The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1910-11-05

ing to dO?" came in accents OF wild surprise.
There in blackboard was Mrs. Davis,
whose husband had quarter-section by
Big Spring. Beside her was a girl. She
was leaning back, shaking with laughter
that revealed her strong, white teeth and
heightened the warm pink of her cheeks.
"You oughtn't for to have made for that
tree. It's wonder you wasn't hurt, Mis-
ter Dave" the nester's wife expostulated.
81 oughtn't to-do you think I done hit
that limb that away on purpose, Miz
Davis7" Dave inquired, his eyes bullying.
"You was riding so beautiful. 1 was
hoping Mary Lou here would see you run
him clean across the plain. It's a pity.
That was shore a good chance. You'll
never get another like it, Mister Dave"
The cook got heavily to his feet and
moved first one leg, then the other, to
ascertain in just how many places the
bones were broken. Finding that they
gave him support, he approached the two
women. /
"Mister Dave, let me make you &C
quainted with my cousin Mary Lou. Her
names Cole. Mister Dawes name is
Biggerstaf, Mary Lou"
1t was an awkward moment. Dave had
seen more than his share of the gay world,
having trailed cattle to Dodge four times
back in the nineties; but for once in his life
appropriate chatter forsook his tongue.
Catching her glance, he looked away in
confusion.
"You-all going to Big Spring now7" he
inquired at length.
dyes. I reckon we ought to make it
afore dark"
eve make our camp there tomorrow
I'll bring you over some beef, Miz Davis. y
"Thank you kindly, Mister Dave. You
come an see us. Mary Lou will give you
some of her cake She's shore good cook"
II reckon SO" he agreed CALAMITY.
"Well, adios. We must be moving.
Don't forget to come an see u.s."
They drove away and Dave waved them
farewell brazenly. Limping with pain, he
hied him back to camp, where he spent two
hours trying. to instill glimmer of gentle
mans sense of honor and fair play into
Dick and those who should have herded
the steer.
The night was starry and Dawes thoughts
were tinged sweetly with sentiment as he
washed the dishes on the first camp at Big
Spring. He would pay call. Why not7
Other boys did, and why not he? Pshaw,
he was not old: he was never better in his
life The cook donned boots instead of the
shoes he usually wore for comfort, and they
were pleasantly and odorously creased.
His shirt was a fine, clean yellow from hard
washings in alkali water, and he had plas-
tered down his hair in straight click"
over one eye. These concessions to appear
ance were not lost on Mr.! and Mrs. Davis,
who welcomed him with eagerness. Dave
earned fifty dollars month, owned thirty
head of cattle grazing on the Lazy Lrange,
and was man of consequence. Mary Lou
greeted him with some reserve, and he
dropped her hand in haste. As he turned
helplessly to mop his brow, a stumpy figure
with red hair emerged from dark corner. r
"Howdy, Dave"
"Howdy, Bobby. What're you doing
here3" asked Dave.
81 just rode BY"
Nothing more was said for time, Dave
gazing meditatively at a point in the air
about three feet from him and perspiring
painfully. He began to wonder whether
his tale of the two owls was proper tidbit
to spring in polite circles. Dick liked it
better than any of his stories, but Dicks
taste had once or twice been at fault, he
suspected. Bobby held seat close to Miss
Cole; the hester and his wife were making
popcorn balls on the far side of the room;
and the cook occupied middle position
that seemed far removed. At last, Bobby:
"Tm surprised at you riding out at night
so far from camp, Dave"
"What for are you surprised" the cook
inquired.
"a man of your age oughtn't for to be
chasing over the country in the dark
"My age!" sputtered Dave, "my age!"
"You must be all of forty, Dave" con-
tinued Bobby, kindly. "You Of rascal,
you'll"
Forty!"-with snort" forty! No
where's near it. d.
''How old are you, Mister Dave3"
"Thirty-thirty-two ma'am.
81 aip't afraid of riding at night" he
continued evenly, after an interval given to
thought. cit CANT hurt me none. It
CANT make me stunted. I done got my
full growth -
II reckon you have" observed Bobby.
81 shore hope so for your own sake, Dave"
The cook left at least two hours earlier
than he had intended, and he did not see
Mary Lou again for week.
Then he took stern resolution. The
first procedure was to square Davis. Ac-
cordingly he devoted two hours of the
evening following to the hester. Most of
, that time was consumed in whitt1inp sticks