The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-12-07
THE TABLES TURNED

~ uurn uude! SnOrted Joe Daley
contemptuously.
That was the general verdict from
all the boys when Phil Ames made his
appearance among them at Middleton's
ranch.
Della Middleton had returned home
from the city, and Phil had come with
her to the ranch, where her father well
coined him us the son of one of his
friends and companions of other days.
1t was soon whispered also that Phil
was u sutton for Della's hand and that
alone was sufficient for him to be watch
ed closely and criticised by the cow
boys, who, every one of them, were
ready to swear by and to do anything
in their power to please the queen of
tho ranch, Miss Della Middleton.
Phil Ames, at n first glance, looked
rather cffeminate, but upon closer OBJ
servation no proved to be quite other
wise. There was not q surplus ounce
of flesh about him anywhere, and his
frame was we'll knit and strong. More
over, Phil was pleasant, easy going
fellow whom nothing seemed to disturb,
and whose temper was the sunniest in
the world.
Therefore couple of weeks at the
ranch was sufficient for Phil to gain
the good will Of everybody around the
place. Even Joe Daley, the most crit
ical among them all, had to admit that
he was not half SO bad as he looked and
might improve into a right good fell
low IT he staid at the ranch long enough.
In the rough play among the cowboys
Phil held his own easily and often turn
ed their rude jokes SO that they lost
their sting, or fastened the laugh on
him who had expected to SEQ Phil made
ridiculous.
Joe Daley considered himself the
leader among the boys on the ranch,
and they seldom ventured to differ with
him in his opinions, which he mover
failed to express with all the decision
and emphasis he could master.
One evening after Phil had been at
the ranch nearly month Mr.. Middle
ton came into the house where he and
Della were together.
II have to send IL squad of tho bows
over to Bald prairie tomorrow, and [
don know where in thunder I'm going
to find cook to go with them" he
said.
What is the matter with Edmunds,
papa?" asked Della.
He is down with the chills, and that
puts pna, him out ut of the quation There is
Middleton.
Cant you get one of the others to
cook?" asked Della.
why, there isn't ono of them can
mako biscuit that wouldn't choke a
dog"
Suppose you send Dinah and my
self with them? We could manage. l
reckon, p" said Della, laughing.
"But what would become of us who
have to stay at home:'
do your own cooking or starve,"
laughed Della.
I'm afraid it would be the latter
most of the time, said Mr.. Middleton.
No, I've cooked for a camping outfit
before now, and if the worst comes to
the worst can do it again, only | can
hardly spare the time"
iii go and cook for them, Mr.. Mid
dleton, said Phil. Il suppose it is
only coffee, bacon, biscuits and batch
of cornbread occasionally"
"You cook" exclaimed Mr.. Middle
ton, why, my boy, they'd mob you
at the first mcal.''
why do you think sop
Your cookery would drive them to
1t. They would have to do it in self
defense, you know-kill you or starve
10 death themselves.
"They would have to do neither. I
assure you, " protested Phil, laughing.
Il am better cook than you think. l
hope you have not forgotten that staid
In the mountains Of Colorado nearly the
whole of last year? did the most of
she cooking for the three of us there,
and, if l say it myself, there was no
one ever turned up his nose at what /
placed on the table,
For awhile there was a lively discus
zion about Phil going as cook with tho
cowboys, but he finally gained tho con-
sent from both Mr.. Middleton and Del
la, and it was decided that he could
30, provided he would not blame them
If anything went wrong. The next
day therefore he drove away in the
wagon containing the raw materials on
which he was to display his art as n
drst class cook for cowboy camp.
IF Phil comes out on top in this es-