THE GRAVE 6

the next morning shug was at carries house early. he had slept in the livery stable and was up early. he stood out side her door waitting until she came out. together they walked to the business district of town. when she was safely inside the dress shop he turnned and walked accross the street to a general store that was just opening for the day.when he walked through the door the owner was behind the counter reading a news paper. when he saw shug come in he wrinkled his nose and started to point out the door. but when shug came on with a hard look on his face he slowley lowered his hand. shug dug in a shirt pocket and came out with a slip of paper that he handed to the shop owner. "ill need this filled in a couple hours. i need a new pair of pants and shirt. to fit now." " how do i know you can pay for all this indian?"the store keeper demanded. shug dug down in the top of his mocason. he with drew a ball of cash that was a little dirty." ime a trapper. i need to clean up and some new cloths and a hair cut. ime also half white so just pretend your dealing with the white half. now wheres the clothes?" after a hour in the horse trough at the livery stable shug was a bit more presentable. the buckskins lay to one side in a greasy pile. he now had a pair of denim pants and a cotton print shirt. he still wore the apache foot wear. the livery man smiled at him "your a whole different fella now. but ill have to drain that trough and refill it horses wont drink there until i do." shug laughed as he turned to pick up the buckskins. " i hate to through these away but i dont think they can be saved." they both laughed in agreement. half way down the street was a barber shop. it was empty when shug walked in the door. the barber was sitting in the chair reading the epitaph, the local news paper. at the sound of the door openning he folded his paper and got up without looking to see who it was that came in the door. shug climbed into the chair and sat back. when the barber turned around sissors in one hand comb in the other he almost jumped back. " you, you want a hair cut?"he stammered. " isnt that what you do here? yes cut it." shug didnt look back. " yes sir, but as much hair that is there this may cost you." the barber pulled a white apron around shugs front and snugged it up around his neck. " i figgured as much. cut it." shug ordered. a half hour a clean fresh barboured shug steped back onto the board walk. he walked across the street to the general store. now no one paid any attention to him. the only thing left to make people think of the man they saw the day before was his foot wear. the tiguas was comfortable he like them better than boots. the store keeper didnt recognise hime until he spoke. shug asked for the bill. the store keeper handed him a slip from a book tha itemized the list of goods that shug had given him. after reading it shug dug into the pocket of his new pants and brought out a roll of cash he counted out the payment and handed it over to the store keeper. he then picked up the two boxes of goods, one under each arm and headed to carries house. as he walked down the street no one looked at him twice, the white half had come to the surface.