The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1912-05-17
SPEAKING
TO MOLL.TE
BY CHARLES WIsHART

NEI jim AAn'
tressingly about his reed-like leg.
and hung in detected folds from
shoulder blades of razor sharpness
only served to accentuate the utter
detection of the man. He leaned
against post in front of the Golden
Grace saloon, and to Eben Brennan,
as the latter paused to contemplate
the strange spectacle, it seemed as
though the mar would fall were he
deprived of his support.
Looking for a man ?" asked the
stranger hesitatingly when Brennan
had concluded his inspection, adj
ding; "I'm looking for a job"
"What range did you ever ride ?"
81 never worked on a ranch"
confessed the stranger. at was on
the stage" ~
Brennan grinned widely.
"a stage cowboy is worse'n a muir
derer, but the old man told me to
bring back a man to work about the
bouse, and if you can stick to a
horse long enough to get there, l
guess the job is yours if you want it,
The foreman turned abruptly and
strobe away, and the stranger ran
after him.
"My names McCartney-Aloysius
Mccartney" he painted, "and thank
You very much"
Brennan stared, nodded and con-
'tinued on his way. He gave no
more thought to the new man until
it was time to make a start for home.
He had almost forgotten the incl
dent until he came over to the store
and found a little knot of cowmen
gathered about a brilliant figure in
the stagiest of cowboy get ups. Nc
CARNEY looked up appealingly as
Brennan entered.
ut is the only thing I've got that
will do" he explained, "and | take
it that your ranch amt no Garden
of Eden where l can do without
clothes. / know it amt the way
you fellows dress, but I'll get some
real clothes as soon as l get some
money, but I'll have to make this
old stage outfit do until then"
"I'm AFRAID you'll scare the horse"
said Brennan, iudicially, 'but we
can try it on him"
To his surprise, the man made a
good throw and landed the horse
with the Bar B brand, but it took
HIM a longer time TO rope and saddle
the loaned horse, so they were late in
starting. Barbee, the owner, re-
garded the new arrival with aston
"Great heavens Bren-
nan" he cried, "what circus did you
get that from?"
Brennan offered a brief explana-
ton, but Mccartney had received
ranch baptism. Half a dozen of
the men were within earshot and it
was as "Circus" Mccartney that
he was introduced to his fellows.
There was work in plenty, but
Circus was not afraid of work,
and as he gained in flesh, he lost his
air of uncertainty. He had regained
his skill as a rider now that he once
more had a horse under him, but he
did not seek a shift to the range, for
Malloy was at the ranch
house and Circus was making ia
nous progress with Mollie Malloy.
She was the daughter of the cook,
a black-eyed little colleen who
queened it over the hearts of the
range riders for twenty miles around.
Until "Circus" had come, she had
automatically evinced no prefer
ence; though she was more polite
to the foreman than to the men, and
Brennan had come to regard their
engagement as a matter settled ex-
cept for the formal asking of the
question.
He viewed with no pleasure the
progress "Circus" made in Mollie's
affections, and at last he was moved
to protest. lie came riding in from
the range one afternoon to encounter
Circus" riding out with a message
for one Of the camps.
"You're a mean, low, sneahng
pup" he snarled instead of offering
the usual greeting. al pick you up
off the streets a wreck, and you pay
back by trying to steal the girl
Pm going to marry"
miss Mollie tell you so ?" inquired
"Circus," politely, though there was