his liquor.

"They ain't nothin' like eagle-bird wheels an' snake-liniment at two bits
a throw to help a man start at the bottom," he opined, and reaching for
the half-dollar, tossed it to a forlorn-looking individual who lounged
near the door. "Here, Greaser, lend a hand in helpin' me downward!
Here's four bits. Go lay it on the wheel--an' say: I got a hunch! I
played every number on that wheel except the thirteen--judgin' it to be
onlucky." The forlorn one grinned his understanding, and clutching the
piece of silver, elbowed into the group that crowded the roulette wheel.
The cowpuncher turned once more to the surly proprietor:

"So now you see me, broke an' among evil companions, in this here
God-forsaken, lizard-ridden, Greaser-loving sheep-herdin' land of sorrow.
But, give me another jolt of that there pizen-fermentus an' I'll raise to
heights unknown. A few more shots of that an' they ain't no tellin' what
form of amusement a man's soul might incline to."

"Y'got the price?"

"I ain't got even the makin's--only an ingrowin' cravin' fer spiritual
licker an' a hankerin' to see America first----"

"That hoss," the proprietor jerked a thumb toward the open door beyond
which the big rangy black pawed fretfully at the street. "Mebbe we might
make a trade. I got one good as him 'er better. It's that sor'l
standin' t'other side of yourn."

The Texan rested an arm upon the bar and leaned forward confidentially.
"Fatty," he drawled, "you're a liar." The other noted the hand that