The times., 1897-04-18

Here's yer money. Git il started as soon
as yeh can" The agqnt smiled softly,
while Bowloe trudged away in the dark
ness.
Strange happenings, like ealamities,
often come not singly. 1t was the very
next evening, and the express agent was
engagedin a hopeless effort TO make every
dollar in the cash drawer balance two in
his accounts, when ne elancedu up andfound
Bobby Henderson attentively regard
ing him over the counter. He, too, was
confidential and he, too, hada copy OF a San
Francisco paper There was confer
ence.
.'Forty-five dollars?' said Henderson
"Ain't that rather hgh?''
"Oh, no." answered the agent smiI-
ingly; ''sueh things don't grow on every
mesquite BUSH
Well said Henderson, this amt
question of 'dobes, SO here's your dust
The next stage brought two packages 70
the camp that were exactly alike, out
wardly One was addressed to BOwlOe
and the other to Henderson
1t was the evening of a day not long he
fore Thanksgiving, and jim Bowloe was
preparing to take his departure from the
higgins parlor He hesitated for mo
ment as lie arose. and Miss higgins smiled
encouragingly.
.'Of course, Miss higgins, you'll be
down at the big time Thursday night An
I'll feel most oncornmoniy obieeged if
you'll let me have the pleasure 1r seem
you down thar an back. III fix up 50
l won't be any disgrace ter you" And
Bowloe threw back his shoulders and looked
down St himself adniringIy.
To this Miss higgins, smiling sweetly
and holding open the door replied: III
be ready to go not later than . clock"
The next evening. Henderson stood Oh
the doorstep, twiriing his hat. Miss Mig
gins regarded him with q pleasant look OF
inquiry
Miss Miggins,' said he, 81 know
amt equal to the occasion, but neither's
nary other man other man in the gulch.
But reckon you'll want to see the dance,
an II you need feller to kind o pint out
the way, it'll he a great joy ter NE TO be
the favored man. An III fix up as much
for the occasion as Californy will allow"
Miss Mieglns was kind hearted She
looked at the face Of the young man before
her, and then said simply and sweetly:
IN he ready at 8 O'Clock"
1t was supper-time in the gulch. The
express agent leaned idly against the
stump of the big pine that used to mars
the bend in the canon and, with an ex-
preston Of amusement curling his lips, re-
garded 'Cencion, who stood before him
with her black eyes flashing.
1T will be a good joke ne said. land
that is the reason 1 spoEe oft to you, for
1 am OF your OPT MON thatJim needs taking
down q little But you q better take both
outfits, for neither one OF them knows
what the other has done, andif either lost
his layout and then saw the other aTrayed
in purple and fine linen-well, there would
be trouble and funeral, TO say the least.
1T is WELL said the girl, and disap-
peared among the growing shadows
The express agent gazed after her de
parting form cuTiOusly "Ifshe could write,
ne nurmuIed, reflectively, there is one
| word she would certainly begin with
| capital letter. And that is Revenge
The candles sputtered bravely that night
| in front Of the tin refleCtors, the lone fiddler
| yed with all the fervor the occasion de
| manded. and the floor cTeaked and grOaned
| under the grand march but neither Bowtoe
| nor Henderson saw the opening Of the
| grand ball
| The partners did not arrive at the cabin
! on the hillside at the same hour after sup
| per Bowloe, with thoughts of neckties OF
| flaming bues. white collars of wonderful
| heights and stiffness. and shirts uron the
| fronts of which were pictured all the
| flowers of the field, arrived home early.
! II is not known just what his feelings
/! were when he cOmpr ehended the situa-
| tion but the opinion prevailedin the camp
| that by not being present it lost the
| effect of the most expressive and artistic
| burst of profanity ever uttered in the
| mountains. Jealousy fathers distT ust, and
| Rowloe searched his partners room, but
uselessIy. Then, relying on the natural
! graCes of his person, he arrayed himself
| as best he could and started for the Mig
| gins home. III Henderson had shut his
| teeth hard at the thought
| ont said the freCkie-face'I young lady
| who answered. hisrap. Miss higgins went
| ever so long go with another gentleman" 3"
| And she smiled as only a neglected young
! lady can under such circumstances. Bow
| loe stared at her for a moment speech
| less. and then. filled with astORishment
/ and rage, turned away in the darkness
] toward the scene of the festivities
Ten minutes later the maid, who was
| gloomily refIecting upon the unkindness of
! fate that made her stay at home the night
| Of the ball, heard another knock. This time
| it was Henders IN that the Iignt of the candle
| shone upon, AMI his face, too. gave evidence
| of inward trouble. Miss Miggins.'' said
| the maid. has been gone quite awhile. she
/ went with another gentleman. Bobby IS
| face turned to flint.
4 Pin
! at the dance. He felt relieved, for IL she had
| disappointed him she had at least not IA
| vored an yone else. And So, having a great
regard for Interpolation of James Bowloe
esquire. he affected an air of great en-
| joyment, and to one or two inquiries re
! garding Miss higgins he shrugged his
shoulders as much as to say that that
| was subject in which lie was not inter
ested His laugh was the loudest, his
| Jokes the most numerous and his dancing
I, the liveliest of all the company. Bobby
Henderson, coming down the street. had
no thought of the pleasures of the ball
| He was ful1y satisfied tBat EoviCe was
| thief and that he was the victim OF the
| robbery At the door of the imprOyised
ballroom, he paused for a moment, ann
then, in the whirl of dancing figures,
one caught his eye and lie saw nothing else
| His LID curled scornfu1y. Bowloe the
| brave, Bowloe the mighty, had stolen hi!
| clothes but was afraid to wear theml
Straight across the floor he stIode, heed
less OF the dancers rights, and in another
| moment Bowloe was gazing into the angry
| eyes of his partner. Then Henderson
spoke. His tones were not loud, but his
tense voice caused every dancer to stOl
| and list en- aIItl The scorn nd rage expresset