The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1903-03-12
md my heart warmed towards him:

LIOuL OOOT anu TWO TO the rear OIL inc
coach.
Everybody duck!' one of them
roared; and then the fusillade began.
Bullets snarled through the windows
and struck with spiteful spats against
and the little fellow out to a farm
the walls; and worse than chaos reign
ed in the coach.
Il dragged my sweethear down be-
tween the seats, forcing her against the
floor and protected her with my body
the best l could.
ct was all over in few minutes;
and at it's conclusion three dead rob-
bers were loaded into the express car,
the rest of the gang having stampeded;
and the train pulled out. The cowboys
came in chatting each other and reload
ing their revolvers; and when that was
completed to their satisfaction they re-
sumed their interrupted game.
Before sitting down the one who
had treasured me nodded toward me
with kindly twinkle in his gray eyes.
His features said more plainly than
words:
Its all right now-you and your
little miss can outwit the old folks
yet"
THAT fellow was a man-every inch
of him.
1.-THE sequel?" | said, eagerly, as he
paused in curious reluctance
'The sequel?" he echoed; and short
dry laugh parted his white lips.
'"The sequel-well, let me see.
'"The train pulled out, and l turned
with words of congratulation on my
lips; but her attitude and looks froze
them. She had drawn herself away in
the farthest corner of the seat, and her
pretty lips were stiff with contempt.
A girls heart is strange affair. If l
had drawn my penknife-the only
rampage through the car could have
come back to loving, outstretched arms.
Instead | had prOsaically shielded her
with my body and left others to fight
for her. In her eyes | was pOltroOn
unworthy of the love of any girl.
THAT was miserable night. While
everyone, from the conductor to the
train boy, crowded in to shake hands
with the cowboys, we sat there side by
side, pretending to sleep, but busy with
our thoughts. | was quick and proud
in those young days and l did not de-
sign to beg Or to explain; and so, with
half closed eyes, faced a future blank
because of a hearts desertiOn. N noted
with rising anger also the glanceS she
turned on the unconscious cowboys
glances that would have given my life
to get. Pride, o-worship-aye, even
abstract lOve-were in her eyes as they
rested upon the wide-hatted, rough
CARRIED men in front of us. My smooth
clothing and smoother face were an
offense to her, and after one Or two
tentative remarks, which gained only
lofty look of contempt, relapsed into
utter silence.
eve reached our destination about
sunrise, and she quilted the car with
every indication of reluctance. Taking
her to the parlOr of the hotel l left her,
ostensibly to procure the license and
minister, but in reality to determine on
future actions. Matters, however, were
made easy for me. AS 1 passed out
of the hotel the telegraph boy sailed
up to me.
Say, mister he said, in stage
whisper, flushed with his Importance.
I've got er Telegram here a-orderin' the
sheriff to rest two runaways. I guess
you're it. I'll give you n nour to git
tn license and git spliced befo' git to
sheriff with it.
Does the dispatch say when the
young lady's father will arrive?'
'YeS-cOmin' on the Cannon Ball
gifts here n less n nour. You'd better
git move On you
Handing the boy a dollar, I hurried
to the courthouse, picked UP a man en-
route and secured the license; then,
fastening off toward the minister's
house l purposely lost my way, and
brought up at the minister's just as the
Cannon Ball whistled for the station.
[ could have won out even then, for all
the world loves lover land every man
in town was doing his best to help me;
but instead of conveying the minister
by back streets to my waiting bride, !
boldly walked with him into the princi-
pal street direct into her irate fathers
arms.
There was no violence, although the
cid gentleman made some dangerous
passes at me with his cane. We re-
turned to the hotel together and sought
the parlor, the minister lingering be-
low. At sight of her father, my sweet
heart ran straight into his arms.
Take me home, oh take me home!'
she cried, burying her face in his
breast.
Twelve months later she married
cow-puncher; she got her hero, and is
living in shack out in Oklahoma;
while I am useless business man pill
ing up dollars-for no purpose that I
can see
"Such is life in this curious world of
ours"
WAS ALSO A STRANGER