The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-10-12
The EVENING STORY
Fate and HuInphy.
by Charles Calverson.l


Cotton regarded him coolly.
4 don't think that there will be more
than dozen OF two ladies clamoring
for transportation to The Twin
Heart" said HUMPHREYS employer.
Even your benighted intellect might
appreciate that fact
HUMPHREYS nodded and turned away.
Curtis Cotton, owner of THE Twin
Heart" was peculiar. Above all, he
wanted men about him who could carry
out brief orders without demanding an
elaborate application of the same.
HUMPHREYS had supposed that in this
case the question was justifable, but if
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 lounging over
to SEE what was up.
Coin to town, Humpy?" demanded
Bel Tyler lighting fresh cigarette.
No said HUMPHREYS with asperity,
I'm goin' to drive over to China to
hire new cook. What made you think
I was goin' to town."
Tyler grinned amiably.
YOU'D think he was the old man if
you could hear him talk with your eyes
shut" he commented musingly to Buck
Byers BY the way, 1 wish you'd stop
on the way back and bring out some
makings."
He tossed a silver dollar to Humph-
ries as that worthy climbed into the
seat and started the team. HUMPHREYS
pocket the coin with a grunt and devo-
ted 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 observed
the brand on the TANKS of the blacks,
the twin hearts from which the ranch
took its name.
Ought to put a cupid's arrow through
en-" he told the blacks. Then you'd
look like valentines. Wonder who it is
goin to get hitched?"
He ran through the list of probA bles.
but could not decide until the Overland
paused at the little flag station to de-
post young woman and her trunk. AS
the girl raised her veil HUMPHREYS |
sprang forward.
Miss Bess," he 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 behind !
the seat before helping her in The |
year before he had been working on the |
Circle u when Bess Farley had come |
to spend the summer with her brother. |
his employer. Even then there had |
been talk of a marriage between her |
and Cotton, but the gossip had died |
down, and it was supposed that there |
had been quarrel. Now she was here, |
the preacher was here and there could |
be no doubt but that she would be-
come queen of THE Twin Hearts" as
well as the heart of every rider on the
range.
HUMPHREYS engaged her in conversa-
ton. supplying bits of local news and
listening with an amiable grin to her
tales of 'fback east" Almost before
they knew it, they had come to the gate
of the ranch enclosure and HUMPHREYS
when she laid a OBTAINING hand upon
his arm.
why stop here?" she asked. "CircIe
z is only five miles ahead"
'Circle z p" he echoed. st thought
you were coming here"
Did my brother say 500" she asked.
81 haven't seen Mr.. Farley in six
months" he said. I'm working here
get a lady. I asked what she looked
like ard he gut me off short like he al
ways does. I suppose 1t must be all
right. You was the only lady to get
off"
IT didn't know that you had left my
brothers ranch,'' she explained in re-
turn, "and I thought, of course, it was
all right. I wrote him three days ago
that 1 was coming"
II guess the letters there at, the
house, commented HUMPHREYS You |
see, he went up to Denver about a |
week ago, SO nobody knows that you're |
coming. Better turn in here. The Cir |
Gle z house is all closed up while your |
brothers away"
HUMPHREYS climbed out of the buck |
board and opened the gate, driving the |
team through and closing it again be-
fore he climbed back to the seat.
tYou will be better off here" he con-
tinued comfortably, "and there's the
minister from Silver Springs to be your
chaperon."
what is the minister doing here?"
she demanded. HUMPHREYS blushed.
81 did think he came over to do a
job of hitchin'," he explained, "but I
guess now that was in wrong.
Here's the boss" he added as Cotton
came out on the porch at the sound
of the approaching vehicle.
It was a puzzled Cotton who came
down the steps to assist Bess from the
blackboard.
"This was the only lady that got off
the train, so 1 brought her." explained
HUMPHREYS defiantly, as he unloaded
the trunk and drove off to the stables.
ST did not know that 'Humpy' was
working for you," explained Bess, as
the blackboard disappeared around the
corner of the house. Il supposed that
he had been sent for me since wrote
Ned several days ago that I was COM
ing. I learn that the house is closed
up. and I could not explain to
'Humpy' that would rather live in the
closed house than-here.'
aYou will be sent right on if you
wish it," he said stiff1y. 81 sent to the
train for a woman who is to marry the
cook He was anxious to have the
ceremony over before the boys would
find out. and did not explain to Hum
phries who was coming"
"Quite a complication" she said,
with a amt smile. ST am sorry to put
you to the additional trouble of sending
me on"
cat least you will stay to dinner" he
urged. "I can not let you go on before
YOU have eaten. Dinner will be ready
in half an hour, meanwhile you can
wash UP and rest on the piazza.