The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-02-06

| you are. ldlO dWakG I'LL - CioCh IcSt
night figuring on what to do. reckon
you'd better go back and give this out
fit up as a bad job. used to tell Ed
you didn't belong to neither of us. and
you don't. l can't see where you did
come fron-anyhow, l don't want the
responsibility of having you here. Why.
you'll have half the men in the county
hitching to my corral. You're too good
for any of them. You just plan to pack
up and pull out tomorrow"
| She went out with a dragging step
that softened the girls heart. Lies
daughter came nearer to loving her at
| this moment than at any time since
her fifth year.
| In truth, Lie had risen that morn
ing intending ito whirl in and clean
up the house." being suddenly con-
scious to some degree of the dirt and
disorder around her. but she found
herself physically unequal to the task.
Her brain seemed misted, and her food
had been source of keen pain to her.
She gave sharp answers to all the
men who came up to ask after her
daughter. and to- one who remarked on
the girls good looks and demanded an
introduction she said: Get along.
| You fellers want to understand I'll kill
tie man that sets out to fool with my
girl. tell you that!"'
| While yet Lee Virginia was wonder
ing how to begin the days work some
one knocked on her door. and in an
swer to her invitation woman stepped
ina thin blond bag with a weak
| smile and watery blue eyes. us this
little Lee virginny?" she asked.
The girl rose. "Yes."
"Well. howdy? She extended her
, hand. and Lee took it. "My names
Jackson-Mrs. Orlando Jackson.
knew yore pa and you before the
war Are We back fer to stay?"
mo. don't think 30. Will you sit
down."
Mrs. Jackson took seat. Come
back to see how yore ma was. reck-
on? Found her pretty porely. didn't
ye?" She lowered her voice. II think
she's got cancer of the stumnick-
now that's my guess"
Virginia started. what makes you
think sol"
"Well, / knew a woman who went
| Just that way. Had that same flabby,
funny look-and that same distress
after eatin. / told her this mornin
she'd better go up to Sulphur aud see
that new DOCTOR"
What did you mean by the WARP"
asked Virginia.
"Why. you remember the rustler
war? We date everything out here
| from that year. You was here, for
saw ye."
"Ohw exclaimed Virginia. "I under
stand now. Yes. was here. I saw my
| father at the head Of the cowboys"
s'They weren't cowboys. They were
hired killers from Texas. That's what
let yore pa out o. the state. He were
on the wrong side. and it it hadn't "a
been for the regular soldiers he'd IA
been wiped out right hyer. As it was
he had to skip the range and hain't
never been back. don't s'pose folks
will lay 1t up agin you-bein' girl
but they couldn't no son of Ed Weth-
| erford come back here and settle. not
for a minute. Why, ycre ma has had
to bluff the whole county a'most-not
that lay anything up agin her. ! tell
folks she was that bewitched with Ed
| she couldn't see things any way but
his way. He fought to save his ranch
and stawk. but she couldn't do nothin'
land then to have him go back ON her
the way be did--slip out 'twixt two days
| and never write: that just about shot
her to pieces. / never could under
| vtand that In Ed: he 'peared SO mortal
~ fond Of you and Of her too. He sure
was fond Of your She shook her head.
"No. can't anybody make me believe
| Ed Wetherford Is alive"
Lee Virginia started. "Who says
he's alive:"
Now. don't get excited. girl. He
amt alive, but vet folks say we don't
know. he's dead. He jest dropped out
so far as yore ma is concerned and SO
far as tie county is concerned. but
som -3ougl yoL was with him in the
east"
The girl was now aware that her
visitor was hoping to gain some fur
Their information and 30 CURLY an.
swered: i've never seen my father
since that night the soldiers came and
took him away to the fort. And my
mother told me he died down in Tex.
| as"
Mrs Jackson rose. 'FWell. I'm glad
to We had word with ye: but. you
hear me, yore ma has got to have
doctors help or she's a-goin' to fall
| down some day soon.''
Every word the woman uttered, ev-
cry tone of her drawing voice. put
Lee Virginia back into the past. She
heard again the swift gallop of hoofs
saw once more the long line of armed
ranchers and felt the hush of fear that
lay over the little town on that fate
full day. The situation beca me clearer
In her mind. She recalled wildly the
words Of establishment and hate with
which the women had greeted her
| mother on the morning when the news
| came that Edward Wetherford was
| among the invading cattle barons-
was indeed one Of the leaders.
In Philadelphia the Rocky mountain
states were synonyms Of picturesque
lawlessness. the theater Of reckless
| m1|