Ranson's Folly by Richard Harding Davis
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page 20 of 268 (07%)
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also.
But Crosby appealed to the new-comer, "Cahill, YOU know," he said. "We've been talking of the man they call the Red Rider, the chap that wears a red bandanna over his face. Ranson says he hasn't any nerve. That's not so, is it?" "I said it didn't take any nerve to hold up a stage," said Ranson; "and it doesn't." The post-trader halted on his way back to the exchange and rubbed one hand meditatively over the other arm. With him speech was golden and difficult. After a pause he said: "Oh, he takes his chances." "Of course he does," cried Crosby, encouragingly. "He takes the chance of being shot by the passengers, and of being caught by the posse and lynched, but this man's got away with it now six times in the last year. And I say that takes nerve." "Why, for fifty dollars---" laughed Ranson. He checked himself, and glanced over his shoulder at the retreating figure of Cahill. The buffalo robes fell again, and the spurs of the post-trader could be heard jangling over the earth-floor of the exchange. "For fifty dollars," repeated Ranson, in brisk, businesslike tones, "I'll rob the up stage to-night myself!" Previous knowledge of his moods, the sudden look of mischief in his |
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