The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1908-01-24


brella, suit case and rain coat
"Homesick?" asked the kindly brake
man, with consolatory grin as he
came to assist her with her bag
gage.
She bit her lip in modification to
think she had carried her feelings so
palpably on her sleeve. But she nod
ded honestly.
Maybe it won't be so bad," SYM
pathized the brakeman. His rough
heart had gone out to the slim, fair
haired creature with the vague trOu-
BILE in her eyes.
THANK you," said Louise, CRATE
fully.
There was moments bewilderment
on the station platform. There was
no one anywhere who seemed to be
Mary-no one who might be looking for
her. 1t was evening, too, the lone
some evening to those away from
home, when thoughts stab and memo
ries sap the courage. Some one push
ed her rudely aside. She was in the
way Of the trucks.
CHUCK it, None O. your sass, my
lad! There's my fist. Heft it if you
don't put no stock in it's looks. Git
out O. this, I say!'
The voice was big and convincing:
The man wasn't so big, but some way
he looked convincing, too. The truck
man stepped aside, but with plucky
temerity answered back:
Get out yourself! Think you own
the whole cattle country, jest cause
you herd a few ornery, pink-eyed,
slab-sided critters for your salt?
Well, the railroad amt the range,
le' me tell you that Jest you run
your own affairs, will you?"
"Thanky. Glad to. And as my af-
fairs is at present a lady, I'll thank
you to just trundle this here railroad
offspring to the back O. this here lady
the back, I say-back amt front,
is it? Wasn't where I was dedicated
That's better. And eff you amt sat
isfed, why, I belong to the Three
Bars. Ever hear O the Three Bars?
Eff I'm out, jest leave word with the
boss, will you? He'll see I git the
word. Yes, sir, you OF boss thief, I
belong to the Three Bars
The encounter was not without in
teresting spectators. Louise's brake
man was grinning broadly at the dis
comfiture of his fellow employee Louise
herself had forgotten her predicament
in the sudden whirlwind of which she
was the innocent storm center
The cowboy with the temper, having
completely routed the enemy to the
immense satisfaction of the onlook-
ers, though why, no one knew exact
ly, nor what the merits of the case,
turned abruptly to Louise.
Are you herr" he asked, with per-
ceptible cooling Of his assertive bra
vado.
II don't know said Louise smiling
fearlessly at her champion, though in
wardly quaking at the intuition that
had flashed upon her that this strange,
uncouth man had. come to take the
place Of Mary 1.-THE boldness and IL
cense of the cowboys" her aunt had
argued. There could be no doubt of
the boldness. Would the rest of the
statement hold good?
II think maybe I am, though I am
Louise Dale, the new court reporter.
expected Miss Mary Williston to
meet me-"
"Then you are her." said the man
with renewed cheerfulness, Selling her
suit case and striding off. Come
along. Well git some supper afore
we start. You're dead tired, more'n
likely. It'll be moonlight soft won't
matter eft we are late a-gittin' home. s.
Court reporter! I'll be doggoned!"
muttered the brakeman. "'The new
girl from down east. A pore little
white lamb among a pack 20 wolves
and coyotes, and home sick already. Nc
wonder! I'llsbe takin'' you back to
morrow, I'm thinkin' young lady
E He didn't know the little white
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