The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1910-07-12
HEARTS AND CROSSES
Sign by Which the Ranch Queen
Recalled a Wanderer.
BY o. HEN RY.

copyright, 1907. by the Mcclure company.l
Badly Woods reached for the bottle
and got it, Whenever Badly went for
anything he usually But this is not
Baldy's story. He poured out a third
drink that was larger by finger than
the first and second. Badly was in
consultation. and the consultee is
worthy of his hire.
I'D be king IL was you," said
Badly, so positively that his holster
creaked and his spurs ratified
IF man marries queen 1t
oughtn't 10 make him two SPOT" de-
clared Webb. epitomizing his griev-
ances.
Sure not" said Badly, sympathetic,
still thirsty and genuinely solicitous
concerning the relative value of the
cards. by rights you're king. IL l
was you I'd call for new deal The
cards have been stacked on you. I'll
tell you what you are. Webb Yeager."
.Whatw asked Webb. with hope
full look in his pale blue eyes.
You're prince consort."
Go easy" said Webb 81 never
blackguarded you none"
'Its title" explained Badly, up
among the picture cards. but 1t don't
take no tricks. I'll tell you. Webb.
it's brand they've got for certain AMI
mails in Europe. Say that you or me
or one of them Dutch dukes marries
in a royal family. Well. by and by
our wife gets to be queen. Are we
king? Not in million years. At the
coronation ceremonies we march be-
tween little casino and the ninth grand
custodian Of the royal hall bedcham-
Der. The only use we are is TO appear
in photographs and accept the respon-
sibiity for the heir apparent. That
amt any square deal Yes. sir. Webb.
you're prince consort. aud II was
you I'd start interregnnm or ha-
beas corpus or somethin'. and I'd be
king IL had to turn from the bottom
of the deck"
Badly emptied his glass to the ratifl-
cation of his Warwick pose
Badly" said Webb solemnly. me
and you punched cows In the same out
fit for years We been runnin' on the
same range and ridin the same trails
since we was boys. wouldn't talk
about my family affairs 10 nobody but
you. You was line rider on the No
palito ranch when married Santa Nc
Allister. was foreman then But
what am ! now? ! don't amount to
knot In u stake rope
when old McAlliSier was the cattle
king of west Texas" continued Badly.
with satanic sweetness, vol was
some tallow. You had ~ much TO say
on the ranch rs he did
II did," admitted Webb. up to the
time he found out was tryin' TO get
my rope over Santa's head Then he
kept me out on the range as far from
the ranch house as he could. When
the old man died they commenced to
call Santa the cattle queen I'm boss
of the cattle-that's all She tends to
all the business. She handles all the
money. ! can't sell even beef steer
to party of campers myself Saptas
the queen and I'm Mr.. Nobody"
I'D be king If was you" repeated
Badly Woods the royalist
The smooth brown face of Yeager
heightened to Il mask OF wounded mel
ancholy
Pm ridn' back TO the ranch to-
day." he said half heartedly. I've
got to start bunch of beeves for San
Antoine In the mornln'.''
I'm your company as far as Dry
lake." announced Badly. I've got n
roundup camp on the San Marcos cut
tin out two-year-olds."
The two companeros mounted their
ponies and trotted away from the little
railroad settlement where they had
foregathered in the thirsty morning.
At Dry lake. where their routes d.
verged. they refined up for n parting
cigarette. Webb offered an addendum
to the conversation that had begun ten
miles away.
you remember yourself. Badly.
that there was time when Santa
wasn't quite so independent You re-
member the days when old McAlister
was keepin' ns apart and how she used
10 send me the sign that she wanted