The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-09-15
THE EVENING STORY
AT Two-Bar Ranch.
(By Donald Allen.)


complement at the Two-Bar ranch, and
every one except the manager was la
boring under suppressed excitement.
No orders had been promulgated, but
the Saturday Afternoon had been de-
voted by unanimous consent toward
washing up, combing hair, and bring
ing out white shirts and red neckties.
Two weeks previously. old Jim Brad
shaw, foreman, who was supposed to
be deep in the confidence of the man
ager, had said to the storekeeper on
Lame Calf creek:
Tom, old Two-Bar is coming right
to the front in business way"
'As to how?"
Going to have a telephone line over
to the railroad"
That amt so much"
Going to fit up an office for the
manager with desks and chairs, same
as a New York brokers office"
Nothing to brag off,
chine
Lots of folks got 'em"
And now hold your breath, you old
swindler while 1 tell you the rest.
We're going to have a girl to run the
machine"
''No-o-or
TITS a fact. Coming from Chicago.
Smarter'n chain-nghtning. She's going
Yes, sir, she is, and no other blamed
ranch for a hundred miles around has
got one. Old Two-Bar is ahead on the
game"
.well?" queried the storekeeper after
a long pause.
''Well, I'm here to give you a tip. If
you haven't got two dozen white shirts
IN stock, send for them quicker than
lightning. Send for red neckties. Send
for silk handkerchiefs. Send for real
and toilet soap"
"Why?"
why, you galoot? Because every
man on our ranch is going to come lop-
ing over here and inquire for them very
things, and isn't going to worry about
prices, either. Because why? Because
every man is going to fall in love vita
that girl before she gets within a mile
Of the ranch. and is going to dress up
and let her see what a Jim-dandy he
is. There can't but one man marry
her, and the rest of the gang will shoot
him.
1t was a tip. The shirts and other
things were sent for, and the boys lored
went for a dollar and a half and no
questions asked. Perfumery and hair
oil met with firm market. Red neck
ties were in great demand.
And now the great day had finally
arrived. Old Tom had been sent over
to the railroad with the blackboard to
bring back the young woman and her
trunk. Every man had volunteered to
make the trip, and when Old Tom had
been selected the gang gathered
around him and its spokesman said:
There's got to be a square deal or
bloodshed. No flirting or soft talk to
get ahead of the rest of us. You've
got an old woman down on the
to. that girl that you have, off comes
your scalp
Four hours later the blackboard was
sighted with a field glass. Fifteen
minutes after the announcement, it
could be made out with the naked eye.
While it was still a mile away the cow
boys formed in double line along the
road to the house. At half a mile they
removed their hats and pulled out
heir red neckties blushed furiously.
And now Old Tom, having the dignity
Of Roman senator, drove the vehicle
between the lines, and the yelled lady
bowed right and left as every man bent
lis head and scraped his right foot.
Nothing further could have been de-
sired by the most critical.
"And what does she look like?'' was
demanded of Old Tom as he reached
he stables, where they waited for him. |
"Boys, she's cute; she's a locker:
She's going to set hearts afire and |
cause forty different murders. You
night just as we'll go into convention |
Ind resolve that every galoot of you
S going to fall head over heels in love
With her at first sight"
Old Toms prediction was fulfilled.
Every man as he got sight OF Miss
zlazfer fell in love with her, or
bought he did. In a week discipline
vas lax; in fortnight there was none
It ALL Every cowboy on the ranch
wanted to sit around looking pretty,
md the Chinese cook didn't nave time
O wash half the white shirts awaiting
i'm. Old Tom stormed and the man
ger complained, but things continued
# SKIES and sevens. Few of the men
Gould make an errand at the office. 1t
vas only while the typist was walking
nut that they had sight of her. Three
II four got UP the nerve to approach
Ter. and the bearing and language OF
IL of them was alike They bowed
nd scraped and cleared their throats
nd said:
ee you well, marin. I'm hoping t1.'
ountry appeals to you. I'm hoping you
von't mind the galoots a-peeping a.
ou from behind the clubhouse anu
he stables and showing what their
ringing up has been. I'm hoping thai
on NAV decide to consider to settle
own among us after finding devoted
perfectly willing to us
Or you any time of day or night"
And Miss Glazier would smile and
lush and reply that she liked the
ountry and the people and the cattle
nd the wolves and jack rabbits, and
he man would back away bowling TO
he ground, to assert to his comrades
l waiting that he had made an i'm
ression and to be called liar for the
tatement.
Cowboys came from other ranches.
ut were run off as fast as they ap-
cared. Travellers rode out of their
-ay. but were discouraged. At the end
{ three months the Two-Bar ranch
ad the reputation of being at loose
nds. and the managers quarterly re-
ort elected the following reply from
astern stockholders:
mot at all satisfactory. What is the
latter out there?"
IT have a stenographer and typist." ]
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