The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1908-06-05
Fate and
Hunpy.
....,By Charles Caiverson.
....sBy Charles CaIverson.
I Copyrighted. 1907. by e. C. PARCELS.

manded HUMPHREYS.
Cotton regarded him coolly.
II don't think that there will be more
than dozen or two ladies clamoring
for transportation to the Twin Hearts,"
said HUMPHREYS employer. even your
benighted intellect might appreciate
that fact"
HUMPHREYS nodded and turned away.
Curtis Cotton, owner of the Twin
Hearts, was peculiar. Above all, he
wanted men about him who could car
~ out brief orders without demanding
an elaborate application of the same.
HUMPHREYS had supposed that in this
case the question was jUstifiable, 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
Ben Tyler, lighting fresh cigarette.
NO." said HUMPHREYS, with asperity,
"I'm goin to drive over to China to
hire u new cook. What makes you
think 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, l wish
you'd stop on the way back and bring
out some makings."
He tossed a silver dollar to Hum
phries as that worthy climbed into the
seat and started the team. HUMPHREYS
pocketed the coin, with q grunt, and
devoted 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 OBJ
served the brand on the tanks Of the
blacks. the twin hearts from which the
ranch took its name.
fought TO put a cupid's arrow
through 'em," he told the blacks. "Then
you'd look like valentines. Wonder
who it is goin' to get hitched?"
He ran through the list of probables,
but could not decide until the Overland
paused at the little flag station to de-
posit young woman and trunk. AS
the girl raised her veil HUMPHREYS
sprang forward.
ha ri Of
welcome in his voice, give got the
blackboard here"
He held her hand an instant in greet
ing and then strapped the trunk be-
hind the seat before helping her in.
The year before he had been working
on the Circle z when Bess Farley had
come to spend the summer with her
brother. his employer Even then
there had been talk of a marriage be-
tween her and Cotton, but the gossip
had died down, and it was supposed
that there had been a quarrel. Now
she was here, the preacher was here.
and there could be no doubt but that
she would become 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 "back east" Almost before
they knew it they had come to the gate
of the ranch Enclosure. and HUMPHREYS
was about to jump down and open it
when she laid OBTAINING hand upon
his arm.
"Why stop hereY she asked. "Circle
Y is only five miles ahead"
"Circle II" he echoed. 81 thought
you were coming here"
odd my brother say SOP she asked.
81 haven't seen Mr.. Farley In six
months" he said. I'm working here
now. and Mr.. Cotton told me to go and
get lady. I asked what she looked
like and he cut me off short, like he al
ways does. l supposed it must be all
right. You was the only lady to get
of"
brothers. RANCH" she explained in re-
turn, land thought, Of course. 1t was
all right. I wrote him three days ago
that I was coming"
81 guess the letters there at the
house." commented HUMPHREYS. You
see, he went up to Denver about
week ago, so nobody knows that you're
coming. Better turn in here. The
Circle 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 1t again be-
fore he climbed back to the seat
you will be better off here" he
continued comfortably. land there's
the minister from Silver Spring to be
your chaperon.'
"What Is the minister doing hereT"
she demanded Hnmphries blushcd.
81 did think be came over to do
job Of hitchin'," he explained. but |
guess now that was in wrong. Here's
the boss" he added as Cotton came ont
on the porch at the sound of the APP
vehicle.
1t was n puzzled Cotton who came
down the steps to assist Bess from the
buck board
'This was The only lady that got OF
the train, so brought her." explained
HUMPHREYS defanty as he unloaded
the trunk and drove off to the stables