Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1904-08-04

I'VE WAS straight, and grizzled, and
keen of eye. He had worked,
anu fought, and gambled mis- way
through the lawIessness and passion
of the states early life into the de-
cency and uprighteOusness of sue
eessful contractor.
His name was Bill Bowen.
AS a civil engineer, | came more or
tess in contact with him. and rejoiCed IN
the largeness of his mental mold, as
swell as in the business sense of security
he let me enjoy
One summers night we took drive
TO a distant town on the San Joaquin
river. We were to look at stone for
bridge building. and the blistering heat
OF the day made us willing to lose our
sleep for the more comfortable travelling
by starlight
The horses logged lazily through the
coarse thick dust on the rivers leyee,
and the insects from the grain fields and
me frogs from the sloughs had things
wholly to themselves until Bill sudden
ly interrupted.
Mrs. Chase is pretty enough yet TO
the devil, isn't she?'
What are you talking about?" l an
swered.
oh" said Bill, pulling himself up, Il
forgot you didn't struggle with the rest
OF US through those groggy days"
| knew Bill enough to let him relapse
gust so many minutes; then | said:
Judge Chase's wife is lovelier at 60
than most girls at 16, but hadn't any
idea she figured so rOmantically in the
early days as to send anybody over
board"
HIM" replied Bill refiectiyely.
The horses travelled on without atten-
fion, and l waited in patience.
you know what 1t was like" he be-
gan at last Men with guns from all
over the union and gold the heaven we
Sweated for Prayers, and court. and
the gambling tables all running under
one roof. and nary woman's face show
ing up in the mass to give us courage.
To be sure there were yiXenish ribs O.
Satan who robbed, and killed, and
drank with the worst of us; but until
81 we'd never the woman for reverence.
y
stray merchant or two aired their fam
lilies. but things wasn't dizzy till pretty
Grace Blanchard got out with her IA
ther
Understand, she carried herself as
she'd ought to; but, understand, there
was men among us as was born and
bred to live with blood. The mass of
us had to take our satisfaction in look
ing at her; but for two the favor in old
Bianchard's eye was easy reading, and it
wasn't long seeing the course the straw
took.
New Emory was long. lean, blonde
fellow, with blamed fine face, and
way that made friends of the toughest.
They said he looked a swell when he
called at the BlanCharGs'. but | never
saw hiIn but like the rest of us-red-
shirted and oyeralls, and an angle TO his
pistols than made him a joy.
George Stokes-'ShOrty, we called
him--was man with an answer that
ripped like a knife, and a head that
made success of everything, because it
could work crooked as well as straight
He'd been on the bench. but he'd To-
Gated a vein at Mariposa and was over
seeing up there in so. Naturally, he lost
opportunities, not being right on the
spot, and the danger began.
The Blanchard house was swelled
larger than most of the cabins. and had
two long windows that opened onto a
porch. Things might never have been
SO bad but for those two lidless eyes in
front.
One fatal night Shorty Stokes rode
into the settlement-but I'm getting
ahead OF affairs"
Bill tossed his cigar into the tules.
an0 hurried the horse into effort as the
interest of his Renaissance swept him
on
The girl carried herself after the
fashion of high-steppers, and neither
fellow could swear where he stood 1t
was laughter and spirit for both of them.
they said. and nip and tuck for the weld
ing The pace was the sort that ex-
hausts men, and Shorty's brain for
lawEering cooked up scheme for his
rescue. He was for their going together
some night before her, and, after for
mat marriage proposal each argue his
claim and fitness for ten minutes by thn
clock, their honor at stake to stand by
her decision.