The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1892-12-09


| my friend, said Jack. Il don't think
exchanged twenty words with her.
Gals have eyes as we'll as ears, my
friend" was the reply. Il ain t a-goin
to go over agin what she said, cause
l don't b'lieve in tattlin', but what I've
told you is dead sure, an as you're q
pooty decent kind of Teller, as said be-
fore, made bold to come down an ask
you between men, an not to 60 any
further, an that you don't 60 to maxim
yourself extry pleasant an sociable-
like onless you mean bizness."
Jack eyed the fellow sharply. Was
this talk what it seemed on the surface,
or was 1t a sly way of discovering
whether he had any intentions regard
ing another mans sweetheart? OF
course this man Bill was himself in love
with the girl-he couldn't help it-no
one could, Jack was sure, who saw her
often. He had heard that some simple
looking Southerners were desperately
crafty, and 1t was plain to Jacks prac-
ticed eye that this fellow, in spite Of his
rude exterior, was no fool; had he not
discovered, through his own unaided in
telligence, that Jack himself was "a
pooty decent kind of q feller?" What
straightforward course was the best,
particularly with a man who always
carried q gun, and was astir so early In
the morning.
MY FRIEND" said Jack, Il give you
my word as an honest man that all I'm
thinking about down here is the bee
business. I like the people I've met
along the river, and the young woman
you have been talking about is a very
charming girl. but I've a mother and
sisters of my own, and I've too much
respect for other women to trifle with
their feelings"
Il didn't low that you'd do anythin'
mean mo siree-not a bit Of it" was
the reply. 1T amt you I'm afraid of
dOin' anythin', it's her, bless her big,
warm. natural, innocent, heart. You're
somethin' new an strange, not that she
amt seen other men that wasn't brought
up in these parts, but reckon you ain t
like the rest of 'em; she thinks so, any
how" ...-..
jack had been studying the man
closely while he talked. Unless all
rules Of human nature were false, this
man was no sly dog; there were traces
his countenance. 1t was natural that
he should not have said bluntly that he
himself was in love with the girl; he
had displayed admirable taste in the
way he put the case. Jacks heart
warmed toward him. and Jacks hand
went forward as its owner said:
Your manner does you great credit,
old man, and l wish you Joy of her.
promise solemnly that will not 90 near
her house again. When 1 find myself
feeling lonesome I'll tramp in the OPP
posite direction and find somebody to
talk to. We Yankees are great takers;
everybody has his weakness, you know.
But as for that girl. Iagain give you my
word that l won't see her again"
The visitor dropped Jacks hand and
his face grew long as he sighed:
"That'll be awful hard on her."
Jack stared in astOnishment; then he
began to lose his temper and he ex-
shouted:
See here, old man. you talk like a
fool. No man can be near that girl
without admiring her great deal;
you've told me certain things about her;
you don't want her to get more inter-
ested in me. nor me in her, yet"
Yes, do. came with great energy
from the visitor, while Jack In his sur
prise stepped backward and nearly
tumbled into the river. Il only want
you to keep away IL you don't mean
anythin' serious. Nothin' would suit
me better than for her to git q man like
you for her husband"
What? And you give her up?"
Then it was the visitors turn to be
surprised. He began to straighten nim-
self to standing posture, and he con-
tinued until he seemed giant when he
said.
What have got to do with it? I amt
her beau. I'm goin' to marry a friend
of hers as soon as my cabins DONE"
"Oh," said Jack. with whole gamut
Of infections as the change of cOndi-
tons became clear to him. Then he
found his brain in whirl. 1t was ut
terly ridiculous, the discomfort he had
suffered in abandoning that girl, whom
he had first seen only twelve hours be-
fore, to the man whom he supposed was
her lover. Now that he learned she
was free he wanted to shout with joy,
which Of course was equally ridiculous.
Besides, the fellow was probably mis-
eoAOhs Guy A10u Al AON0 AuAo&AACS cNcIys
body else in the same condition. He
would question his informant farther,
not that it would be possible for him to
fall in love in earnest with a woman of
whose family he knew nothing, but it
would be delightful to be sure that SO
glorious a creature had really become
interested in him.
Its born in her." said the visitor, at
ter q short chat about the indications
which had aroused his interest. Her
father and mother went the same way.
I've heard ag'in an ag'in how her
mother, who was the most run after gal
in these parts, never took q shine to any
Teller till one day Sam came along.
There'd been some land flooded down
here by break in the levee, an Sam
come down with some more fellers from
up-river to go for deer that got punched
on little rise Of ground that the water
didn't cover. He stopped ct her old
mans house to light his pipe; he didn't
git no deer with his gun, but he got .
dear with his tongue before moEnin'.
Then the visitor INDUCED In . long and
gentle laugh over this dme-honored
joke of the vicinity. As for Jack, he
murmured beneath his mustache:
sHoreditYi heredity!"