The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1895-01-15

"Flirt with some other fellow. y Her
only fear was that III she should try the
experiment Bob might lose control OF
his temper and shoot the other fellow,
and as a result he might be locked up
for q long time in a cherries prison,
and the marriage be necessarily post
poned until the misdemeanor was atoned
for. The judge might be a cruel mon
ster with no sympathy for young lovers
and might send him into retirement for
years, and she might become a wrinkled
or calcimined old maid before he again
breathed the air of freedom.
That would be terrible. But pshawl
Bob would never be so foolish as to puff
out a human light for one little girl i'm
q country literally running over with
the prettiest girls in America. Not he.
Anyhow she would risk it, and if Ben
Allison of the Diamond o ranch came
around and made eyes at her again, as
he had done ON several occasions. she
would encourage him Just the least bit.
and then, when Bob recovered from the
fit of temporary insanity into which her
corset had thrown him and came to her
in a penitent mood. sheswould throw
herself into his dear arms and tell him
that she never did, never would and
never could love any one bat him. OF
course he would forgive her and kiss
her tears away, and the sun Of love
would again burst forth and shine over
them with new and exquisite luster.
Ben Allison's heart became real nm
ruly when at his next visit to the Den
ton ranch Cassie met him with awelcom-
ing smile, extended her pretty little hand
and permitted him TO holdit quite q lit
tie while after he had got through shak.
ing it. After this gratifying reception
his visits increased in frequency, and
although. with great feminine tact, the
girl kept his ardor within proper bounds
she did not repulse him, and it soon be-
came noised about among the riders of
the ranges that t'Ben was sure goin to
pitch q matermonial rope at Cassie Ben
tons an the little thererbred' d soon pack
his brand"
Bob noted all this, and his heart was
filled with bitterness toward his sup
posed rival. He never cast the look of
recognition upon Cassie, yet when he
would see her moving about the house
or corrals or galloping about the range
on her pretty little pinto pony it began
to dawn upon him that her corseted
form was indeed far neater than that
OF any girl on all the ranges of the
Brazos. After a time he was ready to
swear that he had never seen anything
one-half SO handsome as that neat, grace
full figure, and the uncorseted girls of
his acquaintance seemed almost fright
full in bis eyes when he gazed upon their
loose, dumpy forms. He began to harbor
the impression that he had made O
very pronounced fool of himself, but |
his stubborn nature asserted itself. He
had said the corset must go, and go it
must.
That's a way up Oh top gal sence
she got back from Dallas, amt she,
Bob?" Allison said to him one day,
when they met in the corral of the Dem
ton ranch.
"Yo' don't want to make no funny
plays about that gal when I'm around, "
Bob hotly replied.
II hain't n~ever-yit found out that it
makes any difference who's around or
who amt around when i want to make
q talk play, " retorted Allison.
Some things gifts found out mighty
sudden, Ben Allison, an this amt goin
to be fur from n of 'em. / want to
tell yo' right now, an to boiler it out
plain, toe, that yo' are a-nosin around
this ranch too plenty o. late instead of
ridin yer w ranch, an ] amt agoin
to stand il no mo-
"Mabbe you wouldn't mind tellin me
what business it is o. yours whar /
ride. Long as the gals throwed yo' to
one side yo' amt got no say as to other
fellers pitchin a rope at her."
Eyer a liar when yo' say she's
throwed me, an yo' know it, an yo'
want to hit the Diamond o trail right
now, or yo' an mes agein 10 bump to-
pow'ful hard. Jest top that hoss
o. yours an work him lively away from
here, or a calamity's agoin to occur
right quick"
"Yo' talk mighty brave fur a CASTOR
shoe, Bob Taylor. an yo' can't begin the
bumpin business any too quick to suit
me, yo' poor, worthless sneak"
That was the limit. The two men,
their eyes blazing with anger, backed
away from each other, drawing their
six shooters as they went. The guns
were thrown into position for quick
work just as q slight girIish form dart
around the corner of the adobe stable
and sprang in front of Taylor. ALI
sons pistol rang out before he noted the
presence OF the girl. and with a scream
Of pain she fell senseless 10 the ground.
The man who had fired the shot fed in
terror, and Bob bent over his wounded
darling, calling her by the most en-
dearing names and begging her to live
for his sake. y
The form Of the girl was borne into
house, and q doctor from Waco, !
was fortunately there, attending a
who was down with the break
bone fever, was called in.
lis she dead, doctorf', asked Bob in
tones OF the most pitiable agony.
mo, only stunned. Ball strurk q