Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1903-01-16

The boys from the X Y ranch had
been busy for the falls roundup
ct Abiline for months. They were
now about ready to depart for their
winter home. The cattle had been
about herded in one bunch and were
prepared for the long drive south
ward, where the grass was green the
year round, and the winds not too
severe to bring them discomfort. The
yearllngs, heifers and steers were
corraled two miles away from the
little town. At night. unless a storm
seemed imminent, half of the crew
would 60 into the railroad station and
disport themselves by shooting out
lights, riding horses into bar-rooms
and the like. All OF them ate at the
Archer restaurant, not because the
food was any better or cheaper than
served by the Palace. but because
Estelle Mcintosh, clear-eyed.
straight-limbed girl of some twenty
summers. slung the hash and shot the
beans at her sun-tanned customers.
She was OF beautiful mold; her
breast moved back and forth like
the undulating waves of the sea; her
arms were round at the shoulders and
tapered down as gracefully as sculp-
tors model. Her eyes were blue, she
was widehipped, with complexion
like that of the underdown Of a Geor-
gia peach. She could play the guitar,
do fancy work, and get along fairly
well with the third reader. She could
call cows and ride any broncho that
ever paved the, earth.
All the boys were In love with her.
II she had any preference that could
be perceived, it was for Calico Jake.
whose tall figure was known to near
ly every head of cattle between he
Colorado and the Neuces. He could
chew tobacco like Cuban negro,
cut the pigeon-wing, ride anything
from q horned toad to giraffe, and
he had no more conjunction when 1t
became necessary. to kill a man than
q mustang would have for kicking at
the man who had hit him with quirt.
But Estelle, "Stell," as the boys called
her, made no signs that she would
be glad to jump over the broomstick
with him.
Two weeks before the contemplated
departure of the X Y outfit, nearly all
the boys we're in Archers. The doc"
was there also. He wore staked
and ridered shirt, tan shoes and toted
a walking stick. He had but recently
graduated from the medical school at
FL Paso, and settling at Abilene.
where the men wore overalls and the
women quite content with calicoes, he
imagined himself about $3.50 ahead of
q National Bank. "Stell" had not
liked him from the first, and she did
not attempt to conceal her feelings.
As the doc" started to go, he naive.
ly asked:
"S'pose you are going to be the
queen of the ball up to Big Springs,
next week?
II don't know eff that's any of your
business" she replied, somewhat
Course you'll be there as
king of the doodlebugs?" at which
the cowboys ha. ha, haed until the
doc" was out of hearing.
That night, while the stars looked
down upon the boys who were now
again in camp, Calico said to Buck
eye: Say. Buck, it'll be long time
afore we get to ball where they'll
have one of these here base Williams
or wiolins, or whatever you call 'em.
Spose we run up to Big Springs and
shake our feet when the sli1rdlg
comes Off"
( Buckeye readily consented. Then
the other boys were awakened and
told of the scheme. Lots were to be
drawn as to who should remain IN
camp while the others were away
That was satisfactory and the idea
q good one. But" spoke up Red
Parker, "whar the damnation is the
money comm from"
That put the others to thinking.
The next morning five cowboys
we're seen riding swiftly toward Abb
lene. Calico went into the Archer
hotel and restaurant alone. After a
few moments conversation with
"Stell," the boys galloped over the
hill. An hours ride took them to Pan
tana, a village composed of five
saloons, a general merchandise estab-
lishment, livery stable, fifty-five
souls and 1892 prairie dogs.
They stopped at the first place they
which was known as the /!
=
49,