Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1910-06-08
A Masquerade
By MARTHA B. HUTClINs
Copyright. ls1e. by American Press
Association

John Benton worked for ranchman
and lived In little cabin with his
laughter Sarah. who was his only COM
panion, his wife being dead. Sarah
kept house for him. did his cooking,
washed his clothes and In the even
ings when book was obtainabls read
to him.
When Sarah was nineteen years old
John died. All he left her was the
cabin. his horse and his stock OF shoot
ing irons. He was buried by his em-
ployer, and Sarah the night after the
funeral found herself alone In her
cabin with the problem of her future
before her. Had she been born q boy
she would not have 60 dreaded trying
to make living, but there was no
work commonly done by girls of her
class that she cared to undertake. To
become q cook or a dishwasher was
to her an adherence. 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, 60 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 a mans garb rode westward till
morning. when. coming to ranch, she
found a breakfast and Job. She
| called herself Jack Benton. and no
one on the place suspected that she
was GIRL She rounded up cattle with
the other cowpunchers.
Among the women on the ranch was
q pretty girl of her own age. Martha
Swayne. for whom Jack conceived
80 strong friendship that she i'm
parted to her her secret. Now. 1t hap
pened that one Of the boys. Ben
Hughes. was In love with Martha and,
seeing Jack Benton great deal with
her. became Unfortunately jealous. In
| vain Martha protested that her init
| macy with Jack was a 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
| fight Ben Hughes, who lost no oppor-
tunfty 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 unaware and not knowing that
Jack was girl?
| As was natural. Jack con6ded his
trouble with Hughes to Randall, telling
him that he would be obliged to fight
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 II 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 a chal-
lenge from Jack to Hughes. 1t was
arranged that they should meet In a
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
not displayed ut his own meeting with
bis enemy.
You're q queer duck" said Ran
dali. you have all the sensitiveness
Of girl and all the pluck Of man."
Randall put an arm affectionately
around his friend and gave him bit
Of a hug Misunderstanding? 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 of.
Randall, who stood looking at him
with a puzzled expression. muttered:
Hes nice boy. l 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 a 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
place Of rendezvous.
As the two men approached the
elump Of trees. on which the sun was
pouring bis first rays. Randall stopped.
II thought l saw woman's dress
fash between two tree trunks"
by thunderw exclaimed Hughes.
II 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
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