The Greeley tribune., 1905-11-23

We're. and those writ large md deon
ON the face of Warren Rodney. and in
DEFAULT OF an expression of deoper s,p-
nincance, the wavering lines of insta-
blllty produced II curiously ambiguous
erect OF fine head modelled by a
prentice hand; lady's copy of the
Belvedere, attempted in the ardors ot
the hrst lessons, might approximate 1t.
A smoking Kerosene lamp revealed a
supper table Of almost institutional
proportions. There were four sons and
two daughters of the Tumlin UNION
strapping lads and lasses all of them
with more than Il common dover OF
lusty health and beauty that was
something deeper than the perishable
iridescence of youth. There was Ere.
mont, named from the explorer-soldler:
there was Orlando, named from his
mothers vague, idle musings over pa.
per backed literature at certain "un.
clancy seasons; there was Richards,
named from pure policy, for local
great man Of whom Warren Rodney
had anticipated helping hand at the
time; there was Eudora, whose nom.
inal origin was uncertain. unless 1t bore
affilation to that of Orlando; there
was Sadie, thus termed to avoid the
painful distinctions of "old Sally" and
'young Sally" and, lastly, like post
script, came Dan-with him, fancy, in
the matter of names, seemed to have
failed. Dan was now six, plump
little caricature of man in blue over.
alls, which, as they had descended to
him from Richards In the nature of an
heirloom. reached high under his arm
pits and shortened the function of his
suspenders to the vanishing point.
Eudorn was now sixteen, and tho
woman famine in all the land had gift
ed her with a surprising precocity
Eudora knew her value and meant to
make the most of it. Unlike her moth
err in the old Black Hills days. she eX-
pected more than "home of her own"
Tonight four suitors sat at table with
Eudora, and she might have had forty
had she desired it. Any one of the
four would have cheerfully murdered
the remaining three had opportunity
presented itself. Supper was mock
cry to them. Barmecide feast. Each
watched his rivals-and Eudora.
Her mother, mumbling her supper
with toothless impotency. renewed her
youth vicariously, and, while she quar-
relied with her daughter from the ris-
ing of the sun to the setting of the
same, she added the last straw to the
burden of the distracted suitors by an
nouncing what comfort Eudora was
to her and how handy she was about
the house.
Warren Rodney supported the air OF
an exile at his own table. Beyond 4
preliminary greeting to his daughters
guests he said nothing. His family, in
their dealings with him. seemed to ac-
cord him the exemptions Of extreme
age. He ate with the enthusiasm OF
a man to whom meals have become
the main business of life.
"How's your mine up to Bad Water
comm along. Iry?" Orlando inquired.
not from any hospitable interest in
Ira's claim, but because he had srndry
romantic interests in that neighbor
hood and hoped to make use of the
young prospector's interest in his Sis
ter by securing an invitation to return
with him. Ira regarded the inquiry in
the light Of a special providence. Here
was his chance to impress Eudora with
the splendor of his prospects and at
the same time smite the claims Of his
rivals, and, behold, brother of his
lady had led the way!
Ira cleared his throat. "They tell me
she air like to yield million any
day" At this Eudora gave him the
wealth of her eyes, and her mother
reached across two of the glowering
suitors and dropped n hot tlapjack ON
his plate.
"Who sez that she air likely to yield
a million any day." inquired Ben
Swift, openly tiouting such prophecy
"Yes; who sez it?" inquired Hawks
and Taylor, joining forces for the over
throw Of the common enemy.
"a sharp from the Smithsonian in
stitute Mt Washington. he said 1t. ana
he has taken back speciments with
him."
"Ye can't keep lackings from freiSht-
in round speciments - nav, Sir !e
can't. not till the fool killer has nm
ished his job" Ben Swift charged the
table with the statement as the prose
cution subtly appeals to the high grade
of Intelligence on the part of the jury.
The point told. Eudora. waverlng IN
her donation of hot t!apjacks, gave
them to Ben Swift.
HAWKS now leaned across the table
with a sinuous, beguilng motion, ana
extending his long neck toward the
prospector with the air of a turkey
xobbler about to peck, he crooned soit
ly: IRA, it's heap risky putin your
faith in maverick sharps that Thil
around the country remaining little oiu
rocks into precious stones, seein soiu