of my own pocket fer him----
gpt
Post it, then, snapped Barras, somewhat mollified,
human
Another, louder clap of thunder followed a vivid lightning flash and wild with apprehension, Endicott forced his way to the bar and interrupted the quarrel:
gpt
What did this woman look like? Where is she?
human
Good looker--
gpt
Wore bran' new ridin' outfit--
human
Rode a blaze-face buckskin--
gpt
Said she knowed him--
human
Went right in--
gpt
Tried to dicker with Hod an' git him off-- The marshal pushed through the crowd to Endicott's side:
human
An' what's more, when he come bustin' out of the alley an' rode off down the trail she follered right in behind so we didn't dast to shoot; er we'd of got him. If you want to know what I think, they're a couple of desperadoes that figgered on stickin' up the express box over to the hotel, bein' as the payroll fer the Rock Creek mine come in today, only he got drunk first an' queered the game. An' what I want to know, the man continued, thrusting his face close to Endicott's,
gpt
Him an' the woman come in on the stage an' wanted a couple rooms an' changed into them ridin' outfits, an' slipped out an' didn't show up fer supper! I mistrusted they was somethin' suspicious--they wanted a bath--an' the old woman usin' the tubs----
human
An' bein' as we couldn't git you all, broke in the marshal, drawing his gun, and at the same time pulling back his coat and displaying a huge badge,
gpt
Hold on!
human
It's Y Bar Colston!
gpt
Don't go makin' any mistakes, Hod, he said,
human
The Y Bar!
gpt
Yes. I sold out to him this evenin'--lock, stock, an' barrel.
human
Sorry I got you wrong, he mumbled, extending his hand.
gpt
Blake's my name. Glad to meet you. I run the store here. Carry the biggest stock between Lewiston an' the Mizoo. Where do you figger on doin' yer tradin'?
human
I haven't figured at all. But this woman--my wife? How long has she been gone? Which way did she go? And why----?
gpt
Be'n gone pretty clost to an' hour. Went down the trail to the Mizoo. You kin search me fer why, onless it was to keep us from shootin' after that hell-roarin' Texian. She said she know'd him. Who is he, an' what's she so anxious he don't git shot fer?
human
They're comin' back!
gpt
They didn't git 'em!
human
Where'd they go?
gpt
Got to the river, he explained, as he shook the water from his hat,
human
And they were both on the boat?
gpt
Yes, both of 'em--an' the two horses.
human
Isn't there a chance? Isn't it possible that they're--that the boat is still afloat?
gpt
We-ell, considered Ike,
human
I wouldn't say it's plumb onpossible. But it would be like ketchin' a straight-flush in the middle in a pot that had be'n boosted to the limit--with a full deck, an' nothin' wild.
gpt
No, I--I want to think, he whispered, and with a nod of understanding the ranchman proceeded slowly toward the hotel. As Endicott passed from the glare of light thrown by the windows of the Red Front, Ike Stork managed to pass close to him.
human
They're a-floatin', he whispered,
gpt
I seen 'em a flash or two afterwards. But the others didn't, an' they ain't no use spittin' out all you know. If anyone kin make 'er, them two will--they're game plumb through.
human
You mean--
gpt
Gwan over to the printin' office an' git out that reward. I'm a-goin' to git paid fer these here damages.
human
I hain't a-goin' to pay out no reward fer no drownded man!
gpt
If he's drownded the river'll take him farther than what them hand bills will git to. An' if he hain't, I want them damages.
human
If you are offering a reward, he said,
gpt
I will add a thousand for information concerning my wife.
human
A thousand! exclaimed the marshal,
gpt
Yes, he answered,
human
They're floatin'. If anyone kin make 'er through, them two will. Very possibly his wife was alive--but, where? Why had she ridden after this Texan, and why was she on the river with him? Methodically, step by step, the man retraced the events of their year of married life. They had been wondrously happy together. They had often spoken of the Texan--had wondered what had become of him. They had both written to him, addressing their letters to Wolf River, but all the letters had come back stamped
gpt
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