davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-04-11

rowed to slit, dozed on the window
sill beside the red geraniums.
Suddenly. however. the slumbering
hush of the spring morning was COM
pletely shattered. Dogs ran barking
toward the road. frightening line Of
white ducks. Awkwardly they wad-
died away on their short, yellow legs.
their wings beating the air, and their
fiat bills slanting upward.
Then man came around the corner
of the house, stranger, with dusty
shoes, ragged brown beard. and one
eye bandaged. The dogs followed
him, two OF them growing and show
| ing their teeth; but one, an old dog.
shifted in friendly way at the legs
of the visitor. As he approached the
woman, the stranger took Off his hat.
As he spoke to her it seemed as
though his tongue was not sure of
itself, as though his thoughts escaped
him. and then came back and disap-
pearod again without giving him a
chance to properly express what he
wanted to say.
How much--how much Ia there
much work 70 be done here?"
The woman looked toward the field
to make sure that man who was
sowing there could hear her II she
should have need to call to him: evil
IDENTIFY she was timorous, az nearly all
women are when they believe they
have to deal with a tramp. She made
haste to rid herself of the intruder.
IF you go down there. yonder. he
may hire you"
Shading his eye with his hand, the
stranger peered in the direction indl-
Gated by the wave of her hand. With
fixed stare, he scrutinized the plow-
man, and then the muscles of his face
began to twitch nervously. His lips
moved as though he were trying to
say something; finally he managed OF
ask:
"Your-your husband. that man."
The woman studied the bearded
face of tho stranger. Some vague and
Understandable memory seemed to
send tingling thrill through every
fiber of her body.
In answer to his question. she
slowly shook her head. She hest
tated before adding: my brother"
From the porch the woman OBJ
served the meeting of the men. 1t
was nearly noon. and she went into
the house to hasten the dinner, paus-
ing now and again to look out of the
kitchen window. After time she
noticed that the horses had been un-
hitchcd and put in the barn, and that
the stranger was accompanying her
brother toward the well,
As they began TO wash themselves
with cooling swishes. of water out OF
a tin basin. cheerful sound reached
rhom from the house--the clink and
clatter of dishes being placed on the
table. In the meantime little boy
in blue overalls came slowly forward
with fresh towel for the men and a
thick slice of bread and jam for him
self.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-04-11

Even n man accustomed to read the
stolld faces Of her tribe would have
found IL difficult to trace the slightest
sembance Of n problem being solved.
But when she tossed the tins into sad
dle-bag, after they had finished their
simple meal and turned upon him
where he rolled another cigarette, pre-
paratory to mounting, she said II CO."
At breakfast the cow-punchers are a
silent lot, md those under the hospita-
BILE roof Of the Irwin STAR at Tight
Clnch were no exception. No voice
broke the silence until pony thumped
up to the side door and big Tom Wes-
son strobe his betty person into their
midst.
"'Smatter. Tom? You look that I'M
casy's if you had II rattler on fer a
necktle."
Matter enough" growled Big Tom,
somebody's out docterin' brands in
this here REGION"
Jaw, come off. Tom. If there's one
locality as Is free from that there per-
It," boosted the boy who had spoken be-
fore. We've been as free therefrom
rs a Mexican from soap ever since we
strung up that bald chap full three
years ago"
"All right, have 1t your way" grunt.
cd Big Tom MS he took chair, but
Just come from a spot not ten miles
back where calf with brand new
scotch mark l amt never seen before
hereabouts--this here calf. say, was q
Nesting up close and child-like to one
Of my own COWS. That close 1t was
that any of you coyotes here would
hang Teller on the strength Of snid
COW being the mother thereof. SavvyY
The discovery of four more specimen.
Of the new brand in the week that fol
lowed the first instance as cited by Bis
Tom, caused rising and ill-bodinl
wrath among the cattlemen.
1t was Old Shed. the corpulent pro
prietor Of the Twin Star" who hat
summed up the feeling:
II reckon as how the boys wouldn'
wait absolute until roundup time 1
they once got a plumb positive idea O.
Just who it was running that Their,
brand. Seems to me as il the bes
place for that Teller. if they find him
would be ropelcss and treeless land.
And this was the prevailing sent
ment. Cow-punchers rather begrudg,
such n change of ownership in the stool
they face northers to protect. And IT.
natural enough.
But little of the uneasiness came tt
the ears OF Dick Wilson. For som,
reason. he had not suffered at the hand,
loo 81
was far more occupied with thought.
Of Kate Crosby. of her fast recoverin.
health, and Of the nearing date Of hi.
wedding to her.
He allowed himself only bi-week
ly visit to her, however, for he real
lied that the old adage of two living al
cheaply as one was one Of those pre-
cepts to be taken with q painful Of
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-04-11

