Smyrna times., 1911-08-09

nouncement and lodged out of the |
bunk house. His three comrades stared |
open mOuthed at one another until |
Pepper broke the silence.
Married. be uttered dazedly. did |
he say thatY'
Tony Goff solemnly nodded. And
he said her name is Emmerett Hodge,"
he said in an awed tone
"Emmerett HOdgeY' repeated Prole
bitterly. "A girl with a name like
that always has a tony wedding.
What did Raymond say about it?
didn't sense it all. was so iabber-
gasted."
LAS near as 1 can r'collect he said
there was to be a fancy time at her
house and we was invited Tony here
has got to stand up with the bride
groom"
Jink Prole unjointed his long legs
and stood erect, towering above the
other two. what about a weddin'
presentT he demanded.
That's easy. Well all chip in and
git Mrs. Carwood to buy it down to
Penfeld. Wimmen always know what
to git
Tony Goff shook his head. Nix on
that, Pepper. Why, Raymond's been
our mate for three years-ever since
come to the Twin Star. feel
mighty friendly to him. l reckon all
of US do. and we must pick out the
present ourselves. What sa-ay?"
The others nodded assent, and as it
happened that the morrow was the
monthly pay day they decided to ride
over to Penfeld the next afternoon
and select a wedding gift for Ray
monds bride.
With pockets we'll lined and bronZed
faces pOrtentously solemn with the
import of their mission, the three set
forth on the twenty mile ride from the
Twin Star cattle ranch to the largest
town in the county.
They stopped at Red Spider for the
mail, and the three wedding invita-
rions that faced them nearly caused a
stampede. .Jink Prole stared unhappi-
ly at the engraved words
Il dunno" he hesitated. 1T might
by an expert. If we should make a
mistake she-the lady - Emmerett-
might take Offense at what we got"
Tony GOff tucked his envelope away
and prepared to smoke. There amt
no use losing your nerve" he said at
length. You braced us to the job, and
we got to carry it through. Mebbe we
amt got to go clean to Penfeld. What
you think of that lamp in Cox's win
der?" He pointed a lean forefnger at
the dusty, fly spotted merchandise dis
played by the postmaster.
The three surveyed it longingly.
1t was a tall lamp of pink glass and
WIEN freed from dust and lighted
/ might cast an added rosy glow over
the future of the newly welded pair
Mr. Pepper strode to the door and
| bawled an inquiry.
He returned and flung himself or
his horse. Three ninety-eight, includ
ing the shade" he repeated contemp
tuously, land us with a hundred il
our pockets to spend"
With one accord they resumed the
journey to Penfield, leaving behind the
dark shadowing mountains with the
last glimmer of the sunset along the
upper ridges. 1t was after dark wheI
they pounded into the town, and, hun
CRY and thirsty, they made their way
to a restaurant and satisfied their ap
petites.
Afterward they entered the Farnun
emporium, a maze of narrow aisle,
running between shelves and counters
laden with glass and china in ever!
conceivable form of fragility. Tn,
side walls of the store were lined witt
counters upon which were piled house
hold wares, while the rear presented
a gloomy barricade of furniture agains
a background of gaudy carpets.
Jink Prole sidestepped down al
aisle and reached the barricade jus
as a pretty girl arose from a chair ant
laid down piece of fancy work.
what can do for your she askeC
briskly.
Before the tall ranchman could an
swer there came a terrific crash AM
the sound of splintering glass blende,
with startled profanity.
"Ohw exclaimed the girl. THAT
real cut glass;"
"'Tis considerable cut up" agrees
Prole as they reached the scene o
disaster, where Pepper and Tony COT
stood staring down at the havoc the.
had created. How'd you manage t
clean Off the hull shelf?"
Mr. Pepper twisted his long mustach
ruefully. "Of course it can't be becaus
it's narrow gauge here. We squoz
ourselves as wells we could. but some
how there want no place for elbows
Now, miss. what's the damageT" H
dug his hand deep into d pocket ant
brought forth his months pay, $40.
The girl knelt upon the floor ant
bent her head above the fragments
piecing them together with little dis
! mayed exclamations. At last she tosse
back her misty black hair and looke
! up at them with slowly crimsonin
! cheeks.