The Savannah morning news., 1903-05-03
H..
THE WOMAN

Barely had the dust of the half
breeds sudden departure sifted from
thet air, when Buckley arose and an
nounced his intention of taking a 1T
tie look round" He was gone two
hours, and returned looking solemn
and earnest. Billy and Alfred We're
cooking things over a small fire. Buck,
ley spat in a propitiatory manner to-
ward seven small bushes, and conser-
sationally informed the northwest cor
ner of the canvas top on a nearby
schooner that he, Jim Buckley, had
decided to take along a woman.
Billy and Alfred thereupon spilled
the coffee, and could not believe their
ears.
She's goin' If I have to take her by
myself" Buckley concluded. And then
Alfred and Billy looked up into his
face, and saw that he was in earnest.
Alfred turned pink and wriggled the
bacon, trying Immediately to think
how he was going to make the best
of this. 1t did not look easy.
Billy Knapp exploded.
You go to hell" was his method of
objection.
"She goes" repeated Jim, with even
greater quietness of manner can if
you-all don like it, why, jest say so.
| quits. You got to have her, if you
have me-
I'D jest like to know why" com
planned Billy, a little sobered at this
threat
Whereupon Jim found himself utter
ly at loss. He had not thought as
far as that. He suddenly appreciated
the logical weakness of his position;
but then, again, intuitively, he real
lied more subtly it's strength. So he
said not a word, but arose lightly, and
brought unto them the woman herself.
She was a sweet little woman, with
deep, trusting blue eyes, and she dc-
companied Jim without a thought of
the opposition she had excited. jim
merely told her. she was to meet the
other two men. She intended only TO
show her appreciation OF their kind
ness.
She approached the fire, and assum-
ed her most gracious manner.
~ want to thank you both, as we'll
as Mr.. Buckley, for being so good to
me-" she began, with real feeling. II
know how hard it is for you to take
me just now, and l appreciate it more
than l can say. / don't know what
we would have done. You need not
be afraid that we shall be much trou-
BILE, for we will an be brave, and not
murmur Your goodness has made me
very happy, and 1 am going to pray
to God for you tonight" said the lit
tie. Puritan with simple reverence. 1t
meant a great deal to her.
Alfred, as usual, was wrigglingly
shy. Billy Knapp several times OPEN
ed his mouth to object, but somehow
closed it slowly each time without
having objected. The woman saw. She
thought it meant that her presence EN-
barrassed them both, so with true tact
she wished them a gentle goodnight,
and went away.
The three looked at one another.
"Well?" asked Jim detiantly.
Billy coughed. He spat in the fire.
He exploded. - it, She goes!"
he roared with the voice of a bull.
They both looked expectantly toward
Alfred. Alfred nodded his head. He
was wondering how long it had been
since any one had prayed for him.
Thar is a man with her." remark
ed Jim, after moments silence. Hes
a tenderfoot. And a kid. The kid has
blue eyes, too, he added, rehectively.
'"The camp'll be mighty riled," put in
Alfred.
Let's go see the tenderfoot." sug-
gested the practical Billy.
They dropped everything and went
over to the hotel" where they viewed
the womans husband at a safe dis
tance. He was slight. bent man,
with near-sighted eyes behind thick
spectacles, straight, light hair, and a
peering, abstracted expression of ccuu-
tenance. He wore a rather shiny frock
coat.
Gee. Christmas" calculated Billy,
and laughed loudly.
Alfred shook his head.
Jim looked grave.
They returned to camp. and began
10 discuss the question OF ways and
means. There would surely be trouble
when the affair became known. The
inclusion of "a tpnderfOot from Chi
eago. on account OF his pinto team, had
almost resulted an a riot Of the reject
ed. Not one Of the three was fatuOus