The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1908-04-09


radius Of a thousand miles. Rem
wyck was ice, Williams fire. so that
AL fond there was not a great deal Of
difference between their methods. for
heat and cold both burn.
Mr.. Williams, who. like all Texans,
was the soul of hospitality, offered his
guests the best his ranch afforded, and
neither Miss Renwyck nor her father
found cause to murmur. When supper
was over and Miss Harriet, who was
sleepy from her long ride, was shown
to simply furnished but clean, fresh
room, the two magnates sat down to
discuss their business differences. At
the outset they locked horns, and mid
night found them as far as ever from
an amicable settlement.
"Good Lord, Renwyck," the Texan
laughed, cts after IL o'clock, and
we're losin' sight of beauty sleep.
Let's stop buckin' an take a drink.
That's somethin' no honest man can
squabble over unless the whisky's bad,
which this amt. Here's how! Turn
all night. We can do our wrastlin' in
the daytime
But Mr.. Renwyck did thrash
around his bunk all night, and not
once did he close his eyes. On several
crucial points he was in the wrong
and no one knew it better than him
self, yet with bulldog tenacity he
chung to his false position. With loss
of sleep his irritation increased and
morning found him eager for the fray
and more insistent than ever in his
unjust claims.
Breakfast over, the two went at it
hammer and tongs, but without adjust
ment of the difficulties. The New
Workers. craft and legal knowledge
were wrecked on the rocks of the
Texans common sense and humor,
and at last Mr.. Renwyck's temper
burst all bounds. In one short angry
speech he severed every business in
terest with his host and former partner
and turned that gentleman into a calm
but remorseless enemy.
The horses were ordered without de-
lay, and, greatly to Miss Harriet's re-
greet, for there was much that she
wanted to see on the ranch. they left
angry Mr.. Renwyck might get to the
distant railroad by 2 o'clock and
hurry back north as fast as steam and
his hope of vengeance could carry him.
However, they were not to reach that
point without experiencing another
phase of Texas life, with it's infinite
possibilities of excitement and sur
prise
Their wagon had broken down, and
the outfit, with the guide and the 9TH
ers, had been left behind at the ranch,
with instructions to follow after so
soon as things. were put in shape. \
guide was hardly necessity. for the
route to the railroad station lay straight
south over the prairie. There was a
range Of hills to the right, and with
that and pocket compass even such a
tenderfoot as Jacob Renwyck could
scarcely lose the way.
The two cantered along in the pleas
ant morning. The enjoyment of the
ride greatly notified Mr. Renwyck's
exacerbated temper. although it in no.
wise altered his determination to make
Williams suffer on account of the rup-
ture. AS for Miss Harriet, she thor
oughly enjoyed it and only regretted
that the experience would soon termi-
nate in the luxurious monotony of her
fathers private car. From time to
time her father left her and rode to
the top of one of the hills to the right
to survey the country and to make
sure. in so far as he could, that they
were going in the right direction
About midday they overlook great
herd of cattle drifting along the prairie
as they fed. Mr.. Renwyck was on the
hill at the time. So far as the girl
could see, the rolling prairie was dotted
with hundreds Of steers. There We're
perhaps 1000 in the bunch. They were
grazing peaceably enough on the short
grass. Here and there a steer had lain
down for a midday rest and was quiet
~ chewing the cud of the morning
meal. Remembering the assurance of
the day before. she fearlessly cantered
along, threading her way through the
animals. supposing her father would
join her in few moments She was
thinking carelessly Of the great diff
ference between her situation then and
her ordinary environment, which might
be typified by upper Fifth avenue, New
York
Her reveries We're broken by sud-
uen commotion. One of those mystic
rious impulses which are felt without
being seen or heard suddenly awoke
the great mass Of steers to action. One
lazy old fellow, lying down for a noon
day siesta perhaps half mile ahead
unfortunately had his tail stepped on
by fellow brute needless of where he
was going: The force Of the blow tore
on the tuft On the end Of the tail. The
blood spurted from the wounded mem
Der. The MANNED steer scrambled to
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