Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1912-08-05


gathered and viewed with alarm the
approach of the cattlemen.
Morgan was in advance and. whip
ping Off his hat with a graceful sweep,
/ he addressed the red haired divinity.
Excuse me, miss, but we are the
rescue party" he said pleasantly.
What you going to rescue?" de-
manded the red haired one imperious-
ly, while the others drew close togeth-
er and giggled.
I'VE was informed that some yallow
hearted varmint had stampeded your
horses" said Morgan calmly.
"Yes." said the imperious one stiffly.
Its all true. but we don't need. any
rescuing. We're going to get home
all right"
How"
walk" she returned calmly. "Any
objection?"
Yes, maam." said Morgan emphat-
ically. I'VE don't let ladies walk twen-
! ty miles when they're out for holiday
time-uot in Poregrass county"
I'm sure they're very kind. Mabel"
spoke up one Of the other girls.
"You know. we were saying just be-
fore they came that we didn't know
how we were going to get home" add
ed the queenly brunette, with a fash
ing smile at Freeman.
81 suppose it is well meant and we
are obliged" said the spokeswoman
suddenly. Perhaps you gentlemen can
tell us how to get our horses back.
They belong to Dan Perry, the livery
! man at Eagle City,
In response to these amenities on
FIVE rescuers slipped from their horses
and awkwardly submitted to Morgans
elaborate ceremony of introduction to
six ladies whose names were unknown
to any of the cattlemen.
In their guise of members of a res
cue party they were invited to partake
of the lunch and having done so en-
tered into serious consultation as to
the best methods of discovering the
miscreant who had run off the horses
or stampeded them and also the all
important question of how Finkle
STEMS salesladies were to be returned
to Eagle City that evening.
At last the unfortunate picnickers
consented gracefully to submit to the
better judgment of the men. and it
was agreed that each lady should ride
one of the Flying V horses and that
its owner should walk beside the horse
so as to ride it back when their deed
of chivalry should have been accom-
plished.
OF course all this required much dis
cussion in general and then in tete-a-
tetes. where names were exchanged
and there was much merry badinage
as past purchases of gents furnish.
ingsr at Finklesteins emporium were
recalled.
1t was Smith who secuted around
and found one of the missing ponies
grazing out on the plain. He quickly
mounted his own horse and caught the
animal, and in this way there was
provided a mount for the sixth lady,
who was suffering from the toothache
and cared little whether she was fur.
nished with an attendant cavalier or
not.
1t was she who hurried them home
ward at sunset. when her companions
had decided to ride back to Eagle City
in the moonlight.
They formed a procession as they set
forth on the twenty mile journey TO
Eagle City. The toothache lady led
the way, and the others struggled aft
er with a man at every horses bride.
This was. of course. necessary, because
never had there been collected together
such number of vicious, i'll tempered
brutes as the horses that belonged to
Messrs. Morgan, Freeman, Smith. Jep'
son and Pete Willis, and the fair riders
appeared timid.
At dawn the FIVE weary cattlemen
rode slowly into the camp. Calamity
Joe was on watch and without word
handed cups of hot coffee to his friends.
You gents are some heroes" he
ventured. breaking into their reveries
of tender looks exchanged and engage
ments promised for Wednesday even
ing to come. for the Flying V men
were bachelors all.
Il reckon So" said Freeman absent
ly. He was wondering if he could earn
enough to support a certain blond beau
ty in case she would marry him.
Morgan suddenly looked up and
caught Calamity Joe's attention with
a sharp glance.
who do you reckon run off them
hosses?" he asked.
IL dunnor' declared Joe.
You was seen doing it and might
as well own up," shrewdly said Nor
gan.
Then Calamity Joe confessed his du-
plicity. He told how he had waited
his opportunity and. hearing about the
proposed picnic of Finklestein's clerks.
had himself stampeded their horses
and thus created situation whereby
his comrades could rescue the fair dam
sells and at the same time make their
acquaintance.
In the guise Of matchmaker Calam-
ity Joe had hoped to hide his unfortu-
nate reputation.
a 49,. a, asnll Ind