The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1886-05-29
CHAPTER XIV.
4 WOMAN /.

At his moment Mr. John Sargent put hi,
head in the doorway and said excitelly
My goodness gracious sakes alive, boys
there's woman ON horseback coming down
the hillm
The audience were out of doors in a twink
ling. No American woman had ever yet sci
foot on Bull Bar
TIE Bar hill road for half mile steeply
inclined. was as red streak set in a dark
green ground of chapparal, winding anG
turning, appearing here and disappearing
there behind the dens'r clunps.
The woman's progress was necessarily
slow Twenty minutes at least would elapSe
ere she would reach the store The boarders
gathered in group on a knoll. Other gangs
of men hearing the news congregated on
various portions of the Bar. All eyes were
directed upwards. Capt Thompson brought
from his sea chest a long tarry spygass and
steadyng it against a corner of the store
focused 1t on the approaching phenomenon,
This constituted the captain a temporary
authority. His reports from time to time
were eagerly received by the crowd
Out of sheer force Of nautical habit the
captain put one arm about the post support
ing the veranla to steady himself, as he
would put his arm around stay on ship
board. The attitude was not lost on the
boys some of whom put on their ''sea
legs staggered about as il trying to main
tam their footing on deck in a gale of wind
and one leaning over an imaginary vessel
side pantomined a fearful arrangement Of
the stomach through the disturbance of the
elements.
Trim looking craft sad the captain
Should say by her model and rig she was of
American build
Come, Cap" said one of the boys, don't
be greedy, now you've got a good thing.
Let's have a squirt"
The captain relinQuished the glass with
soma show Of reluctance.
Jimmy Cook, having adjusted his eye to the
instrument seemed Judging by his absorb
tion. To intend remaining as he vas for the
afternoon.
'Time up' cried one
II move that twenty seconds only be al
lowed PER man, per peep, sail another
"SccuGt the motion cried third. Then
there won't b. enough to go around before
She's down here"
"Motiour moved and seconded said self
constituted chairman All in favor say
aye contrary minded no The ayes have
it. The chair rules the next peep for itself.
"No YOU don't, remarked the Cap com
ing forward and capturing his glass This
glass is private properly, AMI NOT pro bono
puh jco, except a. give the ship news"
The assembly groansl, and on, alluded to
Cap as an "OIi TURK
"She', "A lady said tn, captain. "Style
quiet anl gcutto' Broad brim straw hat,
veil. No loud trimmings. Nothing Bowerv.
Cabin passenger Boys, tuck i'll your
shir;s,n
For convenience and comfort the miner
Of that period generally wore his red or
gray shirt a- Il blouse, emitting the fornalitv
of slowing Is extremity under the trousers
waistNand
The captains order was obeyed Mr..
Rankin maize his appearance having been
employed in buttoning himself into starched
linen. \ "boarder' reminded him that he
had forgotten his kids and another. hastily
cutting a gigantic collar from a sheet OF
white paper, airayed himself therein, re-
marking as he did so that Ibis tailor was al
ways delinquent with his dress suit when it
was most wanted adding rcflectively:
However, ii n mans head was only well
dressed no sensible woman would look any
| further
"Swipes' produced the tin horn used to
call the boarders TO their meals. and asked
the captain il he should hail her"
ooh, you're all a lot Of smartyS now. amt
YOU" said Rankin. How do YOU know who
! that lady may be! She may be some of YOU
| fools mother or sister or wife, come to hunt
YOU to your holes At all events, whoever
she is, s'po9e Wen all act as near like gentle
men rs we know how Those who can't
! better trot off to work.
! Mr. Eankns sentiments made n speedy
| change IN the humor of this before reckless,
crowd. As the lady drew nearer the faces OF
all present assumed a more serious expires
sion. They were recalled to them selves and
drawn 10 their old eastern homes bv the
sight of that one female figure long ere she
reached the store
All present knew that she was an eastern
/ woman and the city bred boys declared her
a city woman. She sat her horse easily. Her
face was partly concealed by her broad
! brimmcd straw hat
To the store, of course. She must come
Everything coming To Bull Bar must first
come To the store. rhs road down the hill
ended at the more door. The store was, IN