The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-01-11
TIE ROMANCE OF
THE 1T RANCH.
How a Pretty Girl Stirred Up Ennlity
Between Two Friends.
How the Trouble Was ALI Saddled On to Sad
die and How the Affair Terminated.
Wild West Ccurtesiss.

rancf-nouse awaiting supper. Inc Mexican
cook has just begun his fragrant task, so
half hour must elapse before these Arabs
are fed. Their ponies are turned into the
wire pasture; their big Colorado saddles re-
pose astride the low paling fence that sur
rounds the house, and it is evident their
riding is over for the day, says the Kansas
City Star.
Why are they gloomy? Not boy of them
can tell. One is from Princeton, too
They have been partners and campaneros
and worked" the HI cattle together for
months. and nothing ever came in misun-
Outstanding or cloud The ranch-house is
their home, and theirs has been the unity of
brothers.
A week ago pretty girl, the daughter of
one of the owners, came to the ranch from
the East. She was protected in this ven-
ture by an old and gnarled aunt, watchful
as a ferret, sour as a lime. Not that the
pretty girl needs watching: she is indeed in
every move proprfety's climax. No soft or
dulcet reason woes her to the West; she
comes on no love errand. She is elegantly
and profoundly tired of the East-that is all
and longs for Western air and Western
sights. She has been at the HIT ranch a
week and the boys have met her. every one.
The meeting or meetings were marked by
awkwardness as to the boys, utter indiffer-
ence as to The pretty girl. She met them
as she met the ponies, cows. horned toads
and other animals. domestic and indigenous
to Eastern New Mexico. When every cow
boy was blushingly conscious of her she was
purely and Serenely guiltleSS of giving him
thought.
Before this pretty girl came the boys
were friends and the calm tenor Of their
relations with each other had never a
ripple. She was not there day before
each drew himself insensbly from the
others, and vague hostility ShOne dimiy in
their eyes. 1t WIS the instinct of the fight
ing male animal aroused by the presence of
tbe pretty girl She, however, proceeded
on her daily way, sweetlv unconscious of
the sentiments she awakened.
Men are mere animals; women are too,
Tor that matter, but they are very different
animals from men. The effort the race
makes TO be other, better or different than
beasts fails. 1t always failed it will always
fail. yllizatlun-culture-is the veriest
veneer and famously thin. A year on the
plains cracks this veneer-this shetland
leaves the animal exposed This is by the
expanding growth of all that is animalish
in a man; these attributes of the phy steal
being fed and pampered by plains exist
ence.
The dark, vague, impalpable differences
which cut off each of these creatures from
his fellows, and inspired him with an un-
reasoning and unreasonable hate had grown
with the brief week of their existence. A
the HT.
What did you 60 take my saddle for yes
terday, Bill ?" said Jack Moore to a boy by
the name of Bill Watkins.
cause | allows III ride it some," says
Watkins. Thought it might like to carry
high-grade cow-puncher, once"
Well, don't take it no more" said
Moore, moodily. ignoring the gay insolence
In the reply. "Leastwise, don't come
a-takin' OF it an sayin' no;hin', You can
palaver American, can't you? When you
aims to ride my saddle agin. ask for it; If
you can't talk, make signs, an if you can't
make signs, shake bush, but don't 90 to
runnu' off no saddle of mine no more"
Whatever do you allow is liable to hap
pen If takes ii agin tU-m0rroy? inquired
Bill in high scOrn.
Bill was of more VivaeiouS temper than
the gloomy Moore
''You takes it agin an mingles with you
whole lot, mighty prompt, replied Moore
in tone of obstinate injury.
shese boys were brothers in affection be-
iefe that pretty girl came and either would
have gone a-fo0t all day to lend his saddle
to the other. Going a-foot. too. is the last
thing, let me assure you, cowboy will do.
We'll, don't you fail to mingle none"
said Bell. with cheerful ferocity. ''on ac-
count of its being me. L crosses the trail of
the short-horn like you over on the Pam
handle onct, an puts him in the fire an has
plenty of fun with him.
stop the play now, right yere' said Tom
Rawins, the HI range boss, who was sitting
close at hand. You all spring trouble
round yere an FL be in it, Whatever's the
matter with all You people. anyway? You're
like passed. of sore head dogs for more'n
week now. You're shorely too many for
me to sabe an l c'ar gives you up"
The boys started some grumbling renIv
but the cook called them to supper lust
then, and. one animalism becoming over
Swallowed by another, they forgot their
ra1cOr and vague animOsiteS in thoughts
Of supplying their hunger Toward the last
OF the repast Rawlins arose and going to an
other room began overlooking some entries
III the ranch books.
The pretty girl did not eat at the ranch
table. She had little banquets in her own
room. Just then she was in her own room.
and began singing in a low tenor some
tender little love song that seemed born of a
sigh and tear. The boys at supper heard
her, and their resentment of each others
existence began again to flame in their
breasts and burn deeply in their eyes.
None Of these savages was in the least de-
gree in love with tins pretty girl, either.
They might nave become so, all or any of
them.
The singing went on in cooling, soft way
that did not bring you the words-only the
music.
What L says about my saddle while
back, means, said Moore, finally, turninga
dark look on Watkins.
See yere" said Watkins in an exasper
ating tone-he was as vicious as Moore-'ff
you're p'intin' out for a war lie with me.
don't fool round none for reasons, but lest
let 'er roll Come a-rnnnin' and don't bother
none with ceremony"
"A man don't have to have no reasons for
crawlin' you none" said Moore. YOU'RE
fair game, you are. Any ones licensed to
chase you round jest for fun an exercise"
You can gamble" said Watkins, conf
IDENTIFY, ANY man as chases me round much
will regard it as a thrilling pastime He
won't get fat at it. none whatever
-" As you all seem TO feel that way" said
right now"
.'WelI! Pll shore 60 you," said Watkins.
They arose and stepped out at the door. 1t
was gathering dark. but it was light enough
to shoot by.
The other cowboys followed in silence
Not one said word in comment or inter.
ference They were grave and serious, but
passive. 1t Is not good form to interfere
with other peoples duelS in the Southwest
The pretty girl was still singing, and the
strains fell softly on the ears of the cow
bows. Every one, whether onloOker or prin-
cipal, felt inspired with a licking, pleased
anticipation OF the blood to be soon set flow
ing. Nothing was said of distance. They
separated to about forty PAGES and turned to
face each other. Each wore his Colts
A." the loosely buckled belt letting it rest
low down on the right hip. Each threw
down his big hat and stood at apparent
ease, with his thumb caught in the pistol
belt.
'Shal you give the word or me?" said
Moore.
"You give it." said Watkins. eth be a
funny passage in American history if you
get your artillery to the front any sooner
than do, then"
BE you ready9" asked Jack.
'tShoTe."
''Then-goW
'Bangl bangl bang bangp' went both
pistols together. and with a rapidity not to
be counted. Moore got crease in his left
shoulder-a mere wound to the fesh--and
Watkins fell with bullet in his side Raw
Inns, the range boss, came running out. He
understood all at look. Hastily examining
Moore he discovered that his hurt was
nothing serious The others carried Wat
kins into the house.
Take my pony, saddled at the fence,
jack" said Rawlins, land pull your freight.
This yere mans goin' ter die"
(which | shorely hope he Does" said