Page:The Cow Jerry (1925).pdf/237

 body here, even Judge Burns, believes them cattle belong to you by rights. That note you brought into court fixed you—the judge had to decide for Withers on that. But this time—oh, hell!"

"I didn't expect many people up here to look at it the way I do."

"If there's anybody with as much sense as a rabbit that will, I'd like to see the color of his hair."

"If you'll be so kind as to send somebody down and take 'em off of my hands, I'll be obliged."

"You've lost for good this time," the sheriff said, entirely disgusted with such a simpleton. "Twice the cards turned your way, but you didn't have sense enough to go the limit either time. They'll never come up for you again, kid. Yes, I'll send somebody down—I'll have to send somebody, now you've got them damn cows up here under my nose."

"Thank you, sir," said Tom, turning to go.

"Say, hold on a minute," the sheriff hailed, jerking his head as if to pull Laylander back. "I'll tell you what I'm goin' to do; I'm goin' to deputize you to guard them cattle yourself till they're sold and delivered to the buyer on my bill of sale."

"Well, I don't know," Tom demurred. "If there's anybody else—"

"There ain't nobody else. This town's full of bums you couldn't pry off of them saloon chairs with a redhot crowbar. You might as well be makin' two dollars a day as hangin' around here doin' nothing. Your cows-