Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1911-05-19

home and give some of you otner TEL
lers chance with the girls OF course
l don't want to stand in anybody's
way. Pm taking a few counting days
OF, seeY
They all saw and passed the wink
to Fletcher. That gentleman pulled at
his long mustache, turned 1t flercely
upward and smiled thouEhtfully.
"Thank you, Luke" he said at last in
a velvety tone. I've been waiting
a long time for IA chance, so as you've
dropped out OF the game I'll just
NOPE along the Chlncapin trail to-
night got a box of candy laid aside
for Just such an emergency"
The Chlncapin trail led to the Chin
capin ranch. and there was where Els
telle Blair lived with her brother
Frank. 1t was said that Luke Prentice
mounted on Stebbins had worn the
Chlncapin trail down to bedrock. II
was fact that he had fallen des-
perately in love with Estelle Blair and
that for time at least she appeared
to reclprocate 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
tiers had turned out this way unless It
was that Estelle had learned to love
somebody else. He knew that Fletch
err 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 It was not supposed that
either ever wavered in his allegi-
ance to the plump little beauty. As a
matter of fact. the two rivals were
close companions, and 1t was whis-
pered that in this way each kept track
Of the others movements.
Nevertheless Luke felt Il fierce stab
Of jealousy ms 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 Mexicun Pete His mustaches
were twisted Hercely. and his black
eyes sparkled maliciously as he look
cd at Luke Prentice playing solitaire
by the light of lantern.
"Any messages you want to send.
Luke?' teaspd 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. lazlly gathering up the
cards and swapping them into rub
Der band.
miss GertieT' Fletcher Redeemed
uneaslly ~ didn't say | was going
to Lone Tree. did n Besides, ! reck-
OIL didn't know you'd been pros
pecting around there"
GAN gals IL alike to me-" returned
Luke sententiously. when one amt
to home another will do Just as well
80 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 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 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
assaillng the Chincapin and demand
ing an explanation from Estells.
There must be some reason for her
not caring 10 see him again, and II
the reason was Fletcher-well, Luke
would see that Fletcher stopped nirt-
ing with Miss Gibbs and gave al
M