The Press., 1910-03-09
By AINswoRTH RHODES.

I LuG ukSE tune saw OdHSy SUS Wtt5
 coming over her fathers broad acres
 on horse whose lope was very Ike a
 rocking chair She was riding strad-
 He with divided skirts. No other wo-
 man on the ranches thereabout would
 eide in any other costume. Barker was
 riding beside her. and the two made a
 very handsome pair. The brim of his
 sombrero was flattened against his
 forehead by the wind, lariat hung at
 his saddle bow, and his splendid figure
 was revealed by his costume-viz,
 flannel shirt and trousers, with boots
 to his knee.
 Daisy had gone out from the east
 with her father, who became a sheep
 raiser, and she had become fascinated
 with ranch life. Unfortunately she
 had conceived romantic idea of the
 genus cowboy, and, Barker being phys ically a perfect type, she had persuad- | ed herself, or, rather, he had persuaded
 her, that he was just the man for her.
 I say unfortunately" because he was
 not an educated man and in every way
 beneath her. There were other fea-
 lures about him to render him unde-
 sirable which will appear presently. The couple passed me, all of us sa- 1, luting. though they were unknown to
 me, and 1 rode on to the ranch house,
 where had business with John Nolan
 with reference to large purchase of wool. While dickering with him on his veranda up the roadway came the couple had met and alighted at the foot of the steps Throwing their bridle reins over a post, they walked up on to the veranda. Then learned that Daisy was Nolan's daughter.
 As the pair passed into the house noticed a cloud fit over the face of the girls father. I knew by Barker's bearing toward her that he was in love with her. and I judged that his atten- tions were not relished by Nolan. But he said nothing to me then, and we went on with our dickering. When I arose to go he said:
 There's no place about here in which you will be comfortable except my house. Send for you traps"
 I accepted the invitation, especially as I was pleased at being under the same roof with Miss Daisy. I knew she had lover. but my attraction for her did not then go so far as to intend to come between them. I merely liked the idea of being near her during my stay.
 But I stayed good while, and it was not very long before she and I each made a discovery. I discovered that I wanted her, and she discovered that she didn't want Barker. Meanwhile found out something else-that he had become frightfulfy jealous of me, and if took her away from him he would probably kill me. At first he and spoke to each other when we met ei- ther on the ranch or elsewhere. Then he only noticed me at the Nolan house.
 I thought it best after awhile to re- move to the (so called) hotel, a mile from Nolan's. If anything happened between Barker and myself preferred that it should not happen under No lan's roof. So one day removed my luggage to my new quarters.
 One morning I was sitting on the porch of the hotel smoking a brier wood pipe. Barker came out of the barroom, where he had been drinking, and took seat about thirty feet from me. I didn't know he was there till, turning my head, saw him out of the corner of my eye sighting his revolver at me.
 Naturally started.
 Hold on there," said Barker. ''YouF pipe makes fine target. We don't al low people to smoke such expensive 1 pipes out herer'
 The words were scarcely out of his mouth when I felt faint tick on the bowl of the pipe, heard the crack of a gun and knew that bullet had passed through the pipe.
 ''Wait upr' he growled as l was about to rise. "YOur pipe won't draw with hole in it, but it's still mighty good target"
 I snatched look at him. He was evidently under the influence of liquor. l l felt sure that if I didn't let him shoot | at my pipe he would shoot at me and nerved myself to stand another shot. Indeed, this was all I could do, for was unarmed. But cold chill ran | down my back and cold sweat stood l out all over me. Nevertheless put l up pretty good front. sat with l comparative composure, occasionally | letting a faint cloud of tobacco smoke | escape from between my lips, but not | daring to move a hairbreadth for fear | of interfering with the mans aim.
 Several persons from inside the hotel, l having heard a shot, came out to dis | cover who had been killed. They ar- rived just in time to see the second | shot and the top of the bowl of my | pipe cut of. They at once took in the and. seeing me coolly puff ing. not knowing my internal cOndi- ton. they cried out Good pluck. stran- yer?' Steady nerVe?' "He ain't no tenderfoot:' and such like compli- ments.
 Presently a third shot shl tered what was left of the bowl of my pipe, and ,nly the stem remained in my mouth. my nerve made Barker half of himself or that he was headed of by the admiration of the others l don't know, but he desisted rom further shooting. I fancy. how. yeE, he was satisfied with what he lad doubtless intended for a warning hat If I took Daisy Nolan away from i'm would have to face sure death. 'he witnesses urged me to go in and ave something. but declined, saying hat l was anxious for smoke and would go upstairs for another pipe. The truth is l wanted chance to go where l could, unobserved, give way 0 my feelings for a few moments, hey having been controlled only by
 most desperate effort.
 When was alone staggered to the ed, fell on it and for d few minutes like 8 leaf. But when l be- an to recover started to get mad at be same time. Men will fight more