New-York tribune., 1912-03-17


would stop and feel his pigtail to make sure
nothing had happened to the sacred append
age 1t was a question of theology that
bothered his pagan mind. Quite manifestly
the van- -k7gei who came in the last nights
dream had warned Bung to get haircut.
But who had sent the demon!
MRS. OLIVER decided after lunch to
lNI take the afternoon train for San Fran
cisco and 90 to the thcater with her sister.
She often did this, the regular family
arrangement being for the Judge to drive
her to the station and leave the horse and
cart at a local livery stable awaiting her re-
turn on the midnight train. The Judge
usually walked the three miles back to the
ranch.
commanded the Judge Of Bung, who was
digging posthocs in half-hearted fashion
&Ycp, Boss" replied the melancholy, ser
vitor. There was a long standing teud pc
tween Bung and the old Sorrcl mare, DIS
putc made doubly irritating from the tact
that Daisy instinctivcly realized that Bung
was afraid of her.
"Whoa-up. WhOa-up!" commanded Bung
as he sidled into the stall with collar ana
bride. The auburn Stced looked lnsolcntly
round to determine what she should hoa-
up" for. As he ncrvouSly adjusted the col
lar over her shoulders she brought down her
hoof sharply within an inch OF his toe, cauS,
ing the old man to jump as though he had
been st,lng bv a wasp lust as he was re-
covering himself she slapped him in the face
with her tail. She presented front OF hypo-
critical gentlcncss while he was removing
her halter; but the moment he seized her
forcock to force the bit in her teeth, she
suddenly elevated her head after the fashion
of giraffe. backing away at the same mo-
mcnt and dragging Bung half the length OF
the stable. -,
"Oh. hclcc! Hoss clay fool all time"
calculated Bung, attempting to bride the
stccd bv the very force of his fury. For a
time a prodigious racket of howls and tramp
ing hoofs shook the walls Of the stable. 1t
was a noise suitable to a man and a horse cx-
piring together in considerable agony. Then
silence. Soon aftcrward the carriage house
door slid back, and Daisy beComingly har-
messed to the red blackboard, trOttcd scdately
forth with Bung at the rcinS. She had gone
through the regular procedure Of being har-
messed by Chinaman, and rclshcd the SEN
SatlOn.
Sccsawing and slapping at the rclns, Bung
stopped Daisy on the drive near the Vcranda
He accomplished this mancuvcr by pulling
back full strength, which caused Daisy TO
stop on al four feet at once, thus Jerking
Bung halfway over the dashboard.
Il see you've still got your pigtah Bung,
said the Judge jocularly as he disposed his
rheumatic limbs in the narrow vehicle and
helped his wife 10 her place beside him.
Still got, admitted the coolic; but no
can tell how long, Judge Olivah. One devil
come me last night say he catch EN- plenty
quick.
Maybe YOU can cheat the devil, sug-
gcstcd the Judge. .
"Ah. no. Them devil vclly smart fcllas,
responded Bung, modify returning to his
postholcs.
THE Swedish servant was away on va
cation: So the ranch house Wa, deserted
that afternoon, save for Gertrude Oliver,
who had been washing her hair, and, clad
in shabby kimono. sat in the sunlight be-
fore a bedroom window. Bung continued
to dig postholcs, now and then pauslng to
finger his pigtall rcflcctivcly. y white hen
escaped from her prison yard and began dig
gug the roots Of a flower bed Bung OBJ
served the culprit and gave stern chase. The
hen I'm her flight elected TO cut an almost per
feet circle round and round the house, and,
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