Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1904-09-02
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By c, 3. LEWIS
COPYRIGHT, 1901, by C. b. LsiOs
BY c. 3. LEWIS
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES,


There was but one passenger to
aight at Snow Hill. on the Southern
Pacific road. and In the cattle and In
dian country, and that was Miss Bessie
Vaughn OF Chicago Her schoolmate,
Nettie Long, whose father owned and
managed the big Long ranch and who
was now living with hiIn out In the
wilds, had written that person would
meet Bessie at Snow Hill with Il buck
board and bring her safely 10 the
ranch. The person" proved to be a
young man of twenty-five. dressed as
a cowboy. but having rather II dlstin-
guished look about him. While he
was Fastening along the platform and
yet thirty feet away the girl acknowl-
edged to herself that his features were
good and that his face showed charac-
ter and ambition. Perhaps 1t was for
these reasons that, while he was Gov
ering the other thirty feet, Miss Bessie
suddenly decided that he ought to be
snubbed
This Is Miss Vaughn OF Chicago, |
presumer he said as he lifted his hat
and smiled welcome.
What right had he to presumeY by
what right did he smile a welcome and
seem ready to shake hands2 The girl
looked coldly at him and slightly nod
ded her head, and that was snub No. l.
The young man took It so; but. though
he colored up, he did not lose his smile.
you will give me your checks.
please, aud | will put your trunks
aboard, and we will be Off"
There was touch of authority IN his
tones that nettled the girl. and she
turned away and delivered up the
checks with her own hand She would
also have loaded the trunks on the
vehicle If she had been strong enough.
Snub No. had followed fast on the
heels Of snub No /.
I'VE have fifteen miles to drive, and
the road IL rather rough" observed the
young man as they got seated.
No reply. Snub No. 8.
81 take II that you have never visit
ed this section beforeT" was remarked
after the silence had lasted for mile.
mo"
But l trust you will ind novelty
and pleasure"
Miss Bessie looked straight ahead
and shut her teeth hard. What was
1t to one OF Colonel Longs hired men
whether she enjoyed the west or not2
The man was presumptuous, and she
meant her silence to be another snub.
Whether It was 30 taken or not, It was
not more than Ave minutes before a
voice which had a touch OF the paternal
In 1t remarked:
you don't look Overwell. and u c0u-
pie OF months OF this bracing atmos
phere will do you world OF good"
'Bir, are you u practicing physician"
look the young man square in the eyes,
We'll. no." he slowly replied
Then you need not bother to take
charge'of my health"
That was what the boys would have
called settler, and It hung the young
man up for the next ten minutes.
When he spoke again. however, 1t was
hb III nothing uhu happened.
ut was on that hill over there" he
quietly said, as he pointed with his
whip, that four OF our men were sur
rounded by fifty Indian warriors two
years ago"
Miss Bessie deliberatel turned TO
look In the opposite direction, and she
felt that he was smiling as he con
tinued.
zone OF the boys was killed, but they
killed twelve Indians and held their
ground all day"
What was II to her whether one or |
the whole four cowboys were killed. |
Indeed she found herself almost wish.
ing that all had been wiped out She
hadn't the slightest interest In the
affair." not that day.
"And over there In that valley ls |
where drove Of steers ran over and
trampled the life out of two OF our
men last spring We didn't even find
their boots"
Miss Bessie looked straight ahead |
and made no reply.
"And you wouldn't believe, would
you, that this Insignificant creek we
are crossing was mile wide and ten
feet deep last Mayi We lost thou.
sand head Of stock In that food"
Still no reply. II was snub after
snub, and she meant to tire him out. |
This time the silence lasted for fifteen
minutes, and she II was who broke It |
at last The horses had SHE'D at a |
coyote lodging for cover and started
away on II tearing gallop. The young |
man kept then on the trail, but made
not the slightest effort 10 check the
pace. On the contrary, he hummed
popular air as they laid down TO their
work. The visitor stood II an long az
she could. aud then turned and eX-
Cant you see that the horses are
awayT
II have seen II for some time past" |
he quietly replied.
''rhen why don't you stop themf
II will II you so wish, but run Of |
a few miles won't hurt them any"
She did wish II from the bottom OF |
her heart. for tho vehicle was Jumping
like a goat, and It took both hands 10
hold her hat on her head, but she grit
ted her teeth and decided 10 be smash
ed into jam before she would prefer
the request. The horses ran for three
or four miles and then sob0red down,
and the young girl felt that she had
the young man again by not