Putnam patriot., 1911-04-21

cation of engineering the stagecoach down to the nearest railroad station.
 Later in the evening Bert Fletcher appeared, and close at his heels came Frank Blair When the rivals found Luke Prentice installed as court fa- vorite they unburdened themselves of large boxes of candy and took q gloomy departure Blair galloping back to the Chincapin to tell his sister of the faithless Prentice. Estelle sneered openly and then fitted of to bed with out even a good night
 Back in the Gibbs house Luke Pren- tice and Miss Gertie opened the boxes of candy and enjoyed the contents hugely. and when Luke departed Miss Gertie tied handful of chocolates into corner of bis cleanest pocket hand kerc hief
 Seven Wednesday evenings Luke Prentice cared upon Miss Gibbs. and then the following seven Wednesdays he rode down the Cbincapin trail. but in every instance. strange to relate. he did not find Miss Estelle at home The Swedish housekeeper eyed him blankiy the seventh time.
 -'T woden't fink Miss Blair be seein' youse Her says her aint to home, but her isr' she explained with a world of pity in her light blue eyes.
 Stebbins. muzzling the parched grass in the dooryard. brought up his head with jerk as Prentice passed through the gate. Suddenly he halted and look ed back at the ranch house where he had known many pleasant hours pick eted under the trees where the herb age was green and sueeulent and where humps of sugar were rendered him in Estelle's pink and white palm.
 Luke dug his spurs in Stebbins' Hanks and iapped the reins about the pony's ears. Get along, you son of Satanr' he muttered angrily. You trying to make more kinds of fool out of me than I naturally am? Hump yourself!'
 The pony started forward just as a shutter opened cautiously in a second story window and q low whistle sound ed softly across the yard. A soft, se- ductive whistle it was, and in the old days it always served as an invitation to partake of lump of sugar from Miss Blair's hand Luke did not hear the whistle. but Stebbins did and in- stantly turned and shot through the gate and galloped wildly toward the house. while Luke sawed at the reins. mad clean through at the mortifying spectacle he was making of himself before the round eyed Swedish wom- an who gaped at him around corner of the house.
 ''She says she woden't be to home. V she mumbled excitedly as Stebbins eur veted and pranced and baked and ut terly refused to leave the hospitable Blair doorstep.
 Then it was that Luke Prentice drought forth a Mexican quirt from beneath his saddle blanket and cut the balky Stebbins once across the Hanks. As result he found himself sitting on the ground ten feet away with badly wrenched arm, while SStebbins whin- nied sharply near the front door.
 Luke dragged himself painfully to-
  leaned wearily against the trunk and closed his eyes. Instantly he forgot all his troubles. When he opened his eyes to consciousness again Estelle was kneeting beside him binding his arm in stnong cool bsndages while the Swed- ish woman held an ice cold cloth to his aching head.
 ss1 cap frpt al lopU II ri gjat pnw Sol nra.' said Estelle briskly, and when the woman had departed her voice dropped almost to q whisper. Pm so sorry Luke. It waSsall my fault. you see l whiStled to Stebbins. l could see he didn't want to go. He knew better than his master what his mas fer ought to do. Why didn't you come and make me give you an explanation. Lulle2 wanted ysu to just boss me around, only you never. never would. and I thought maybe if l made you stay away from me we'd both find out. There. I'm not going to say it all,~
 such good effect that he rode away from the Chincapin with a radiant smile on his handsome face.
 At the forks Prentice met two de- jected riders turuing out of the Lone Tree trail One was Bert Fletcher, and the other was Estelles brother, Frank Blair
 Evening" said Luke happily Flows Miss Gertie Gibbs2''
 The two stared unhappiiy at each other. and finally Fletcher bfufted out .angrily:
 "The little eat. She's gone and mar ,ried the eng 'er d@wn to the smelter house. I gaNc her q cing last week V he added viciousiy.
 ~So did L." said Frank Blair bitter Iy. ."I suppose you did. too Luke?'
 Nary" protested Luke Prentice i've been ringing a beiie np to the Chincapin. Frank That's an old joke. but it's true. brother-in-law'" He reached down a brown paw. and the two others sprang to meet if and shake it heartily. forgetting their own chacrin in the happiness of their com rade
 Was Good Once.
 A certain well known composer now in the full vigor of his established rep utation waS at one time when he was comparauvely unknown engaged in rriting the music for production ia thered by two managers who knew exactly what they wanted, in addition to Knowing next to nothing of the mu sical classics After having burned much midnight oil and worked himse's
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