CHAPTER XXI
PICKLES TRIES TO TALK
Mary sat at the window sewing--a continuous performance with her thesedays. The sound of a horse approaching caused her to glance up just asa faint call for "Buck" reached her. One look and the sewing fell to thefloor as she sprang to her feet, crying out for Jake as she ran. WithSwallow nuzzling at her dress, she supported Pickles until Jake came toaid; he lifted the boy from the saddle and carried him into the house.
Mary hastily got out the whiskey and Pickles gulped down a mouthfulbefore he realized what it was. He choked, and pushed away the cup."Don't want it," he declared, weakly; "ain't never goin' to drink."
"Good boy," encouraged Mary, patting his head. "You stick to that."
"Where 's Buck?" asked Pickles.
"He ain't come back yet," answered Mary.
"Where is he?" insisted Pickles.
"I don't know," was the patient reply.
"I gotta find Buck," the boy declared, starting to rise.
Mary pushed him back. "How can you find him when you don't know wherehe is?"
"Ain't he som'er's on th' range?"
"No; him an' Whit rode off Twin River way this mornin' an' they ain'tneither of 'em back yet."
"Well, I gotta find him, an' I gotta find him now," declared Pickles."Lemme go."
"What's eatin' you?" demanded Jake. "_You_ ain't fitten to ride _no_place an' I 'm mortally certain you can't walk."
"Shut yore trap, Woolly-face. What's a sheep like you know, anyhow?Nothin'! Can't even dig holes less 'n yo 're prodded with lead. Lemmego."
The whiskey was having an effect on Pickles or he never would have shownmalice like this. Besides, it was not true and Pickles knew it. To allquestions he had but one answer and Mary was in despair when Hopalongstrode into the room. Hoppy wanted to know things--"Where'd you getthat horse?" he asked, sharply.
"Huh?" queried Pickles.
"Where 'd you get that horse--that horse you was ridin'?"
"That's Rose's horse--where 's Buck?"
"Rose who?"
"Huh? French Rose. Say, where's Buck?"
"French Rose, hey? Say, Mary, that's th' horse got away from me withthat cow-killin' screech-owl th' other night."
"That horse? Rose LaFrance's horse? Oh, Billy!"
It seemed that Mary was deeper in Buck's confidence than his old friendHopalong, in this matter, at all events.
"Say you, blast you! Where's Buck? Lemme go! What's eatin' you? Ah,h--l!" Pickles relaxed under the grasp of Jake's hands and limplyessayed to retrieve his reputation. "I asks yore pardon, ma'am. Ipromises Buck I won't never swear afore a lady an' here I goes an' doesit, first time I 'm mad."
Hoppy eyed the penitent keenly. "Say, Bud; what's wrong?" he asked,quietly. "Buck ain't got no better friend than me and I 'll find himfor you; but there ain't no good huntin', less 'n I got somethin' to saywhen I get there."
"Will you? Bully for you! Tell Buck th' Dutchman 's goin' to get allth' money--then Dave 's goin' to get it--it's in th' bank--on'y Schatzdon't know who it is--nobody catches Dave runnin' into a blin' trailthataway--then Dave takes th' money to th' Dutchman--but right here 'swhere he fools him--he don't take it--he keeps it--an' he marries Roseon th' train to Helena--Rose rides Swaller to Jackson to get th'train--on'y she has got to get another horse 'cause I rode Swaller here.D 'you get me?" Pickles stared expectantly at Hopalong, who turned toJake.
"Put that horse in th' barn. Saddle Allday. Rope a cayuse an' set thatsmoke a-rollin'--take a blanket an' ball th' smoke three times at th'end o' every minute--go through th' Gut an' up th' north side._Pronto!_"
Jake went out of the door on the jump. He moved fast for Buck onoccasion--rare, it is true--but there was a volcanic danger inHopalong's eye that put springs in Jake's boot-heels.
"That's th' way to talk," sighed Pickles, happily. Hopalong went to therack and took down his rifle. "Reckon yo 're goin' to want that?" askedPickles.
"Reckon I might," admitted Hopalong, gravely. "You see, after I findBuck I 'm a-goin' to look for Dave an' th' Dutchman."
"Jiggers! I shore hopes you find 'em. I 'd sooner you get Dave thanany man I know, 'ceptin' me."
"Well, I sorter count on gettin' Dave. So long, Pickles."
"So long," echoed the boy.
Mary followed her husband outside. "Don't get hurt, Billy-Red," shewarned him.
"That sort o' vermin never hurt me yet, Mary. When th' boys get heresend 'em after me to Wayback. Tell Ned, rifles. Let me have all th'money you got; if I miss Buck I might want it."
Mary watched him until he rode by on Allday, waving to him from thecorner of the house. Then she went indoors to Pickles.
"That's a bully man, that Hopalong, ain't he?" was his enthusiasticgreeting.
"He shore is; an' you 're a bully boy, Pickles," replied Mary. She tookup her sewing again. The boy watched her curiously and was about to aska question, when Sleep floated past and Pickles forgot to ask it.
Buck Peters, Ranchman Page 21
