The Baltimore County union, the Towson news., 1909-11-06
The Price of Jonathan.
(From Pearson's Magazine.)

WIFI COuGluuOuS IcSOuuul1B SIdulp
and thunderous reverberating rush,
the plain shook under twice five
thousand hoofs. Six cowboys, even
though each was absolutely as one
with his broncho, seemed preposter-
ously insufficient to control this heav-
ing, believing, wild eyed, sharp
pronged, tumultuous herd of beasts.
But with trained skill and experience,
quick eye and wrist, shout here, a
crack of the whip there, a spurring
hither and thither, the roundup was
progressing steadily, and the coming
morning should find them safe in
Golden Rod valley.
They're runnin' straight enough
so far" called the foreman, refining
in after a hurried, sidewise scamper.
When he saw which of his aides he
had addressed with inadvertent geni-
atty, he frowned, wavered. and had
nearly swung away again. His mouth
hardened and the frown deepened,
darkening his frank face. He twisted
around in the saddle, putting sinewy
hand on thigh, to face the tall, lean
young fellow who rode nearest. See
here, Heath" he said curtly, the
boys bein' little way off, now's my
chance for word with you. ID you
know why I picked you to come with
this gang ?"
Pleasure of my company" sug-
gested the other, with an exasperating
lift of the eyebrow such as few would
have ventured with Dave Burt.
mo, blast you, you know it amt.
But first and foremost, l wasn't goin
to leave you behind to 60 ridin down
to Talola postofice, singin' and
smilin' and talkin' your highfalutin'
talk to Annulette Stubbs. She's
wearin my ring; and allow no man
to interfere with me-
Very considerate of you to let me
know" said Heath gravely. But
you see, l generally leave those mat
ters with the lady, and in this case
o
I'm this case,' said Dave, in the
deepest tone of deep voice, you
mind me -''
"a bit rash, isn't it," asked the
college-bred man, TO be so cock
sure?"
"Or else, went on Dave, breathing
heavily, I'VE settle it before we go
back to the ranch; and that's the
second reason you're with the round
up"
"Ah?' said Heath, always with
irritating GOODNESS, do we then leave
the cattle to their fate while we
scrap? 2"
No." replied Dave sternly, Il
don't desert my duty for either love
or hate. But when the steers are
safe in the valley and we're goin'
back, we'll try shot or two-one of
the boys bein' along to see fair.
That s, " Slowly, "if-you're-game. F."
The last phrase forced quick color
into the Fasteners smooth cheek.
ITO finish, if you like, he agreed,
easily.
THAT suits me-" said the frowning
ranchman, and pricked to the left,
where some unruly beasts needed
management.
The blood receding from Heath's
head left it clear again. He looked
after the foreman. "How he rides!''
he thought. ''The ease of strength
controlled. What dexterous hand
ling of the cattle! Good-tempered,
usually. The hands all like him.
Fine-looking, tool never admired
any class athlete as did him when
he won, in less than minute, the
steer-roping championship. Might
have put me out of his way before
now by having me fired from the
ranch; but he wouldn't think that
square. And, now, for sheer TOM
foolery, two pretty decent fellows
must look into each others revolvers
and be destroyed, most likely, fer
he's dead shot and I'm lair one.
Why the deuce have enjoyed batting
him? Not, surely, because of the pin
prick of his calling me 'tender-foot'
down at Talola AS for his pretty
little firt of post-mistress-" he ran
his hand absently into breast
pocket, touching photograph there
Good Lord! What do | care for
any girl on earth but onel Still a
man with sand can't let himself be
warned off like that"
And Dave Burt coming again with
in earshot, he was perVersely I'M
PEELED to lift up his voice and troll
out hippant words set to a melody
better than they deserved. The
foreman ragged, remembering, as was
intended, Annulette's mirth in her
little Talola office at the pretended
application to herself of this same
Lay of the Fourth-Class Post-mas-
ter Sang Heath, high and clear:
.I calculate, from what they say. that every
I ought to stay there, day and night, and go
1 cannot be a lark by day. and be an owl by
night,
And blamed II can take stone ana ouil my
appetite"
A hasty detour of the foreman
brought him back to hear:
.'They think read the postal cards if secrets
trickle out,
They think that I'm the guilty one and fail me
good and stout.
think it ought
They intimate i've eaten it. with loud and
scornful snort"
Here, broke in Dave roughly,
you maybe don't see those clouds
gathering. Ride around and tell the
BOYS we want to camp before the