The Prescott daily news., 1913-08-19
ALMOST "CUT IT OUT"
By 4. F. BoNNEY.

With elbows wide spread on the top rail of the yard fence, hands under clean-shaven chin, he smoked lazily on his paper pipe" His big spurs hung idle on the high heels of his boots, the empty pistol scabbard clung to his 1.-the hip. The scabbard was decorated for the owner of 1t had artistic taste and talent, while he lacked the lan- guage to express the idea in such words; he had just fixed 1t up to look nice." he said.
 of the few which had come into his life, and he reflected morosely on the extreme comfort of a life of tcilless ease. From the fine elevation of a man of leisure he surveyed those of his own craft as they worried the sul- len cattle past the place, their explos- i've English toned down in deference to the divinity that ruled there, and the company" For once he was aloof from his own kind, a guest of the boss"
 There was a consideration which Added to the habitual scowl on his brow, the inevitable return to the sad dle; the weary night guard, the fren- zied chase after the stamping herd. The retribution for few days of ease he saw looming in the tomorrow, a whole perspective of tomorrows, in fact, and unconsciously the smoke of his cigarette oozing from lips and nos trils was mixed and blended with his one persistent soliloquy:
 "Aw, cut it out!"
 His savage glance now took in for the first time the girl, who was watch ing him with amused interest It gave him a queer, not unpleasant sensation, and conscious of height, weight and a certain savage beauty of head, he drew himself up, taking a pull at his neglected smoke.
 The most of the herd was now past the house, and the girl and the own CTS son went out through the rude gate to the corall near by, where some calves were being branded. AS they passed the taciturn one the owners son said, pleasantly:
 This is all very novel and interest ing to us, while constant repetition has, l presume, made it monotonous to you"
 After deep thought the man deftly rolled another smoke, and started to | answer, when his eyes met those of the girl. deep. blue eyes, which laughed out from a pink and white face framed in tangle of golden curls, the bewildering combination | shaded by a fower-bedecked summer hat His heart struck his throat, and setting his teeth in his inoffensive cigarette he growled:
 "Aw, cut it out!'
 And then there came a distant yell. mingled with the sound of pounding hoofs,-and turning to look he saw a maddened steer charging down on the two, the bright crimson of the girls sash focus for his murderous efforts.
 The sullen-eyed man spat out the roll of paper his teeth held and sweep ing his big hat from his head, sprang for the fence, which he cleared at a bound, feeling for his gun as he landed on the other side, to give vent to an untranslatable snarl of rage as his hand groped over the empty scabbard. The steer was within a few feet of the | glaring red thing now, never pausing at the sight of so common a thing as | a cowboy, until with a savage "Aw, cut | 1t out!" the mar hurled himself on the animals head, grasping the nose with | one hand and horn with the other. As the muzZle of the brute was driven into the sand there came the cracking of pistol shot; but the bullets, spent from long flight. only angered the brute the more.
 Then: "Aw, cut" and merciful ob- livion cut 1t out for him.
 | He lay for a long time dimly con. | scious of life, not remembering and not caring. only wondering little re- garding his surroundings. Something very like his mothers hand was | smoothing his brow, while his nostrils took in perfume new to the desert. 1 He was not breathing easily, while there was a strange roaring in his ears. through which he heard words of lavish praise he could not understand nor apply, then. all in a flash. his mind cleared and he opened his eyes. his lips moving silently with: "Aw, cut it out!''
 The ranch owner stood over him, twisting his hands together. | My boy!" he cried. you saved their lives. You did, by love! And l I'll-"
 | The injured man stirred uneasily.