Courier Democrat., 1904-12-29

fSIY T was not many days after
I8I my arrival in the foothill coun-
hSSaza2 try that I began to hear Of
(S&S) Gwen. They all had stories
Of her. The details were not many. but
the impression was vivid. She lived
remote from that center Of civilization
known as Swan Creek In the postal
guide. but locally as Old Latours. far
up among the hills near the DEVILS
lake, and from her fathers ranch she
never ventured. But some Of the men
had had glimpses Of her and had come
to definite opinions regarding her.
"What is she like?" I asked Bill one
day, trying to pin him down to some
thing like descriptive account of her.
Like! She's u terrer,' he said.
with slow emphasis, "a holy terrer"
"But what Is she like? What does
she look like" l asked impatiently.
Look like?" He considered a mo-
ment. looked slowly round as if search
ing for simile. then answered. 81
dunno"
'Don't know? What do you mean?
Haven't You seen her!'
"Yeh! But she amt like nothin'."
Bill was quite decided upon this
point.
tried again.
well. what sort of hair has she got?
She's got hair, SUPPOSE
"Hayer. We'll. few" said Bill,
with some choice combinations of pro-
family in Reputation Of my sugges-
ton. Yards of it. Red:"'
"Git out" contradicted Hi. Red!
'Tain't no more red than mine"
Bill regarded His hair critically.
what color do you put on to your
old brush:" he asked cautiously
"'Tain't no difference. 'Taint red.
anyhow"
Red. Well. not quite exactly" and
Bill went off into low. long. choking
chuckle. calculating now and then:
Red. Jee-mi-ny Ann: Redr'
no. Hi" he Went on. recovering him
self with the same abruptness as he
used with his bronco. and looking at
his friend with face even more than
usually solemn. your hayer amt red.
Hi: don't let any OF your relatives
persuade you to that. 'Tain't red"
and he threatened to go off again. but
pulled himself up with dangerous sud-
denness. 1T may be blue. cerulyum
blue or even purple. but red"- He
paused violently. looking at his friend
as If he found him new and interest
ing object Of study upon which he
could not trust himself to speak. Nor
could he be induced to proceed with
the description he had begun.
But Hi. paying no attention to Bits
ora .ion. took UP the subject with en-
thusiasm.
'She kin ride-she's a reg'lar buster
to ride; amt she, Bill:" Bill nodded.
'She kin bunch cattle an cut out an
yank steer up to any cowboy on the
range"
"Why. how big is she?'
"Bis: Why. she's just kid. 'Tain't
the bigness of her; it's the nerve. She's
got the coldest kind OF nerve you ever
seen: hain't she. Bill?' And again Bill
nodded.
Member the day she dropped that
steer. Bill:" went on HI
What was that:" asked. eager for
a yarn.
"Oh. nuthin'.'' said Bill
"Suthin'- retorted HI. Pretty big
nrthin'"
What was it!' urged.
"Oh. Bill here did some funny work
at old Meredith's round Up, but he
don't speak Of It. He's shy. you see."
and Hi grinned.
well. there amt no occasion for
your proceedin' on to that tact" said
Bhl disgustedly. and Hi Loyalty re
Trained. SO l have never yet got the
rights Of the story But from what I
did hear gathered that Bill. at the
risk Of his life. had pulled the Duke
from under the hoofs Of mad steer,
ard that little Gwen had in the cool
est possible manner sailed In on her
bronco and. by putting two bullets In
to the steers head. had saved them
both from great danger. perhaps from
death. for the rest Of the cattle were
near. OF course Bill could
never be persuaded to speak Of the In
eident. 4 true western man Uiu never
hesitate TO tell you what he can do.
but Of what he has done he does not
readily speak
The only other item hat HI coa-
hlbuted 10 The sketch Of Gwen WAS
Int h9 tompee eoald baane z tie oeea-
In demandel
s1Geohar yoaae Hm lulF