Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1906-07-05


STEER.
VINO VIII 90 west ana tie a COWBOY Tor
a year must have some romance about
him. Now. | don't believe that Luke
Cotter has even been out of the coun-
ty"
He was in Chicago last summer"
with a load of stock. He stayed
all of twenty four hours. Seriously,
Toots, | approve of your choice. Cot
ters all right, but all he's got is forty
acre farm. and that's mortgaged."
He seemed almost dissatisfied with
his sisters nod of assent After mo
ment's silence IL burst out boyishly:
"Oh. | say, Toots be a good fellow
Which one is 1t, and when is II going
to be? 'Fess up now
Toots refectiyely smoothed her muff;
then she said cautiously, do you
promise not to tease me"
"Cross my heart"
The girl looked down pensively.
They've both asked me"
Good"
"And-and they're both coming to-
morrow for their answers"
"Hurroo,"
You're not to tease now"
81 won't, honest"
"WelI, | haven't really decided which
it IS to be"
Bob chuckled gleefully. "What
beautiful situation! Toots, you're
winner I've always said It. Pecks
Bad Boy wasn't in it with you fer get
ting into trouble. When are you going
to decide. for heavens sakeF
81 don't know"
Miss Wentworth essayed TO say more
but her courage failed her. Bob slap
ped Dobbin with the reins interrupting
long drawn whistle to grin ex-
pansively.
"Bob"-
He raised his hand. ooh, know what
you're going TO say, and my advice IS,
don't say it. You want me to help you
choose, and | won't | know you,
Toots. If | picked one, you'd marry
the other, and If he beat you up you'd
blame me. No. my dear, man should
select his own neckties and woman
her own husband"
II think you're just as mean as you
can be-" pouted Toots.
"The lady or the tiger" apostrOphiZed
Bob, waving long arm at the horizon.
"The gallant cowboy or old Stick-in
the-mud; the heir to-well, thousands
and the poor but honest youth; the
hello what's this?"
A sharp turn I'm the road had brought
them to a most interesting tableau.
team of horses, attached 10 a sleigh.
stood facing them. Behind the sleigh
a man in Il fur coat clung stubbOrnly
to long rope At the other end Of the
rope an angry steer was plunging and
believing. Evidently the animal had
been tied msecurely to the sleigh, had
worked tie knot loose and had been
about to make a dash for liberty. At
this moment the driver had discovered
the status Of things and taken a hand.
The steer swuug abruptly TO the left
Fac man In the fur coat was swept off
his feet by the move and sprawIed
ftI length on the snow The steer
charged the rail fence by the roadside,
scattered the rails AZ if they were SO
maag matches and galloped into the
smooth meadow lot beyond The man
SIN daun!yl at the end of the rope
As the animal began moving in wide
circle through the field he attempted
repeatedly To rise, but his heavy coat
and the plunging Of the steer hampered
him.
Bob leIpcd out Of the cutter Luke
Gottcr," he remarked Ills arms tan.
g.ei in the rope so he can't get up.
The beast can't hurt him, Sut that
dragging viii play the mischief with
his coat"
There was a rapid thudding Of hopfs
down the road from behind and a
hor>emam, handsome fellow, with
dark hair dashed by. with n smile and
nod. He swung his horse through
the gap IN the fence and bore down on
| Cotter aud the steer. Bob climbed
back into the cutter and grinned. "Har-
rs Crossmanw He settled himself to
| enjoy the denouemcnt. The plot
| thiCkens." His sister sat silent and
| breathless
Within half minute the big bay
was running easil" 81 the rear OF the