The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1910-12-12

NSS -tYD the saddle as he rode;
6sS1fNE~-fRf(eaS they were stained by sun,
AsxagIRSSgE wind and rain, and coated
= ~ = with gray dust which had
eaten its way into the texture of the material.
His boots gaped wounds; his white hair
showed anxiously beneath the soft hat; stir
rup leather had been too often mended with
thongs; he carried neither whip nor spur;
long and lean he was; sunburnt, with large,
sunken black eyes, and short crop of iron
gray hair about his face.
His horse was well-fed, ell-groomed, a
thoroughbred; his coat shone in the sun, his
long tail and name waved as the breeze
caught them
A cloud Of dust pursued them to the land
office. There Brinkley drew rein and threw
himself from the saddle.
a boy jeercd at his rags. a smart Western
girl, booted, short-skirted the loose shirt dis
closing brown arms and neck, watched him
swing heavily through the doors. and lean
over the desk where a neatly dressed clerk
struggled with the accounts Of his books.
Rosalia was not often guilty of curiosity,
but she drew nearer the Office and peered
through the window, wondering what had
brought such human scarecrow to the
Western Development and Real Estate Com
pany's Offices. A daughter of the hills and
plains, she knew most men within a hundred
miles east and west, but this man was a
stranger.
The clerk glanced up as Brinkley entered,
then with supercilious grin bent over his
books again. The man of rags and tatters
waited patiently, chewing the stump of
cigar. A big t1y buzzed around his head, the
dust filtered through his rags as he shifted
his position.
But the clerk continued to ignore him.
"Say-when yu're through"
There was no response, not even an incli-
nation of the head.
Young man, don't know whether yu're
here for business or if yur boss pays yu' wages
as an ornament; either way he's losing money
--spose you git move on yer!
The clerk raised his head; the sleek hair
was well brushed, the round face well shaved.
"And who the hell d'you think you're
talking top s
g A kid that don't know his business and
wants lesson. Git off that stool, and come
here.
For reply the clerk expecdorated in Brink
ley's direction and turned his back on him.
Now Rosala, acting on sudden impulse,
pushed open the doors and entered the Office.
In an instant the clerk was grinning at her
across the desk.
@Say, you're quite a stranger here, Miss
Rosa"
She looked him squarely in the eyes
There's another stranger here; you'd better
attend to him first 2
The clerk managed to raise a leer Ladies
first. guess,
Sure echoed the ragged one softly, as
he removed his sombrero.
Rosalia smiled, and Jim Brinkley felt as
good as if he had just swallowed pint of beer
at Tom Craik's Thirst Pond; he forgot the
growth upon his face, the dust ingrained on
boots, body and clothes But looking at this
daughter Of the West; he remembered her
youth-and the object OF his visit.
He had come to buy an Oasis He Tipped
the word lovingly with the stump OF his cigar
The large, sunken eyes grew moist, the
dusty head inclined little.
Guess won't trouble the boss after all, y
he mumbled; think I've altered my mind !
Forget it, the girl said quickly; then tc
the youth, frowning sulkily now: JUS
hurry, YOU. and take this gentleman's name
to Mr.. Seidler"
The clerk obeyed, glaring- Brinkley rar
his fingers through his hair, removed thu
cigar stump from his lips, and throwing i
on the floor placed the heel OF his boo
upon it.
"Yu' shouldn't have butted in on my &C
count, he said awkwardly. :" only came
in ter see if there was a piece of waste lane
could buy But don't know + want i
noW--anyhoW--''
The girl swung herself on TO the edge 0
the desk and looked Brinkley up and down
as if he were horse, kindly and critically
"What were you going to do with vast
land?"
Her voice had changed; it had been SHARP
when she addressed the clerk, now it was lik'
the wind calling down Red Wood Canon.
He looked through the window into tn
street where his horse stood in the sun, as
asking explanation or protechon-from hi
only friend. Rosalia followed his gaze
SHE'S all right" she smiled. AS good
one as I've seen round here
Brinkley's eyes frightened Yu' bet"
You were going TO tell me why yol
changed your mind about buying the lan'
you're after"
Brinkley searched in strange places for an
other cigar. Failing to find one be REPLACED
his hat, and then hid his hands in his breeche
pockets.
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