The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1910-08-18
TEN MINUTES I'm.
LANDS.OF STORIES
BY ELMER RiGOON.

salubrious air of Ozone Springs
were of the kind that appealed to
the weary tenderfoot, who, now and
again, struggled in for few weeks
to build up his failing strength.
But no one looked the invalid SO
much as did young man who ar
rived one day and modestly an
nounced that his cognOmen was
David Hughes. He was the most
cadaverOus, attenuated individual
ever seen in the town, and he
didn't look strong enough to last
the month. Hughes walked with a
cane, but he appeared cheerful
enough and wasn't inclined to talk
about himself.
Fatty" as the boys called him,
never complained about his health,
and after his first few days no
body paid much attention to him
until he began to frequent the New
York cafe and make love to Birdie
Hall, the dashing waitress. Red
McAllister, a cowpuncher, had one
night stood in the shadow of the
porch of the cafe and Toasted his
eyes upon the dainty Birdie as she
fitted hither and thither deliver
ing steaming viands and distribut-
ing her bewitching smiles impair
TALLY among hungry boarders. A
laudable ambition to corral her
some day for his bride seized him,
and the sight of a stranger monop-
olizing her society caused him to
groan with jealousy. He had de-
fled the ridicule of his associates
by wearing a starched shirt in the
hope of winning the girls regard
and now she was accepting the at
| tentions of an interloper But
the traditions Of the town prevent
ed him from laying violent hands
upon the visitor. 1t is said that
the boys would sometimes besiege
Huckleberry Smiths saloon, clam
| oring wildly for drink and then pull
the chandeliers out by the roots,
| and ride the bartender on a rail,
but it was an unwritten law in
Ozone Springs never to muss up a
man whose health was impaired.
This yere miscreant." growled
Red, trucculently, has set and ct
| three meals, one after the other,
jest to talk to Birdie. Sentiment
must be moughty inspirin'. for
| whar Fatty puts so much grub at
one settin' Is beyond me. OF
course. eff this yere party was not
failin' physically, I'd double him up
like a jackknife and chuck him
into the rainwater barrel, but bein'
mere shadder he's exempt fruin
maltreatment."
The wraith-like Hughes continn-
ued eating at the restaurant, gef,
ting more friendly with the walt,
ress each day, and as Red was be-
coming desperate, the cowpunchers
decided to hold meeting and CON
slider means to get rid OF the In
eruder. Cinnamon Bill raped for
order with the butt end of his Al
and said: "Accordin' to the cards
this year lean critter is enjoyin
moughty poor health, and thai
same bein' a fact, Red Is placed 10
an embarrassin' position, as he
can't amoose himself with gun
play or sech-like frivolities. The
demon jealousy has been gnawin
at the yitals Of Red fer about three
weeks because he can't decently
efface this attenooated youth from
the situation by grabbin' him by
the throat, and the best thing we
| kin do is to sa'nter down to the
Moo York cafe and put the matter
up to Miss Birdie herself.
opines that when we tell her thai
eff she marries the shadder its
only a question Of short time
when she'll be one of them all
widders, she Will think more favor
ably of Red"
This plan met with the approba
ton of the boys. and they solemn