HIDDEN BLOOD
THIS BOOK OR PARTS THEREOF IN ANY FORM
HIDDEN BLOOD
CHAPTER I
HASHKNIFE HAS RHEUMATISM IN HIS LEG
“If I had rheumatism like you’ve got, I’d sure head for the hot springs. Yuhcan boil it out easier’n any other way.”
The owner of Piute leaned back, braced his bony elbows on the bar, spatwisely, and squinted at the two cowboys, who were draped against the barbeside him.
“Hashknife” Hartley, a tall, thin, serious-faced cowboy, was standing on oneleg, much in the attitude of a stork, except that his knee naturally bent theother way.
“Sleepy” Stevens, Hashknife’s partner, was of medium height, with agrin-wrinkled face and serious eyes. There was nothing colorful nor romanticabout their raiment or physical appearance. They were clad in well-wornoveralls, nondescript shirts, high-heeled boots, and sombreros.
Their cartridge belts were scarred, weathered, as were their holsters, fromwhich protruded the plain wood butts of single-action Colt sixshooters. Theywore no coats. Hashknife’s vest was little more than a wrinkled piece ofcl