The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-01-29

He admitted his conversion shame
lessly. "Tm for whatever will pay
best Just now, with a high tariff,
sheep are the boys. So long as can
get on the reserve at cents a head
lambs free-rm going to put every dol
lar I've got into sheep"
you're going to get thrown OF al
together one Of these days." said the
young man on the back seat
Thereupon violent discussion arose
over the question Of the right Of
sheepman to claim first grass for his
flocks, and Gregg boosted that he cared
nothing for 1.-The dead line" They've
I'm there to stay. I have 10000 more
on the way, and the man that tries to
stop me will find trouble"
The car was descending into the val
ley Of the Roaring Fork now, and wire
fences and alfalfa fields on either side
gave further evidence Of the change in
the lands dominion. Down past the
courthouse, refurbished and deeper
sunk in trees, Lee Virginia rode, re-
calling the wild night when 800 armed
and vengeful cowboys surrounded it,
holding three cattle barons and their
hired invaders against all corners, res
olute to be their own judge, jury and
hangman- It was all as peaceful as
Sunday afternoon at this moment,
with no sign Of the fierce passions of
! the past.
The car crossed the Roaring Fork
and drew up before two small shacks,
one of which bore faded sign, 1.-The
Wetherford House." and the other in
fresher paint 1.-The Wetherford Cafe"
On the sidewalk group of Indians
were sitting. and half dozen SLOUGH
ing white men stood waiting at the
door.
As Leo went past the hotel porch
her heart beat hard and her breath
shortened. In fash she OWNED the
er had discouraged her coming home.
1t was not merely on account Of the
money. It was because she knew that
her business was wrong.
What a sQualid little den It was!
How cheap, bald and petty the whole
town seemed Of a sudden! Lee Vir-
ginia halted and turned There was
only one thing to be done. and that
was to make herself known. She re-
traced her steps. pulled open the bro
ken screen door and entered the cafe
It was a low, dingy dining room filed
with the odor of ham and bad coffee
At the tables ten or fifteen men, a mot
ley throng, were busily feeding their
voracious jaws, and on her left, behind
a showcase filed with cigars, stood
her mother, looking old, unkempt and
worried. The changes in her were so
great that the girl stood in shocked
, alarm. At last she raised her veil.
Mother" she said, don't you know
me?'
| A look Of surprise went over the
older woman's fabby face-a glow
which brought back something Of her
other self, as she cried, "Why, Lee
Virginny, where did you come fromT'
The boarders stopped chewing and
stared in absorbed interest, while vir-
ginia kissed her blowsy mother.
by the Lord, it's little Virginnyr''
said one old fellow. Its her daugh-
ter"
arose, and the waiter girls, giggling,
marveling and envious, paused, their
platters in hand, to exchange comment
on the newcomers hat and gown. A
cowboy at the washing sink in the
corner suspended his face polishing
and Saped over his shoulder in silent
ecstasy. Some of the men came for
some difficulty in recognizing one OF
two of them $50 hardly had the years
OF her absence used them, she even
tually succeeded in placing them all.
At length her mother led her through
the archway which connected the two
shanties, thence along a narrow hal
into a small bedroom, into which the
I place, but as a refuge from the crowd
In the restaurant it was grateful.
Lie looked at her daughter critical
~. Il don't know what I'm going t.
do with a girl like you. Why, you're
purty-purty as a picture. You were
skinny as a child. I'm fair dazed
Great snakes, how you have opened
out. You're the living image of you
dad. What started you back? tolt
you to stay where you was"
Il had no place to go after Aun
Celia died. had to come home"
You wrote they was willing to keel
. you"
They were, but I couldn't ask It O.
them. I had no right to burden them
and. besides, Mrs Hall wrote me tina
you were SICK
IT am. but didn't want you to com,
back. Lay of your things and come
out to supper. Wen talk afterward."
The eating house, the rooms and
Railways were all Of that desolate
shabbiness which comes from shiftless
ness Joined with poverty. Everything
on which the girls eyes fell contrasted
strongly with her aunt's home on the
Brandywine-not because that house
was large or luxurious, but because il
was exquisitely in order and swee,
with flowers and dainty arrangement
of color.