THE GRAVE 12

for a few days then shug was bored, no activity took place that saw him haveing to step in. he spent a lot of time in the jail house reading a book of county laws. he didnt read well but he was slowley getting a comprhension developed of the law. it was just common sense he felt. one thing he did notice when he walked around town before meeting carrie and walking her home was the man he had met at the grave yard , always seemed to be sitting in a chair at the front of the hotel.he didnt seem to have a job but just sat there dureing the most of the day. the man had a stick he whittled on. he was always watching the comming and goings of people in the saloon. every day he would wave a friendly wave to shug when he walked past. finally after a few days of his seeing the man shug walked over to the man. he pulled a empty chair up close and asked if it would be ok if he sat there, the man kept whittling and nodded. "i know ime being nosey but i was wondering if there was something i could help you with?" shug asked as he looked at he saloon door across the street. " ime waitting for some one. i dont know when he will be here but ime sure he will be along soon." the man answered. " i see you up at the grave yard a lot, like me, you got family there?"shug asked. the man turned his head to shug and with a serious , hard look on his face said" your a nosey indian arnt you?" " its my job, thats my father buried up there. thats why i go there." shug hoped that by explaining his reason for being there the man would open up. shug had noticed a pistol belted high on the mans hip under his coat. " its my wife, she was going to meet me here. but she was murdered before i got here. ime waitting for blake nabors. now does that explain what ime doing?"the man had a hard way of explaining things. "yes sir. but may i have your name? i like to know the name of new friends when i meet them." shug stuck his hand out. "neil barney. you sure dont act much like a indian." the man shook shugs hand. " my name is shug. deputy here. ill keep a eye out for your man your waitting on.and the nosey part of me is the white part." shug smilled. " if you find blake, just be sure you dont get between the two of us. "neil went back to whittling. shug stood up and started to move away. he looked back at the man whittling. he decided he better keep a eye on him and watch for blake. shug went into the saloon and walked up to the bar. the bar man seemed surprised to see him there. " do you know a man named blake?" shug asked. "yes, he comes in here some times. i havent seen him in a couple of months tho"the bar tender answered. " if you see him or comes in come get me. see that man over there?" shug pointed across the street" he is waitting on him. i got a feeling it wont be good. just let me know if you can." shug turned and went back out side. then turned toward the dress shop. he really enjoyed the evenning stroll with carrie.