336 MY SPORTING HOLIDAYS 



town in general, and Manager Boyce in particular. 

 A force of Texas Rangers had even been sent to 

 Channing in intelligent anticipation of possible con- 

 tingencies. They were there when Boyce and I 

 passed through. So it happened that Old Man Boyce, 

 while still continuing to run the X.I.T. outfit on 

 his own straight lines, always carried a six-shooter 

 ready to hand in his hip pocket. But nothing further 

 was heard of Jim Graham that autumn, and when 

 my visit of inspection was completed I returned to 

 England. 



A year or two later, in the city of Denver, I ran 

 against one of the Rangers whom I had formerly met 

 in Channing. My first inquiry was concerning the 

 health of Boyce, and whether Jim Graham had come 

 back. 



' I guess not,' replied the Ranger. ' We stayed at 

 Channing a month, and then left. Old Man Boyce 

 still runs the outfit, and he ain't been shot at lately, 

 so far as I know.' 



After partaking of some liquid refreshment at my 

 expense, he imparted further information. 



' Fact is,' said the Ranger, ' the Graham boys made 

 a clumsy job of it. Besides, Texas is a bit more 

 civilized than it was, and means to stand by its 

 Sheriffs. I reckon the cattle-men are gettin' too 

 strong for the rustlers now.' 



He seemed slightly melancholy at the thought 

 that the old days of lawless freedom were departing 

 that the dawn of a newer civilization had begun. 



