The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1911-04-14
According to
Stebbins
A Story of Lovers Spat and
an Obstinate Pony
By CLARISSA MACKIE
Copyright by American Press Asso-
By CLARIssA MAcKIE
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation. 1911.


Luke Prentice carefully reread the
letter a second and third time
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 q chance to throw me down." said
Luke sullenly as he dug his spurs into
the COW pony's flank. Hump your
self, Stebbins, II you want rundown
and a bite tonighti'
Stebbins bumped himself to such
good effect that it lacked an hour of
shutdown when he Hoped into the cor
raj of the Three X ranch. His rider
dismounted, 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 a careless
toilet
"Wednesday nights beau night" re-
marked Fletcher, scanning Luke's blue
flannel shirt with a lifted eyebrow.
You know, Luke, we kinder look to
you to keep up the reputation of the
ranch, you being the most popular
counting gent in the outfit. You amt
going to back out and stay home?'
THAT'S just what I'm going to do"
said Mr. Prentice, turning danger
Gus glance toward his tormentor give
heard 1t said that l ought to stay
home and give some of you other fell
lers chance with the girls. OF course
l don't want to stand In anybody's
way. I'm taking few counting days
off, see?''
They all saw and passed the wink
to Fletcher. That gentleman pulled at
his long mustache, turned 1t fiercely
upward and smiled thoughtfully.
THANK you. Luke" he said Mt last in
a velvety tone. I've been waiting
a long time for chance, so as you've
dropped out OF the game I'll just
NOPE along the Chincapln trail to-
night. l got box of candy laid aside
for just such an emergency"
hN hlliNhlfii tAali itu w lilt Nhiu-
capin ranch. and there was where Els
telle Blair lived with her brother
Frank. 1t was said that Luke Prentice
mounted on Stebblns had worn the
Chincapin trail down TO bedrock. 1t
was n fact that he had fallen des-
perately in love with Estelle Blair and
that for a time Mt 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 Mt home hereafter on
Wednesday nights.
Luke could not understand why mat
tiers had turned out this way unless 1t
was that Estelle had learned to love
somebody else. He knew that Fletch
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 hand of Miss Ger
tie Gibbs, the schoolteacher at Lone
Tree, and 1t was not supposed that
either ever wavered in his allegi
ance TO the plump little beauty. As d
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 Il fierce stab
Of jealousy as Bert Fletcher emerged
from the bunk house immaculate in a
white shirt and wearing in his bosom
the large yellow topaz pin he had won
from Mexican Pete. His mustaches
We're twisted fiercely, and his black
eyes sparkled maliclously as he look
ed at Luke Prentice playing solitaire
by the light of a lantern
"Any messages you want to send,
Luke" leased Fletcher as he passed
by.
Prentice lifted II dangerous eye and
surveyed his companions getup with
contempt. you might tell Miss Ger
tie ] can't get over tonight, but I'll
be around sure thing next Wednes-
day." he said. lazily gathering up the
Gurus anu SiiHliHiE tiiNhh hi'V LUZ
Der band.
miss Gertie?' Fletcher Redeemed
uneaslly. 81 didn't say | was going
to Lone Tree. did /? Besides, ] reck-
on-I didn't know you'd been pros
pecting around there
"All 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 / was saying, just
tell Miss Gertie I'll come around next
Wednesday, SO long, Bert. You're
sure going to have a 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 a
march on his rival II was a matter
that required much thought and deli
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 If
the reason was Fletcher-well, Luke
would see that Fletcher stopped dirt
ing with Miss Gibbs and gave al
iegiance to Estelle Blair.