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shwiler's father。 But as he ate he became conscious that the Gashwiler influence was not wholly withdrawn。 From above the mantel he was sternly regarded by a tinted enlargement of his employer's face entitled Photographic Study by Lowell Hardy。 Lowell never took photographs merely。 He made photographic studies； and the specimen at hand was one of his most daring efforts。 Merton glared at it in free hostilitya clod； with ideals as false as the artist's pink on his leathery cheeks！ He hurried his meal； glad to be relieved from the inimical scrutiny。
He was glad to be free from this and from the determined recital by Metta Judson of small…town happenings。 What cared he that Gus Giddings had been fined ten dollars and costs by Squire Belcher for his low escapade； or that Gus's father had sworn to lick him within an inch of his life if he ever ketched him touching stimmilints again？
He went to the barn； climbed to the hayloft； and undid the bundle containing his Buck Benson outfit。 This was fresh from the mail… order house in Chicago。 He took out almost reverently a pair of high…heeled boots with purple tops； a pair of spurs； a gay shirt； a gayer neckerchief； a broad…brimmed hat； a leather holster； andmost impressive of alla pair of goatskin chaps dyed a violent maroon。 All these he excitedly donned； the spurs last。 Then he clambered down the ladder from the loft； somewhat impeded by the spurs； and went into the kitchen。 Metta Judson； washing dishes； gave a little cry of alarm。 Nothing like this had ever before invaded the Gashwiler home by front door or back。
〃Why； Mert' Gill； whatever you dressed up like that for？ My stars； you look like a cowboy or something！ Well； I must say！〃
〃Say； Metta； do me a favour。 I want to see how these things look in a glass。 It's a cowboy outfit for when I play regular Buck Benson parts； and everything's got to be just so or the audience writes to the magazines about it and makes fun of you。〃
〃Go ahead；〃 said Metta。 〃You can git a fine look at yourself in the tall glass in the old lady's bedroom。〃
Forthwith he went； profaning a sanctuary； to survey himself in a glass that had never reflected anything but the discreet arraying of his employer's lady。 He looked long and earnestly。 The effect was quite all he had hoped。 He lowered the front of the broad…brimmed hat the least bit； tightened his belt another notch and moved the holster to a better line。 He looked again。 From feet to head he was perfect。
Then； slightly crouching； he drew his revolver from the holster and held it forward from the hip； wrist and forearm rigidly straight。
〃Throw up your hands！〃
He uttered the grim words in a low tone； but one facing him would not have been deceived by low tones。 Steely…eyed； grim of face； relentless in all his bearing； the most desperate adversary would have quailed。 Probably even Gashwiler himself would have quailed。 When Buck Benson looked and spoke thus he meant it。
He held it a long； breathless moment before relaxing。 Then he tiptoed softly from the hallowed confines of a good woman's boudoir and clattered down the back stairs to the kitchen。 He was thinking： 〃I certainly got to get me another gun if I'm ever going to do Two… Gun Benson parts； and I got to get the draw down better。 I ain't quick enough yet。〃
〃Well； did you like your rig？〃 inquired Metta genially。
〃Oh； it'll do for the stills we're shooting to…day；〃 replied the actor。 〃Of course I ought to have a rattlesnake…skin band on my hat； and the things look too new yet。 And say； Metta； where's the clothesline？ I want to practise roping a little before my camera man gets here。〃
〃My stars！ You're certainly goin' to be a real one； ain't you？〃
She brought him the clothesline； in use only on Mondays。 He re… coiled it carefully and made a running noose in one end。
At two Lowell Hardy found his subject casting the rope at an inattentive Dexter。 The old horse stood in the yard； head down； one foot crossed nonchalantly before the other。 A slight tremor； a nervous flickering of his skin； was all that ensued when the rope grazed him。 When it merely fell in his general neighbourhood； as it oftener did； Dexter did not even glance up。
〃Good stuff！〃 applauded the artist。 〃Now just stand that way； holding the noose out。 I want to make a study of that。〃
He rapidly mounted his camera on a tripod and put in a plate。 The study was made。 Followed several studies of the fighting face of Two…Gun Benson； grim and rigid； about to shoot from the hip。 But these were minor bits。 More important would be Buck Benson and his old pal； Pinto。 From the barn Merton dragged the saddle； blanket； and bridle he had borrowed from the Giddings House livery stable。 He had never saddled a horse before； but he had not studied in vain。 He seized Dexter by a wisp of his surviving mane and simultaneously planted a hearty kick in the beast's side； with a command； 〃Get around there； you old skate！〃 Dexter sighed miserably and got around as ordered。 He was both pained and astonished。 He knew that this was Sunday。 Never had he been forced to work on this day。 But he meekly suffered the protrusion of a bit between his yellow teeth； and shuddered but slightly when a blanket and then a heavy saddle were flung across his back。 True； he looked up in some dismay when the girth was tightened。 Not once in all his years had he been saddled。 He was used to having things loose around his waist。
The girth went still tighter。 Dexter glanced about with genuine concern。 Someone was intending to harm him。 He curved his swanlike neck and snapped savagely at the shoulder of his aggressor； who kicked him again in the aide and yelled； 〃Whoa； there； dang you！〃
Dexter subsided。 He saw it was no use。 Whatever queer thing they meant to do to him would be done despite all his resistance。 Still his alarm had caused him to hold up his head now。 He was looking much more like a horse。
〃There！〃 said Merton Gill； and as a finishing touch he lashed the coiled clothesline to the front of the saddle。 〃Now； here！ Get me this way。 This is one of the best things I dothat is； so far。〃 Fondly he twined his arms about the long； thin neck of Dexter； who tossed his head and knocked off the cowboy hat。 〃Never mind that it's out；〃 said Merton。 〃Can't use it in this scene。〃 He laid his cheek to the cheek of his pet。 〃Well； old pal； they're takin' yuh from me； but we got to keep a stiff upper lip。 You an' me has been through some purty lively times together； but we got to face the music at lastthere； Lowell； did you get that？〃
The artist had made his study。 He made three others of the same affecting scene at different angles。 Dexter was overwhelmed with endearments。 Doubtless he was puzzledto be kicked in the ribs at one moment； the next to be fondled。 But Lowell Hardy was enthusiastic。 He said he would have some corking studies。 He made another of Buck Benson preparing to mount good old Pinto； though； as a matter of fact； Buck； it appeared； was not even half prepared to mount。
〃Go on； jump on him now；〃 suggested the artist。 〃I'll get a few more that way。〃
〃Well； I don't know；〃 Merton hesitated。 He was twenty…two years old； and he had never yet been aboard a horse。 Perhaps he sho