Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-10-22

NO, luey diu |, lucy fo caught IuC at home as usual,' says I. Well, I'll give that eastern blossom an idea of the quality of this country, anyhow So I togs myself up in the awfullest rig could find; strapped two cartridge belts to me, every hole filled, and a gun in every holster; put candle grease on my mustache and twisted the ends up to my eye winkers; stuck a knife in my hatband and another in my boot; threw shotgun and a rife in the blackboard and pulled out quick through the colt pens before Jonesy could get his peeps on to me.
 "Well, sir, was jared witless when I laid my eyes on that young woman. I'd had my mind made up so thorough as to what she must be that the facts knocked me cold. She was the sweet est, handsomest, healthiest female 1 ever see. It would make you believe in fairy stories again just to look at her. She was all the things a man ever wanted in this world rolled up in a prize package. Tall round and soople, Timber and springy in her action as a thoroughbred and with something mod est yet kind of daring in her face that would remind you of a good, honest boy. Red, white and black were the colors she flew. Hair and eyes black, cheeks and lips red, and the rest of her white. Now, there's pile of diff ference in them colors; when you say red for instance, you ain't cleaned up the subject by sight. My top knots red, but that wasn't the color of her cheeks. No; that was a color l never saw before nor since. A rose would look like tomater alongside of lem. Then, too, I've seen black eyes so hard and shiny you could cut glass with 'em. And again that wasn't her style. The only way you could get notion of what them eyes were like would be to look at 'em; you'd remem- Der 'em all right if you did. Seems like the good Lord was kind of care less when he built Jonesy, but when he turned that girl out he played square with the fambly.
 T ain't what you might call man that's easily disturbed in his mind, but l know says to myself that first day. If I was ten year younger, young lady, they'd never lug you back east again Gee, man! There was a time when I'd have pulled the country up by the roots but I'd have had that girl! I notice I don't fail in love so violent as the years roll on. I can squint my eye over the cards now and say, Yes, that's a beautiful hand, but I reckon I'd better stay out and lay 'em down without sigh, whereas when I was a young feller if I had three aces in sight I'd raise the rest of the gathering right out of their foot leather-or get caught at it. Usually got caught at it, for a man couldn't run the mint long with the kind of luck have.
 "Well, I was plumb disgusted with the fool way I'd rigged myself up,/ ,/but, fortunately for me. Darragh, the sta ton man, came out with the girl. There's Reddy from your ranch, now, ma'am,' says he, and when he caught sight of me: Whats the matter, Red? Are the Injuns up?'
 "Darragh was a serious IriShman, and that's the mournfulest thing on top of the globe, and, besides, he be- lieved anything you'd tell him. There ain't any George Washington strain in my stock, so I proceeded to get out of trouble.
 "They ain't up exactly says I, but it looked as if they were leetle on the rise, and. being as had lady to look out for, I thought I'd play safe.'
 "The color kind of went out of the girls cheeks Eastern folks are scan- dalous afraid of Injuns.
 Perhaps I'd better not start| says she.
 Don't you be scart, miss,' says Darragh. You're all right as long as you're with Red7he's the toughest proposition we've got in this part of the country
 "Tm obliged to you. Darragh,' says I. He meant well, but hell's full of them people. I'd have given months wages for one lick at him.
 "I stepped up to her, with my hat fin my hand. Miss Andree.' says (she was JOnesy's sisters childl, if you come along with me I'll guarantee you q safe journey. If any harm reaches you it will be after one of the liveliest times in the history of the territory
 At this she laughed. Very we'll says she, I'll chance it, Mir. Red
 "'His name ain't Red puts in Dar- ragh, solemn. His names Saunders. We call him Red because uf his hair
 "T'm sure beg your pardon,' says Miss Loys, all of a fluster.
 "That's all right, ma'am. No dam- age done at all,' says I. Its useless for me to try to conceal the fact that my hair is a little on the auburn. You mustn't mind what Darragh says. We've had a good deal of hot weath- CT lately and his brains have gone wrong. Now hop in and we'll touch the breeze So I piled her trunk in, and away we few.
 Bud and Dandy were a corking lit tie team. They'd run the whole dis tance from the railway to the ranch if you'd let 'em-and I never inter. fered. A straight line and the keen jump hits me all right when I'm going some place. although can loaf with the next man on occasion. So we missed most of the gulleys.