though she feared he would miss n
syllable:
Grossly, he the rustler.'
what" Dick snapped the word 50
shnrp both mounts started.
81 see himself. l follow him, YOU
know. I hide; see him brand three
calf. Iron hot; burn him go"
He faced Nceka squarcly. and she
read the doubt and the intended denial
Of belief. Strengthening herself in the
saddle, she spoke firmly
"Neeka not lie
And the man looking at her that mo-
ment read truth there before him.
Quick to the belief that what she
said, startling rs It was, was true.
came the question he shot Mt her:
you've told no one else?"
| "What?"
you haven't let anybody know about
It's being him. 'cept me, have your"
| II lust come from back town way,
Tell 'em there. Man Crosby thief. lie
her father. You no marry her now"
Then her expression changed in a flash
MS she said SOFTER "Neeka no thief"
1t was crude and boldly put. but
perhaps he needed it so, to make him
understand her. At last it flashed
over him, this viewpoint Of hers, nnd
with 1t came the realization OF the
meaning of the glances she couldn't
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-04-11
GHOS Y
BY KEENE BOOT
THE

pause, harken for the robin to sing
again, and then resume his complacent
recital. After one of these intervals
of silence. he said, as he began to roll
another cigarette:
well, It got so didn't hang around
the house much. I'd 60 to town and
hang around the saloon and play pool
or pitch-nostly pitch. because It was
hard Tor me to stand on my feet very
long at a time. Then, when got
strong enough to work, didn't want
to work. The old lady was so soured
on me and thought I was so shiftless
and no count that I come to be just
that way. There was lots O. rag-chew-
In between her and me. Sometimes
Lizzie would chip in. At first she
stuck up for me. but after a while she
sided in with the old lady.
well. It don't help to make things
nice. all that. It got 30 l couldn't
stand it. and pulled out. But I raised
Ned considerable before done it. !
sold the stock and the horses and the
wagon. took the money and made my
getaway. Since then amt done much
good for myself. been up against the
booze and one thing and another till
here I am"
Ever write home" Hanlon asked
"Nix-that is--" The man from
Iowa chuckled dryly. "Up in Canada
once, wrote to Lizzie's brother
There was banker in Toronto with
the same name and same initials as
mine, and on the banks letter-paper !
wrote home. Wonder what they
thought about mo bein' a bank presi
dent?"
II know why you done that" Han
lon observed. you didn't want you,
woman to 60 and get herself divorced
and then marry again. II she thought
you was rich and splurgin' around
why, then, she might want to wait fol
you to come back. Amt that right p
mo. 1t amt. done It to-to-well
mostly to plague the old lady.
knowed she'd turn green II she
thought was gettin' along all right
And to think that ] was honkin
around In an utomobile-wouldn
that salivate herr"
but how bout your woman? D1dn',
you want her to waltz"
Maybe did"
We'll. then. are you goin' to see
herr"
Il don't know. guess-perhaps
How can tell how things will turr
out? All the same-confound tina,
rObin!"
The lure of the out.of.doors was II
that bird-call; 1t was the ghost sons
or pleasant memories. the nameles.
wizardry of spring. the sun.glory ant
sweet enchantment of the open coun
try; 1t was the voice of the old sweet
heart days which will sometimes or,
out In the lonely hours of every MAJ
who has known the way To love.
Three weeks mOre!" the prisone
exclaimed. Three more weeks O
this!"
There was something besides dis
gust In his tone; there was an uu
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-04-11
THD ride was not long ono
some thirty y,ilcc Of ,,roirto l,iii

