Morris tribune., 1911-10-06

"Told me whatY' It was Jacks turn
20 stare.
"That I was engaged to marry Nine"
II didn't know that you were en-
gagged to her." said Jack shortly. Con
gratulations-and all that, you know"
Thanks" said Linn dryly. "Gotng
to ride down to the cottonwoodsT
They turned their horses and trotted
slowly across the crisp pasture land.
It was a frosty November day, and
the tang of approaching winter was in
the air.
When they drew near the cotton
woods they heard the raucous grum-
blings of the mammoth gobblers that
were the pride Of the ranch. By
mutual assent Linn rode around to
the south side of the little thicket,
while Jack protected the eastern way
Of escape
With a loud yell and thunder of
hoofs Linn raced through the thicket,
driving the wandering birds before
him. 1t would have worked all right,
only the biggest gobbler of all and the
leader of the flock lifted his huge
spread Of wings and few up into the
lower branches Of the nearest tree,
and soon he was followed by the en-
tire flock of fifty, whose bulk darkened
the sparsely clothed trees and hung, a
menacing force, over the irate drivers
head.
''Let 'em stay, then." said Linn cross
ly. "We can get 'em after dinner.
What do you say?"
"Suits me-" said Jack, and together
they rode silently back to the farm
house, where Nine and Ten were
experimenting the placing Of the din
ner on the table.
Nine was very pale, and her eyes
were bright and sparkling, always a
sign that things were going wrong
with her. Tens eyes looked as if she
had been crying. 1t was silent meal;
there was universal embarrassment,
and even Captain bod, absorbed in his
dinner, noted the silence.
"What's the matter?' he called bluff
Next time you folks ride ten miles to
moving picture show at Pento you
better see something to laugh at?
Didn't anything funny happen last
night?
''Well, what's the news?" he went
on sardonically. Anything gone
wrong? I've been approached by two
young men and two young women this
morning, and they've broke the news
to me that they're all engaged to
marry each other. I took it calmly,
for there isn't better pair Of young
chaps in the world than my two part
ners-not a word, boys-and if I've
got to give them twins away I'd rath-
er give them to you two, but He
glared around at them once more and
continued: ''Somebody had made a
mistake, and till it's found out | with
draw my consent, and I declare every
one Of you disengaged! Understand"
Without waiting for reply Captain
bod arose with dignity, and, grasping
his plate of pudding in one hand and
he retired to the little room that served
him as an Office.
Silence still reigned at the table, but
it was a relieved silence. Suddenly
Linn excused himself and departed.
Jack followed suit, and there remained
no one but the twins staring defect
edly into their puddings.
All at once Nine spoke resentfully:
II think you've treated Jack horridlx,
Ten Mason, so there! He's the best
fellow in the world and you can't ap-
preciate him.
Ten lifted her dropping head and
faced her sister. "Humphw she f1ared
scornfully. Jack Nickerson can't be
compared with Linn Oswald"
The twins arose and stared at each
other across the table, then all at once
they ran around and fell into each
others arms with little startled cries
Of understanding.
Out on the ranges Linn and Jack
were riding back to the cottonwood
clump. In their hands were long raw
hide whips. Both were whistling mer
rily. and, while their eyes were evasive,
each one seemed conscious Of the
others rising spirits. Suddenly Jack
became sunk in gloom. He spoke
raspingly:
"Your hilarity over your release is
not very complimentary to Nine"
Neither is yours complimentary to
Ten" f1ared Linn.
A half hour later Nine and Ten
walked demurely across the ranges,
sent thither by their father with a
message to his partners.
When the twins reached the south
ern confines of the last field there
charged upon them a furious flock of
bronze gobblers, heads down and
heavy wings beating the ground. Close
behind them raced Jack and Linn,
their eyes tenderly anxious of the ap-
preaching twins, their mouths hard set
with determination. The twins had
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