He was so engrossed upon his meditations that he entirely failed to
observe some mounted strangers debouch upon the market-place from the
western end of the township. Nor was it until they obstructed his view
that he awoke to their presence. Then he became aware of two men on
two horses, leading two pack ponies.
He scrutinized them narrowly without shifting his position, and, long
before they reached him, he decided they were strangers.
They dismounted in silence and without haste. They went round their
horses and loosened cinchas. Then they tied the four beasts to the
tie-posts in front of the saloon.
They approached the saloon-keeper. The larger of the two surveyed the
unmoved Ju with steady eyes. Then he greeted him in deep, easy tones.
"Howdy," he said. "You run this shanty?"
The reflection upon his business house was not lost upon its proprietor.
"Guess I'm boss of this--hotel."
"Ah--hotel." Bud's gaze wandered over the simple structure. It
settled for a moment upon a certain display of debris, bottles, cases,
kegs, lying tumbled at an angle of the building.
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