Connecticut western news., 1911-08-17

 nouncement and lodged out of the bunk house. His three comrades stared open mouthed at one another until Pepper broke the silence.
 -, "Marriedv' he uttered dazedly. Did he say that?"
 Tony Golf 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 tony wedding. What did Raymond say about it? I didn't sense it all, I was so habber- gasted.'
 "As near as I 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. Wen all chip in and git Mrs. Carwood to buy it down to Penfe1d- Wimmen always know what to git.''
 Tony Golf shook his head. ''Nix on that, Pepper Why, Raymond's been our mate for three years-ever since come to the Twin Star. I feel mighty friendly to him. I reckon all of us do, and we must pick out the present ourselves. What sa-ayT
 The others nodded assent, and as it happened that the morrow was the monthly pay day they decided to ride over to Penfield the next afternoon and select a wedding gift for Ray mond's 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- uons that faced them nearly caused stampede. JiIfk Prole stared unhappi ly at the engraved words.
 'I dunne," he hesitated. s.It might be this present business. Oughter be did by an expert. If we should make a mistake sffe-the lady - Emmerett- might take offense at what we gots'
 ToHy Golf tucked his envelope away and prepared to smoke. s'There aIn't no use losing your nerve" he said at length. "You brac6u us to the job, and we got to carry it through. Mebbe we ain't got to go clean to Penfeld. What you think of that lamp in Cox's win derF' He pointed lean forefnger at the dusty, fly spotted merchandise dis played by the postmaster.
 The three surveyed il longingly.
 It was tall lamp of pink glass and when freed from dust and lighted E2i-',t ca@t m added rosy glow over t,1c ra:Er,S Of the newly welded pair MT. Pepper strode to the door and bawled an inquiry.
 He returned and flung himself on his horse. Three ninety eight, includ- ing the shade" he repeated contemp- tuously, and us with a hundred in our pockets to spend!"
 With one accord they resumed the journey to Penfeld, leaving behind the dark shadowing mountains with the last glimmer of the sunset along the upper ridges. It was after dark when they pounded into the town, and, hun gry and thirsty, they made their way to a restaurant and satisfied their ap- petites.
 Afterward they entered the Farnum emporium, a maze of narrow aisles running between shelves and counters laden with glass and china in every conceivable form of fragility. The side walls of the store were lined with counters upon which were piled house hold wares, while the rear presented a gloomy barricade of furniture against a background of gaudy carpets.
 link Prole sidestepped down an aisle and reached the barricade just as a pretty girl arose from a chair and laid down a piece of fancy work. What can 1 do for youF" she asked briskIy.
 Before the tall ranchman could an swer there came a terrific crash and the sound of splintering glass blended with startled profanity.
 "Ohr' exclaimed the girl. That's real cut glassp'
 Iris considerable cut up," agreed Prole as they reached the scene of disaster, where Pepper and Tony Golf stood staring down at the havoc they had created. How'd you manage to | clean off the hull shelf?"
 MT. Pepper twisted his long mustache ruefully. "Of course it can't be because l it's narrow gauge here. We squoze 1 ourselves as wells we could, but some how there want no place for elbows. 1 Now, miss, what's the damage?" He | dug his hand deep into a pocket and | brought forth his months pay, $40.
 The girl knelt upon the floor and ! bent her head above the fragments, | piecfng them together with little dis | mayed exclamations. At last she tossed ! back her misty black hair and looked | up at them. With slowly crimsoning | cheeks.
 "It's too bad" she said regretfully, l Out this is real cut glass, and it's aw- ful expensive. There was a water bot ! tie and six tumblerS@$1O for the bot 1