The Irish standard., 1907-11-30
CHAPTER w.
"Maqgot."


Jim Munson had sauntered up to
the ticket window only to find that the
train from the east was 40 minutes
late. He turned away with little
shrug of relief It was foreign role
he was playing-this assumption of
the duties of knight in dancing at
tendance on strange ladies. Secretly,
he chafed under It; outwardly, he was
magnificently Indifferent. He had a
reputation to sustain, a reputation Of
having yet to meet that which would
lower his proud boast that he was
afraid of nothing under the sun, Meth.
er man nor devil. But he doubted his
ability so to direct the point of view
of the Boss or the Scribe or the rest
of the boys of the Three Bars ranch,
who were on still hunt for his spot
of vulnerability.
The waiting room was hot-unbear-
ably SO to man who practically lived
in the open. He strolled outside and
down the tracks. He found himself
wishing the train had been on time.
Had 1t been so. it-the impending
meeting-would now have been
thing of the forgotten past. He must
needs fortify himself all over again.
But sauntering down the track toward
the stockyards he filled his cob pipe,
lighted it, and was comforted. He
had 45-minute reprieve.
The boys had tried most valiantly
to persuade him to Fix up" for this
event. He had scorned them indig-
nantly. If he was good enough as
he was-black wooen shirt, red neck
erchief and all-for men. just so was
he good enough for any female that
ever lived. So he assumed a little
swagger as he stepped over the ties,
and tried to make himself believe that
he was glad he had not allowed him
self to be corrupted by proffers of
blue shirts and white neckerchiefs.
He was approaching the stockyards.
There was movement there. Sounds
Of commands, blows, profane epithets.
and worried bawlings changed the
placid evening calm into noisy strife.
1t Is always place interesting to
cowmen. Jim relcgated thoughts of
the coming meeting to the back
ground while he leaned on the fence
and, with idle absorption, watched the
loading Of cattle into stock car. A
switch engine, steaming and splutter-
ing, stood ready to make way for an
other car as soon as the present one
should be laden. He was not the only
spectator. Others were before him.
Two men strolled up to the side op.
posite as he settled down to musing
interest.
"Gee!' he swore gently under his
breath, "ef that amt Bill Brown! Yep.
1t is, for a fac. Wonder what he's
a shippin' now for!" He scrambled
lightly over the high fence of the pen.
"Hullo, there, Bill Brown!" he yell
ed. genially, making his way as one
accustomed through the bunch Of re.
luctant, excited cattle.
"Hullo yourself. Jim! What you
doin' in town." responded the man ad.
dressed, pausing in his labor to wipe
the streaming moisture from his face.
He famed himself vigorously with his
| dropping hat while he talked.
Gal huntin," answered Jim, sober,
ly and despondently.
He'll" Brown surveyed him with
astonished but sympathetic approba
tion. HE'LL" he repeated. you
don't mean it, do you, Jim, honest?
Come, now. honest? So you've come
to it, at last have you? Well, well!
What's comm over the Three Bars
What'll the boys say?"
He came nearer and lowered his
voice to a confidential tone. "Say
! Jim, how did it come about? And
) who's the lady? Lord. Jim, you of all
i people!" He laughed uproariously.
Jaw, come off, growled Jim. in
petulant scorn. You make me tired
You're plumb luney. that's what you
are. I'm after the new gal reporter
She's due on that low.down, ornery
train. Wish--it-was in kingdom
come. Yep do, for fac"
ooh, well. never mind! didnr
mean anything" laughed Brown, good
naturedly. But it does heat tbt
: (To Be Ce:.:.:sE>4l