Hidden Water

unt desert bushes mercilessly as it howled across the plain. Striking the town it jumped wickedly against the old Hotel Bender, where most of the male population had taken shelter, buffeting its false front until the glasses tinkled and the bar mirrors swayed dizzily from their moorings. Then with a sudden thunder on the tin roof the flood came down, and Black Tex set up the drinks. It was a tall cowman just down from the Peaks who ordered the round, and so all-embracing was his good humor that he bid every one in the room drink with him, even a sheepman. Broad-faced and huge, with four months growth of hair and a thirst of the same duration, he stood at the end of the bar, smiling radiantly, one sun-blackened hand toying with the empty glass. Come up, fellers, he said, waving the other in invitation, and drink to Arizona. With a little more rain and good society she d be a holy wonder as the Texas land boomer says down in hell. They came up willingly, cowpunchers and sheepmen, train hands, prospectors, and the saloon bums that Black Tex kept about to blow such ready spenders as he, whenever they came to town. With a practised jolt of the bottle Tex passed down the line, filling each heavy tumbler to the brim he poured a thin one for himself and beckoned in his roustabout to swell the count - but still there was an empty glass. There was one man over in the corner who had declined to drink. He sat at a disused card table studiously thumbing over an old magazine, and as he raised his dram the barkeeper glowered at him intolerantly. Well, said the . big cowboy, reaching for his liquor, here S how - and may she rain for a week He shoved back his high black sombrero as he spoke, but before he signalled the toast his eye caught the sidelong glance of Black Tex, and he too noticed the little man in the corner. What S the matter he inquired, leaning over toward Tex and jerking his thumb dubiously at the coiner, and as the barkeeper scowled and shrugged his should s he set down his glass and stared... --This text refers to the Paperback edition.