Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-11-26
MAGAZINE NOVEMBER
THE RETURN OF STEPTOE
Continued from page s

but some of them decidedly chagrined, for
Steptoe was, as usual, on top. He had taken
the wind out of his censors' sails; and as he
passed among them, with subtle CLEAN of
triumph in his eyes, no one attempted to
damp" him. In fact, the dampening was
all on the other side, and Owain, he who had
referred to Steptoe as "tow headed cub"
was all but deferential as he accepted his
brothers hand.
Dinner was served on long improvised
table under the lofty green canopy of group
of chinkapin oaks. For upward of an hour
the necessities of the inner man received al
most exclusive attention. But at last there
came lull, and someone asked Fabian
Shrimp where he had picked up his new
horse. Fade, who was stripping roasting
ear with machinelike speed and precision,
arched his eyebrows in lieu of smile and
nodded at Steptoe, who answered:
II shipped him to Fade to replace the one
l shot
"Why, that huss is with a stableful of
plugs like the one you shot, observed Rhys
Pentecost.
ayes, he's Kentucky bluegrass" said
Steptoe. "Fabe is to give me fifty dollars to
boot"
This ito boot" had familiar ring to those
who had ever snapped horses with Steptoe.
1t was also characteristic of the young man
that he should turn penny even in an act
of reparation. Alto smiled.
Step saw the smile and added quickly,
"That horse cost me hundred dollars. Two
hours later 1 refused a hundred and fifty"
Fabe snickered gleefully. all bet it's the
Gods truth Feller down at Holly Tree
offered me hunnerd and thutty fer that
boss the day | onloaded him."
DOWHATAN leaned back in his rustic
chair and drew out silver watch few
sizes smaller than an alarm clock Then,
fumbling for his pipe, he said in loud voice,
"Steppy, eff you have no objections, it strikes
me this would be ripe time fer you to
'splain some things. Some on us air a mite
Gurus to know how you and Spicy come to
yoke together after Dustin apart wunst. l
don't include the women among the cur us,
of co'se, ner Emmett or Calliope. By the
way, Calliope," he added facetiously, what
was you goln' to make IN that apple butter
kittle of mother's?'
Gust wanted to bile down some of the
stories about these two young people, re-
torted Callie instantly, eliciting roar of
laughter.
THAT sort of answers your question to me,
Pap" said Steptoe. Postprandial oratory
was unknown on Big Rainy; but he had al
ways been 4tonguey' lad, and he now half
unconsciously rose to his feet. "Spicy and
never really broke off-which will be news
to some. Right after ran away she wrote
me that she stood ready to marry me any
time that I'd square myself with Fade Shrimp
and the law. At first l wouldn't. | even
wrote her had another girl. l reckon her
pictures somewhere inside now, if you all
amt usin' it to keep skunks out of the hen
house." He smiled at his wife's rosy face.
"But after Spicy come down to the acad
envy at Marysville, l drove over to see her
one Sunday. found out I'd forgotten just
how pretty she really was-though never
married her fer looks, by no means. Then l
was promoted from Sims to Macedonia,
which is only five miles from Marysville.
After that seen Spicy every Sunday; and,
to make long story short, come round to
her way of thinkin about squarin' up with
Fabe and the law, and we agreed to git mar
ried as soon as her school was out. And here
we are!"
He paused and swept the company with
serious eyes. "More than that, we're here
to stay, if | can make arrangements. If
Pappy still wants to turn over the 1njun