The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1905-12-15

INV inc a VAIN
"HOwdy. Bill, said old man Darby
"How's things at the lower shanty?"
The old man was some swell himself
RE had on a full dress outfit, white shirt
and all, barring a collar. He neveI
w0re a collar, his neck being short and
close connected.
"Saloot yer pard en- balance all,'
yelled Riley.
Oats had got in and vas dancing that
quadrille, Oats would rather dance than
eat an ALLEY carte" dinner. Amy Ray
mond came up and | stopped to talk.
ANY puncher roped that next waltz
asked.
Nope" she said. So | did.
Old mar Darby kept showing candles
OF the floor and she got mighty slick. |
danced twice with Amy and then
dropped out. There were twice as many
]punchere as girls even counting married
ones, so We couldn't all dance all the
time. Floor space vas limited. also.
! went out to smoke and prowi
around. "Sauburr'' Redders was stand
Ing near the door, shooting and yell,
Ing. A couple Of cowpunchers were hay.
ing artillery practice down by the cor
raj. Its just as natural for a puncher to
shoot and yell that way when he feels
good as 1t Is FOR Oats to Cuss when he
don't. I've done the same thing.
The grub shack had been reserved for
ladies-sOrt of a dressing room. The
other shanty was for Eeuts--same thing.
The girls generally rode over wearing
divided skirts and put on a dance outfit
In the grub shack. | went into the gents
shack and fixed my hair before the glass.
! was worried. had seen Oats dance
four straight sets with Martha Green,
whose old mar owned the b. outfit,
Fred Darby, the old mans boy, had
been herding close 10 Martha pretty
steady and ! smelled trouble. went
back to the bunk room to have a little
argument with Oats, but met Amy. I
was going to ask her for another dance
when | saw Oats, He was standing with
his back against the wall. His face was
going red and white In turns like the
spots on a steer, and there was a glitter
ing set look in his eyes.
Then. | saw Fred Darby talking with
Martha across the room. Oats kept slip
ping toward the door with his back
pressed tight TO the wall. | saw he was
trying to get out without being noticed.
so | vamoosed myself. | stood outside
where | could see Darby through the
open door and felt for my gun In the
waistbaud Of my trousers. The dance
was pretty near finished when Oats
made another slide and got out.
What's wrong?" | asked, quickly.
You and Darby BEEN"
Hang Darby, " ne muttered. Then he
cussed for Ave minutes straight.
Bill he said, pulling me away back
into the shadows where no one could see.
Look" He turned round and | looked.
Those new ]corduroys that At so tight
were ripped clear across the seat.
Why didn't you rope me?" he asked.
angrily. Here I've been dancing for
two hours with Martha and that rip"
Never saw it," I said.
Oats cussed again and gritted his
teeth like he'd struck sand. Then he
muttered:
"Never'd a noticed II myself eff | had
not ketched Amy and some other yea
ling laughing, over by the wall.
Heered Amy say she could mend
EN-. That blamed cayuse done that
pitchin' around out there In the mes.
quite comm over"
| didn't have time to laugh. II would
not have been healthy just then, my
how.
Where's Oats?" | heard a girl ask in
the danceroom. 1t was Martha, Oats
swore. smilin' Riley called a waltz,
one | had with Amy.
See YOU after this dance" | said,
then stopped. Oats had vanished.
out by the corral | caught the CLEAN OF
his cigarette where he and the ripped
]corduroys had sought solitude,
Where's Oats?" asked Amy, as we
danced.
My face got hot, but | lied straight. 1t
was a very poor lie, but | thought of it
first.
Oats horse pitched with him coming
over and kinder joggled hlm up. He
don't feel good and quit dancing"
Hope it amt anything but what kin
be mcDded, Amy answered.
My knees got so weak | missed the
next step and pretty nigh dropped Amy
to the floor, When | got my nerve
looked at her again, but she was hum.
ming the tune. as we waltzed.
Did she mean anything? How do /
know? ! never asked her.
When | got loose again | went outside.
Oats saddle was missing from beside
mine on the corral fence.-Kansas City
Star.
n
Cats as Heirs-at-Law.
An extraordinary action at law has
lust been heard hefore tho civil .ryh,,