Dan Anderson, "that this game can't wait for
arguments of counsel. Curly, you are a disgrace. You and McKinney
ought to skin Doc and the Learned Counsel easy if you had a bit of
savvy. Can't you hit that stake?"

"I could if you'd let me take a six-shooter or a rope," said Curly. "I
ain't fixed for this here tenderfoot game you-all have sprung on me.
If it wasn't for that there spur, I'd have sent Doc's ball plumb over
Carrizy Mountain that last carrom. You watch me when onct I get the
hang of this thing."

"You can't get the hang of nothing," said McKinney. "A cow puncher
ain't got no sense except to ride mean horses and eat canned tomatoes."

"Maybe you don't like your pardner," said Curly. "Now you change
around next game, and I'll bet me and the lawyer can skin Doc and you
to a finish. Bet you three _pesos_. Of course, I can't play this
thing first jump like a borned tenderfoot. I wonder what my mammy'd
say to me if she caught me foolin' around here with this here little
wooden tack hammer."

"It all comes of Mac's believin' everything he saw in an
advertisement," said Dan Anderson.

"Well, you put me up to it," retorted McKinney, flushing.

"Now, there you go!" exclaimed Dan Anderson. "I didn't figure on what
it might do to our mortality tables. You fellows can't play the game
wearin' spurs, and I'm afraid to see you try any further with your guns
on. Here, all of you, come over here. The umpire decides that you've
got to check your guns during the game. I don't mind bein' umpire in
the ancient and honorable game of croquet, but I ain't goin' to assume
no unpaid obligations as coroner."

[Illustration: "'The umpire decides that you've got to check your guns
during the game.'"]

With some protests all those engaged handed their belts to Dan
Anderson, who casually flung them over a projecting cedar limb of the
fence. "For shame! Curly," said he. "Talk about tenderfeet! Here
you are, wearin' a pearl handle on your gun, just like a cheap Nebraska
sheepherder with social ambitions. I thought you was a real cowman.
The court fines you--"

"It ain't my fault," said Curly, blushing. "The girl--the little
woman--that's my wife--she done that last Christmas. She allowed it
was fine--and it goes."

"Yes, and put enough money into this handle to buy a whole new croquet
set for the family. Ain't that awful! All this comes of takin' a
daily newspaper once a month and readin' the advertisin' c