Putnam patriot., 1911-02-24

| Peters. Erluutn[ t"HH1 AOh dA bN
 deTman's. and that's over to tue south
 easf-soaapw here near where Chris has
 been after bls stray eritter
 AIr webbs air Of langOur Increased
 Then reckon this young lady can't go
 10 the dance unless she gets this dress
 what the Chiuk k washing. ehE' He
 yaEued again.
 Redwood noaded. "f reckon ifs the
 only party dress shes got. she seemed
 mighty particular about e." he said
 ~eretfuliF
 And she can't get the dress without
 the eheekz- persisted Chris sleepily.
 "No checkee 10 shirteer returned
 Redwood
 You going to the dancer
 Mr. Redwood smiied laborl0usly and
 ran his hand along one leg wlth pain l ful gesture T reckon my legs most
 too stiff this time. so guess l won't
 be around tomorrow night" be said.
 They laughed heartlessly as they l parted for the night
 In bis own corner of tbe roughly par 1 uf9Hed bunk house Christopher Webb
 pulled the laundry check from his
 
 1 DO ket and studied tbe strange hiero- ! plvrhics wifh thoughtful eyes. T Il do | if he said suddenly "I reckon she'll
 be mighty grateful 10 the one who brings back her party dress. l expect l its q pretty thing all friils and fur bellows and lacy stuf. like what Annie used t9 weir" His dark eyes became | almost black with a sudden intensity of emotion. and his brows knitted pain 1 fully T wasn't cut out for book keeper or for city life If shed only have seea that mg coming Into the i ouen vas my call 10 what l could do beSt. bur she gave ne the go by. and l here ! am. I'm q alarmed sight better of ln some ways than was there In i Denver. I've got health and I've got i thousand saifed away against the l ranch I'll buy some day. but l haven 1 got her.a
 i His head dropped a little. and then, l ss f aesars of his weakness. he threw bacs his shoulders and laughed softly | "No heed t0 keep that other girl away 1 from tHs party be s1id In low tone i4 he proceeded b make an elaborate toilet NlfH slrb facilities as the ranch llorded
 f was past midnight when he let i himself out Of fhe door and made his way iato tHe corral II was the work If q moment fo eateh up a mount This l time il was rawboned sorrel with n long rkiug stride that carried his rider o9er tbe trail with remarkable | swiftness Al ID o'clock tue next morning Christopher Webb dismount- | cd stllly from the serrel and entered l tbe door of Chinese laundry in the i aourishine town of Cactus Branch. In his hand he carried a laundry cheek. and when he came forth he bore large and squashy looking bundle. which he placed carefully be fore him when he remounted.
 A brief stop for breakfast and then he was back on another trail. this time the one leading toward the Lone Horn He knew Jim Traymore slight lv. had met him three years before when Chris had first come out Into the open. as he called his departure from the city, but he had not seen Jim recently He had heard that he vas married now and taken the Lone Harn4
 At , o'clock he eiattered up to the yeranda of the Lone Horn ranch house and shouted in stentorian voice.
 Laundry"
 There was a delighted shriek from
 thA wooden floor of the hail. Then slender form gowned in pale blue cot Ion darted across the veranda and held up eager arms for the bundle lovely golden haired girl with wist- ful blue eyes and sadly dropping mouth. who did not see Christopher webbs amazed face. She saw noth- ing save the bundle and a tall. kindly disposed cowboy who had ridden out of his way to oblige her.
 How can I thank you she was beginning when Christopher spoke from the shadow of his broad hat
 "Anniep' he said in a low tone.
 Annie Lee looked at him for mo ment. and then. dropping her head against his knee. she cried softly for awhile Elsie married Jim Traymore year ago" sine explained. and l came out here to visit them l didn't know where you were. Chris. but l felt somehow if I was out in this country l might be near you anyway have wanted you sol"
 When Christopher broke the news 10 his comrades at the Three Forks be added laughing. T reckon that ihcre occasion will demand a piled shlrt, eh, bavst"
 "So dc so do.a urged Henderson t1cerlv. "Seems like a wedding ourbter break that there hiled shirt hooloa
 "Yon got any laundry cheeks up your sleeeet" demanded Peters of Henderson You sneak kind of wish ful Ike you'd love Co wear piled shirt"
 q expeat an of you to wear 'em i when when it's necessary that is when I'm married said the happy l Christopher authoritatively, A ouek ehense. | When Victor Murdoek arrived in | Washington as new congressman he felt that he had the earth in a sling | and that money and expenses were minor considerations. Accordingly he went 10 the most exclusive hotel he l could find and took an elaborate suit of rooms
 l So gorgeous were his surroundings
 that when Mrs. Murdock appeared on