The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1901-05-23

|[NTE sat by the club window smol
wv ing. My companions eyes were
oaming laziiy out over the street
md as l was doing the talking | was
ooking directly at him. ! paused il
he middle of sentence. for subtle
,hange had come over his features
md | knew that he was not listening
o my speech. his face had grown
pale, his lips compressed, and the left
rand which had been lying idly OF
he arm of his chair, was clenched
glanced out to see what had moved
i'm so, but the street was nearly de
erted; only a long-limbed, high
booted, wide-hatted cowboy wandered
long the sidewalk, staring at the
rnaccustomed sights.
1T was 10 years ago; and yet the
light of that cowboy brings it bach
S clearly as if it were but yester
ay. Fifteen years-not long wher
man is fighting his way to success
n a large city, but an eternity wher
boxing back towards a grave in
which your other self was buried"
My companion had not withdrawn
is gaze from the street; but l knew
hat he no longer saw the cowboy
Instead, his eyes we're following the
Genes that the sight of the cowboy
ad evoked.
81 was young then-only 3d." he
Continued, in a gray, level tone, like
ne talking in his sleep or thinking
loud; "and loved her 1t is al
oolishress to say the young cannot
owe, l know better. For q blind un.
elfish love give me a boy whom q
ard knowledge of the ';orld has not
ct spoiled. | loved her, but her
| amiiy opposed the marriage because
f some absurd family quarrel in the
past. SO. after every effort to pla.
ate her parents had failed | per.
uadcd lie girl to clope with me.
Il drew my entire fortune from the
3ank-a ra,try $6,OGO-and. eyadino
hose who were watching us, we
boarded a Santa Re train north. !
vas holding her hands under cover
a shawl, and eXpatiating, boyish
ashton, about meeting the world
With her to inspire me. and conquer
ng it, and all that, when four cow
oys entered the car. They were
ig, long-'imbcd. unsEayen. husky
diced fellows, dressed in true COW
10y style. Turning the seats togeth-
+ directly in front OF us, they or
cred cards from the train boy ard
egan a noisy game Of poker
at was about sunset when they en-
cred and the shadows were soon
alling across the houseless wastes on
ither hand. The country through
hitch we were travelling was fat and
|nonotonous, except where lone
butte rose like an island out of a
andy sea The brakeman lighted the
ingy lamps, and every one settled
stlessly back. listening to the roar
the flying train and the occasional
iaculations of the absorbed card
layers. ! sat with one hand beneath
he shawl. reasSuring my sweetheart
Fith a tender hand Gasp, while my
| YES wandered off towards the west.
Fhere the moon hung like a silver
HELD far out over the black land
cape. My thoughts were busy. | re
hember, with the sturdy fight was
p make for fame and fortune; and
cunning on ahead | was pieturing our
Homecoming, where news of our sue
ess had preceded us ard all was for
iven. II takes boy TO dream.
"a whisper aroused me from my
everie, and rising obediently | passed
, the rear Of the coach after a glass
t water. The conductor and brake
ban were leaning against the door,
hiking in low tones, while their eyes
| ept furtive watch over the COWBOYS
he word 'ho,d-up' reached my ears:
| nd Immediately I saw il all.
"These men had boarded the car:
neir corfedcrates would stop the
rain at an agreed point and we would
e at their mercy. | FASTENED back,
ave her the cup of water, but before
could tell her my fears and devise
pine means of concealing my money,
ne engine gave shrill warning
cream. The next instant the heavy
rakes were applied. and the coach,
it'll many shudder, came to
andstill.
| The cowboys continued their play
ithout even looking up; and ! thought
nat rather singular. The conductor
| lad hurried out, and moment later
stol shot rang out on the night.
Trusting his head in at the front door
le conductor cried: Boys, it's a hold
all right enough
The cowboys looked up at this.
"A boldup!' one of them said. "A