Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1892-06-18

HL
ther, with whom he had not been on
very good terms-that is, no terms at all
had gone the way of all humanity,
and that the Kid must come home at
once to look after affairs.
We were at the Hanfords, Fleming
and |, that evening when the Kid, who
had preceded us by an hour or so, took
leave of Miss Brooke. He was not go
ing back to the ranch, having had his
things sent to town in order to start
early in the morning, and he left shortly
after we arrived.
Even If we had expected otherwise
there was nothing touching in the Kids
leavetaking. While not SO light in his
speech as usual, he could hardly have
been accused of seriousness, and he
shook hands with Miss Brooke in the
same hearty way as with the rest OF ns.
Well, the Kid was Off not for good
for several weeks at least and the boss
and | were alone in the field and both
resolved to make hay while there were
no clouds obscuring Sol. We spent
delightful evening, barring each others
presence, and the departed Kid was only
mentioned once and then by Miss Brooke,
who laughingly related one of his re-
marks, adding, "What jolly, whole
souled boy it is, to be sure!"
As we rode home not much was said,
but when we came in sight of the lights
at the ''HX.," Fleming reined up his
horse, cleared his throat and said huski-
ly: Scribe. my boy, reckon we're in
the same boat and we might as well be
frank about it. Pve"-he cleared his
throat again-'made up my mind to
have Mary-Miss Brooke-for my wife
if 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: "They say all's fair in love and
war. / don't believe it. Nothing is fair
but justice. 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
Hanford's on alternate nights-and-oh,
these womeni-each fondly believed him
self the favored one, if favor there was.
Mary-so thought of her always now
talked football with Fleming, who was
an ex-member of the Princeton team,
and talked books and so forth to me, and
we were both as happy as unfortunate
men ever can be under Like circum-
| stances
| September first came, and with it q
telegram to Fleming from the Kid. l
was in town and received it, opening it
as always did the boss kilograms and
business letters, to see if it was anything
requiring immediate attention. The
message was dated from Omaha, and
read
-. H. Fleming, HX, ranch, -, Neb.:
"Will arrive on third to stay a few
days. Take couple cases beer to the
boys. A. Il. WHEELER"
leaned against a telegraph pole and
pondered. Coming, eh? No more un-
untrammeled calls for Fleming and me-
Novel;, it was high time to be up and
doing. But there was the boss, and
this was his night
felt like martyr as | rode out to
the ranch and silently handed Jack the
telegram. He read it and looked at me-
Eyes, your night it is" said |; but
I've got to see the colonel about that
joint shipment we're going to make-so
I'll go too. I'll let you alone though"
AS we rode over to the Hanfords we
tried to keep up a semblance of converse
| ton, but it was not much of a success
We were both thinking very hard.
had finished my business with the
colonel, and we sat down in his den to
smoke, the colonel holding up the con-
versation. The lamp burned low and
the old gentleman took it away to be re-
filed, leaving me in darkness. He had
hardly gone when Mary and Fleming
came up on the porch and seated them
selves Just outside the window at which
| sat. &
felt like traitor, but dared not
move. knowing that they would hear
me, and Jack might never be able to get
his little speech said. So had to listen
to Jacks great strong bass tones as he
told Mary the old story, which there are
so few ways of telling. When he fin
ished there was brief silence: then
Mary's voice said sorrowfully:
"Oh, Mr.. Fleming, am so sorry-so
sorry-but | never dreamed of such a
thing. You and Mr.. Faber have both
been so kind and nice to me, and
thought you such good friends, but now
this hurts me so! wish you had left
it all unsaid, and | had never known
that you-you cared for me-because-
if there were no other reason-l have
already promised to marry'-here her
voice took ON tinge of laughter
the 'Undressed Kid "-R. l.. Ketch-
um in Argonaut.