THD ride was not long one
some thirty miles of prairie, hill
and divide-but for one Of the
two who rode the trail that day 1t
meant tho wrench from the old life of
the red men to this new one that lay
before her.
The lean-shanlied man who led the
way on Il wiry sorrel glanced up to
the sun and then signaled the noon
day halt
Might as well sling In little chuck
before we arrive, ell, Neeka"
Tho Indian girl acquiesced in the
stolid fashion of her race, dismounted
promptly. and set herself at the prep
nratlcD of the crude meal.
The man tethered the beasts so that
they, too. might find some refreshment :
then sal himself cross-legged before the
small fire and began rolling q cigar
ette
Now. look here, Ncc'ia," said he in
a draw that proclaimed his Southern
birth, I'VE might as well have sort
o final chin-chin while there's still
time. or course your father is willing
enough and all that. for that there boss
] gave him was a shore beauty; but
this hero going and living in a white
family and Il sticking t. their ways
aln't going 10 come any too easy, cspec-
Tally ut first
The girl straightcncd herself to her
full height from Der crouch over the
frying-pan. And looking mt her, Dick
Wilson UNDERSIGNED his former rating
of her as the best ne could POSSIBLY
have gotten. Here, indeed, was one
hn 10 Inv, of Nhn1
care from Kate Crosby; for Kate was
but now conyalcsciug from an illness
that had nearly talica her from him.
Work hard:" inquired Neella, and
there was Il touch of scurn in her tone
Dick eyed the 1.-the. muscular figure
before him--a figure whose proportions
revealed Il strength many q good man.
even of that rcgion might we'll have en-.
We'd. Then he chucklod.
We'll. no. hardly that. girl. You
nfn't going 10 wear out. rs it were
was Just speaking about the difference
~ the kind of living YOU was run.
ming into. still. | reckon you'll for
light into the thing Quick enough.
Just thought I'd have this here final
Nttle powWow with you. cause. some
wv or other, this trading game
N'Tk'u Win your Old man klnd o
'rhed on my mind as being mighty
'r buying and selling a human. And
81, boss o. no boss, I'm giving you
.'hncc to choose for yourself. Fact
III willing to lose the boss alto
3er: and" he went on renectively
shore WIS n fine colt that
hc Girl leaned toward him eagerly
i her question:
You be there" she asked.
be there: Oh. YOU mean Mt ole
Crosby'S: Well. no." he answered
grin to himself. II don't OK
lily live there; but 1 reckon l an
here off and on, so that it wouldn't be-
too biz Il lie TO say I was there mighty
oftpn.'
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-04-11
BY THE HAND OF NEEKA B. Burke ,,zuxu,

veil. Close pressing this revelation
came the thought OF his Kate back
there; her humiliation, the pain, the
disgrace of it all. Quickly he snapped
out his words:
"You say you told them, the boys
ut Tight CinchT
Necka covered before his gaze,
though she was far from understand
ing him. She felt, though, that she
had displeased him, and answered hum
bly,:
Yes"
"WhcnY"
81 lust ride from there"
Dick knew on the instant what thae
meant. lie cast about him Wild looK'
as man will in the perplexity or an
undecided course. The Indian followed
his every change of expression.
And Just then, ms though timed to
the instant, us though but waiting the
cue in this real stage setting. there
steppcd from among the shrubbery that
hanked one side of the trail as II
rounded the cottonwood slow-munch
ing COW followed by her calf. young
stcr that had just leaned to crop the
grass-blades with its own new teeth
Then the plan shaped itself quick
Ily. Dick stepped his mount to point
from which he could further view
the trail ahead Of him, the trail lying
toward tho town. A rising cloud Of
lpony-stirred dust told him to act quick
ly. The possee was already out. a.
had expected, for he knew the hea
to which they had been raised.
There was no time left him TO dali.
If he was to save Kate back there tn,
blow of having her father torn from
before her eyes There was no tim,
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-04-11

