He gained his nickname from his excessive length, being taller by an inch or two than Jim Silent himself, but what he gained in height he lost in width.

Even his face was monstrously long, and marked with such sad lines that the favourite name of "Shorty" was affectionately varied to "Sour-face" or "Calamity." Silent went to him at once.
"You seen Hardy ?" he asked.
"I sure did," said Rhinehart, "an' it's the last time I'll make that trip to him, you can lay to that." "Did he give you the dope ?" "No." "What do you mean ?" "I jest want you to know that this here's my last trip to Elkhead--on _any_ business." "Why ?" "I passed three marshals on the street, an' I knew them all.

They was my friends, formerly.

One of them was--" "What did they do ?" "I waved my hand to them, glad an' familiar.

They jest grunted.