The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1910-07-07
A Masquerader.
By MARTHA B. HUTCHINS
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.

washed his clothes and in the even
q ingS when book was Obtainable read
to him.
When Sarah was nineteen years Ol(
John died. All he left her was the
cabin, his horse and his stock of shoot
ing irons He was buried by his EN-
ployer. and Sarah the night after the
funeral found herself alone in hei
cabin with the problem of her future
before her. Had she been born boy
she would not have so dreaded trying
no make living. but there was nc
work commonly done by girls Of heI
class that she cared to undertake. TC
become Il cook or q diShwasher was
10 her an abhorrence Even the only
legacy her father had left her. his
horse and equipments. was useless to
her as girl
Sarah settled the problem in this
wise: She would put on the clothing
her father had left behind him. mount
his horse. go to region where she
was not known and hire herself out
for cowboy. That night she locked
her cabin. put the key in her pocket
and in mans garb rode westward till
morning. when. coming to a ranch she
found a breakfast and job. She
called herself Jack Benton. and no
one on the place suspected that she
was Il girl She rounded up cattle with
the other cowpuncherS.
Among the women on the ranch was
a pretty girl Of her own age. Martha
Swayne. for whom Jack conceived
so strong friendship that she i'm
parted TO her her secret. Now. it hap
pened that one of the boys. Ben
Hughes. was in love with Martha and.
seeing Jack Benton great deal with
v her, became Unfortunately jealous. In
vain Martha protested that her init
macy with Jack was mere friend
ly one. Hughes would not be con-
WINGED. 1t became evident that Jack
would be obliged either to be dis
graced in the eyes of her associates or
Eight Ben Hughes. who lost no oppor-
unity to provoke her.
Among the boys was a manly young
fellow. ten years Jacks senior, named
Randall. for whom Jack had conceived
an affection. Had Randall reciprocal
ed Jack might have confessed her sex
and all would have gone smoothly for
both couples. But how was Randall
to reciprOcate an affection of which
he was una ware and not knowing that
Jack was Il girl:
AS was natural, Jack confded his
trouble with Hughes to Randall, telling
him that he would be obliged to fight
\ Or girl whom he didn't love and
who didn't love him.
Well said her friend, "all you need
to do is to tell him so and have the
girl do likewise. If this doesn't work
you'll have to fight"
Martha and Jack put their heads to-
gether and the result was that Ran
dali was commissioned to send chal-
lenge from Jack to Hughes. 1t was
arranged that they should meet in a
I clump of trees not far from the ranch
house. At the last moment Randall.
seeing that Jack had no relish for such
affairs. offered to pick a quarrel with
Hughes and claim precedence and thus
take the affair off Jacks hands. AT
this Jack showed fright that he had
his enemy.
t"Yor're queer duck" said Ran
dali. You have all the sensitiveness
of a girl and all the pluck Of a man."
Randall put an arm affectionately
around his friend and gave him a bit
Of a hug "What-blushing? You're
the first man ! ever saw do that
Jack broke away and. running as
fast as he could to where his horse
stood. mounted him and galloped off,
Randall. who stood looking at him
with a puzzled expression. muttered:
He's a nice boy. | wouldn't like to
see him killed"
Before the meeting. which was to
take place at sunrise Jack told his
second that he would meet him on the
ground. Jack had also insisted that
in order to keep the matter secret
Randall should act for Hughes as
well as for himself. This was not
considered remarkable for Randall
was friend to both of them. and an
affair of the kind in that region was
not to be considered as one to be han
died under the code duellO. There
! fore on the morning appointed Ran
dali and Hughes went together to the
J place of rendezvous
As the two men approached the
! rlump of trees. on which the sun was
pouring his first rays. Randall stepped
81 thought l saw womans dress
! flash between two tree trunks"
by thunder" exclaimed Hughes
81 hope Martha hasn't got on to the
] affair and come to stop it,"
| They walked on. but suddenly stop
ped again. They heard women's
voices singing in unison. Pushing on.
coming to a grottO formed by young
trees. they saw Martha and another
girl with their arms around each 9th
er. They soon recognized the other
girl as Jack.
There were bushes and smiles on
the faces of both girls. though Jacks"
were principally bushes. Her story
was told. and she announced that by
advice of her friend she would no
longer masquerade as man.
Indeed. such masquerading was no
longer necessary. 1t was not long be-
e-ad 20 hn