Rowdy of the "Cross L"
party we'll be when we git there. I've saw jack-rabbits packing their lunch along over there."
"Belknap"—Rowdy dropped his saddle spitefully to the ground—"is where our friend Conroy has just gone to fill a splendid position."
Pink thoughtfully blew the ashes from his cigarette. "Harry Conroy would fill one position fine. Some uh these days I'll offer it to him. I don't know anybody that'd look nicer in a coffin than that jasper—and if he's gone t' Belknap, that's likely the position he'll fill, all right."
Rowdy said nothing, but his very silence told Pink much.
"How'd yuh make out with Jessie?" Pink asked frankly, though he was not supposed to know where Rowdy had been.
Rowdy knew from experience that it was useless trying to keep anything from Pink that Pink wanted to know; besides, there was a certain comfort in telling his troubles to so stanch a friend. "Harry got his work in there, too," he said bitterly. "He beat me to her and queered me for good, by the looks."
"Huh!" said Pink. "I wouldn't waste much time worrying over her, if she's that easy turned."
267
