El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-12-21


! hired girl came in time to fill a long
felt want and that TOmlinsOn's hired
man didn't shape up particularly
! well.
Theo Walker, a bachelor farmer who
lived two miles from WestcOtts place,
was the first of his kind to discover
the English girls arrival He was sick
Of patching it, and saw a possible
! end to his misery-if he played his
cards Well before the news passed on
to his bachelor friends
One week later. TheO Walker, in all
the glory Of a new buggy. was driving
at a brisk pace TO WestcOtt's farm
Good day. Mrs. Eestcott.v said Theo.
as the good woman came to the door
to greet him, Boss abOut?'
Guess not, Theo: but don't let that
send you away Come right in and
have a bite of supper with US"
Thanks I guess L will said Walk
er. who had already started to unhitch
ere Mrs WestcOtt had begun to offer
her hospitality
Julie HaIberd eyed the strapping
young farmer indifferently as ne led
the mare to the barn Neither did she
seem taken with the top buggy.
Fine night-eh2" said Theo aWk-
wardly as they sat down to the meal.
The farmers wife agreed that it was;
the girl murmured something, and
looked through the window Woman
like, she noticed that TheO was look
ing at her far more than he looked at
Mrs. WestcOtt care for a bit of
driver Buggy's quite new" TheO went
on Best PAGER in the dIstrict-far
better than anything Ed Wharfe or Jim
Collins ever hadr' he added, as an az
terthought
THANK you, no. replied the girl
Theo finished his supper in silence.
He was disappointed; that buggy had
cost him SIS and he had spent a day
going TO town to buy it.
wen, some other time perhaps2'
he suggested. Cant we fix up a date,
Miss Halberd2'
But the girl let her nose go upward
an inch higher IheO grunted, pulled
out his pipe and tobacco plug, shredded
off a "fill' stuffed il into the bowl,
and straightway began to cloud the
farm kitchen with rank smoke. His
brow was Wrinkled- He had thought
the new buggy would make a quick
conquest of the English girl
On entering the WestcOtts yard, he
saw q figure approach the house. Miss
Halberd rushed to the GoOr, and eX-
tended her hand TO this person, whom
Mrs WestcOtt Instantly recognized.
That's TOmlinsOn's hired man." she
said He has been over here twice al
ready"
IT'S who2' asked Theo. You mean
that green EngIishman2 Why, he amt
field
Lance Richards might be a green
horn, TheO, but he's got manners He
and she knew each other on the ship,
coming over; that's why he comes to
see her"
ing to get mighty sore face" said
TheO angrily. Who's he to come but
tin in on my beat2"
1t seems to me that knowing girls
don't improve you. TheO Walker" said
the woman sharply. I'm ashamed OF /
you, and ] don't know how you can
ing it's only an hour since you first !
met her. thought there was more !
sport in you"
Well, let Mister BIOOmin' English
man keep away from here when I'm 1
around that's all" said TheO darkly.
Why. I could chaw him up"
Theo drove home in a fury. but
called again at the WestcOtt's on the
following Sunday. He had a pair OF 4
horses on the buggy this time. Miss !
Halbred was out, he discovered.
shes gone for 8 walk with Lance /
RIchards, Mrs Westcott informed him. I
They'll both be back for supper.
For a walk repeated Theo. Wei, /
I'll be durnedi"
Saying which, he stamped out of the 1
house, and drove home to prepare a !
typically bachelOr-hke supper But as 1
he was dropping slices Of pork into /
the frying pan. he paused with his fork 4
IN the air. Slowly a grin spread on 4
thigh. and chuckled for the first time (
since Friday.
I'll use that buggy. after all" he /
murmured. And the supper he ate was
demolished with more appetite than he /
had known for days.
So no sooner was supper over than
TheO hitched I'D the team once more
and drove straight to the place where
the few settlers went once a fortnight, |
as much to meet each other as to re-
ceive spiritual comfort.
Comm in. TheOg' asked a farmer !
who was about to enter the place OF
worship Tain't often We see you
here"
Theo turned away to his team. united
them from the post, to which he had /
tied them few moments before, and
drove away. without even a reply to
For half an hour he drove about.
then returned to the SchOOlnOuse. He
heard not unmusicaI singing going on
inside. There was no one about the
school yard. so TheO lost no time in
getting to work.
He entered the shed which was full
OF norSeS- he mad no difficulty in
picking out the one Richards had driv-
en- in It was standing, fully harnessed,
IN its place, secured by halter. The
shank of this TheO united quickly
Back upi' he said sharply. In a min
ute he had the horse outside and at
the back OF the shed Now get alOngi"
he cried And he hung the halter
shank. carefully on the names of the
horses collar He struck the animal
a cruel blow with his whip starting IL
off at gallOp. then stood and watched
1t with a wide grin on his face as it
bounded off for home
He climbed into his own vehicle and
drove off, but returned to the school
house just as the people were emery
ng from their place of worship.
Richards, being a stranger in this
district. did not stay TO talk with his ,
leighbOrS- He went straight to the /
shed. TheO chuckled nightly.
Now whatu he dO7" wondered Theo.
All! gone to tell the girlt'
He saw the Englishman approach | .
Julie. who was standing on the steps I
# the schOOlhOuse. The two spoke to- !
5ether for awhile, then started off at
/ brick pace down the road. Theo with :
/ flourish. drove up to them. :
Say he said hats the natter .
Thought you two drove imp
so we did, answered Richards Q
shortly, but the horse got loose. Il h
must have been my carelesSness. though ( I
am sure 7 tied the brute up well" 2
Maybe Miss Halbred would like to Il
-rive2 Them shoes she's got Onu not v
Re so comfortable for a long walk
Richard flushed. He glanced down Il
{ the shoes the girl had on and noticed e
hat she was not properly shod for q
Walking He raised his eyebrows ques- 4
iOningly- o
80 GU might as well. you know he r
aid It's good offer. I think you'd 9
etter let him drive You home" ;
That's what's wrong with these
1ouca,T- 1o1T-~-