Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1912-10-18
CAPTURES JIM CORSON
Cowboy Then Turned tho Tables and
Captured tho Pretty Little
Teacher.
BY |. W. q. PETERS.

good looking face as he tried In vain
to hide his six feet OF Drawn and
muscle.
Here she comes now" shouted one
of the group surrounding him. as
pretty girl. about twenty years old.
was seen approaching from the direc-
ton OF the schoolhouse.
She was followed by troop OF
children and her brown eyes were
alight with the Joy of life Jim got
up hurriedly and entered the saloon.
oh. Mr. Perkins," cried she in a
clear, sweet voice. lis Mr. Corson
there? wish to speak to him."
Nom He just stepped down the
street"
Jim stood back from the window
at the llighspire counter. There was
a glass OF whisky before him. but his
hand trembled SO that he could not
lift 1t to his lips.
Il am SO sorry. When he returns
will you tell him there Is meeting
in the schoolhouse tonight We hope
he will come and bring his friends
Her soft tones reached place In
Jims consciousness never touched be-
fore =.
Yes IN. I'll tell him; but why don't
you invite me?"
oh. you'll be there" she answered
merrily.
For a moment an unreasoning ha.
tired OF Perkins suffused Corson's
being He felt as If his friend were
poaching on his preserves. He turned
and strcde out OF the back door Of
the Highspire saloon. leaving his
whisky untouched.
But that night at the boarding
house. when he heard her voice out
side the dining room door. he left his
half-eaten supper and slipped out
through the kitchen. From that day
when not occupied with the bust
ness of the ranch-he spen: most Of
his time lodging the young teacher,
yet he longed to meet her face to
face.
His business in Tytown was to ship
the cattle sent in from the ranch to
the packers to whom they were con-
signed. One morning, hours before
1t was necessary. he started out to
meet herd of young steers. He
reached the meeting place tired out,
and. dismounting, he stretched him
self under a tree and was soon sleep
Ing sOundly.
Suddenly he felt soft touch on
his brow, and, opening his sleep be-
unused eyes, he looked into twinkling
brown orbs set in pretty girl face
framed In curls that the September
sun turned into purest gold.
Am l in heaven" he whispered
reverently to the vision.
mo, but l hope we shall start you
in the right direction to reach there. "
answered masculine voice, and Cor
son frowned when he realized that
the voice came from Preacher Manly.
who was holding the horses in the
road few feet away.
Jim jumped up and stood hat In
hand gazing at the teacher.
II am the school teacher In Ty-
town, Miss Bremen" she explained.
What a fool ! have been." muir
INJURED Jim.
Mr.. Corson," began the preacher.
I'VE have been trying for some time
to see you"
so ] have heard" interrupted Jim
grimly.
we have concluded from careful
observation that you are the counter
influence in this community. Judge
1t BEST" went on Manly oratorically,
Ito come to you, the fountain head
Of the saloon group. to beg that you
come to our side for the good of Ty-
town."
You mean to go to church," an.
swered Jim, who was only vaguely
aware that the good man was speak
ing.
That is step in the right direc-
ton"
Well" promised Jim. his eyes still
on the confused girl, "1ll be there
sure; yes. every time the doors are
OPEN"
And that moment began the re.
versal OF the order that had hitherto
prevailed. Jim attended church at
all times in the wake of the young
teacher. Once he was started in her
direction he would 60 in no other.
He sighed soulfully every time the
memory of her soft touch came back
to him.
One day. after Miss Bremen had
been more than usually Indifferent
to his attentions, he was sitting in his
favorite spot outside the Highspire
deep in thought.
"Nothin' but SEEM teacher is any
pleasure any MORE" he unused, after
prolonged scrutiny of the small
building at the end of Tytown's one
street, from which came the sing-song
voices OF children reciting lessons
Even liquor has lost its SAVIOR, and
here l sit day after day like bump
on a log waitin' for school to let out.
Just two weeks ago l was carefree
man. and if l wasn't happy l was too
much Of a durn fool to know It,"
Here Mr.. Corson's meditations we're
broken off by the eruption of the chill
dren from the schoolhouse. The
teacher followed a few minutes later.
and, after locking the door hurriedly,
she ran down the street as If she
were trying to escape some one.
Before she had gone far, Jim over.
took her. When he reached her side
she turned upon him.
Mr. Corson. this amounts to per-
secution. | cannot stand it. You must
stop following me-" She paused
breathless. her face flushed, her eyes
angry.
Miss Bremen. don't you think