Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1913-04-26
T Fl f
Bad Man
Did He Deserve
the Name ?
BY cLARissA MAcKIE

lie rode past Fanchcrs place In 4
cloud of dust from the sun baked prai.
rie Nan Faneler. standing in the
shade of the wide veranda. met MS
fierce dark glance with frightened.
t!mid eyes. aud instantly the savage
IRE died out of his eyes and WAS re-
placed 10y u wonderful Softncss.
THE bad man. shrilled little Peter
Faueher from his post near the gate.
Hush. Peter adinonishcd bis aunt
severely "lon mustn't say such
naughty things
l,ut he Is bad" whimpered Peter rs
the horse aud rider disappeared IN the
dust "Ilc lives all alone in Il little
hut over near the biz mountain. aud 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
Its Gay hanson: that's Nil we know
about him Hes sheep herder for
Block beyond the mountain The boys
give him bad reputation. and his ap'
pearance certainty bears them ont"
Mrs I'anchcr sent the Chinese cook
into the kitchen on some errand and
spoke In 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"
eef1 Lat. Nyfh -
man didn't look like chicken thief
somehow"
Hes terror of the plains. such rs
used 10 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
10 see You ont here. Nan. wish you'd
shake that old school In the east and
settle down here In Texas"
"l'd love TO. Dick now that there
are just the two OF us left" said Nan
a little sadly Perhaps | may buy
the next ranch TO yours and become
your neighbor.
"Ihe next ranch is in the next coun
ty." grinned Dick teasingly. You
wouldn't he n very near nelshbor in
that case. There's plenty of room for
you here for long time 10 come and
Anne added such an urgent plea that
Nan was sorely tempted TO extend her
summer vacation into permanent
stay.
Il believe III ride over 10 the herd
er's hut and see If | lind any chicken
bones. remarked Dick us he left the
room. Good time 10 investigate while
the chaps away Want to come.
Nam
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 n
more agreeable object than the ferret
ing out OF chicken thief. but she
said nothing as she tossed on u 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
VI tue uct-hbptihE tuuNueS anu tiltli
owners.
And. last of all. there's Blcck's place
over the mountain l.leck is an east
erner with notions who came out here
a year ago. bought the ranch. placed
a foreman In charge and then went
home 90 raise sheep from the office
OF a New York skyscrapcr."
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
chinncd far and wide by Bleck's fore
man. Peterson. He says Ransom is
fire eatcr-shoots first and argues
afterward
How dreadful" mnrmured Nan.
"And 10 think he would steal chickens
too
''See any feathers:'' 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 10 his sister. dangling the foot
before her averted face
The door Of the hut opened suddenly
and the bud man stood before them
He plucl,cd ~ his hat and held II In
his hand. revealing white forehead
between the thatch OF his unkempi
dark hair aud the tan OF his face
'Iiowdy" he said nmiably "Will
you come in:"
NO thanks" drawlcd Dick with an
the Insulting emphasis he could sum
mon I'm Inst collecting chicken feet:
that's all I've found two familiar ones
right here Maybe the rest of en- are
still holding NJ the chickens. eh;"
III It's II Joke I'VE missed e." said
the other quietly "Why are yon hook
Ing for chickens around mere: This
isn't n chicken ranch
SEE here. Ransom. Joking aside"