Los Angeles herald., 1907-01-13

I 'P'raps 1 do" said Rankin, still celebrating
but I guess faint likely"
Another came out of the court house. leav
ing the door open behind him. They could see
Rumpety pulling on thick ovcrcoat and wind
ing bis ears and throat in a heavy muffer. "Come
along" he staggered with flourish of the arms;
and woman and children, unencumbered by other
wraps than those they had worn all day, follow
ed abjectly and made their way after him to
the shed where the team was tied.
"I say, Dolliber, did they say it was fourteen
miles to their ranch?"
Yes"
South, wasn't it?'
Yes"
They'll have the wind in their faces"
'You bet!"
a few minutes later the Rumpety wagon went
creaking and groaning past the courthouse.
Ed Rankin stepped inside and got his leather
Jacket and woollen mufher. He met the jury
struggling out with the cresttalen AIR OF men me-
conscious of inglorious performance lhe
Judge and the district attorney stood just within
the door, waiting for the ranch-wagon.
"They say" said the district attorney, that
Rumpety never does stroke of work
"Saves up his strength for bullying his family, y
the Judge remarked ''He takes good care OF
himself Did you see how warmly he was dress
ed?"
Eyes, curse him!"
"'It would be mercy if the others were to
freeze to death on the way home"
"Seems likely enough too; but it would be
rather hard on the three little brats waiting at
the ranch for their mother"
Rankin. meanwhile had got himself equipped
for his long ride.
1'bere was TO be a dance in the courthouse that
evening and some men sweeping the saw
dust into a corner and setting the benches against
the wall. MO,
"Aint you goin to stay for the dance, Ed;'
one of them asked. The girls are all coming
Rankin felt himself blush ANONYMOUSLY.
1ENo . he growled. "I've got some work to do
tonight" 80,
."What, at the ranch?
Rankin paused to take account with his con-
science Being IL down-easter, he liked to keep
on GOOD terms with that monitor. But conscience
had no fault to find as he presently answered.
eyes, at the ranch.
He strobe out of the court house with tread
CIV different from his usual slouching gait
Out in the shed he found his bronco smiling rue
frIlv at an empty dinner bag But she whinnied
rIessantlv at his approach. Five minutes later
horse and rider were off at swinging pace
headed not for their own ranch which lay twelve
lies to the northward. Straight in the teeth
nf tbe wind they travelled; in the teeth of he
south Wind that stung their faces like whip
lash.
Before very long they sighted the Rumpety
wagon showing plainly against the snow IN the
starlight The road went most of the way down
hill, and wagon and bronco made good speed
The air grew colder every minute.
about ten below, should you say, Pncher?'
Pincher tossed her toused name affrmatively
They kept about forty rods behind the team
which went at steady rate
II say, Pncher, the old beast must be laying il
onto them horses, to make 'em go like that "
This time Pincher merely laid an ear back in
token of sympathy.
''WeI give him a worse trouncing than that
though Eth, Pincher?' And Rankin fumbled
with cold fingers at the whip handle in his
pocket.
On and on they pounded through the snow;
colder and colder it grew. There was shver
in the stars themselves, and only the snow look
ed warm.
At length they perceived, close to the road
dim light shining from single point in hud
died group of buildings. The wagon turned into