West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1909-10-07

~ WY wi ~ tue kNAliNs
This advice was most excellent. but
Lame Mort was aware IL had not been
followed when he reached Cody Thurs
day evening.
The prospective bridegroom. forget
ting that he was "hull Sunday
school," had for two days lived up to
his light socially with the effect OF
adding TO the weakness in his knees,
but subtractlng from the faintness Of
his heart. until all Cody knew OF the
prospective arrival OF Heart and
Hand bride. Ideas as to her appear
nnce, however, were confused owing
10 the bridegroom's lapse OF memory
The first evening OF his arrival he
swung lightly around the circle OF sn-
looms just "lookin' up old friends. a"
After he had looked up goodly mum
ber his lips unsealed on the subject OF
Olga Helm. whom he described as n
Sweet little blond with true blue eyes,
ivory skin and pink checks"
BY noon OF the following day she
was handsome brunette with spar
king black eyes" At 6 o'clock. when
the stage arrived at the Irma. Goat
was oAANAuk VII Allt nAA All
empty glass and assuring delighted
audience that the lady OF his choice
was "a rosy brunette with white
checks, sparkling hair and n true blue
nose"
At this juncture the recitation was
brought TO an abrupt end by the en-
trance OF Lame Mort. You're n pret-
ty bridegroom. amt your" he stormed
wrathfully. And me writin' TO sol
that you're sober, industrious citi-
zen! Lordl You look It, don't you.
and only two hours till train timer
Whereupon, weighed down by feel
ing OF responsibility to the bride, Lame
Mort took forcible possession OF the
erring groom. assuring the public that
It would no more behold him until he
was delivered safely-and as soberly
as the limited time permitted-into the
hands OF Miss Helm And the male
public, except the justice, who reuc-
tanty sat i'm his office awaiting his
"Job." were on the platform when the
train came to see her arrive and Incl
dentally to see how Goat would "brace
up" Goat was there standing near
the Platforms edge just ahead OF
Lame Mort-ahead OF him because the
latter discerned symptoms OF fight
since Goat had been brought to n reali-
Zation of the nearness of his fate.
Only a strong staying hand prevented
sudden development OF the symp-
toms as the train slowed up and wo-
man was seen making her way down
the nfqlp Of tbp rpor coach
As she neared the door every man
on the platform held his breath and
craned his neck to secure as good a
view az the one lantern swinging over
the station door permitted. Lame
Mort tightened his grip on Goat pre-
paratory TO making OF him projectile
headed toward the car steps the mo-
ment S01 appeared. But when she
did appear he not only forgot his in
tentions, but the bridegroom as well,
so transfxed was he by her appear
ance.
She swung down the car steps. n
straight six feet OF muscle surmount-
ed by a mans hat OF black felt with
a broad. tapping brlm drawn over her
face. Hanging clear OF pair OF
heavy, thick soled half calf was a
scant black skirt which seemed to i'm.
pede the free movements OF her limbs.
Her shoulders were loosely incased
In mans black coat buttoned to the
chin over a high chest. the tails OF
the coat reaching the hem OF her skirt.
On her head with one hand she bal
anced large bundle tied up i'm red
phnnfrnTn1 tahlnrTaNh a Ta L..
bearing lightly n heavy. bulging tele.
scope, strapped to which and extend
Ing far beyond were a hoe, n pitchforls
and a shovel
us there n Mr.. Wilson herew she
asked I'm an uncertain voice, quite de
void OF joyful anticipation.
The station agent. reduced to speech.
lessness. jerked his thumb over his
shoulder at the platform. toward
which Miss Helm courageously ad-
vanced. AS she scanned the specta-
tors they faded away in the dark
ness. and an instant later Lame Mort
realized that Goat had also faded, and
he stood alone before the deserted
bride elect
Are you Mr.. Wilson, she asked I'm
a distinctly forbidding tone. without
looking up.
mo, ma'am." he faltered I'm confu-
sion and alarm. "Goat-that Is. Mr..
Wilson, was here minute ago, but
but
Run away, did heT" interrupted the
girl hopefully That's exactly what
] counted on his doin'"
urfn Not rr..- -t-..-f- -
unlocked for relief expressed In her
words and in every line OF her figure
as she deposited her bundle on the
edge of the platform. tossed her tele-
scope after it with n vigorous swing.
sat down ON the latter amid Jingle
OF the farming implements attached
thereto, and. taking on her hat. ran
her fingers through her short brown
hair. glancing at her auditor for the
first time
$50 this is the west" she remarked
with sententious satisfaction. her lin.
gerlnS gaze swinging from the man
to the limited space visible. but that
the former object had aught to do
with her satisfaction Lame Mort dared
not conjecture
once. twice, he opened his mouth.
essaying apologies FOR Goat but, find
ing none were expected, spat nervous.
" instead. his eyes glued to Miss
Helms face.
lt was a comely face, IN which shone
q curious mixture of the humorously
shrewd and Of a llkable womaniiness
In surprising contrast TO her manly
garb. Her Scandinavian parentage
was betrayed by a slight accent in her
speech as well az by the color OF her
eyes, whose depths bore 50 pleasing
and sly InLlnLIn lllnl Inr.... ~. a..