The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1911-12-27

Then he Topped to the ground, sitting
: helpless beside a clump Of broomwood.
5 Why, Mister Davc Whatre you try
, ingto do? came in accents Of wild surprise
There in blackboard was Mrs. Davis
| whose husband had a quartcr-section b,
Z Big Spring. Beside her was q girl. Sht
was leaning back. shaking with laughter
, that revealed her strong, white teeth and
heightened the warm pink Of her cheeks.
"You oughtn't for to have made for that
tree. It's a wonder you wasn't hurt, Mis-
ter. Dave, the nester's wife eNpostulated,
Il oughtn't To- do you think | done hit
that limb that away on purpose, Mi
Davis" Dave inquired, his eyes bulging.
You was riding SO beautiful / was
hoping Mary Lou here would sec you run
him clean across the plain. It's a pity.
That was shore good chance. You'll
never get another like it, Mister Dave"
The cook got heavily TO his feet and
moved first one leg, then the other, to
ascertain in just how many places the
bones were broken. Finding that they
gave him supper, Ne approached the two
women,
Mister Dave, ict me make you ac-
qua:nted with my cousin Mary Lou. Her
names Cole. Mister Dawes name is
Biggcrstaff, Mary Lou"
1t was an awkward moment. Dave had
seen more than his share Of the gay world,
having trailed cattle to Dodge four times
back in the nincties; but for once in his life
appropriate chatter forsook his tongue
Catching her glance, he looked away in
confusion.
"You-all going to Big Spring nowpp be
inquired at length. ~ F7 e
Yes ! reckon we ought to make i
afore dark -t@f1 = ~
We make our camp there. Tomorrow
III bring you over some beef, Miz Davis.
Thank you kindly, Mister Dave. You
come an see us. Mary Lou will give you
some Of her cake She's shore good cook.
II reckon so. he agreed gaantly.
We'll, adioS We must be moving
Dont forget to come an sec us.
They drove away and Dave waved them.
farewell brazenly Linsping with pain, he
hied him back to camp, where he spent two
hours trying to instill glimmcr OF gentle
mans sense Of honor and fair play into
Dick and those who should have hefdcd
the steer.
Thenight was starry and Dave sthoughts
were tinged sWcetlv with scntiment as he
washed the dishes on the first camp at Big
Spring. He would pay call. Why not2
Other boys did, aud why. not he? pshaw,
he was not old: he was never Better III his
life. The cook donned boots inst cad Of the
shoes he usually wore for comfort and they
were pleasantly and odorously creased
His shirt was a fine, clean yellow from hard
washings in slksl water, and he had plas-
tered down his hair in a straight click
over one eye. These concessions to appear
ancc were not lost on Mr. and Mrs Davis,
who welcomed him with eagcrness. Dave
earned fifty dollars a month, owned thirty
head Of cattle grazing on the Lazy l. range,
and was man of consequence. Mary Lou
greeted him with some reserve, and he
dropped her hand in haste As he turned
hclplessly to mop his brow, a stumpy figure
with rcd hair emerged from dark corner. :
Howdy, Dave"
Howdy, Bobby. What'rc you dc
hero? asked Dave,
just rode by"
Nothing more was said for time, Dave
gazing fneditatively at a point in the air
about three feet from him and pcrspiring
painfully He began to wonder whether
his tale Of the two owls was a proper tidbit
TO spring i'll polite circles. Dick liked it
better than any Of his stories, but Dicks
taste had once or twice been at fault, he
suspected Bobby held seat close to Miss
Cole; the hester and his wife were making
popcorn balls snnsthe far side Of the room;
and the cook occupied middle position
that seemed far removed AT last, Bobby:
I'm surprised at you riding out at night
50 far from camp, Dave
What for are you surprised" the cook
inquired.
A man Of your age oughtnt for to be
{ sing over the country in the dark.
My age. sputtcred Dave my agel"
You must be all Of forty, Dave, CON
tinucd Bobby, kindly. "You ol rascal,
youl
/" Forty4a-witb a sfouyl No
where's near il
How old are you, Mister Dave2"
Thirty-=thirtr-two. ma'sm.
!" ain .airai,l Of riding at night, he
continued tvcnlv. after All interval given to
thought. 1t cair't hurt Inc none, II
cain't make me stunted. | done got my
Iull growth :
1" ] reckon you have, observed Bobby.
. shore hope so for youT own sake, Dave
The ces ici; az least two hours earlier
fai llc lisI nienicsi. aud he did not see
May Lot agaii; i,i q week.
fhcQ fc to'. 4 sitfn resolution The
llst froceas'rc W.. to sGuare Davis. Ac-
s'rlirgly he devoted f-,o hours Of lie
.Ael.la. fnll..EiEa tu he hc>irr Nnsi -