Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-06-26
DAILY STO Il Y
FLIRTING TO DESPERATION.

lOrigiuaIl
Talk about fires, l can tell you
about hirt that discounted all the
flirts who ever lived.
KAT" Bunting as little girl was
''tomhoy" from the crown Of her head
10 the solcs of her feet. She was Il
ranch girl and if she had been born
boy instead of girl would have
been one of the most desperate Of des-
pcradocS. As ii was. she grew up Il
reckless. haIum Scarum creature. half
horse. hal; girl, and if there was any
more of her ii was revolver. She
could ride and shoot with the best rid,
crs and shots and wasn't afraid of
road agent, u whole tribe of Indians OF
Il cyclone
Kate WAS pretty ana She was smart
Some thought her crack Drained. but
the method there was in that girls
| madness; was phenomenal. She had 4
soft brown eye that could look as in
noccnt as an amtclopy's while She was
Matching mischief. There wasn't Il
man within a hundred miles of her
fathers ranch but WAS in love with
| her, and man was the only animal she
loved To hunt better than the wild
game of the country. She would lasso
one as easily as a mule.
| Rates father WAS an educated gen
! tleman. He had been an attorney. but
on account of failing health had gone
| west to become Il ranchman. Kate
! found food for her flirt-powder in the
| young English and American SWulls
who. after being graduated ut uniycr
| stiles. went into rauchiug. Kingsley
| Harrington. 4 younger son Of Il British
| baronct. and Royal Pyle, II New York
er. finally diStauccd all others and
| came TO a neck and neck race. Some
| thought Harrington would win on &C
count of his noble connections in Eng
| land, while others were willing to back
Pyle because he was we'll fixed in q
pecuniary way. Kate played one
against the other, wearing them both
out like a couple Of blades constantly
Whettcd ON the Same stone. After
encouraging them for months she final
~ engaged herself 10 both of them
Not that she kept her engagement tC
one from the other Not Il bit of it
She told them both all about it ant
actually insisted on each congratulate
ing her on her engagement To his rival
Then when they asked her which sh,
intended to marry she said "both.'
There was nothing for either to d,
but withdraw or let her play out til,
game in her own fashion. She hat
fascinated both 50 far that ncithe
would do The former. SO both wer,
obliged to do the latter. They sup
: posed she would lead them both III
: to the marriage ceremony, then throw
: the scales in favor of one. Either thi
or send them both after her other Low
erS. The truth is they were not sur
what she would do. except that SD
. would do something desperate.
: And she did
! Her father went east one day an,
: left her to her own sweet will. Tw
days before his return Kate notifie
each one Of her suitors that she wOul
expect him at the ranch house the mex
I day at noon to be married. Upon il
: quiry each learned that the other ha
| received the notification. ON the da
| and at the hour appointed each &C
; himself up in his best apparel and pro
? cecded to keep the appointment, know
} ing or at least suspecting that til
: other would be there. They found I'll
> bride ready TO receive them. and &c
4 q parson there was Oliver Shvericl
D a young man who had left the mil
S istry to turn sheep raiser. but who Wa
still capable Of performing marriag
ceremonies. He adored Kate an
would have willingly exploded his r
e volver under his ear If she had aske
i him to do 50.
Each Of the double grooms looked ;
his other self, at the clergyman. an
at Kate. She had take, on that D