The Washington times., 1903-02-22
Story of Boston Boy Who Went West and His Fortune, Good
and III, Among the Ranchmen of Wyoming


Two by Four pushed the glass aside,
and asked for his mail.
There amt as much as usual for
you this trip. Two by Four; only one
pretty little square billy ducks and
newspaper" Siguor slowly said. IN the
intervals between the thrusts OF HIS
thumb into his mouth. as he ran over
the single pile OF epistles forming the
mall at Rongis postofice.
Two by Four looked blank at the
square envelope. with DoIly's handwrit-
ing upon !t, and at the newspaper ad-
dressed by her. You're sure this is
ALP he again inquired. fearing he knew
not what.
That's all and IL came a long time
ago. too. I thought Il kind o. funny my
SELF said Signor; but Two by -Four had
passed out Of the open door before the
sentence was complete
He mounted his bronco quickly and
galloped back TO the band OF sheep be-
ing herded by his dog across the river.
Throwing himself down on a green spot
where the warm sun seemed most invit-
ing, he broke the seal with trembling
hands His heart beats numbered the
words OF the engraved formula by which
Mr.. and Mrs. Sayward invited him 70
the wedding OF their daughter, Miss Dol
linger, to Mr.. William Sayers Maybury
The last words OF the invitation seemed
TO blur and widen out. and to move
from the card Of into space. until they
became one with the landscape and the
horizon. and Two by Four understood
no more
When he had recovered sufficiently
to understand where his thoughts had
seemed to stop he opened the newspaper
and read an account Of the wedding He
saw that il had taken place full four
months before. and about the time when
he had written his last letter to Dolly.
He Was not at the roundup that night,
and all the boys spoke OF him with
wonder.
So sun-burned that their faces and
necks and little band above their
gloves Jsre peellng, two tenderfeet
drove UP 10 Rongis the next morning
but one after Two by Four had received
his wedding invitation. Oakley stopped
driving nails in the rough box which
nearly filled his Government wagon. and
greeted them with the usual question,
Where did you come from"
From Casper, by way Of Oakey's
ranch to here. I reckon replied the
younger of the two men. as he stepped
from the blackboard. They told us over
at Oakey's that he was up here shearing.
Can you tell us where we can find him
and his mem
Well. guess You'll find him in this
wagon. with a hammer in his hand: and
as for his men, one of EN- is bein' nailed
into this box. II amt a very pretty cof-
I'm. but lumber Is scarce here. and we've
all Clipped in to buy him good one
when we get him to Rawlins. We're go
ing TO send him East. though he didn't
want ter GO
rs that so? Pretty tough to die out
here. amt It? Mr.. Oakley. this is Mr.
Martins, buyer for Hotaling Barrymore
& Maybury, used to be HotaIiug & Bar
rymOrc; you sold to them last year, you
know. l am the Maybury; just married
into the G7m."
Oakley barely heard the introduction
till he pulled letter from his pocket.
scanned it moment. looked at the
younger man as IL sizing him up in
Western phrase, and then asked them to
liquor up"
AS they drank Oakley introduced the
| strangers to SignOr. then drew the letter
/ from his pocket. handing it 10 SignOr
with his finger pointing to a name quite
prominently engraved therein. gave
slight nod toward the younger stranger,
and then folded the letter away \ slight
| exclamation which sounded very much
| like We'll. I'll be darned," gave Oakley
TO understand that Signor understood.
MANY sheep at the shearing this
year." inquired Mr.. Martins. as feeler
| toward business.
! Yes. double last years of two and
| three year-Olds. and the best lambing
season we ever had" responded Oakley.
| The boys has all done we'll. and the
wolves has left us alone. The big thaw
in January helped us out on fodder. and
1 the chinooks came three weeks TO the
early this year. Was you much ac-
quainted in Boston, Mr. Maybury?"
Born. bred and always lived there"
replied Maybury.
Il wanted TO make some inquiries
about an old friend Of mine down there. -
said Oakley. with a glance TO Signor,
/ which the latter readily translated 70
mean silence Did you ever hear of
/ Two by -Four there"
7 ON THIN OH