The herald., 1912-08-01
Angela S
Arrival


"Hi, boys" shouted the first to
enter, have you heard the news?"
What news?" querisd a lank and
unshaven individual.
cav, nothin' to interest you,
Shorty. You amt interested In fe-
males, / reckon"
"Females!" chorused the remain
ing occupants Of the room.
"Why, sure, amt you heard? The
boss sisters comm to visit him."
"How old is she?" inquired the
youngest of their number, called
Handsome Bob Barnes" because OF
his fondness for the cracked mirror.
ooh, amt sure" drawled the
bearer Of the news. but Skinny here
seen a photo Of her up to the house,
an he says she's somewhere round
twenty. Curls an dimples an purity
as a pictsr, amt she, Skinny"
"Waal, now, cal'late she's a purity
fair lookin' gal as females CO." said
Skinny, slowly.
when does your ding-busted fe-
male woman arrive?" asked Hamlet"
Wilson, betraying 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
information.
"Give us some particulars, Pete"
demanded a scholarly appearing per-
sonage called Percy"
Pete peered around the room and
swelled with importance.
Far as I know" he stated con-
descendingly, her names Angela.
Seems she's his youngest sister an
he amt seen her for about five years,
so now she's comm out from Moo
Yawk to take charge Of the ranch
house an sect he gets fed decent"
he ended, looking significantly at
Hamlet" who was the ranch cook.
"Huh," growled Hamlet, cob
temptuously, 81 guess as how he's
survived this long on my cookin', he
can live little longer"
"Waal," Pete proceeded, Il guess
that's about all, 'cept the boss says
it's up to one Of us to go meet the
lady" He paused to note the effect
of his 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,
at seems to me that II the lady In
question is about twenty years old
and as purity as a picter with curls
and dimpfes' and all such rot, wy
it's only right that young an pro-
gressive man like me should welcome
her to our happy home. She wouldn't
want no old codger like Skinny, an
Hamlet, wy, he'd scare her out"
After much discussion Of the ques.
ton II was decided that all points
were in favor Of Bob, much to his
Joy, for, as he told Skinny afterward
he'd been thinkin' Of buying a ranch
for himself an 1t would be kinda
nice to have a woman around to
brighten up the landscape"
During the course of the next day
Handsome Bob might have been seen
to make many furtive journeys to the
cracked mirror. His spare moments
as those Of his comrades, were spent
in polishing his spurs and doing In
Vulnerable little things to improve his
appearance.
The next morning Bob hunted q
clean shirt and a gorgeous bandana
which he considered especially en-
trancing to his charms. While wait
ing for breakfast, Pete came upon
him engaged in studying a battered
volume Of Shakespeare, which he had
borrowed from the boss.
well, I'll be darned!" Pete eiacu
lated. 'If it amt readin' poetry!"
cav gwan," sputtered Bob, dom
all gals like poetry? How sweet The
moonlight sleeps upon this bank" he
began, but with a howl, Pete had fed
At 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 pintoi
and drove off for the junction amid
a cloud Of dust and the cheers ant
jeers Of those left behind.
After what seemed endless waiting
the team hove in sight and as Hand
some Bob and little Angela, as tn.
boys called her, drew near, the boy
gathered as close as possible for {
view of the wonderful damsel.
The rig came to a stop with jerl
and Bob alighted to assist lady o
uncertain age, attired in garb de
cidedly masculine, with a mans fel
hat and pair Of huge spectacles
She peered through these at the as
semblage Of onlookers.
why" she exclaimed in he
/ loud, harsh voice, what queer look
ing individuals" whereupon the,
melted into the atmosphere witt
surprising speed.
That night when the boys wer
gathered in the clubhouse, Hand
some Bob was missing, and did no
arrive until almost time to retire
He was greeted with loud haw.haws
which only served to deepen his al
ready ugly scowl.
''How sweet the moonlight sleep
upon this bank" quoted Pete
dreamily.