The Lamar register., 1908-07-01
MARY AND THE
LAMBS
By ROY NORTON
tCopyright.)


him, because he looked like that grace
ful bird. Had the same innocence OF
eye, same craning of skin bedecked
neck, and same general air of curl.
osity. When Socorro was young there
were but four inhabitants to witness
the incoming Of the Overland; Bill, be-
ing a visitor, went along, and that's
why he happened to see her first.
Acting as guide. he carried her
baggage to the Williams abode, where
he 'reckoned she might put up" And
In these incidents were the momentous
beginnings of Socorro.
Her name was Mary Brown. Why
she came no one knew; what she was
there for no one knew. But that
wasn't secret very long. She was
taking orders for a hair-restorer that
was guaranteed to grow fuzz on any
thing. from Turkey Bill to a Mexican
dog. All that was necessary was to
buy and apply enough.
To one on the inside. business
wouldn't have looked very fattering
when Mary came. AS a matter of his
torical fact. Turkey Bill was the only
bald-headed man within 100 miles. and
he didn't belong to Socorro. He was a
eattleman from 80 miles away, and
hitherto had never particularly be-
moaned the loss Of nor hankered for
more hair. Badness had been q
blessing, because 1t saved combing.
Mary was a retiring sort OF girl. but
she didn't have to work overtime to
impress Turkey, because he was at the
old tin-can age where his affections
were easily dented.
Turkey ordered a couple of cases.
and when he rode back to the valley
over the big family OF orphans that
must starve unless all the range
bought freely of the remedy.
As a heart-breaker. Mary Brown,
sweet, retiring and coy, would have
made Cleopatra seem a mere black
smith. Her fame spread for many a
days ride, and 1t was astonishing how
many men there were on the range
who were in direful apprehension Of
losing their sunburnt locks. although
most of them could have sported
signs: Flair to Let"
Mary liked the country. SO she built
q cabin of great dimensions, not a
barbaric thing of adobe, but with lum.
Der shipped in from the west. 1t cost
eleven hundred dollars. Turkey said.
loaned her the money.
In addition to her hair-oil business,
Mary opened up a manicure shop. and
At night she rented 1t for dances and
such. But the manicure enterprise was
the most successful thing ever opened
in Socorro, because apparently all
oowpunchers on the range had been in
great distress for manicuring before
she came.
There was one modest thing particu-
larly noticeable about Mary Brown.
Che never Dragged OF all the cities back
cast she must have seen, nor interpo-
lated into a conversation When was
in Wichita. Kan" or said You ought
to see the swell stores in Omaha.
They're Just grand" There was moth
ing boastful about her in this regard.
But, although she never even men
this superiority.
Turkey Bill resolved to travel and
get liberal education thereby. He
got a chance, after much effort. to 90
through to Kansas City with Q stock
train.
But Bill didn't have a very good
time. He saw all the big buildings
in Kansas CITY, and rode on street
oars for half day, then bought =
monograph and a pair of gilt opera
glasses for Mary, and got ready to go
home. Travelling wasn't what 1t was
cracked up to be. He finally found the
freight Office, where he was to get a
return stock pass, and by this time
was so nervous that when the man
who apparently bossed the railroad
barked at him through a grating he
was glad 1t was there. Bill was
afraid the man would bite When he
tried to find his contract, he fumbled
SO much that he dropped all the papers
and cigars and other things from his
pocket on the floor.
That was the place where Turkey
met the real kind man. He showed his
kindness by helping Bill pick up the
scattered documents, and, among other
things. photograph Of Mary Brown
he had taken along.
"Lkely-looking GIRL" quoth the real
kind man, as he handed the picture
back. That warmed the cookies Of
Turkey Bills heart, II It had any.
The man seemed to be pretty we'll
posted about the town. He took
Turkey to place where they sold
things to drink. and then they got to
be real good friends.
Jones said he had consumption, but
didn't have money enough to get to
a warmer climate. although some of his
best friends had recommended him to
go there. He wanted Bits advice as
to what man in such a delicate state
of health and pocketbook ought to do.
AS Turkey Bill was entitled to take
another man back on his stock pass,
and, having formed real love for
Jones. he offered to take him along.
They had nice trip west, and
Jones cough kept getting better: but
that hasn't anything to do with the
story. Most of the boys were glad to
see Turkey back. or pretended they
were. They took Jones IN because he
seemed a pretty good sort of fellow.