Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-12


several points OF vantage. Would help forget your
arm if you told me all about how you brand steers
a shouldn't wonder Buchanan's return look grad
uly erased all the hard lines from his face why do
you ask? Planning to brand a few?
I'm going to some day when my back gets stronger
But Mama Sue doesn't want me to be cowboy always
Saw the hired that sometimes works for us says
you rope steer better anyone IN the hill country
I'd like to you Mama Sue can do it dandy!
"You bet she CAM" He glanced ruefuly at his arm
"Does it hurt Ot?'
"Well-a little.
al know. My back used to hurt like sixty when
was in the hospital. was there three years when
other names John; but I'd rather be her partner
Pretty fine sort of mother, seems to me-"
We'll, guess Ncern real one Mine died when
l was little.
"Father too?'
"I'm not quite sure; but think so. Mama Sue says
he might well be
Partner dear, 1Oaed easy, reSttul voice from
the kitchen. "are you sure you aren't talking Mr.
Buchanans other arm 1ame?"
She reentered briskly, bringing new warmth and glow
to the plain little roOm,-aS 1T were, v1ta11zng the
flicker of the lamp upon rudely pasered wall and rag
carpet, and quickenng in and child. those sensl-
bities which respond the most readily to breath from
the home atmosphere Thus it was that Buchanan
begued into relating brief adventurous bits from
his career while Partner listened curled at his feet
breathess with admiration until Miss Altering cut
short the "reminiscences by packing the patient on to bed
IN spite of the remedies she prescribed to ory against
stiffness that he vigorously scoued,-
the next morning found him too lame to move about
comfortably and inclined to keep within radius of
the couch all that day and part of the following Mean
while, Partner his adoring shadow and Miss Aer-
ing moving calmly about her work in garden, field, or
house found time minister his wants and even to
drop in at odd moments and talk OF the little truck
garden that just beginning to put forth green shoots
the lower strip of meadow she planning to con-
vert into clover and alfalfa field.
"Some day Partner and will have the finest sort OF
ranch home" she would wind up serenely apparently
blind to the knitting of his brows.
The next evening, when watering her horse IN the
barnyard she noticed him leaning painfully over the
gate in close conference with two riders in the lane,
while detached bits of conversation oaed over to her
What do you take me for, twoyearold: ten
threw me and cracked bone. She mended me
up. . Now don't you butt in. I'll join you
tomorrow morning if | can sit on my horse: No,
thanks, don't 60 like skulking COYOTE!
Then. after some naudible wranging that seemed to
leave them dissatisfied, the horsemen galloped away
Seems to me" remarked Miss Altering pleasantly.
"hat those the two men who were proving around
nv house last week, and when they me-
"Then why do you persist in staying! Can't you see
that the cattlemen mean business!
"T'hS is all the home have. m not afraid.
"Then you don't understand the situation. Haven't
heard how the other day. the catemen across the
range among the Black Buttes burned lot OF ranch
property broke up farm machinery drove OFT stock and
compelled dozen more settlers to move out? Those
who didn't got badly hurt-so those two chaps just
told me Doesn't that give you some idea OF what's
"Those Black Buttes settlers appealed to the In
terror Department for help sometime ago, and under
stand that the government IS 10 Send Out troops
ooh, the government He had nothing but sar-
donic shrug for her confidence.
When, morning, he mounted his horse for de-
parture with stoical disregard for the twnges from
his left arm, he repeated his warning with emphasis
but she only smiled with he1 usual tolerant good humor
and said as she drew the boy to her:
well take chances, Partner and IL
Whereat Partner pressed his face closer to the big
leather strrup, queryng dolefuly for the sixth time
"Why do you have to go today, Doc? Aren't you
coming back and show me how you rope steers that
all their legs fold up under EN-? You promised
With the disappointed eyes and the quivering chin