The state herald., 1892-02-26

good, for several weeks at least, and
tho boss and were alone In tho field.
and both resolved to mako hay while
there were no clouds obscuring Sol.
We spent deligh tful evening, barring
each others presence, and tho depart.
ed Kid was only mentioned once and
then by Miss Brooke who laughingly
related ono OF his remarks. adding:
What n jolly. who1e-souled boy it is.
to bo sure!"
AS we rode home. not much was
said; but when we came in sight OF
tho lights at tho "HX." Fleming
reincd up his horse. cleared his throat
and said huskily: Scribe, my boy, l
reckon we're in the same boat, and we
might us well be frank about it. I've"
-(he cleared his throat again)-
made up my mind to have Mary
MisI Brooke my wife-.if sho'll
have me. think you're IN the same
fix"
nodded. not being ablo TO answer,
and Fleming went on in the same
queer voice: "They say all's fair in
love and war. l don't believe It.
Nothing is fair but justice, Wo arc
even, now, think. Let us be fair
with each other, and may the better
man win"
And thus 1t came about that with
oussy more words, We got to calling
at Hanfords on alternate nights-and
oh, these women!-each fondly be-
lieved himself the favored one, II fa.
vor there was. Mary-so l thought
OF her always. now-talked football
with Floming, who was an cx-momber
OF tho Princeton team, and talked
books and so forth to ma and wo woro
both us happy rs unfortunate man
ever can bo under like circumstances.
September first came, and with @
telegram to Fleming, from tho Kid.
/ was In town. aud received It, open.
ing ii us always did tho boss telc,
grams and business letters to see Il
it was anything requiring i'm mediate
attention. The message was dated
from Omaha, and read:
~. ii. FLEMING, HX. ranch, h,--, Neb
'Will arrive on tltird to stay few
days, Take a couple cases beer to the
boys. tSignod) a. III. WHEELER"
l leaned against u tclegraph-pol
and pondered. Coming. eh? No more
untrammclcd calls for Fleming and
me. No-wcll it was high time to
be up and doing. But there was the
boss and-.his was his night!
eelt like nlartyr rs rode out TO
tte ranch and silently handed Jack
the telegram. He read it. and looked
at me.
Yes your night il is" said /; ''but
I've got 10 SEQ the colonel about that
joint shipment we're going TO make
SO I'll 60 too I'll lot you alone.
though
As wo podc over TO tho Hanfords'.
we tried to keep up n scmblanco OF
conversation, but it was not much oil
n success. We were both thinking
very hard.
l had finished my business with tho
colonel, and We sat down in his den TO
smoke colonel holding up tho
conversation. Tho lamp burned low,
and tho old gentleman took it away to
bo rciilled. leaving inc in tho dark
ness. He had hardly gono when
Mary and Fleming camo up on the
porch and seated themselves Just out
side tho window at watch sat
felt like traitor. but dared not
move, knowing well that they would
hear me. and Jack might
never be ablc 10 get his littlo speech
said. So / had TO listen to jack +
great strong bass tones rs ho told
Mary tho old story, which thcro are
so few ways OF telling. When he
finished there WIS Il brief silence. then
Mary's voice said sorrowfully:
'Oh. MIR. flcuting. aui So sorry
SO sorry-but l never dreamed of such
n thing. You aud Mr.. Fabcr have
both boon so kind and nice To me. and
/ thought you such good friends bu:
moths hurts mo so! wish you
had left 1t all unsaid. and ! had never
known that you-you cared for me
because II there wcro no other reason
Il have already promised 10
marry (hero her voico took on n
lingo of lnughter) the 'undresscd
Kid. "-R J.. Kotchum in tho Argo.
nnut