The daily Alaskan., 1905-04-15
A GIRL COWBOY
orleInall


 sd out in search of health
 One morning she appeared at a ranch and asked ir a cowboy was wanted. The superintendent looked her over from head to foot and SaldS
 Whats your nameT
 "Tom nOrklnS."
 "TCndcrfoot, reckon"
 "Ncs; I'm not very well, Doctor rec commended outdoor life"
 "Itn cure you, surc. But you'll die from nuoaler cause, Tho boys vii! grind you to powder, However if you want to try 1t, go ahead"
 II Tom DorkinS hadn't been some. thing of an invalid he would have hae a hard time of it As it was, the COW boys were disposed to take no cogBt zance of him whatever, One of them set up a faro bank in the barn, and Mary invested few dollars she had in her pocket in the game, She struck an astonishing run of luck and without knowing any more about faro than she knew about QuaternianS broke tho 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 a spree for the boys, which, while it cliuChed her pop, ularity with them, brought down upon her the wrath of Hathaway, who OK Sected to win back his money at the next sitting.
 Then commenced a number Of petty insults and aunoyances from the faro dealers which had Mary been a man would have been nbearable. As l, was she was placed in a position where she would have to fight She was made aware Of this, for her patient en- durancc of Hathaway'S insults induced a coldncss on the part of the oth,g boys.
 At Hathaway'S next insult Mary went to one of the boys. Henderson by name, whom she admired for a certain COolnCSS aud dignity there were about him, and asked him 10 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 d2cv Ter revolver from her hip pocket aud standing a dozen pacCS from tlse ha' fired. Hearing a howl and seeing NuB dcrSon'S hand covered with blood, Sh, burst into tears.
 You little fool, You cry haJy, Why didn't you hit the hat: How do you expect to fight a cowboy with such shooting as thatE
 "Arc you kiUcd?' cried Mary.
 "Kiucdg No. But I've lost a par. Q, my thumb"
 \ little later Henderson and the tSc derfoot were observed standing vNN close together. the latter binding up tf formers thumb with a haudGcgvlicf
 From that day Henderson gave oW that porklnS. being in bad health, mus, not be iutertcrcd with. An save Hath away were disposed to let the boy alone, and he seemed avevsC to intcn fcriug further with one whom Hcndcr son had taken up as a protcgc. Mary grew stronger every day, and when the bloom came to her check one ot the boys remarked that the tenderfoot was pretty enough for a girl Then one day Hathaway rccommonccd his tauntS.
 q thought | told you" said Hen. derson. that the boy was to be let alone"
 That was because he was sick. Hes well enough now"
 q want you to understand" reNlicd Henderson, that | consider Tom Dor klns a sick man."
 "Sick. boSh, cried the crowd. Hes well enough"
 Hathaway, you let him alone. h you are spelling for fight you can have it with me"
 "An right" said Hathaway. 'Nol send your baby boy to me with the message he asked you to bring
 And so it was arranged that Tender son and Hathaway should fight. Bui 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 principa, his revolver.
 Whats the matter with youg' re marked the opposing second, you're in no danger, you little He broke ofl suddenly at a glance from Henderson.
 Dorkins was to give the first signal by dropping a hat It is questionable if the signal would have been given had not the seconds hand trembled So she couldn't hold it. 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 it by turning it from her. The two prin- cipals stood ready for the second signal when, suddenly, Mary saw blood on Henderson's collar. This was more than she could bear. Rush'ng to him she threw herself on his chest, placing
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