The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1912-07-25
WEEKLY SHORT STORY
ANGELA'S ARRIVAL
BY Eldridge MAXWELL

rades.
ILL., boys" shouted the first to en-
ser, nave you heard the news2,
mnat news! queried a lank and
S Su individual, removing his nine
Hrom lhis mouth and rhrowinp an
ancient pack Of cards on the table he
fore him. -0 '''Oie DC
Aw' nothin' to int'rest you, Shorty.
Aou amt interested in females !
reckon
Females." chorused Che remaining
occupants of the room.
why sure, amt you heard? The
Doss sisters comm to visit him.
How old is she?" inquired the
Youngest Of their number, called
Handsome Bob Barnes because of
MS fondness for the cracked mirror.
on, l amt sure" drawied the
bearer of the news, but Skinney here
seen a photo of her up to the house,
an ne says she's somewhere round
twenty. Curls an dimples an purity
as a picter, amt she, SKINNY"
WAL, now, callate she's a purity
fair lookin' gal as females CO." said
Skinny, slowly. Course you can't
tell much by these here photographs.
but I'd say as how she'd show up
purity fine"
when does your ding-busted fe-
male woman arrive?" asked ''HamleS''
Wilson, betraying a spark of interest.
DAY after tomorrow, the boss says
Train gets in the junction at two
thirty" replied the man who seemed
TO be the possessor of all the infor-
nation.
Give us some particulars, Pete"
demanded a scholarly appearing per-
sonage called percy"
Pete peered around the room and
swelled with Importance.
Far as l know" he stated conde-
scendingly, her names Angela. Seems
she's his youngest sister an he amt
seen her for about five years, so now
shes comm out from Moo Yawk to
take charge of the ranch-house an
sect he gets fed decent" he ended
looking significantly az Hamlet" who
was the ranch cook.
hun, growled Hamlet, contempu-
0uously, Il guess a show he's sur-
MVed this long on my cookin,' he can
live little longer"
Now, Hamlet, the girl don't know
what swell cook you really are i"
SAID Skinny, soothingly, whereupon
ttamIeS consented to lend an ear once
lers." i'ioN-
WAL" Pete proceeded, '4D guess
mats about all, 'cept the boss saws
us up to one of us to go meee the
Iady. He paused to note the effect
OF MS last statement. Each man, with
the exception of Hamlet pricked up his
ears but Handsome Bob was the first
to speak
well, boys" he said confidently. "ut
seems to me that if the lady in ques-
ton is about twenty years old and as
purity as picter with curls and dim
pies and all such rot, why it's only
right that a young an progressive man
like me should welcome her to our
happy home. She wouldn't want an
old codger like Skinny, an Hamlee,
why he'd scare her out.
"Oh, l don't know bout you" said
Pete holly. Il was thinkin' O. dom the
deed myself"
Now, boys" put in Percy. don't
you think I'd impress her more'n
either Pete or Bob?"
Nav, snapped Hamlet and Percy
suDslded into moody silence.
After much discussion of the oues-
ton 1t was decided that all points
were in favor of Bob, much to his
JOY, for, as he told Skinny afterward,
ne q been thinhn' of buying a ranch
Tor himself an it would be kinda nice
10 have a woman around 20 brigten
up his landscape"
during the course of the next day.
handsome Bob might have been seen
10 make many furtive journeys to the
cracked mirror His spare moments,
as those Of his comrades, were spent
III polishing his spurs and doing in
Vulnerable little things to improve his
appearance.
The next morning Bob hunted a
clean shirt and gorgeous bandana,
Which he considered especially en-
trancing to his charms. While waiting
for breakfast, Peter came upon him
engaged in studying battered volume
of Shakespeare, which he had borrow
ed from the boss.
well, I'll be darned!" Pete ejacu-
lated. IF he amt readin' poetry"
Jaw, guwan," sputtered Bob, don't
all gals like poetry? How sweet the
moonlight sleeps upon this bank" he
began but with a howl, Pete had fled
AZ noon Bob shaved, and with the
aid of Percy manicured his finger
nails, arranged his bandana in the
most becoming manner, and finally
harnessed up the team of lively pintos
and drove eff for the junction amid
a cloud of dust and the cheers and
jeers of those left behind.
After what seemed endless waiting,
the team hove in sight, and as Hand
some Bob and little Angela, as the
boys called her, were near, the boys
gathered as close as possible for a
view of the wonderful damsel. The
dust was so thick thac only the ponies
were visible, but soon the walters
could hear a loud, rasping voice say
ing, "The ballot, Mr.. Barnes, is, l as
sure you, the highest aim toward
which women should strive. Why
should not intelligent women have as
much voice in che government of this
nation as ignorant laborers? 1 ask
you, Mr.. Barnes, is it just to exclude
from public affairs we who labor so
valiantly for the betterment of the
neODIe2"