The Mysterious Rider by Zane Grey
page 40 of 391 (10%)
page 40 of 391 (10%)
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Jim led the mustang out of the corral and Lem followed. It looked as if they wanted to avoid the young man, but he prevented that. "Howdy, boys! I'm Jack Belllounds," he said, rather loftily. But his manner was nonchalant. He did not offer to shake hands. Jim mumbled something, and Lem said, "Hod do." "That's an ornery--looking bronc," went on Belllounds, and he reached with careless hand for the mustang. Whang jerked so hard that he pulled Jim half over. "Wal, he ain't a bronc, but I reckon he's all the rest." drawled Jim. Both cowboys seemed slow, careless. They were neither indifferent nor responsive. Columbine saw their keen, steady glances go over Belllounds. Then she took a second and less hasty look at him. He wore high-heeled, fancy-topped boots, tight-fitting trousers of dark material, a heavy belt with silver buckle, and a white, soft shirt, with wide collar, open at the neck. He was bareheaded. "I'm going to run White Slides," he said to the cowboys. "What're your names?" Columbine wanted to giggle, which impulse she smothered. The idea of any one asking Jim his name! She had never been able to find out. "My handle is Lemuel Archibawld Billings," replied Lem, blandly. The middle name was an addition no one had ever heard. |
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