The state herald., 1892-02-26
'THE UNDREssED KID"

The UNDRESSEU KID"
Hank Barr. tho veteran cow punch
or on tho range, gave the youth his
designation. The Kid, who was also
referred to rs the Brat the Infant.
and 'that Young Cub had been
playing somo pranks on tho grizzled
and testy Mr.. Barr, and Hank by way
Of delicate reference to the palpable
fact that the parental bed-slat or
trunk-strap had been allowed to get
dusty between 'whalings," when the
Infant had been OF yet moro tender
years, bestowed upon his tormentor
the sobriquet by which ho was ever
after known.
IT was not that tho Kids years were
so few-he was twenty-two-but ho
was oh! such ''kid. Ho had evi-
IDENTIFY mingled with men for years,
but tho association did not seem to
havo rubbed OFF any OF tho marks of
extreme youth. mt least in his behavior,
and no ono ever thought OF smiling.
even when Shorty Fleming, the boss
youngest brother aged eighteen. ad-
dressed the Kid by any OF his numer-
Gus diminutives.
One could not help liking the Kid,
in spite of his pranks for he was Ill
ways so good natured and obliging.
II he was ready to cut up n hair
and scatter the bristles in some tired
follows bunk about bedtime, he was
Just as ready to do double duty in case
his victim happened 20 be i'll.
There were II few chickens Mt tho
ranch. and one OF the Undressed's
chiefest joys was to feed them corn
with string attachment, and laugh
himself almost to death ut their fran
tic efforts to kick themselves loose.
But If ono OF those same chickens
happened TO be hurt or i'll. he would
nurse it Just rs II woman might.
On tho occasion when he stuck shoe
makers wax on Hank Barf's saddle
and Hank came into supper without
the basement of his jeans and made
sarcastic remarks. tho Kid felt him
self a born humorist. and ono would
have thought that capers OF this sort
were the highest aim in life; but 1t
was ho who. after n cold, hard day s
work. rode twon,y miles on stormy
night TO get Il surgeon 10 SGT tho leg
Hank had broken in the evening. But
pranks arc pranks and tho prankeo
seldom takes the same view of them
us does tho pranlsist; and thus il came
TO pass that the Kids light-minded
ness together with his everlasting
lokishncss, brought upon him tho
scorn OF his fellow-laborers at tho
"HX." They all liked him well
enough. but that was all. They never
considered him or included him In
their plans except when there was
somo uncomfortable duty to perform.
In fact they paid very little attention
to him. Briefly. no noted like fif-
teen -ycar-old. and was so treated.
Tho na>t spring. Ati-- dary n-.,i..
appeared on the scene, rs visitor to
Colonel Hanford's six miles south OF
us. She came. she saw-and tho rest
OF It. Women were very scarce In
our vicinity. especially young and
pretty ones. md to our unaccustomcd
eyes, Venus and tho three graccs and
all tho rest weren't in II with Mary
Brooke and we bowed down and wor-
shipped like lot OF half ilcdged
idiots.
Wo wero nll serious, too. II was
remarkable how many business trans
actions Boss Fleming had 10 talk over
with tho colonel all OF n sudden.
and how !, tho Scribe. took such n
fancy 10 reading and discussing Brown
ing with Mrs Hnnford. who was
slightly deai. and. therefore, not easy
to converse with. 1t was not long
however. before Boss Fleming and
had tho running all TO ourselves.
Fleming. as near neighbor n big
ranche-ownor and II wealthy man. had
strong hold on tho colonel. and ].
tho Scribe. having stuck 10 my desk
II early youth. and boing. therefore
able to talk li,tlo on such subjects Ms
Interested Mira Hnnford. had quito
captlva,od hoE and tho boys per.
colving this state af affairs discreotly
withdrew and spent their evenings MS
OF yorc.
All but tho undrossed Kid. He
boing from Bos,on-MisJ Brooksc
homo-also came In for share OF hor
smiles and conversation; hut rs ho
showed no signs OF change In his
youthful ways. We didn't pay much Mt
tenlion 10 him. except 10 consider him
much In tho snno light MS ono might u
nuisance In kits llc was In tho way
OF course. but that didn't cause US any
worry,
To bo surc. wo wondered how It WINS
that Miss Brooke could tolerate his
nonsense and chatter for sho was
somewhat stnid Ia her wnys and n
porson whom ono would hardly sus-
poe, OF liking for icyity. Tho boss
and woru both suro that tho Kids
constance presence would begin TO pail
very soou>- briefly. ho would make
Mlss Brooke u-pd. nau No lnO could
nght II Out eolcly botwecn ourselves
Bu,, somehow. THE rtass d things
didn't como 10 pBaN Tho KID man.
aged 10 got In rs mnny cnlls ns did
tho boss nnl I. and. what was worse.
usually had Miss Brooke pretty much
10 himself. worse luck 10 tho old folks;
mud II mndo Fleming and myself very
weary To hear hor laughing Mt his
tlmo'worn jokes until tho toars rolled
down her checks.
That tho infant had serious inton-
tlons never entered our hendN or
course II wns undonnblo that Miss
Brooke llkod him. but that wo ns-
eurcd ourlolvcs wns In spirit Of
nero good. .naturad tolerance. Besides,
who ever knew OF tho Kid ever hnv-
ing swooily solemn thought
Providence cnmo TO our MD, nbout
tho middle OF July, IN tho shape Of n
telegram. stating that tho Kids
wealthy father with whom ho had
not boon on worry good torms-thnt ls
no terms nj Hll-hnd gono tho way of
nil humanity. nnd that tho Kid must