
The Texan
by James B. Hendryx (1880–1963)
- Free to read
- 5 hours to read
- 20 chapters
- Reading level: 6th grade
"The Texan" by James B. Hendryx is a novel written in the early 20th century. This story delves into the adventurous life in the cattle country, primarily following the exploits of a young Texan named Benton who finds himself embroiled in the vibrant and tumultuous environment of Las Vegas. The narrative likely explores themes of friendship, courage, and the rugged lifestyle of cowboys. The opening of the novel introduces us to Benton, a cowpuncher who arrives in Las Vegas with a small amount of money and a desire for adventure. Immediately, he finds himself in a tense atmosphere within a saloon, where he encounters various characters including a surly bartender and a group of Mexicans engaged in gambling. After bravely intervening in an altercation involving a gambler and a proprietor, Benton befriends a half-breed named Bat who has ambitions of returning to Montana. As they navigate through the raucous setting filled with bar fights and the excitement of a bucking contest, the reader is drawn into their escapades, hinting at future adventures that will unfold in the cattle country.
Read the opening
Chapter I
THE TRAIN STOPS
"I don't see why they had to build their old railroad down in the bottom of this river bed." With deft fingers Alice Marcum caught back a wind-tossed whisp of hair. "It's like travelling through a trough."
"Line of the least resistance," answered her companion as he rested an arm upon the polished brass guard rail of the observation car. "This river bed, running east and west, saved them millions in bridges."
The girl's eyes sought the sky-line of the bench that rose on both sides of the mile-wide valley through which the track of the great transcontinental railroad wound like a yellow serpent.
"It's level up there. Why couldn't they have built it along the edge?"
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About this edition
This free edition of The Texan by James B. Hendryx comes from Project Gutenberg eBook #16976, released 2005-10-31. It is in the public domain in the United States, so you can read it here in full at no cost, on any phone, tablet or computer. Genre: Adventure, Novels, American Literature.
Summary provided by Project Gutenberg (automatically generated).