The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1913-03-25
T H E
Bad Man
Did He Deserve
the Namep
BY cLARIssA MAcKIH

He rode past Fancher's place in a
cloud Of dust from the sun baked prai-
RE. Nan Fancher, standing in the
shade OF the wide veranda, met his
fierce, dark glance with frightened,
timid eyes, and instantly the savage
fire died out of his eyes and was re-
placed by wonderful softness.
1.-THE bad man!' shrilled little Peter
F2ncher from his post near the gate.
Hush, Peter!' admonished his aunt
severely. You mustn't say such
naughty things
But he is bad" whimpered Peter as
the horse and rider disappeared in the
dust. HE lives all alone in a little
hut over near the big mountain, and he
bites little boys, Manuel has told me-"
Nan related the incident to her broth
er and his wife at the monday dinner.
who is the man? He has an interest
ing face" she added.
"It's Gay Ransom; that's all we know
about him. He's sheep herder for
Bleck beyond the mountain. The boys
give him bad reputation, and his APP
pearance certainly bears them out
Mrs. Fancher sent the Chinese cook
into the kitchen on sore errand and
spoke in a low tone. LOO Sing has
told me that he lost fifteen chickens
last night, Dick, and he is positive that
Ransom is responsible for their disap-
pearance."
Same, dear" expostulated Nan, THAT
man didn't look like chicken thief.
somehow"
"He's terror of the plains, such as
1 used to read about In the nickel nov
els hidden away in the garnet years
ago." Dick arose from the table and
passed large bronzed hand over his
sisters sunny hair. Its mighty nice
to see you out here, Nan. l wish you'd
shake that old school in the east and
settle down here In Texas"
I'D love to, Dick, now that there
are just the two of us left said Nan
little sadly. Perhaps 1 may buy
the next ranch to yours and become
your neighbor."
''The next ranch is in the next coun
ty," grinned Dick teasingly. you
wouldn't be very near neighbor in
that case. There's plenty of room for
you here for long time to come,' and
Anne added such an urgent plea that
Nan was sorely tempted to extend her
summer vacation into a permanent
stay
Il believe I'll ride over to the herd
er's hut and see if l find any chicken
bones" remarked Dick as he left the
room. Good time to investigate while
the chaps away. Want to come,
NanY'
yes" said the girl soberly, for the
errand was not exactly to her liking.
She would have preferred that her first
ride across the brown prairie had
more agreeable object than the ferret
ing out of chicken thief, but she
said nothing as she tossed on a wide
gray felt hat and drew on soft leather
gauntlets over her white hands.
AS they rode along enveloped in the
dust raised by their own progress Dick
Fancher gave his sister brief sketches
of the neighboring ranches and their
owners.
And, last Of all, there's Blocks place
over the mountain. Block is an east
erner with notions who came out here
year ago. bought the ranch, placed
a foreman in charge and then went
home to raise sheep from the office
of New York skyscraper"
"And this Gay Ransom is one of his
herders?" asked Nan.
yes; dropped on the country one
day from nobody knows where, with
ready made reputation which was
chinned far and wide by Blocks fore
man, Peterson. He says Ransom is
fire eater-shoots first and argues
afterward'
How DREADFUL murmured Nan.
Sand to think he would steal chickens
too"
See any feathersg' asked Dick as
they approached the door of the hut.
Nary sang Nan in the vernacular.
Dick rode close to the hut, suddenly
swooped from his saddle and picked up
the limp and yellow foot of a chicken.
mot so far wrong there. my girl"
he said to his sister, dangling the foot
before her averted face.
The door of the hut opened suddenly
and the bad man stood before them.
He plucked off his hat and held it in
his hand, revealing a white forehead
between the thateh of his unkempt
dark hair and the tan of his face
"Howdyv' he said amiably. "Will
you come in?"
mo, thanks" drawled Dick, with all
the insulting emphasis he could sum
mon, "Im just collecting chicken feet:
that's ALL I've found two familiar ones
right here. Maybe the rest of 'em are
still holding up the chickens. eh?"
IF It's joke I've missed it," said
the other quietly. 'eWhy are you look
ing for chickens around here? This
isn't chicken ranch"
"See here, Ransom, joking aside"
said Dick, with an entire change of
manner. 1--WE found pair of my feet
my chickens feet, l mean-here in
your yard. How the dickens did they
come thereY He dangled the feet I'M
pleasantly close to Gay Ransom's face.
I'm not surprised they came from
your place." said Ransom slowly, "be-
cause, you see. l bought them from
your cook, Loo Sing There's one more
around somewhere. l was counting on
having him for my dinner, but l don't
receive stolen goods, of course. Want
to take him homer
IF you've paid for him he's yours,
Of course" said Dick in a disbelieving
tone, for which Nan could have shaken
him .1ll take the matter up with
Loo Sing"
stop awhile, you and the lady, and
I'll give you broiled chicken dinner.
Pm aiming to cook him right away"
mot today, thank you," said Dick,
with scant courtesy, and the bad man
flushed under his tan at the implied
insult. Nan looked down at him and
met his embarrassed glance She smil
ed reassuringly into his startled eyes,
and there came surprised look into
her own. AS she rode away she looked
back more than once at the lone figure
standing in the sheep herder's hut, and
the last time she looked he waved his
hat In friendly farewell After that
she kept her face straight ahead, her
eyes fixed on the triangular space be-
tween her horses ears. A little smile
played about her lips. and now and then