The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-01-27
THE GIRL IN THE BACK
 GROUND.
BY FRANK II. SWEET.

Copyright, 1903, by Daily. Story Pub. Col
 Bronco Buster stepped to the door of the saloon, holding his glass so he could see the colors of the sun light through the liauor. The street was comparative ly deserted, for when cowboys were in town 1t was customary for the inhabi- tants to bethink themselves of needed duties indoors. The color of the liquor proving satisfactory. Broncos hand drop ped from its significant position on his hip pocket, and his eyes swept tRe street.
 Hike here, you fellows!" he yelled suddenly "Yonder's Billy Patterpat turnIn' the corner. Let's cover the street and corral him, an then make him dance"
 "Aw," drawled another cowboy, who was leaning against the counter, empty ing glasses and flinging them at who ever he thought might not be able to dodge, and holding his revolver in read mess to meet possible objection to his playfulness. "Patterpat won't dance. He's joined the little party of Mennonites up country an gone plain. Amt you heerd? Billy ain't frivolous no more"
 Were goin' to give him a drink fust," :" significantly. "There won't be no trouble then. You used to know Billy" The figure at the counter strengthened. ''Why, of course, of course.' he conced- ed; "a good drink will be ile for Patter- pats feet did use to know Billy. The only trouble with him was that all his brains and fun an everything was jest in his feet, an with them gone plain there couldn't be no Patterpat any more. We'll ile 'em with Billys special Timber er." He hurled his last emptied glass straight at Bronco's head, but not so quickly as to prevent its being caught and hurled back with such instant and unerring precision as to be shattered into hundred pieces against the hat crown of the sender. But instead of angering him, the cowboy at the counter only chuckled hilariously as he rubbed his | head and shook the pieces of glass from his hat brim. He liked horse play that | was mutually dangerous.
 As they filed out a newcomer from | Texas looked discontentedly at Bronco. Any special indoocement bout that Patterpat's feet?" he inquired. 'I been pretty comfortable settin on the coun- ter We have dancin down to Texas Better go back there" curtly, "or go set on the counter if you like. As to tn- doocement, there ain't only one dancer, an that's Patterpat. I've been to Frisco an to Kansas City an to Chicago, an Two seen dancin'-leastways. what they l call dancin'. But I've never seen but one Patterpat. Only he has to be limbered up with great jags of whisky fust. Then his legs are all wheels an parabolas an ricoshays an scintillates. It's what the l good book has to the end of 1t. the reve- 1ation. Now you stand right here. an I'll santer out to the middle of the street. That's him comin' wonder, an beginnin' to dodge already. That's the way he used to do, an we had to round him like a wild mustang, an then fill him up."
 Billy Patterpat was block and half away, coming on slowly and looking from side to side for some avenue of escape. The gradual spreading of the cowboys across the street brought up memories
 of past experience, and his eyes had be- gun to grow troubled and full of appre- hension. At length he stopped and looked l back; but 1t was too late now. Several
 of the cowboys were near their mus
 tangs; and, as he turned they swung into their saddles and dashed up the street.
 In few moments he was in their midst,
 struggling and protesting, his eyes big
 with terror of what he felt was com
 ing.
 Don't ye give it to me, gentlemen
 he pleaded. I'm plain now. an 'twouldn't
 be right. I ain't danced in six months,