Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-03-12
CHAPrE Err w.

the ticket window only to find that the
train from the east was 40 minutes
late. He turned away with a little
shrug Of relief. 1t 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
magnifccntly 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
or 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 q still hunt for his spot
of vulnerability.
The waiting room was hot-unbear
ably so to a man who practically lived
in the open. He strolled outside and
down the tracks lie found himself
wishing the train had been on time.
Had it been so, 1.-THE impending
meeting-would now have been a
thing of the forgotten past. He must
needs fortify himself all over again.
But sauntering down the track toward
the stockyards he filed his cob pipe,
lighted It, and was comfOrted. He
had 45-minute reprieve.
The boys had tried most yaliantly
event. He had scorned them indig
nantly. If he was good enough as
he was-black WOODEN 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 Rawlings changed the
placid evening calm into noisy strife
Ii is always place interesting to
rowmen. Jim relegated thoughts of
the coming meeting to the back
ground while he leaned on the fence
md, with idle absorption, watched the
loading of cattle into a stock car. A
switch engine steaming and splutter-
Ing, stood ready to make way for an
pther car as soon as the present one
should be laden. He was not the only
spectator. Others We're before him.
Two men strolled up to the side OPP
posite as he settled down TO musing
interest.
Gee he swore gently under his
breath, "ef tina ?in't Eli Bsown, Yep.
1t is. for a fac Wonder what he's
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,
"Huilo yourself, linn What you
doin' in tow ." 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.
Hell" Brown surveyed him with
astonished but sympathetic approba
ton. 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, we'll,
What's comm over the Three Bars
What'l tho bOyH say?'
He came nearer and lowered his
voice to 4 confidential tone. Say
jim, how did il come about? And
who's the lady? Lord, Jim, you Of all
people," He laughed uproariously.
Jaw, como 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
como. Yep do, for fac"
"Oh, well. never mind, didn',
mean anything" laughed Brown, good
naturally. But it does beat the
band Jim, now doesn't It, how you
people scare at petticoats. They
am plZeU-nCNeSI.
Jim looked on idly. OCCASIONAL,
he condescended TO head n rebellion:
steer shutewards. Ont beyond it wa.
Still! and sweet and peaceful, and The
late afternoon had put on that thir
veil Of GOODNESS which is a God-giver
refreshment after the heat OF the
day. But here in tho pen all was con
fusion. The raucous cattle.calls O
the cowboys smote the evening ali
startlingly.
Here, Bill Brown" he exclaimed
suddenly, where did you run across
that critter?' He slapped the shout
der Of a big, raw.boned. long ,earet
steer as he spoke, The animal wa
on the point of being driven up tn
shute.
What you want to know for? aske,
Brown in surprise.
Reason 'nough. That critter be
longs to us, that's why; and | want T.
know where you got him, that's wha
want to know"
you're crazy, jim! Why, ! bough
that fellow from Jesse Black T. othe
day. I've got a bill of sale for him
I'm shippin couple OF cars TO Siou
City and bought him to send alona
That's on the square
II don't doubt its far as your
concerned, Bill Brown" said Jim, blu
that's our critter jest the same. an