10 warn him to get out Of the country
Besides, this plan that had flashed to
him would not bring disgrace upon
her: and, knowing the girl as he did,
he realized that In that lay her great
est suffering.
With wideeyed wonder Neeka
watched his movements.
lie caught lp the coils of his rope
that dangled from his saddlc-horn, sent
its kissing loop over the head of the
calf. The mother, startled, backed off
some dozen yards but, true to the love-
went no farther in flight.
With the calf bound and lying be-
fore him, Dick cast hasty eye over
his saddlc-bag outfit in search Of some
suitable iron. A fence-repair kit he
had kept since his Texas days gave
him what he needed; short pry or
rod.
Ills quickly kjndled fire sent the iron
to a red heat. He took 1t from the
fire to approach the calf.
Up to this moment Neeka had
watched him with wild. non-comprc-
bending eyes; but, tuned to the thnmp-
Ing OF the oncomins ponies of the posse,
came the full realization to her of
what his purpose was. Then she
sprang from her horse, ran to Dick s
side, and began stamping frantically n
the fire.
And this was the picture that Biz
Tom, who headed the men, took in rs
they rounded the clump OF shruhberY
my Gawd - cried the burly leader
in genuine amazement And the Others
of the party were. If anything, more
nonplused.
Dick whired around in well
felgned surprise and made a move that
, would have been natural enough under
the circumstances he sprang for hi,
horse And the result Of this move
. was ns natural: for when he hac
, turned to the sharp order to stop. ht
gazed into the blucd eyes of hal
, dozen rifles.
"wcll. fcllers," said he, ms though
he realized that the jig was up, g.
guess you've got me at last"
True to Dicks wish that she keep IL
the open as much as possible 10 com
plete the recovery Of her fast-mend
ing health, Kate Crosby was taking he
daily canter on the little pony he ha'
given her.
A mile from her home she met Ncekn
The Indian girl checked her mad pac
but for a second. Sponged rs from
slate, all trace Of her former jealous
had left her. There remained but on
thought now. She must save Dick.
MAN Wilson," she cried. mile bach
They got him. Rope. They hang hin
Hurry. Pronto"
Kate read the terror in her. and ur
derstood. She quirted the little no
to It's utmost speed. Though she mai
veled Mt the reason for II all, she rea
lied the truth Of the peril that mil
rored itself so strongly in the face G
J Neeka.
AS though he had taken on the spir
Of thing thing, the powerful mount c
the Indian Numbered under he
pleased, as 1t were. at the easy graC
Of her as she fitted her pose TO h
strides. Old Crosby tipped over h
chair in his haste to reach the doc
way, for such pace spelt som
thing.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-04-11

G PIKE HANLON was exasperated,
- and had reason to be; for at best
ii is not easy to sleep we'll in an
ill-ventilated and Overcrowded Jail.
The air was bad enough, but there was
something worse. He had been reused
before daylight and kept awake by a
prisoner in the next cell, gaunt man
With hanging head and pair of heels
hat went Misunderstanding upon
'he stone floor-three steps one way,
hroe steps back again, his body a
1ark shadow like restless black bear
n a cage.
"Too'hache?" Spike questioned, with
challenge in his voice.
NO i;'s $ Hear that" The bulky
shadow in the other cell and come to
Il halt as if to listen. "Winter's over"
he added BIRDS have come back.
There again-hear it? That's robin"
Spike yawned, making u creaking
noise IN his throat before expelling
lis breath in sort Of howl
ooh, scissors!" he exclaimed, with
a hoarse and ponderous effort to imi-
tate the tone of a schoolgirl as that
what ais you?" GruntinG YEARLY, he
turned over on his cot.
From outside the jail, in the gray
darkness of early morning, the spring
call OF n robin came again, vibrant,
deliciously sweet: and from some re-
mote place another bird sent forth an
elusive lhroat-throb OF an answer.
Spring" said the restless prisoner,
"spring! What do you know about
that?'
Jaw, cut it! Forget it," Spikes
raucous voice, the true whisky voice,
came from the smothering depths OF
the bed-clothes.
The rigorous march OF the other
man continued back and forth, but
again he paused and fell to listening.
Never lived in the country, did
you?" he asked after a little time.
Guess you don't know what springs
like in the country. Take a spring
night along the creek where the wild
plum-trees is blossoni1'. They look
like clouds, soft lunches of them. And
then the moonlight crumplin' and a
wrinklin' down in the water of the
creek Air smells good-cool, as If
the Stars and the sky was-as if they
was"
Got the makin's about your" asked
Spike, with reference to cigarette
papers and tobacco.
"Sure," said the restless prisoner
and produced the requisites for a
smoke. Presently a match was struck,
lighting the fabby face Of Hanlon with
rosy glow. AS his cigarette red
dened and cooled in the obscurity of
his cell, blurs OF gray vapor floated
upward. waiting a penetrating oder OF
cheap tobacco.
'Fishn' will be good afore long,
the restless one commented,
'Fishin'? Who wants to 80 fshin'?'
growled Spike.
A rustling whisper Of thin paper in
dictated that the prisoner was rolling
a cigarette. Then he sighed as he re
marked: "Three more weeks yet afore
get out. Thirty days is what he gave
me this last time, the police Judge.
was out two days. and then thby
picked mo up again. Been here ii
pogy most all winter"
"Vag?" questioned Hanlon. with re
signed socability.
Yes, just vag; that's all they go
agin mo Moochin' some-pan-hand
lin on the street"
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-04-11

