The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-06-17
THE EVENING STORY
A Crossed Trail.
(By Clarissa Mackie. }

Ping Luscom rode out of the corral
| with slack rein and dropping head.
Care sat upon his broad shoulders
and dulled the genial light in his gray
eyes Cummings. seated on the door
step of the bunk house, hooted
derisively at his mate.
You look like you are going a.
counting. Pink he grinned.
Luscom turned a scowling brow as
he slapped the rawboned sorrel with
| bronzed hand.
Drop it," he growled crustily.
| The sorrel struck long, swinging
| gait and presently horse and rider
| disappeared beyond a rise of ground.
only to reappear in gradually
they vanished altogether.
! What's the matter with Pink"
asked ROXY Jones in constrained
tones from within the bunk house.
HE looks like trouble has got him
| good and plenty
Cummings clasped his hands about
his knees and rocked to and fro in an
| ecstasy of delight.
Hes going to see the Widder
| Todd" he chuckled.
Jones rushed to the door with razor
In one hand and a lank cheek
lathered from brow to chin. The
Wilder Todd!' he gasped. ''Why.
what's he going to see her fort"
He don't know-she sent for him
mirthfully. IT expect Pink over
reached himself 'tother night at the
dance Miss Hennie Porter, she
wouldn't look at Pink all the even
ing. She was dancin' and f1irtin' with
a 1ong-cheeked. fap-eared jackass;
and poor Pink he set up to the Wild
der Todd an courted her most par
tfcular all the evenin' with one eye
on Miss Hennie and you, and I
reckon that he said some serious thing
l uyid Ind oh III
'Widder Todd wouldn't look at
Pink Luscom!" snorted Jones
irritably.
Seems like she loked at him con-
. siderable 'tother night and enjoyed it
sufficient to send for him this morn
ing" draw1ed Cummings.
\ Jones disappeared and there was
the sound Of vigorous and renewed
scraping of his leathern cheek. Doc
Cummings chewed the stem of his
pipe refiectively. Presently he craned
curious head toward the interior Of
the house. "See, here, Romeo, If
there's anything 1 can do to help you
just you sing out! Shall catch up a
boss for your
"Shut up" retorted Jones in a
strangled tone.
| Them there white wing collars is
bad for the voice ROXY. You sound
like you was chokin'. reckon you'll
wear that baby blue criss-cross neck
store! 1 hear that baby blue is Miss
Hennie's fav-rite color!'
There was no response from within
: and presently Jones, attired as gor-
| geously as Pink Luscom had been q
half hour ago, strobe haughtily past
: the man on the doorstep and into the
corral, where he proceeded to catch a
mount. In trice he came tear
ing through the gate on a fiery little
black mare, his long legs dangling in
! m 10 cd
He, too. shot resentful scow1 to-
ward the jeering man on the doorstep,
!, and then he disappeared over the rise
of ground. his dark figure silhouetted
!, against the copper glory OF the even
ing sky.
There's Wilder Todd a settin' great
store by ROXY. and as mad a wet hen
dippy about Miss Hennie D Miss aennie,
she's mad 1,., at Pink and SO she fiirts des.
n of one another, and if somebody don't
= shake 'em up there's bound to be some
= Oh. lordy!" Cummings filled his pipe and
!, lounged over to the cook house and Joined
Jones d not tns f at the
& fixed on the well-worn trail he noted re-
o luctantly the diminishing miles. that lay
. between him and the crossroads. Here
instead of pursuing his customary course
n toward the town and the domicile Of the
1
right and take the cross trail to Porter S
a where Miss Hennie awaited him. ana
r would appear to be disappointed after all
a. There had been several calls such al
: this one was destined to be- and he frank.
bored him. Now. the widow! Jones swore
softly and dug spurred heel into the lit
- mares flank. There was an onward
q rush, and he came upon the crossroads
= with a scatter Of loose gravel and flying
u hoofs.
X was Pink Luscom. His very attitude sug
gested indecision. The sorrers head was
e gray ra eyes gased wistfuily up the cross
tran which led n to Porter IS. His His fr ,o
{ standstill and glared aggressively at him
Il Jones broke the silence at last.
It "'Pears like you'd lost the trail!' HI
d sneered heading his beast up the eros
L trail.
Pink WINGED. A dark red settled dow
over his bronzed face.
g help from you!'' he drawled.
II Il amt seen You trying to do it," criet
X Jones tantalizingly.
q 'iMebbe / don't want. to. The trail Il
. Seven Forks amt a bad one
Z "You don't seem in no hurry to TAX
k Luscom's hand sought his hip. '1 reckon
we might as well have it out now" h
fTd be plum glad to oblige you.''
Jones had whipped out a weapon an
hi his h horse sSaa seoq FIRST sal
20 Luscom gravely holding out a big BROW
paw.
20 Jones grasped it eagerly. We've bee
6 good friends up to now, Pink he said re
gretfully. land I'm sorry 1t come to this
= But when two fellers cross each other
trail why He paused and looked pas
-, his rival toward the town.
y Luscom was staring at him curiously
and then a strange light broke over hi
sr good looking face.
IT say, ROXY, you amt sore about-th
n widder?'
"a sfWhat do you think7' Jones stare
defiantly at the other man. Miss Henni<
lie | she's ali right But she and me don't Sc
no great store by each other. She say
u come and the wilder says GO. SO Their
i Luscom was lighting a cigarette wit