Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1901-07-25

left there this morning after breakfast
The mules are good for greater dis
lance in less time"
She climbed into the ambulance TAX
ing her place on rear seat. Allyn
climbed beside her and reaching over
grasped the reins and held them until
the Mexican had resumed his position
With crack OF the whip they were
on. Thinking that she had been for
getful OF courtesy, Lois looked around
to bid goodbye to the operator He
was not in sight, doubtless inside,
sleepily listening to the interminable
clicks of the railway orders going over
the line.
For an hour she leaned back silent,
her eyes fixed on the wide country,
lulled by the easy swaying motion. Her
brain was busy with thoughts of the
possibilities ahead of her. To what
was she going? What were they like,
these peonle who lived in an almost
tenantless land? Would she be happy
with them? Would she come to regret
even cherries. prosaic Grayborough? ?
The man beside ser was young. hand
some, gentle-mannered well-bred,
slender of form and clean-cut Of fea-
ture Evidently gentleman born,
probably an aristocrat in his home
country. Were they all like that? She
was not at all timorous and she said
to herself that If she did not like the
land or it's inhabitants. she could only
go away, back to that North which
seemed so distant. The Mexican in
front, swinging his whip and keeping
his four miles alternately at trot and
at gallop. spoke often, but his vocabu-
larry was limited He said only Car
amba!" and "Carapo." The soft ex-
pletives did not jar upon her ear and
her companion apparently did not hear
them. He had been watching her out
Of a corner Of his blue eye, mentally APP
prising her beautiful face and figure.
the perfectly fitting travelling gown of
brown, the neatly gloved hands, the
strongly shod little feet, which peep
ed from under the edge of the gown,
and there were growing admiration
and appreciation in him. He re-
f1ected that the other fellows
at the rancho would envy him this
ride when they came to meet the girl
and he intended to lie to them at
length that night about the witty
things he had said and the good COM
rades they had become. By way of
breaking the long silence he remarked
quietly I'm hungry
She smiled in instant response and
half turned to him. He caught fash
Of her redhazel eye as she answered
demurely: so am I. How far is it
to the ranche?"
Why" he replied you are on the
rancho now. this is BALCONIES land !;
but the rancheria. the ranc ae-house.
is ten miles away. 1t would be four
teen miles from our house to our back
front gate and four miles from our
house to our back gate. IL we had any
gates. but we haven't We will be
hold out till them"
"Oh, yes she answered and 1t
doesn't do any good to think OF being
hungry. does 1t? Tell me about the
rancho and its people. That will pass
the time and will save me asking ques-
tions when | arrive"
Glad to oblige.' I'm sure" said AL
Ign. you see 1t Is this way: Glynn
came out here once, some years ago,
shooting. He liked the country and
climate and believed there were posi-
bilities in the cattle industry When he
reached England again he talked West
Texas to his friends until they begged
him to expatriate himself for good.
He bought a hundred thousand acres
and built a ranche-house and sent to
England for his wife and babies. He
knew my father well and was sent out
with little capital to assist in stock
ing the rancho. I'm younger son,
you know. and haven't anythink except
hope and a broncho or two. All the
rest OF us are younger sons sent out
with little capitals to assist in stock
ing the rarchc."
who are all the rest of us?" Lois
asked.
"Oh, the other fellows. you know
the other white men on the rancho.
There's a lot Of them-very good
chaps, taking them by and large. Some
are older than and some younger, but
we get along swimmingly. There's the
Hon. Henry Lascelles. whom We call
Harry and the Hon. G. Claybrough.
the Hon. l.. Louis GOODWIN, the Hon.
George Ralph Peyton. the Hon. X.
William Fontaine. the Hon Russell
Maude and Mr. Royal Deveraux. We
ali live near the ranche-house and try
to make things pleasant
This was getting to be interesting.
the Maine girl thought. and she asked:
What do you do?"
ooh, we help to work the cattle and
boss the Mexican hands and hunt wiz
pigs and play polo Now and then We
have a little music when Mrs. Glynn
has time 10 assist us. Some Of as play
the banjo and others listen. We have
been here three years now and like 1t
we'll. | hope" and his voice took a
shade more Of interest, that you viii
like IL as we'll"
I'm sure stall" was the cordial
reply. You are drawing pleasant
picture for me. After my life in Maine
| know that shall not find the rancho
dull Tell me now about the children,
my charges"
Allyn smiled broadly: Speaking OF
the children" he replied. you Will
not find 1t dull. Nobody finds II dull