The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-01-22
< THE ADVERTISERS DAILY SHORT STORY

My foolish boy! Of course I love you. I love everything here-those distant bleak, barren hills, the great wide valley. the sage brush. the cactus. the toads, thing that goes to make up this hound less western country. And, above and beyond all else. iove you. You are a wonderful picture in wonderful frame. try. nor the country from you. Would I love 1t with you out of 1t? cannot say. can't imagine YOU out of it," She patted Ter pony's neck as she
 Would you love me anywhere else, I wonder, in your faI-away eastern home, TOT example. among your more cultured She answered him by a peal of silvery laughter which rang down the canyon and startled the lizards baslsing :n che sunshine.
 He looked u. quickly.
 Pardon me, dear, but was just imag- ming you among my friends back East. 'It-seems so funny"
 He colored under the heavy tan coat ing his handsome face and pulled his sombrero down more closely over his eyes.
 Am I then. so dlfferent--such a wild man of Borneo-that you would hesitate to introduce me to your friendsT' all the girls docking to the west in search of othep wild men of. Borneo, and there are 10 others-none half so dear % as my wild man. Careful there, vixon, rattle snake. rattle snake!' The pony head to foot. --t-..I
 Quick as flash Guthrie Blalock drew his revolver from his belt and shot the serpent dead. Then, hastily dismounting, he knelt among the stones and cactus, detached the string, of rattles, ten in She received them ca1pnIv and "a efpuod them in her belt. A few months ago she would have shuddered and screamed But she had learned much during her short stay at her brothers cattle ranch. had developed into a true daughter of the plains with marvellous rapidity. The day she stepped oil the train after a long journey from the East, and flew and rancher standing around the station began nourishing a secret hope in his own breast. Such a slight willowy fig ure. such bright, witching face. such contagious laugh. all bound up in one young woman, could not fail to produce a sensation. especially where women blue sky overhead.
 Every man in the country suddenly de- veloped desire to do business with Bob Lyman. Thev all had punches of cat they could never come to terms. Each visit called for another.
 "Its funny. Genie" Bob said to his sister. with a twinkle in his eye. what capitalist these men take me for. Per- haps they think you brought gold West with you for investment. Can't imagine what else heads all the ponies for my ranch.'
 Genie laughed and was pleased .but not until Guthrie Blalock came on real business with no intention of meeting "the lily of the valley" as the men called her. was she impressed. -.
 "Bob." she whispered, as he came into the room for paper, Introduce me to that handsome man"
 Hes not like the others. Genie: he Soesn,t esnt,,: care Ire & rap about .women-wouid
 T don't care. Introduce me-" she conn mandcd. and he obeyed-
 Guthrie had been merely polite, had miration. straishtway he became the only man in the whole country for whose attention she cared fig. And the inev- itabie happening. she had at last won They were constantly together on long rides over the hills and the plains, and Bob was highly pleased at the prospect of keeping his sister in the West. They were orphans and she had remained in the East with a younger brother, who had needed her care until the past year when, his school days bsing over, she felt free to visit Bob, whom she had not seSh s@HCc sHS vas Htle CI4Ius
 Guthrie Blalock \had been an enigma to the men with whom he transacted bus iness-for he met them on no other foot ing since he first came to tke country, ten years ago. and engaged himself as cow boy to one of the cattle kings. Silent, morose, gloomy, he had ridden the plains ard lassoed steers till now he was one of the biggest cattle owners in that re- zion, but yet ne held aloof, understood and loved by no one. Many mistrusted him and whispered of black deeds conl-
 Thursdays story, THE NEW CHORUS