SINGLE TREE 16

single pulled into tucson late in the afternoon of the next day. he had stopped for a few hours in a isolated spot and rested his team and slept a few hours. he was uneasy about meeting the two brothers on the trail. they were friendly enough but something just didnt feel right about them. when he got to the railroad station he found they had already sent the swampers home for the day. he unhitched the wagon right next to the loading dock and took his team to the closest livery stable. as he was walking toward a hotel he met a deputy sherriff. " did you just come in from down south?" " yes sir, from just a litttle south of tucson. why?" single answered. " you didnt come across a couple guys headed that way? claimed to be brothers." the deputy explained. " yeah i saw them . i was watering my horses at that little seep along the way. they were camped there.i had a funny feeling about them so i moved on." single told him. " well you were right, they stuck up the general store outside of town. didnt get much but some traveling supplys and a little cash. but they beat the old man up pretty bad. he may not recover."the deputy told him. single listened then told him" i had a rifle but it dont think they saw it. but all they knew i was carrying was copper ore. maybe they figgured i wasnt worth the trouble." single laughed. " well that good team of horses is worth a small fortune. there isnt a horse in this country of that quality. when you go back be careful if you see them. ime waitting for the arizona ranger to come by. or i would get a possee togethr and go after them." the deputy was scruffing the dirt with his boot toe. " well you got a long wait then. that ranger is down at the mine i just come from. he told me he was gonna work along the border for a while." single said. " ill put a posse together tomorrow then when are you headed back south. maybe we all go together." the deputy didnt sound to confident. but single thought it was a good idea if they traveled together. " i want to leave as soon as my wagon is unloaded and i pick up some supplys for the mine. maybe tomorrow afternoon. if not then the next morning."the deputy seemed to relax when single told him the next morning. single was loosing faith in this law dog pretty fast, " well ill be over in that hotel tonight. just let me know what you want to do." single stepped around the deputy and went on to the hotel.