noon
Why , there 's liable to be enough rewards out for this crowd to buy my girl a new pair of shoes . And say , when your wagon comes into Abilene , if I ai n't there , just drive around to the sheriff 's office and leave those captured guns . I 'm sorry to load your wagon down that way , but I 'm short on pack mules and it will be a great favor to me ; besides , these fellows are not liable to need any guns for some little time . I like your company and your chuck , Flood , but you see how it is ; the best of friends must part ; and then I have an invitation to take dinner in Abilene by to-morrow noon , so I must be a-riding . Adios , everybody . '' As we neared Buffalo Gap a few days later , a deputy sheriff of Taylor County , who resided at the Gap , rode out and met us . He brought an urgent request from Hames to Flood to appear as a witness against the rustlers , who were to be given a preliminary trial at Abilene the following day .