disinclined to stay in any one place long.

"I'll take care of the expenses," said Bartley.

Cheyenne smiled, but shook his head. "It ain't that, right now. Me, I
got to shoot that there game of craps with Panhandle, and I figure he
won't ride this way."

"But you have recovered your horses," argued Bartley.

Cheyenne gestured toward the south. "I reckon I'll keep movin', pardner.
And that game of craps is as good a excuse as I want."

"I had hoped that it would be plain sailing, from now on," declared
Bartley. "I thought of stopping here only three or four days. This sort
of town is new to me."

"They's lots like it, between here and the border," said Cheyenne. "But
I don't want no 'dobe walls between me and the sky-line, reg'lar. I can
stand it for a day, mebby."

"Well, perhaps we may agree to dissolve partnership temporarily,"
suggested Bartley. "I think I'll stay here a few days, at least."

"That's all right, pardner. I don't aim to tell no man how to live. But
me, I aim to live in the open."

"Do you think that man Sneed will ride down this way?" queried Bartley,
struck by a sudden idea.

"That ain't why I figure to keep movin'," said Cheyenne. "But seein' as
you figure to stay, I'll stick around to-day, and light out to-morrow
mornin'. Mebby you'll change your mind, and come along."

Bartley spent the forenoon with Cheyenne, prowling about the old town,
interested in its quaint unusualness. The afternoon heat drove him to
the shade of the hotel veranda, and, feeling unaccountably drowsy, he
finally went to his room, and, stretching out on the bed, fell asleep.
He was awakened by Cheyenne's knock at the door. Supper was ready.

After supper they strolled out to the street and watched the town wake
up. From down the street a ways came the sound of a guitar and singing.
A dog began to howl. Then came a startled yelp, and the howl died away
in the dusk. The singing continued. A young Mexican in a blue serge
suit, tan shoes, and with a black sombrero set aslant on his head,
walked down the street beside a Mexican girl, young, fat, and giggling.
They passed the hotel with all the self-consciousness of being attired
in their holiday raiment.

A wagon rattled past and stopped at the saloon a few doors down the
street. Then a ragged Mexican, hazing two tired burros, appeared in the
dim light cast from a window--a quaint silhouette that merged in the
farther shadows. Cheyenne moved his feet restlessly.