THE TRAIL TO TOMBSTONE 2

dale little was a gambler. he had always been predisposed to bet on just about anything. as he got good at it he found the rewards were better than a full time job. he had bet on the turn of a card or something as simple as which way a bug would crawl. he had been sucsessful more than failing and he didnt have to chet.but he wasnt above mis leading some one into a wager. he had a good heart but was far from being a saint. while in new mexico he had stumbled onto a game that he really liked. he had met a old horse breeder along the border who raised match race horses. the old man had a raised horses few of that day and time could match. he had sold dale a promising young stallion who showing scortching speed over a quarter mile course. as dale traveled west he had stopped in towns along the way and matched his horse with local animals.. so far he was a winner . every where he went. but each town was only good for one or at the most two match races. so he kept moveing west.he didnt hurry. his saddle horse was of good quality and dale wasnt in a hurry to melt him him down under saddle. his little pack horse just ambled along not really working hard to keep up. . dale was liveing a easy life, he had cash in his pocket, and had no debts. life was good as he rode down that long ridge into tombstone. just before dark he could make out the roof tops of the almost ghost town. the mines were flooded and closed, all that kept the little town alive was local ranchers and the reputation for high stakes gambling. eight o clock that night dale ambled down the main street of the little town. a few shops and bars were still open their lights flooding out into the street.at the far end of the street the OK CORRAL stable had a sighn that stood out into the street. when he got there he pulled one of the double doors open and rode in. a line of stalls ran along the west wall. dale put his saddle horse in one and the little pack horse in another. he un saddled and tended to them. he then went out on the street in search of a meal.at a small corner cafe that was trying to close he got a good meal of beef stew and fresh bread and butter. going out side he looked both ways down the street there was a boarding house with a light over the door. he headed there. he would need a bed sooner than later.