"

Raidler looked wonderingly toward Ross Hargis.

"That cussed little runt," remarked Ross tenderly, "is the
Jo-dartin'est hustler--and the hardest hitter in anybody's cow camp."

VIII

AN AFTERNOON MIRACLE

At the United States end of an international river bridge, four armed
rangers [48] sweltered in a little 'dobe hut, keeping a fairly faithful
espionage upon the lagging trail of passengers from the Mexican side.

[FOOTNOTE 48: rangers--Texas Rangers, an elite law-enforcement
organization which began in the 1830's, even before
Texas became an independent republic. One of O.
Henry's hosts during his stay on ranches in South
Texas was Leigh Hall, a man from O. Henry's home
town in North Carolina, who had been one of the
most famous Texas Rangers. Hall had resigned from
the Rangers and was managing a ranch when O. Henry
was taken to Texas by Hall's parents. Hall probably
served as a model for many of O. Henry's Ranger
heroes.]

Bud Dawson, proprietor of the Top Notch Saloon, had, on the evening
previous, violently ejected from his premises one Leandro Garcia,
for alleged violation of the Top Notch code of behaviour. Garcia had
mentioned twenty-four hours as a limit, by which time he would call
and collect a painful indemnity for personal satisfaction.

This Mexican, although a tremendous braggart, was thoroughly
courageous, and each side of the river respected him for one of these
attributes. He and a following of similar bravoes were addicted to the
pastime of retrieving towns from stagnation.

The day designated by Garcia for retribution was to be further
signalised on the American side by a cattlemen's convention, a bull
fight, and an old settlers' barbecue and picnic. Knowing the avenger
to be a man of his word, and believing it prudent to court peace
while three such gently social relaxations were in progress, Captain
McNulty, of the ranger company stationed there, detailed his
lieutenant and three men for duty at the end of the bridge. Their
instructions were to prevent the invasion of Garcia, either alone or
attended by his gang.

Travel was slight that sultry afternoon, and the rangers swore gently,
and mopped their brows in their convenient but close quarters. For an
hour no one had crossed save an