Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1904-06-23
by Bert NJ. Bower.


l dusty little figure beside him.
"Are you going?" he asked, as n who
knows-or thinks he knows-what the
answer will be.
81 d no." The girl twitched the
pinto's reins impatiently; the furtive
glances of the Singer always fretted
her. Jack said part of the roundup
might have t. pull out for the reserva-
ton with some cattle the company
contracted t. the government. He said
he might have t. go along, though
Harvey promised t. let him off for the
dance if they aint too sh%ort-handed.
'Taint settled yet"
The Singer eased himself in the
saddle, and wished he had not engaged
Annie Pilgreen.
"You better go anyway" he said,
after an instant's hesitation. Zone
cowpuncher more or less don't cut any
ice at a dance. Dances don't come so
thick this time of year that you can
afford t piss one-just for a little
thing like that"
The girl frowned. She did not con-
slider it a little thing that Jack might
not be there. The Singer, reading his
blunder in her lowered brows, has
tened to add, Cant you go with Bills
folks?"
Bills folks amt going" returned
the girl sharply. Bills uncle died, and
they aint dancing this summer"
The Singer was silent, wondering
II there was any possibility of stirring
Annie ,Pilgreen's sluggish nature to a
quarreling point, that he might re-
lease himself. Annie Pilgreen seemed
incapable of doing anything which re-
quired independence of thought or &C
tion-still, the Singer chung to the
idea hopefully.
The horses steadily climbed the hill.
The girl toyed absently with the romal
on the braided bride rein over which
Jack had toiled so patiently the winter
before. She was exceedingly proud of
the bride, with its gay tassels of green
horsehair. The eyes of the Singer
wandered from the girls pink a to
her gloved hands, resting upon the
reins.
That's a fine piece of work. said
he, bending over, glad of an excuse to
draw nearer. who done it,"
Jack"
The Singer Strengthened in the sad
die. His lips curled. "Oh. suppose
he learned how when he"
Shut up!" The girl turned fiercely.
"You know as well az any one that it
was self-defense-and if there'd been
justice done-and there's plenty more
would be learning in the same school ii
they got their dues-and they'd have
a good, long time t. learn I'M"
The Singer flushed and drew a quick
breath, then he laughed, Meaning
me?"
Suit yourself about that" snapped
the girl. There are some folks" she
went on, tempestuously, that amt
man enough t. come out t. Jacks face
with their sneers and slurs-and such
folks amt fit fer Jack t. wipe his boots
on!"
"Wh-e-e-w!" The Singer refused to
take offense. Don't claw my eyes out,
Miss Josie; I didn't mean anything
against Jack-you ought to know that.
I'm glad you'll stand up for your
friends. There amt many that will
and | know Jack didn't deserve what he
got. We're good friends, Jack and me-"
The girls face cleared perceptibly at
the words, and she forgot to wonder
why Jack had never spoken of his
friendship with the Singer. The Sing
er, covertly watching her, resolved to
quarrel with Annie Pilgreen whether
she would or not.
"Say!" He leaned over to slap a
fly off the neck of his horse. "Suppos-
ing Jack can't get in, will you go
with me?" The Singers voice and
manner could be very pensive when
he wished to have them SO. Before she
could answer him, he added, hurriedly:
"You mustn't miss that new music
that's coming; they play the smoothest
three-step l ever heard in my life.
1t starts in--ta da-da-ta da-" The
Singer slid sidewise in the saddle and
trilled melodiously.
"Aint that pretty" cried the girl,
enthusiastically, when he had finished.
'They play some waltzes that are
simply out OF sight, too" went on the
Singer, artfully. I'll tell you've
got t. ride over t. camp, and I'll see
Jack and ask him If he's coming"
"Oh, / wish you would! And see II
ask him"
"If he'll mind your going with me?'