The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-02-18

A"S oo'S u'S A''ihiSoS anu QOU
meal thing. I've told them you
wanted to be quiet and study"
1T had lots OF effect" laughed Jes-
samine. And then she did a rash and
feminine trick. She deliberately drop.
ped her HANDKERCHIEF from the win
done crumpled square of linen, with
an embroidered -" in one corner
Gimpy got it. being nearest, and de-
Tended his possession with a new
short range automatic that even
Curly thought well Of. Gimpy's pony
stood near. bride hanging while it
munched the clover around Ma Simm's
dooryard And war started in camp
at that identical moment. Gimpy was
in the saddle and racing for the foot
hills before the rest know his intent
The rest foilowed-all save Curly.
wNose pony was grazing in the creek
pasture below the blacksmith shop,
whiting his turn to be shod.
When the rest OF the crowd return
Cd perspirng and dusty from nine
n.lr chase, bat with the handker-
c'ief preserved. AID Gimpy's apcl
forthcoming, a lound Curly
! jos amino bunting PINK AMI
tie lady siiapers down where
ny s~cre hid soan Some e.rw-
:. "a Simras rcrtisal the faad-
ehicf and aar Y n!h q s.i.f
II sent thea - ca II II Nar. b
comfy lrcc,ca y, tii i"cnn ii.c, a"a H.
c, ri d back with him the memory G.
hr voice. and tie Trick Of tfoe-
.lecpy long Il Il eyes that had
Nay Of opening sti.aclly Very wide.
like an interested child
After that he RODE down 10 the
Junction every night while the rest Of
tie KIT outfit stayed out at the ranch.
Some nights Gimpy rode in too and
brought his violin. Jessamine said
she loved music. Curly sat on the
doorstep to the lean.to, listening to
the two Of them. Gimpy playing, and
Jessamine singing. He hated Gimpy
those nights, and before Iessamine
had arrived the two had been close
pals Sometimes now as he rode,
knowing Gimpy's pony followed, he al
N wished he had the nerve to
ia" about. and dare him to a straight
fight the way men used to settle such
things Then he would wonder wheth.
er she loved Gimpy and low he could
face her supposing he were to put
bullet through him.
So ne took the straight path and
rode down one night early Gimpy
was there before him He saw him
sitting beside her on the rough wood
en- bench under the eucalyptus tree
he saw that Gimpy was agitated. He
leaned forward and tried to take her
hands, but she pulled them away, and
then Gimpy made a quick dash for
her. and she laughed Curly heard
her laugh. He felt sorry for Gimpy.
Even II she didn't want him, It wasn't
Kind to laugh. He knew q fellow
like Gimpy was too good to laugh at
he turned and rode the other way
couple Of miles. to make sure the
game was an open one.
When he came back Gimpy was
gone And she looked so pretty and
tender in the moonlight that Curly
forgot the other man
I don't suppose you'd care for a
FELLOW like me, Jess" he told her.
Standing with his back to the wall,
mead up. eyes pleading. But I
thought maybe you did, from the way
you looked at me, and the way we'd
talked. don't you know? It isn't much
Of life out here for a girl, but my
DADS sheriff down in Colorado. and
ne's made good and going to run for
county treasurer, and | can 20 back
tnere any time. and step into the
heir apparent's shoes. And motherd
love you like forty"
But. you silly boy" eaid Jessa.
mlne laughing. I'm not a bit In love
with anybody here Just enjoyed
having you boys come down and sing
and play for me. I'm going back
home next week. back to Chicago and
| m going to be married hoEe you
won't mind I'm so sorry. you know"
Mind" Curly stared at her fixed.
y. at her lovely eyes and soft satin.