The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1907-12-12
Fate and
Hunpy.
Nv Chn,Iss CaIyersao
.....By Charles CAlvsrson.


"What does the lady look Ikey de.
manded Humphries.
Cotton regarded him cooly.
81 don't think that there Will be more
than dozen or two ladies' clamoring
for transportation to the Twin Hearts"
said Humphries' employer. Even your
benighted intellect might appreciate
that fact"
Humphries nodded ana turned away.
Curtis Cotton, owner OF the Twin
Hearts, was peculiar. Above all, he
wanted men about him who could car
ry out brief orders without demanding
an elaborate amplification OF the same.
Humphries had supposed that in this
case the question was justlhable but II
Cotton thought otherwise he had no
comment to make,
He went down TO the corral and
hitched the blacks to the blackboard,
one or two OF his fellows lounglng over
to see what was up.
"Goln to town, HumpyT demanded
Ben Tyler, lighting fresh cigarette.
mo" said Humphries. with asperity.
I'm goln' to drive over to China to
hire II new cook. What makes you
think was goin' to town."
Tyler grinned amiably.
You'd think he was the old man II
you could hear him talk with your
eyes Shut he commented musingly to
Buck Byers. "By the way. | wish
you'd stop on the way back and bring
out some makings."
He tossed a silver dollar TO Hum
phries as that worthy climbed into the
seat and started the team. Humphries
pocketed the coin. with a grunt, and
devoted himself TO his thoughts,
That something was doing up at the
big house was clearly apparent The
minister from Silver Forks had driven
over that morning. and now he was
sent TO Brayleys for young woman,
with orders to return her TO the ranch
with all speed. He grinned as he OBJ
served the brand on the fianks Of the
blacks. the twin hearts from which the
ranch took It's name.
"Ought 10 put cupids arrow
through em," he told the blacks. Then
you'd look like valentines. Wonder
who It Is goin' to get hitchedT
He ran through the list or probablss,
but could not decide until the Overland
paused at the little nag station TO de-
posit young woman and 4 trunk. AZ
the girl raised her veil Humphries
sprang forward.
"Miss Bess." be cried. note Of real
welcome In his voice. i've got the
blackboard here"
He held her hand an instant IN greet.
ing and then strapped the trunk be-
hind the seat before helping her In
The year before he had been working
on the Circle z when Bess Farley had
come to spend the summer with her
brother, his employer. Even then
there had been talk OF marriage be-
tween her and Cotton, but the gossip
had died down, and II was supposed
that there had been q quarrel. Now
she was here, the preacher was here,
and there could be no doubt but that
she would become queen OF the Twin
Hearts as well as the heart Of every
rider on the range.
IIumphries engaged her ia converse.
ton. supplying bits OF local news and
listening with an amiable grin 10 her
tales Of back east" Almost before
they knew II they had come 10 the gate
of the ranch Enclosure, and Humphries
Was about 10 jump down and open !,
when she laid n detaining hand upon
his arm
.Why stop hereY' she asked 'Circle
4 u only FIVE miles ahead"
'Circle ~" he echoed. II thought
you were coming here"
'Did my brother say soY' abe asked
Il haven't seen Mr. Farley in sir
months" he said Tin working here
now. aud Mr. Cotton told ne 10 60 an0
get q lady. asked whst she looked
Ike, and be cni me oT short. Ike be al.
ways does. ! supposed II must be all
right You WAS The only lady 70 ge,
on
Il didn't know that yon had left my
brothers ranch" she explained in re-