Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1893-06-02

marked confdentially to Jim: "The we'd
din's a.comin of next Thursday. You
done the very thing to jest skip. Shoe
corry enough Good God, Jiml /
Thought You knew al about itr'
IN tT-o hours time Jim was far from
his camp and Dob's, headed for Boggy
ruu o. the best pony in the saddle band
and leading another, cursing his folly
for thinking Cinco too good for so hard
q trip. Four days later, on o Thursday,
he rode up to the ranch house door az
Boggy run about noon aud threw him
self upon tie bed without a word, while
Gillespie, equally spcechless with amaze
ment, arose from his solitary dinner
and attended to the used UP horses.
That evening Jim was saying to Gil.
lespie IAN older man and a hard headed
Scotchm0n), while he blaclzed his boots
vigorously, turned the little ranch
house upside down and dragged out all
his own and G|illespie's entire wardrobe
to make q suitable full dress toilet:
"Let up, John. There's no use talkin.
I'm goin over there an look at her
that's all. If this is her own deal an
she's satisfied, why Tn bound TO be. IL
it isn't--if that little old swelled up
prairie dog an the old folks have sort Of
rushed it in on her No, you can't 90,
nor Billy. I'm just goin by myself,
all peaceGblc an natural"
They were aiting for the preachers at
the Austell ranch-he was an hour over
due. There was n sort OF strained un-
easiness nthe air since Jim's unexpected
arrival, despite his quiet manner and
friendly greeting.
He only needed one glance at Chum-
mics little face, and her look Of half ter
rifed delight would have melted a moro
obdurated and injured lover. Presently
some lively young spirit out on a porch
exclaimed, "Oh, let's play hide and seek;
the moons bright as day"
Jim watched Chummie, and, as she
crossed q darkened eatry, caught her in
his arms an instant, whispering, Glide
out at the far side of the corral-Cinco's
there, hitched." She slipped around a
back way unseen, while Jim walked
boldly over in front, and there, behind
the S-foot stockade, they met at Cinco's
head.
you don't want him, do you, dar-
ling?"
"Oh, no; oh, no, Jiml'
"Will you risk it with me and Cinco?'
ooh, vest Quickr'
They'll follow. Where's the saddles
and brides? I'll put you on Rascal"
"An on the back porch-there isn't
time, anyhow-oh, listenl'
IT,, lsFtoI 4lo 1sA4Io H.. s.-Aa.AI.
upon Cinco behind the saddle, swept the
bridal rein up from the snag oyer which
it hung and sprang into the saddle in
front Of her, and her arms were around
him. Even willie he wheeled Cinco at
the corral gate he dashed in and circling
once around it drove the horses suorting
out before them with swinging quirt.
Jim thrilled within that encircling CIR
die and remembered how once, riding
over from Doggy run, he had found hel
afoot at the far end Of the ranch, Rascal
having given her the slip; how he had
taken her mp behind him on Cinco, and
how he had ~grievously spurred and mis-.
treated that uuoffending and astonished
friend, and put him into a dead run fol
the rare delight of feeling those shy
arms about them.
1t would have been prudent to start
north and circle round to tho trail.
avoiding the house. But it wouldn't
have been Jim-nor it wouldn't have
been Texas. When he felt himself in
that sweet clasp, so long desired, 50
barely snatched and won at last when
it would seem lost for good, with those
frightened arms clinging about him,
the small hands locking themselves TO.
gether below his heart, Jim felt like a
warrior god.
Touching Cinco with the spurs, he
sprang forward and dashed down the
trail, close behind the string of clatter'
ing, snorting saddle ponies, right past
the open front door and the whole as
sembled company, in the clear white
light of a Texas full moon. As they
came up to the group, Jim, in a reckless
burst of understandable delight and
triumph, rose in the stirrups, and, swing.
ing his hat, remarked in the tone Of an
intoxicated steam whistle, "Whirr-oo
-oO-irpl Whooirp! Whoo-oo-ooeyr'
Translated freely this reads, 500 t.
Halifax l have got you nowl Let's
see you help yourselves" And so the
gentlemen to whom it was addressed re
ceived it. But CincO accepted it as only
regular, strsightout horse talk-the most
pressing form of exhortation to git
known to his tribe, and he ''got" forth.
with.
The ponies scattered ont aad let them
pass. Several Of the older and soberel
ones, pausing to question and debate q
little, were caught and saddled, and the
Austell boys and some others followed
over to Doggy run. Gillespie came out
and told them, with the grim, chuck
ling enjoyment Of a sober old fellow
over a beloved youngsters dashinl
prank, chat Jim and Chummy, on CiucC
and Gillesp;s's best pony, had ridden
down to be married ut Del Rio and take
the morning train TO Uyalde, where
Jim's people live.
Jim ard Chummie could afford to bc
m-agnanimJus and say nothing to the
old folks, when we heard last week that
Spur was living meekly at Dallas will
a very aggressive wife and four chill
dren that came out from the east some.
where and rounded upand corraled Chat
gay butterfy.-Alice MACEDONIAN il