The Worthington advance., 1892-12-29

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Hartley out there with Bess?"
Kind-faced Mrs. Fowler looked over
her husbands shoulder from the VIM
dow and surveyed the handsome young
fellow who was in the act of assisting
Bessie to dismount.
''Why, do believe it is Tom," she re-
turned. ''How handsome he's grown
to bev'
Handsome, the dickens!" and he
strobe toward the door angrily. ''I'll
pay him for his impudence in ridin'
with our Bess." - -
Flinging the door open he faced Bes-
sizes escort with an angry flash in his
eyes
Il don't ask any odds of any Hart
ley," he said, grufay, brushing Tom
aside. II can help my own gal off her
pony"
"Father!" mildly demonstrated Mrs.
Fowler from the doorway.
II mean it!' he went on, rudely drag
ging Bess from her saddle. snow you
60 in the cabin and stay there. Bess,
and you,' to Tom, get on your beast
and ride back to your dads ranch. /
amt goin' to have you hangin' round
here, film my gals head full O. nom
sense"
Bess staggered into her mothers
arms, and hid her burning face on that
sympathetic breast. Tom Hartley's in
dignation was aroused against the old
man, but by a great effort he con.
trolled himself to speak calmly:
''See here, Mr.. Fowler, what's the
sense in letting your old misunder-
standing with father separate Bessie
and me? love her truly. and believe
could make her very happy" Tom
went on, fearlessly. "It's New Years
tomorrow, and think you and father
had better bury that old fuss and be
friends again. He's willing if you are.
It would make Mrs Fowler and
mother happy, I know. Come, begin
the New Year with all the old dis
putes and dislikes cast away, and le,
Bessie and me enjoy an unclouded hap
piness."
''New Years be hanged!s replied
Fowler, admiring Tom Hartley's spirit
although he was resolved to be unre
lenting. "You can tell your father
amt willing to make up if he is.
amt forgot all he said, and I'D just a
lief begin my calendar of the New
Year with that old fuss as with any
thing else. Ride on, and don't come
back to Big Elm any more. You cam
have Bess, and you're not needed here,
and, pushing his wife nd daughter int<
the cabin. he shut the door almost ir
Toms face.
Singing with Indignation, the youns
fellow mounted his horse and rode
away. As he passed the window hi
had brief glimpse Of pretty Bess cry
ing her dark eyes red on her mother''
!, shoulder. The sight almost maddenet
!! him, and he felt disposed to ride back
force an entrance, and carry her away
from that unreasonable OGRE" hel
father.
! "But who knows?'' he communet
with himself. ''The New Year ma,
bring about something for Bessie ant
4 me. No need to make the fuss worse
if haven't done so already, Mayb,
the old man will cool off little. II
wait and see," and he rode on.
Then be began calling his father ant
r. the postmaster at Big Elm rather un
pleasant names for being SO foolish a.
to allow slight mistake to cause sucl
a disruption of friendship. >Wh,
couldn't folks exercise more sense
more dispassion in the affairs Of bust
ness? 1t would save so much troubl,
if they only would.
The sun had set. Darkness was set
tlfng over the prairie, and the star.
were beginning to appear here an
there in the blue vault above him. But
unheeding the lateness, Tom Hartle,
rode on, he cared not where. He wa
in no mood to go home, and, rs kin,
Of reaction of the condemnation he ha,
been showering out, his heart becam
heavy, and he began to entertain ap
} prehensions of his ever being able t.
win Bessie Fowler.
1t was growing chilly, so he spurre'
his horse into q reckless gallop. Thi
rate of travel suited him better, and b.
let the spirited animal go as fast as h
pleased.
They had just entered some low
woody bluffs along stream, when tn
horse caught ono of its forefeet in
deep rut and stumbled, flinginy its ride
violently to the rocky ground.
Frightened at its own mishap, tn
horse extricated himself and went tea,
ing off across the prairie, leaving it
master where he had fallen
Tom Hartley was too stunned
! move for several minutes. When h
: did at last attempt to rise he realize
that his right arm was badly sprained
But congratulating himself on hav
ing escaped worse injury, he starte
} toward the stream, resolved to refres
himself with a sup of water, then hui
ry to the ranch, where he knew the re
! turn of his horse without its rider woul
create alarm.
He was picking his way around
, bluff when voices suddenly attracte
: his attention.
Two men we're earnestly engaged i
} conversation not ten feet from wher
he halted.
, He was about to pass on when h
, heard them pronounce certain name
7 This determined him to listen, anc
, slipping into q dark niche of the bluff
Tom Hartley overheard the followin
l dialogue:
7 80 Old Fowler never mistrusted th
message wasn't o. K?''
2 mo, worked it slick. You 500 b
, owes Mr.. Gray for money loaned hir
: to pay of his mortgage. and when
= told him that Gray wanted to see hir
! at once on important business, b
5 racked right out on his pony withou
asking me another question" =
: ''Then there's nobody at Big Elm bu
: the old woman and gal?"
r ''That's all. > It'll take old Fowle
? till after midnight to get to Gray's, an
. by that time we'll have that registere
: letter in our own paws"
How did you find out Old Tompso
; had registered letter at Big Elm?''
4 ''From his COW puncher, Rum Cha,
: ley. We're good friends, and me
/ Nh N1nv1 ne hn wSl H.