David Lannarck, Midget: An Adventure StoryHarney, George S.
General
David Lannarck, Midget: An Adventure Story
Harney, George S.
Adventure stories; Circus -- Fiction; Western stories
"We didn't have any trouble establishing Maddy's claim to the two
sacks of dust. Maddy easily identified 'em and I knew they were his,
but what about these gangsters? Would the count surrender title to the
damaged car to compensate for rail transportation? And would they
agree to leave and never come back? The sheriff had had several
interviews with 'em on these matters and had never gained assent to
the plan, especially as to the count and his car. The sheriff was
bothered, didn't believe it could be done.
"Again it was Welborn who made the plan and gave orders. 'Bring that
count in here,' he said, 'and leave me alone with him for about ten
minutes. I'll find out if he wants to live or die.' And the sheriff
did as Welborn said, and before the ten minutes were up, the count had
readily and eagerly accepted all the conditions. We took all of 'em
over to court, the judge repeated the sentence, suspended it if they
stayed out of the court's jurisdiction. We had 'em in Rawlins and on
their way by Sunday noon.
"No, I don't know what Welborn said to the count," was Jim's reply to
Davy's eager question. "It must have been potent and terrifying, the
way that gangster wet his lips and swollered."
"Did young Goff accept Maddy's gift of the gold dust?" Jim laughed.
"That's another Welborn plan and order and it wasn't ignored. This
young Goff is a fine fellow. He took good care of Maddy during the
whole trip. When we got back to the filling station and Goff was to go
on his way, Maddy offered him the dust and he refused it. Here
Welborn stepped in. He shook a little out of one sack to make 'em
equal; he handed one sack to Mrs. Carter and placed the other in
Goff's car. 'You keep that,' he ordered. 'This old man will live
longer, happier, more contented in knowing he has a neighbor that he
can freely call on for help who will respond to his call. He's got a
right to this comfort and satisfaction. You take it.' And young Goff
took it."
The next morning David Lannarck was up bright and early, intent on his
plans to visit the B-line ranch, but Mrs. Gillis had beat him to the
draw. Landy was directed to change the stock cattle over into the
ravine pasture while Jim did the milking. Davy would take Welborn's
breakfast to him and wait at the Point until Landy, and the dogs, had
finished their job.
Like the rest of the men folk at the Gillis ranch, Davy accepted his
orders. He saddled the colt, maneuvered him up to the kitchen door for
the basket of breakfast, and rode to the Point alone. Early as it was,
he found Welborn up the ravine examining the gravel in a sheltered
nook.
"I can work this area this winter, when the rest of the valley is
covered with snow," Welborn explained as they walked back to the cabin
and the basket of breakfast.
"Yes, and if you had a dynamo and electric lights," retorted Davy,
"you could work nights. What's all the rush? This stuff will keep."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account