It appears that she-What were we
saying?"
Something about bank in Kings
ton" =
mo. in Toronto the farmer cor
rected. We'll. we had letter from
! him-her husband, you understand
| We thought he was dead. but It APP
pears Women are such fools! She
believes he will come back to her.
| She waits fer him II was on bank
paper. had his name on it. Only that
one letter ir all these years. But
he a,n't no banker, not him. 1t was
trick: vile. low-lived. dirty trick.
We found that much out. and l wanted
some hing from You 10 back It up"
And all she believe he was
banker?" !,
NC. she never believed it. and
didn't believe II. Him banker! Why
he's worthless scamp, no-good, a
hobo, and sot WHAT'S more. It's a
precious coed radiance TO be shut Of
him" {
Wen, ana your slster-docs she
think So foo?"
"Sto dom think nothn' about it;
she Just waits and hopes and grieves.
she named the little boy Come on
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"'.,,e' '''.''' ' .'ie $3.50 ,,a 49, or,,.
lI"' 'ne l''U', ~ 80, 80 T., a. h l'
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.!S,'". ,,a tha,, h,,roed hin,
''', "lra,,r, didn't mean to, did she?'
Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1912-11-19
TARIFF DEPARTMENT.

R. S. Kellogg, manager of the Wau-
sau Advancement association, has
issued the folliwing to the members
of the association:
After thorough investigation of
the situation, your board of directors
has concluded that an active Traffic
Department of the Advancement
association will be one of the most
efficient means of promoting the pres
ent commercial and industrial inter
ests of Wausau, and of bringing
about conditions favorable to the es-
tablishment of new industries. The
board has, therefore, authorized the
establishment of Traffic Bureau,
whose functions will be:
l: To supply information to all
shippers and receivers of freight in
Wausau, as to rates, classifcations,
routings, etc.
,: To prepare and prosecute cases
which show discrimination against
Wausau, on both inbound and out
bound traffic.
3: To audit freight bills for Wausau
shippers, and collect over-charges on
the basis of one-half of the amount
so collected.
4: To represent the united interests
of Wausau in all traffic matters of
common concern.
Mr.. A E. Sole, who is excellently
qualified for the work, has been en-
gagged to take charge of the Traffic
Bureau, and all requests for informa-
tion regarding any traffic questions
will be given prompt attention by
him.
One of the most important activi-
ties of the Traffic Bureau will be the
collection of oser-charges. For .his
purpose, all of you who have paid any
considerable amount of freight since
January /, 1912, are urged to at once
send the bills to this office, and to
send in the bills hereafter either
semi-monthly or monthly, as is most
convenient. 1t is very likely indeed
that careful auditing of the bills
and checking of the rates and CLASH
fcations will show numerous instances
in which you haze been oyer-charged.
In this connection it is worth while
for you to remember that under a
recent ruling of the Interstate Com
merce commission, 8 per cent. inter-
est can be collected upon over-charges.
Please send your freight bills to
the association Office, 500 Third St.
Mr.. Solie can usually be called at
phones 14l6 or 1920
Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1912-11-19
PRIZES OFFERED.

Prizes aggregating in value several
thousand dollars will be offered by
the Wisconsin Anti-Tuberculosis as
sociation again this year to stimulate
an increased interest in the sale OF
Red Cross Seals. The entire list
which was made public by Otto F.
Bradley, campaign manager of the
association, has been donated by in
terested people who appreciate the
value to the public of the health cam
paign which the seal sale finances.
The principal prizes have a direct
connection with public health and
are made the basis of an educational
campaign as well as a stimulus for a
large sale. To give every city an
equal chance, the competition is
placed on d per capita basis. The
following are the principal prizes:
Two '"Tuec" stationery vacuum
cleaners; four Wolverine drinking
fountains; seven Spring Maid drink
ing fountains; one Lansing $4,000
drinking fountain; three ''McIntosh'
stereopticons; statue of any repre-
sentation to be chosen for Catholic
schools, and $50 subscriptions to st.
Nicholas magazine.