Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-05-16

soulful content that now filled his breast
At the conclusion Of his reading he carefully folded
the letter. sneled Of it ngerngy and tucked away
deep in pocket.
Bless her heart he calculated who'd ever mag
inc she'd consent to become Mrs condemned
featherhared cowpuncher ke--l1clo Kid what's up"
A puncher was swinging himself hurredy down
from painting steed near at hand.
"Nothin much, l guess; only git tn loan o
yer handwritin' minute till write letter." asked
the puncher he exhibited envelope from his shirt
bosom and furbed it clumsily
"Sure-but what Sort replied Thorpe
oh jest reggylaton love-" said the Kid, easily
Gan put it in warm as We kin without scorchin' til
paper. Here's tn gals an residence all proper"
He rendered the bethunbed envelope toward Thorpe
who took with smile and shifted quzzically
corner.
pretty healthy perfumery, eli. KIDD" he asked
Him. ya-as, rather. This here's tn attymizer she
uses, and the puncher produced large-sized plug of
tobacco that had shared the inissives hiding place
Got any paper, Kid
The Kid dved into the flap Of his saddle and drew
out few sheets OF wrnked paper
Chalk pursued Thorpe
LEFT my fountain pen on tn pianner, Dude an
guess it'll have to be lead pencil Peel 'er down to
a edge an say when yer ready"
Dude Thorpe for such he to the boys Of the
Tripe-O outfit smoothed the sheets of paper across
Domino's sadde-leather and prepared for action
Fire away. Kid" he announced.
The Kids brows darkened with the effort Of applied
thought and he seized his chin in strenuous grip
"Of course We lead off with er name an address,
don't yc: Maybe III have something thunk up time ye
git that done"
Thorpe dug into the Kids letter and ran his eye
hastily down the final page in search of the ladys
name. Then--of sudden-he nearly choked AS it
was, the Kid glanced quickly up and eyed him sus-
pciously
Got spell comm Dude?" he inquired hazily.
"H-m--swaowed hyY said Thorpe, as he worked
his hin up and down ponderousy. He then took a
second survey OF the and spelled it letter fer
letter the end. Yes-he could not be mistaken-it
was a remarkable coincidence and grand good joke
on the Kd-but Hamilton Thorpe happened know
the lady whose affixed to the awkward
punchers nissve.
mabel Gentry, Westhampton, Virginia ~ he read.
His eyes danced he recalled Mabels dark beauty and
bon vvant air. What earth could she he doing
with an individual like Kid Holton, lowly cow
puncher in far-away Texas3 All! Bessie would know 4!
His Bessc-the girl who had promised to become Mrs
to a condemned feathcr-headed comprehensive would
solve the mystery. For Bessie Wnton lived in West
hampton, and the three, Bessie, Mabel and Hamilton
Thorpe, fellow alumni of the Westhampton High.
Therefore, Thorpe chucked softly to himself as he
squared himself to receive tie Kids dictation
"Feen' better now, Dude" asked the Kid abruptly.
Fine. Kid What'll go irst?
well tell 'er have received 'er letter an contents
duly noticed. Fix it up smoothern that if possible,
Dude l don't want look too dun,ned ign runt if
kin help it, We know"
"Sure not" said Thorpe writing swiftly
Then break away with something about tr' descrp-
ton bein enough make old maverick chaser want
TO file his teeth Virginia roan' ears-or something
soft an touchin like that Tell er brunettes il nv
favorite an always When we git that let me know
an I've got clincher for ye to put n"
The puncher eyed his amanuensis admrngly AS his
pencil flew the paper He was studying his
"cncher" however and when Thorpe presently rested
he prepared
Nov say something like ths--Your name is sweet
as rock candy an have been sayn' it to myself all
last nigh. out tn lonely prairie with tn savage
mountain ons-jest got to drag in them lions Dude
tn savage lions a-roarin round me while sleptr"
Great idea, Kid--how about mentionin few badgers
an woodchucks also" suggested Thorpe, anxously
"Nope-them lions a-plenty for this trip Next
time maybe III have grizzly bear or so tryin to eat
me-can't up all my ammunition at TIL start, you
know"
Thorpe tackled the job manfuy, and after some
minutes signifed his readiness for more
Got my age in therel" asked Holton.
"Yep-and color" replied Dude.
Good Well, tell err to write again give my love
- tn old folks-rny father Methodist preacher