Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-02-08
DAILY SHORT STORY
A Girl Cowboy.
IOriginaI.1


consumption and should rough it, in
the west. Convinced that she could not
do so advantageously in petticeats. she
dOnned mans attire and, with money
TO take her to the cattle grounds, start
ed out in search of health.
One morning she appeared at ranch
and asked if cowboy was wanted.
The superintendent looked her over
from head to foot and said:
Whats your nameT'
Tom Dorkins.''
'-TenderfoOt. l reckon
Yes; I'm not very well. Doctor rec
commended outdoor life"
It'll cure you. sure. But you'll die
from another cause. The boys will
grind you TO powder. However. if you
want to try it, go ahead"
If Tom Dorkins hadn't been some
thing of all invalid he would have had
hard time of it, AS it was, the cow
boys We're disposed TO take no cogni-
zance OF him whatever. One of them
set up n faro bank in the barn, and
Mary invested a few dollars. she had
in her pocket in the game. She struck
an astonishing run of luck and without
hIONlhS dDODl ldIO lUdn Sne
knew about quaternians broke the
bank Nothing succeeds like success.
and as Bob Hathaway, the faro banker.
was not popular the boys all declared
in favor of the tenderfoot Mary in
vested her winnings in Il spree for the
boys, which, while it clinched her pop
ularity with them. brought down upon
her the wrath of Hathaway, who ex-
pected to win back his money at the
next sitting.
Then commenced number of petty
insults and annOyances from the faro
dealers which had Mary been a man
would have been unbearable As il
was. she was placed in position where
she would have TO fight. She was
made aware of this. for her patient en-
DURANGO Of Hathaway's insults induced
u coldness on the part of the other
boys.
At Hathaway's next insult Mary
went TO one of the boys, Henderson by
name. whom she admired for Il certain
GOODNESS and dignity there were about
him, and asked him TO bear a message
for her.
Can you shoot, Tommy" asked
Henderson.
Don't know"
See if you can hit that" He held
his hat at arms length. Mary drew
her revolver from her hip pocket and.
standing n dozen PAGES from the h;
fired. Hearing Il howl and seeing Hen
derson's hand covered with blood, she
burst into tears.
You little fool. You cry baby. Why
didn't you hit the hat? How do you
expect TO fight cowboy with such
shooting as that?
Are you killed?" cried Mary.
KILLED? No. But I've lost q part of
my thumb
A little later Henderson and the ten
derfoot were observed standing very
close together. the latter binding up the
formers thumb with u handkerchief.
From that day Henderson gave out
that Dorkins. being in bad health must
not be interfered with. All save Hath
away were disposed to let the boy
alone. and he seemed averSe to inter
fering further with one whom Hender
son had taken up as Il prOtege. Mary
grew stronger every day, and when
the bloom came to her cheek one of
the boys remarked that the tenderfOot
was pretty enough for girl" Then
one day Hathaway recommended his
taunts.
II thought l told you,' said Hen
derson. that the boy was to be let
alone"
THAT was because he was sick. He's
well enough now
Il want you TO understand replied
Henderson. that l consider Tom Dor
kins a sick man"
Sick. boshr' cried the crowd. Hes
well enough"
Hathaway. you let him alone. If
you are spelling for a fight you can
have it with me-
"All right; said Hathaway. You
send your baby hoy to me with the
message he asked you TO bring"
And so it was arranged that Hender-
son aud Hathaway should fight. But
this did not serve in the case of Dor
kins.' who received the dead cut from
the crowd. Mary accepted the position
OF second when she should have been
first and they deSpised her.
Mary further incurred the contempt
OF the crowd by displaying trembling
hand when she handed her principal
his revolver
whats the matter with you:" re-
marked the opposing second. you're in
no danger. you little He broke off
suddenly At n glance from Henderson.
Dorkins was to give the first signal
by dropping a hat. 1t is questionable
IL the signal would have been given
had not the seconds hand trembled so
she couldn't hold il. At the first fire
Hathaway was unhurt: Henderson had
the top of his ear taken off. He con-
trived TO keep his second from seeing il
by turning il from her. The two prin-
cipals stood ready for the second signal
whom StI1danIU Mary saw blood on