BONITA 24

as butch and blondy neared bonita butch turned to blondy" think i ought to go tell the fort where geronimo is? i think they sent a patrol on east to the san simon." blondy looked at butch" you do as you think right. but ime not going up to that fort. ill wait for you at the store." butch turned off and headed up hill toward fort grant. blondy went on to the dubois store. whennhe got there he went in and asked for a box or small bag. he was handed a pasteboard box. he went back out side to his horse and untied the scalp from his saddle and stuffed it into the box and closed it up. . while doing that the bald eagle of the grahams drove up with clair next to him in the buggy. " any word on the renegades?" he asked. blondy set the box on the porch and turned to webb." simone saw them trailing south through the red tails. they are probably in mexico by now. everything at the c n seems in order." webb nodded. clair leaned forward in order to see past webb" where is butch?is he comming back? miss lackner is looking forward to a grande wedding and party." " he went to the fort to inform them of where geronimo is. he should be here shortly. he needs to tend to this before a wedding." blondy held up the box. webb wrinkled his nose, " what is that? it smells of death!" " fast cats scalp. proof of death. he needs to mail it back to new mexico and wrap this mess up." blondy explained. without another word webb shook his lines and started his team away from the store. they turned south along the trail to willcox. blondy looked up toward the fort and saw butch comming , his horse at a soft jog. wwhen butch rode up to the tree he tied his horse to he saw the box setting on the porch" is that it?" he asked blondy. " yes, i thought maybe you would want to send a letter of explaination along with it." blondy handed the box to butch. " when i get this done ime a respectable rancher! a married rancher." butch picked up the box and went into the store. where dubois promptly told him to leave the smelly bos out side! after writting a short letter of explaination he plaaced his badge in the envelope along with a letter of resignation. wrapping the envelope to the box with some stong string he told dubois to make sure it got on the mail coach. he was headed across the creek. as he rode away to the cabin on the creek bank blondy watched and shook his head. the mounted and headed to the 76.