The Project Gutenberg eBook, Heart of the West, by O. Henry

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Title: Heart of the West

Author: O. Henry

Release Date: April, 1999 [eBook #1725]
Most recently updated: August 9, 2005

Edition: 11

Language: English

Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII)

***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HEART OF THE WEST***

Etext prepared by John Bickers, jbickers@templar.actrix.gen.nz
and Dagny, dagnyj@hotmail.com

See also eBook #13094

HEART OF THE WEST
by O. Henry

CONTENTS

I. Hearts and Crosses
II. The Ransom of Mack
III. Telemachus, Friend
IV. The Handbook of Hymen
V. The Pimienta Pancakes
VI. Seats of the Haughty
VII. Hygeia at the Solito
VIII. An Afternoon Miracle
IX. The Higher Abdication
X. Cupid a la Carte
XI. The Caballero's Way
XII. The Sphinx Apple
XIII. The Missing Chord
XIV. A Call Loan
XV. The Princess and the Puma
XVI. The Indian Summer of Dry Valley Johnson
XVII. Christmas by Injunction
XVIII. A Chaparral Prince
XIX. The Reformation of Calliope

HEART OF THE WEST

I

HEARTS AND CROSSES

Baldy Woods reached for the bottle, and got it. Whenever Baldy went
for anything he usually--but this is not Baldy's story. He poured out
a third drink that was larger by a finger than the first and second.
Baldy was in consultation; and the consultee is worthy of his hire.

"I'd be king if I was you," said Baldy, so positively that his holster
creaked and his spurs rattled.

Webb Yeager pushed back his flat-brimmed Stetson, and made further
disorder in his straw-coloured hair. The tonsorial recourse being
without avail, he followed the liquid example of the more resourceful
Baldy.

"If a man marries a queen, it oughtn't to make him a two-spot,"
declared Webb, epitomising his grievances.

"Sure not," said Baldy, sympathetic, still thirsty, and genuinely
solicitous concerning the relative value of the cards. "By rights
you're a king. If I was you, I'd call for a new deal. The cards have
been stacked on you--I'll tell you what you are, Webb Yeager."

"What?" asked Webb, with a hopeful look in his pale-blue eyes.

"You're a prince-consort."

"Go easy," said Web