The morning call., 1892-03-26
. THE UNDRESSED KID.

the range, gave the youth his designation.
The Kid, who was also referred to as the
Brat the Infant, and ''that Young Cub"
had been playing some prank on the griZZled
and testy Mr. Barr; and Hank by way of
delicate reference to the palpable TACT that
the parental Ded-slat or trunk-strap had
been allowed TO get dusty between 'whal-
ings," when the Infant had been of yet
more tender years, bestowed upon his tor
mentor the sobriquet by which he was ever
after known.
1t was not that the KIDS years were so
few-he was 22-but he was. oh! such a
kid" He had evidently mingled with men
for several years, but the association did not
seem to have rubbed off any of the marks If
extreme youth, at least in his behavior, and
no one ever thought of smiling, even when
Shorty Fleming, the boss's Youngest brother,
aged IS, addressed the Kid by any one Of
bis numerous dlminutives.
One could not help liking the Kid, in spite
Of his pranks, for he was always so good
natured and obliging. If he was ready TO
cut up haIrbrush and scatter the briStleS
in SEINE tired fellows bunk about bedtime.
he was just as ready TO do double duty 10
case his victim happened to be i'll.
There were a few chickens at the ranch,
and one Of the UadresSed's chiefest joys
was to feed them corn with string and
stick attachment, and laugh himself almost
TO death at their frantic efforts to kick
themselves loose. But il one of those same
chickens happened TO be hurt or Ill he would
nnTSe Il just as woman might.
On the occasion when he stuck shoe
makers wax on Hank Bars saddle and
Hank came IN to supper without the base
ment of his jeans and made sarcastic re-
marks. the Kid felt himself a born humOr-
lst, and one would have thought that capers
Of this sort were his highest aim in life; but
1t was he who, after a cold, hard DAYS
work. rode twenty miles on a stormy night
TO get surgeon TO Set the leg Hank had
broken in the evening. But pranks are
pranks, and the prGnkee seldom takes the
same view of them as does the prankist; and
thus it came 10 pass that the Kids light
mindedness, together with his everlasting
jOkishness, brought upon him the scorn Of
his fel6w-laborers at the "HA-" They all
liked him we'll enough, but that was all.
They never considered him or included him
in their plans, except when there was some
uncomfortable duty TO perform. In fact,
they paid very little attention to him
Briefly, he acted like i5-y ear-old, and was
50 treated.
The next spring Miss Mary Brooke ap-
prared on the scene as a visitor to Colonel
Hanford's, six miles south of US. She came,
she saw-and the rest of it. Women were
very scarce il our vicinity, especially young
and pretty ones, and to our unaccuStomed
eyes Venus and the Graces and ali the rest
weren't in it with Mary Brooke. and we
bowed down and woIshiped like lot of
haf-fedged idiots.
We were all serious, too. 1t was remark
able how many business transactions Boss
Fleming had to talk over with the colonel
all OF sudden, and how |, the Scribe took
such fancy TO reading and discussing
Browning with Mrs. Hanford, who was
slightly deaf and, therefore, not easy to con-
verse with. 1t was not long however be-
fore Boss Fleming and | had the running
all TO ourselves. Fleming, as near neighbor,
big ranch owner and wealthy man, had
strong hold on the colonel. and l. the
Scribe. having stuck to my desk in early
youth, and being, therefore, able to talk a
little en- such subjects as interested Mrs
Hanford. had quite captivated her, and the
boys, perceiying this state of affairs, dis
creetly withdrew and spent their evenings
as OF yore.
All but the Undressed Kid. He being
from BostOn-Miss Brookes home-also
came In for share Of her smiles and con-
versation; bat, as he showed no signs of
change In bis youthful ways. we didn't pay
much attention TO him, except to consider
him much in the same light as one might q
nuisance IN kits. He was in the way, of
course, but he didn't cause US any worry.
10 be sure, we wondered how il was that
Miss Brooke could tolerate bis nonsense and
chatter, for she was somewhat staid in her
ways, and person whom one would hardly
suspect of liking for levty. The boss and
/ were both sure that the Kids constant
presence would begin to pail very soon -
briefly. he would make Miss Brooke TIED
and We two could fight it out solely between
ourselves.
But somehow this state of things didn't
come to pass. The Kid managed to get in
as many calls as did the boss and L and
what was worse, usually had Miss Brooke
pretty much to himself, worse luck to the
old folks; and 1t made Fleming and myself
very weary to hear her laughing at his time
worn jokes until the tears rolled down her
cheeks.
That the Infant had serious intentions
never entered our heads. or course. il was
undeniable that Miss Brooke liked bin
but that we assured ourselves was In
spirit OF mere good-natured tolerance. Be-
SIDES, who ever knew of the Kid ever hay
Ing sweetly solemn thought
Providence came to our aid about the
middle OF July in the shape of a telegram.
stating that the Kids wealthy father with
whom he had not been on very good terms
That Is. no terms at all-had gone tie way
OF all humanity. and that the Kid must come
nome at once to look after affairs.
We were at the Hanfords', Fleming and |.
that evening. when the Kid, who had pre-
eeoed us by an hour or so, took leave of
MISS Brooke. He was not going back to
the ranch. having had his things sent to
town In order TO start early in the morning,
and be left shortly after we arrived
Even If we had expected otherwise. there
was nothing touching In the Kids leave
taking While not quite so light In his
speech as usual, he could hardly have been
accused OF seriousness, aud he shook hands
with Miss Brooke in the same hearty way
as tie rest of US.
Well, the Kid was Off not for good 70
several weeks at least, and the boss and /
were alone IN the field. and both resolved to
make hay while there were no clouds OBJ
securing Sol. We spent a delightful evening.
barring each others presence, and the de-
parted hid was only mentioned once, and
then by Miss Brooke, who laughingly re-
lated one oil his remarks, adding, what
jolly, whole-souled boy il u.s. to be sure"
As we rode home not much was said, but
when we came in sight OF the lights at the
nix" Fleming refined up his horse, cleared
bis throat and said. huskily:
Scribe, my. boy, l reckon we're In the
same boat. and we might as well be frank
about II. I've" (he cleared his throat
AGAIN. made up my mind to have Mary
Miss Brooke-for my wife, IL she'll have
me. think you're In the same FIX,
/ nodded. not being able to answer. and
Fleming went on in the same queer voice:
"Thpy say all is fair in love and war. /
don't believe 1T. Nothing is fair but JUS
tlce. We are even now, l think. Let us be
fair with each other. and may the better
man win.
And thus it came about that. without any
more words. we got to calling at Hanfori's
on alternate nights, and oh, these women
Each fondly believed himself the favored
one. if favor there was. Mary-so thought
Of her always, now-falked football with
Fleming. who was an ex-memDer OF the
Princeton team, and talked books and SO
forth TO me, aud We were both happy as