Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-05-17
DAILY STORY
THE COWBOY ARTIST.
[Original.l

Ter EMILY LOT COulpi!llOu anu SeI
out on his trip. This same Emily was
a beauty, ali artistic beauty, if the eX-
preston may be allowed, with Titan
hair and dark eyes-in other words,
mingling of the blond and brunette.
Mr.. and Miss Farnham We're welcome
at the ranch houses, with which the
country was dotted, and spent their
time riding over the country from one
of them to another. The father looked
upon the region simply as one in which
TO raise food for the hungry millions in
the east. The daughter considered It
very picturesque.
One morning the visitors We're riding
over the broad acres of a cattle ranch
when they met Il cowboy. He was
| long and slender, and his face was
handsome, with a dreamy expression.
| Instead of riding past them with a
blank stare the young man raised his
hat and babe them good morning. His
eyes were riveted on Miss Emily, with
whose appearance he seemed very
much struck. When he had passed out
of hearing, she remarked to her father:
isn't it strange, papa. that we have
to come so far away from home to
| learn manners"
"Manners, What do you mean?"
"That young man babe us good morn
| ing politely. If we had met gentle
man in the country about New York,
he would not have been so polite"
Hin. l don't see what business he
had to speak to us at all
That evening at the ranch house aft
er supper Mr.. Farnham was notified
! that a man wished to see him at the
porch. The New Yorker went out to
find the cowboy he had passed in the
morning sitting in his saddle, rolling
cigarette on the pommel.
"I've called. sir" he said, Ito ask
if you will allow NE to paint the
young lady who was with you this
morning-your daughter, l believe"
| Paint my daughter. Certainly not"
The reply was given so curly that
almost before it was out the cowboy
/ had put spurs to his horse aud darted
away. The dialogue had been short
and to the point.
! Mr.. Farnham asked who his visitor
was and was told that he was E!lery
| Olmstead, commonly known as the
cowboy artist, since he punched cattle
and painted pictures. No one seemed
to know or care much about his ante
cedents, but some one had heard that
| he had come from the east. where he
| had been q student in an art school,
his object in coming being health.
The next day when Mr.. and Miss
Farnham We're out for their usual ride
| they met masked man who halted
them, calling upon the father TO throw
up his hands. The order was obeyed,
but upon the assurance that he was
not armed the gentleman was permit
ted to lower them. Then he took out
his pocketbook. but was ordered to
put 1t back. Not far distant was 4
dilapidated barn that had not been
used for years. To this the masked
man drove father and daughter. then
ordered them to dismount. Within
was an easel on which rested a can
vas, while paints. palette and brushes
lay near The captOr asked Mr.. Farm
ham to dismOunt and gave him camp
from her horse, he posed her to suit
his fancy. Divining his purpose, she
seemed not only willing, but pleased
with the outcome of the adventure
Meanwhile he had removed his mask
and revealed himself as the cowboy
artist. and as soon as the posing was
accomplished he began to sketch.
The sitting lasted for more than an
hour, and when it was finished the art
st assisted HE captives to mount.
Il am curious" said Emily Farnham.
"to see how the picture will turn out"
81 have only caught an inspiration
for fancy picture" said the young
man. "If you wish it to be yourself
you must give me other sittngs"
How Emily won over her father is
not known, but the next day the two
appeared at the barn and came after
ward for a number of sittingS. The
picture grew into a thing of beauty,
and the model was delighted with it.
!, Then Mr.. Farnham, who had been SO
outraged by his compulsory treatment
as to discover no beauty in the paint
ing, at last, seeing his daughter looking
at him from the canvas with an in
tensified beauty, began to covet the
portrait
HIM he said to the artist. How
much would you sell it for?"
Road agents are not used TO selling
their plumber to those they plumber, -
was the reply.
This case may be an exception, "
said the father.
1.-The picture is not for sale, but II
your daughter will forgive me fol-
: painting it from compulsory sttings
shall be pleased to present it to YOU"
The young lady would have gladly
acceded to the terms. but her father
, would not permit and left the country
, without the portrait.
The next winter the painting was ex
, hibited in New York and attracted
great attention. The cowboy received
orders and remained east just long
enough to persuade Miss Farnham
that she could not get along without