Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1908-02-15
Fate and
Hunpy.
by Charles Calversor
1907. by f. C. PARCELS.


for transportation to the Twin Hearts" "
said IIumphrics' employer. Even your
bcnightcd intellect might appreciate
that fact"
Humphrics nodded and turned away.
Curtis Cotton, owner of the Twin
Hearts. was peculiar Above all, he
wanted men about him who could car
ry ont brief orders without demanding
an elaborate ampification of the same
HumphricS had supposed that in this
case the question was juStitiable. but II
Cotton thought otherwise he had no
comment to Ike.
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. IIumpy:" demanded
Ben Tyler. lighting Il fresh cigarette.
NO" said IIumphrcS with aspcrity.
I'm gon' to drive over to China to
hire Il new COOK What makes you
think was gpin' To town:'
Tyler CRIME amiably.
'.Youd think he was the Old man If
you could hear him talk with your
eyes shut" he commented musingly to
Buck BycrS. by the way, | wish
you'd stop on the way back and bring
out some makinG$."
He tossed Il silver dollar to Hum
phrics as that worthy climbed into the
seat and started the team. Ilu'uphries
pockrtcd the coin. with Il Erunt. and
devoted himself to his the gifts.
That something was doing up at the
biz house was clearly apparent. The
minister from Silver Forks had driven
over that morning. and now he was
>cat to BraylryS for Il !0lng woman,
with orders to return her to the ranch
with all speed. He grinucd as he OBJ
served the brand on tn" TANKS of the
blacks. the twin hearts from which the
ranch took its name.
fought to put Cupid's arrow
through EN-" he told the Lacks. "Thcn
you'd look like valentines. Wonder
whc it is goin to get hilchcd:"
He ran through the list of prohahles,
but could not decide until the Overland
paused at the little flag station to de-
pOSit Il young woman and Il trunk. AS
the girl raised her veil IIumphries
sprang forward.
Miss BeSS." he cried. a note of real
welcome in his voice. 1--WE got the
blackboard here"
He held her hand an in tant 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 L when RcSS Farley had
come to SPEND the summer with her
brother his employer Even then
there had been talk of Il marriage be-
tween her and Cotton, but the gossip
had died down. and it WAS supposed
that there had been IL 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 we'll as the heart of every
rider on the range.
IIumphrIeS engaged her In conversa-
tIon. supplying bits of local news and
listening with an amiHble grin to her
tales of "bHck east" Almost before
they knew it they had come to the gate
of the ranch incloSurp and IIumphries
was about to jump down and open it
when she laid detaining hand upon
his arm.
''Why stop here" she asked Circle
u is only five. miles ahead"
"Circle II" he echoed Il thought
you were coming here"
did my brother say SOP she asked.
II 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. ! asked what she looked
like. and he cut me off short. like he al
ways does. supposed it must be all
right You was the only lady to got
OFF,
~ didn't know that YOU had left my
brothers ranch" she explained in re-
all right. | wrote him three days ago
that was coming"
Il guess the letters there at the
house." commented IIumnhrcs. You
see. he went un tn Denver about q
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"
uumphries climbed out of the buck
board and opened the gate, driving the
team through and closing it again be-
fore he climbed back to the seat
"YQu will be better off here" he
continued comfortably, "and there's
the minister from Silver Spring to be
your chaperOn."
''What is the minister doing hereW
she demanded IIumphries bushed.
Il did think he came over to do a
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 ap-
proaching vehicle.
1t was a puzzled Cotton who came
down the steps to assist Bess from the
buck board.
This was the only lady that got off
The train, so | brought her." explained
uumphries defiantly as he unloaded
he trunk and drove off to the stables.
u did not know that Iumpy was
working for you" explained Bess as
the blackboard disappeared around the
corner of the house. Il supposed that
he had been sent for me, since ! wrote
Ned several days ago that l was COM