www.freeclassicebooks.com

all over there was no one left to inform us who were the legal heirs of the late

owners of this and several other horses which were left upon our hands, so I

borrowed this one. The law would say, doubtless, that I had stolen it; but I am

perfectly willing to return it to its rightful owners if someone will find them for

me."

You been in a scrap?" asked Grayson. "Who with?"

A party of Pesita's men," replied Bridge.

When?"

Yesterday."

You see they are working pretty close," said Grayson, to his employer, and then

to Bridge: "Well, if you took that cayuse from one of Pesita's bunch you can't call

that stealin'. Your room's in there, back of the office, an' you'll find some clothes

there that the last man forgot to take with him. You ken have 'em, an' from the

looks o' yourn you need 'em."

"Thank you," replied Bridge. "My clothes are a bit rusty. I shall have to speak to

James about them," and he passed through into the little bedroom off the office,

and closed the door behind him.

James?" grunted Grayson. "Who the devil does he mean by James? I hain't seen

but one of 'em."

The boss was laughing quietly.

"The man's a character," he said. "He'll be worth all you pay him--if you can

appreciate him, which I doubt, Grayson."

"I ken appreciate him if he ken keep books," replied Grayson. "That's all I ask of

him."

When Bridge emerged from the bedroom he was clothed in white duck trousers, a

soft shirt, and a pair of tennis shoes, and such a change had they wrought in his

appearance that neither Grayson nor his employer would have known him had

they not seen him come from the room into which they had sent him to make the

exchange of clothing.

"Feel better?" asked the boss, smiling.

"Clothes are but an incident with me," replied Bridge. "I wear them because it is

easier to do so than it would be to dodge the weather and the police. Whatever I

may have upon my back affects in no way what I have within my head. No, I

222

The Mucker