The Ellensburg dawn. [volume] (Ellensburg, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1911-09-21
According to
StebbinS
A Story Of Lovers SPat and
an Obstinate Pony
By CLARISSA N1ACKIE
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation, 1871.

When he had learned it quite by heart
he tore it into hundred bits and
flung them to the four winds Of heav-
en-.
Il reckon there won't another girl
git chance to throw me down." said
Luke sullenly as he dug his spurs into
the COW pony's flank. "llump your
self, Stebbins, if you want rundown
and bite tonightr
Stebbins bumped himself TO such
good effect that it lacked an hour Of
shutdown when he Hoped into the cor
raj Of the Three y ranch. His rider
diSmountcd, and. nodding grimly to
the circle of cowboys gathered around
the fire, he rendered the promised serv
ices to Stebbins and then entered the
bunk house. where he made careless
toilet
"Wednesday nights beau night" re.
marked Fletcher. scanning Luke's blue
flannel shirt with Il lifted eyebrow.
You know. Luke. we kinder look to
you to keep up the reputation of the
ranch, you being the most popular
NVNi tiHS e'llA III Aii' oiitbNs iNh tAii
going to back out and stay homef"
That's just what I'm going to do"
said Mr. Prentice. turning danger
Gus glance toward his tormentor. I've
heard it said that ought to stay
home and give some of you other fell
lers chance with the girls OF course
| don't want to stand in anybody's
col. 10 tf.,,r Il
off, see|
They all saw and passed the wink
to Fletcher. That gentleman pulled at
his long mustache. turned it tercely
upward and smiled thoughtfully.
"Thank you. Luke" he said at last in
velvety tone. i've been waiting
long time for chance. so as you've
dropped out of the game III just
NOPE along the Chincapin trail to-
night. got box Of candy laid aside
for just such an emergency"
The Chincapin trail led to the Chin
capin ranch. and there was where Es-
telle Blair lived with her brother
Frank 1t was said that Luke Prentice
mounted on Stebbins had worn the
Chincapin trail down to bedrock. 1t
was fact that he had fallen des-
perately In love with Estelle Blair and
that for a time at least she appeared
to reciprocate his feeling. Lately,
however, Estelle had grown cool and
distant, and now their friendship had
been severed by the curt little letter
she had sent advising him that she
would not be at home hereafter on
Wednesday nights.
Luke could not understand why mat
ters had turned out this way unless 1t
was that Estelle had learned to love
somebody else. He knew that fetch
er occasionally called at the Chincapin
to see Frank Blair. and he must at
the same time have opportunities OF
meeting Franks lovely sister. But
both Fletcher and Blair were rival
suitors for the fair hard Of Miss Ger
tie Gibbs. the scho ''r at Lone
Tree, and 1t was osed that
either ever wayer' his alleg1-
ance to the plump liti ,eauty. AS
matter Of fact. the two rivals were
close companions. and it was whis-
pered that in this way each kept track
Of the others movements.
Nevertheless Luke felt fierce stab
of jealousy as Bert Fletcher emerged
from the bunk house immaculate in
white shirt and wearing in his bosom
the large yellow topaz pin he had won
from Mexican Pete. His mustaches
we're twisted fercely. and his black
eyes sparkled maliciously as he look
ed at Luke Prentice playing solitaire
by the light of lantern
"Any messages you want to send.
Luke?, teased Fletcher as he passed
by.
Prentice lifted dangerous eye and
surveyed his companions getup with
contempt. You might tell Miss Ger
tie I can't get over tonight, but I'll
be around sure thing next Wednes-
day." he said. lazily gathering up the
cards and swapping them into rub
Der band.
"Niss Gertie?" Fletcher Redeemed
unea silly II didn't say I was going
to Lone Tree did I? Besides, | reck-
on-I didn't know you'd been pros
pecting around there"
"Al gals is alike to me-" returned
Luke sententiously. when one amt
TO home another will do just as well
so long as they'll sing and play and
amoose me. AS I was. saying, just
fell Miss Gertie I'll come around next
Wednesday, So long. Bert. You're
sure going to have MOON"
Fletcher strobe away without
word. his Joke on Luke Prentice quite
forgotten In his own misery. Frank
Blair might take the opportunity OF
his being there with Estelle to run
over to Lone Tree and thus steal
march on his rival. 1t was matter
that required much thought and dell
cate handling.
In the meantime Luke Prentice was
arguing with himself against his rid
ing forth into the moonlit night and
assailing the Chincapin and demand
ing an explanation from Estelle
There must be some reason for her
NOT caring to see him again. and II
tho reason was Fletcher-well. Luke
would see that Fletcher stoned dirt
n