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〃Now； don't you chaps think it silly to wear such high heels to your
boots？〃 he would ask。 〃It seems to me a very useless sort of vanity。〃
〃No vanity about it； Tim；〃 I explained。 〃In the first place； it keeps your
foot from slipping through the stirrup。 In the second place； it is good to
grip on the ground when you're roping afoot。〃
〃By Jove； that's true！〃 he cried。
So he'd get him a pair of boots。 For a while it was enough to wear
and own all these things。 He seemed to delight in his six…shooter and his
rope just as ornaments to himself and horse。 But he soon got over that。
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Then he had to learn to use them。
For the time being； pistol practice； for instance； would absorb all his
thoughts。 He'd bang away at intervals all day； and figure out new
theories all night。
〃That bally scheme won't work；〃 he would complain。 〃I believe if I
extended my thumb along the cylinder it would help that side jump。〃
He was always easing the trigger…pull； or filing the sights。 In time he
got to be a fairly accurate and very quick shot。
The same way with roping and hog…tying and all the rest。
〃What's the use？〃 I used to ask him。 〃If you were going to be a
buckeroo； you couldn't go into harder training。〃
〃I like it；〃 was always his answer。
He had only one real vice； that I could see。 He would gamble。 Stud
poker was his favourite； and I never saw a Britisher yet who could play
poker。 I used to head him off； when I could； and he was always grateful；
but the passion was strong。
After we got back from founding Tombstone I was busted and had to
go to work。
〃I've got plenty；〃 said Tim； 〃and it's all yours。〃
〃I know； old fellow；〃 I told him； 〃but your money wouldn't do for me。〃
Buck Johnson was just seeing his chance then； and was preparing to
take some breeding cattle over into the Soda Springs Valley。 Everybody
laughed at himsaid it was right in the line of the Chiricahua raids； which
was true。 But Buck had been in there with Agency steers； and thought he
knew。 So he collected a trail crew； brought some Oregon cattle across；
and built his home ranch of three…foot adobe walls with portholes。 I
joined the trail crew； and somehow or another the Honourable Timothy
got permission to go along on his own hook。
The trail was a long one。 We had thirst and heat and stampedes and
some Indian scares。 But in the queer atmospheric conditions that
prevailed that summer； I never saw the desert more wonderful。 It was
like waking to the glory of God to sit up at dawn and see the colours
change on the dry ranges。
At the home ranch； again； Tim managed to get permission to stay on。
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He kept his own mount of horses； took care of them； hunted； and took part
in all the cow work。 We lost some cattle from Indians； of course； but it
was too near the Reservation for them to do more than pick up a few stray
head on their way through。 The troops were always after them full jump；
and so they never had time to round up the beef。 But of course we had to
look out or we'd lose our hair； and many a cowboy has won out to the
home ranch in an almighty exciting race。 This was nuts for the
Honourable Timothy Clare； much better than hunting silver…tips； and he
enjoyed it no limit。
Things went along that way for some time； until one evening as I was
turning out the horses a buckboard drew in； and from it descended Tony
Briggs and a dapper little fellow dressed all in black and with a plug hat。
〃Which I accounts for said hat reachin' the ranch； because it's Friday
and the boys not in town；〃 Tony whispered to me。
As I happened to be the only man in sight； the stranger addressed me。
〃I am looking；〃 said he in a peculiar； sing…song manner I have since
learned to be English； 〃for the Honourable Timothy Clare。 Is he here？〃
〃Oh； you're looking for him are you？〃 said I。 〃And who might you be？〃
You see； I liked Tim； and I didn't intend to deliver him over into
trouble。
The man picked a pair of eye…glasses off his stomach where they
dangled at the end of a chain； perched them on his nose； and stared me
over。 I must have looked uncompromising； for after a few seconds he
abruptly wrinkled his nose so that the glasses fell promptly to his stomach
again； felt his waistcoat pocket； and produced a card。 I took it； and read：
JEFFRIES CASE； Barrister。
〃A lawyer！〃 said I suspiciously。
〃My dear man；〃 he rejoined with a slight impatience； 〃I am not here to
do your young friend a harm。 In fact； my firm have been his family
solicitors for generations。〃
〃Very well；〃 I agreed； and led the way to the one…room adobe that Tim
and I occupied。
If I had expected an enthusiastic greeting for the boyhood friend from
the old home； I would have been disappointed。 Tim was sitting with his
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back to the door reading an old magazine。 When we entered he glanced
over his shoulder。
〃Ah； Case；〃 said he； and went on reading。 After a moment he said
without looking up； 〃Sit down。〃
The little man took it calmly； deposited himself in a chair and his bag
between his feet； and looked about him daintily at our rough quarters。 I
made a move to go； whereupon Tim laid down his magazine； yawned；
stretched his arms over his head； and sighed。
〃Don't go； Harry；〃 he begged。 〃Well； Case；〃 he addressed the
barrister； 〃what is it this time？ Must be something devilish important to
bring youhow many thousand miles is itinto such a country as this。〃
〃It is important； Mr。 Clare；〃 stated the lawyer in his dry sing…song
tones； 〃but my journey might have been avoided had you paid some
attention to my letters。〃
〃Letters！〃 repeated Tim； opening his eyes。 〃My dear chap； I'