Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-09-28
JUST AS SHE WAS.
" WILLIAM PERRY BROWN,
copyright, 1898, by American Press Associa.
ton
CHAPTER |.
AN OKLAHOMA GIRL.

Lieutenant Stirling had but two of his I
men with him when he made the dis
covery Then he felt that even his whole
command might prove powerless in the
face of this fair trcspasscr,
The girl stood before small dugout,
with vicious looking yellow cur by hei
side and a brood of newly Matched chicks
scratching near. She was short skirtod
bareheaded, with curls flying and black
eyes dancing defiance to the powers that
be- In her hands was light winchester,
that omnipresent passport upon the west
ern plains which one seldom fails to rec
ognize when properly presented.
lieutenant Stirling, still fresh from
the social allurements of Washington
and with the aroma of West Point yet
cliuging to his mental habitude, felt be
wildered-in fact. almost paralyzed. The
usual business of an Oklahoma boomer
at that period, as officially construed
was to move on" or off. Like Moses
from the summit of Pisgah, they could
furtirely survey the promised land but
70 enter thcreon-ah, mol Not vet awhile
nor until at a certain hour upon Ger.
tain day Il boom Of cannon should give
the signal
OF course many failed TO wait They
stole across the forbidden boundaries,
staked out claims by night, concealed
themselves and skulked around the pos.
sessions they coveted and had determined
should he theirs. Scouting parties OF
soldiers hunted them down and carried
them back beyond the bounds. Hitherto
the intcrlopers found by Stirling had
been rough men, meeting force with pro
family and provoked rather than de-
TERED by authority and law. Yet here
was female posing as an actual boomer
young, handsome audacious, appa.
rently at home in the midst of this still
forbidden Eden upon choice quarter
section that any land hungry mortal
might well covet. Was it not case of
Crusoc, or rather of Crusoes wife, with
that would be potentate and another
light tliggered winchester lurking III the
leaty background?
Stirling looked sharply about, then
threw one leg over the pommel of his
saddle and again eyed Mrs. Crusoe adj
nnringly Since he babe the admirals
daughter farewell in the secretary's con-
servatory at Washington, with the air
filled with music and mellow with trOpc
OdOrs, he had not seen a woman to fairly
interest him until now This reckless
little boomer looked certainly very pi
quaint. Even the perpleXity Of a proba-
BILE Crusoe, ready to roar against the
minions of government like very bull
Of Dashan. did not render the situation
less attractive. The picturesQueness of
- 4 l1,I
HIM to be scrupulously polite at first.
II beg pardon'-he began,
"Oh, you needn't TO ask my pardon"
she interrupted, hastily catching the
words from his lips. DO you s'pose
don't know why you're here? I'm not SO
easily stumped, old man. Call in your
otaer prowlin bluebacks. There's no one
else for you TO corral round here"
So Mrs Crusoe was really alone; yet
she might be shamming. He endeavored
to look stern, but partially failed.
My men viii soon ascertain that" he
returned. They are scattered for two
miles up and down this bottom. sup.
pose you know what will have to dc
with you;'
Don't l." This in very pretty &C,
cent 81 NlS'Itlll. LAlc YOU Splll W Ut
re before you trot me off: | give you
lay word I'm the only boomer in five
miles Of here. Yet Bulger and | might
give you trouble if we would Hey, Bull
GER"
The yellow cur growled and contract
ed his black muzzlc into a. dozen unamia
hlcNUml;lcs. Stirling was quite amused
The very nonchalence of his good hui
Nor Impressed her with an irritating
sense Of her real helplessness Did moi
tie three sitting easily in their saddle:
pcrsonlfy hateful though irresistible
authority; What could she do except
upbra,d and weep and, like all Other
premature invaders Of this little terri
tory, move en- whithersocvcr they would
have her go;
Won think you're in fine business,
she said tauutingly. You'll make fin,
report to your colonel, won't you? On,
poor woman and dog hustled back owe
the hue. Oh, you re rusher. It's a pit,
there amt more like you The boomer
would be nowhere
sec here, miss, or madam" said Stir
ling courteously You must be awar
that | have no option in this matter. Tn
orders are for your kind to stay on III
other side until the time set by the pres
i}ent for You to occupy the land arrives
If you Will slip III beforehand, what els
can we do but put you back again
Pretty faces nor foul words won't alte
the law ia sorry for you, as you are
woman ! cant see how you manage
10 slip in and fix mp so snuGly all b
a. l,n
help, so tell me where your men foil,
are. ldrathcr say the unpleasant thing
that must he said to them"
do you see that"
She pointed to a white flag futterin
from pole over the dugout. He rea
thereon in large black letters:
:'''''''''''''''''''''''' '''''.'..........,..:
HANDS OLE