The Taney County republican., 1913-12-11
ALMOST "CUT IT OUT"
BY A. F. soNNEY.

WIN 6lOONS Wlut spIedu 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 it had artistic taste
and talent, while he lacked the Ian.
guage to express the idea in such
words; he had just fixed it up to look
nice" he said.
1t had been lazy day for him, one
Of the few which had come into his
life. and he reflected morosely on the
extreme comfort Of a life of toilless
ease. From the fine elevation of a
man of leisure he surveyed those of
MS own craft as they worried the sui.
len cattle past the place, their explos-
i've English toned down in Difference to
the divinity that ruled there, and the
company" For once he was aloof
rom his own kind, guest Of the
boss"
There was a consideration which
ided to the habitual scowl on his
row, the inevitable return to the sad,
he; the weary night guard. the fren-
ed chase after the stamping herd.
he retribution for few days Of ease
e saw looming in the tomorrow, n
hole perspective of tomorrows, In
act, and uncousciously the smoke of
rs cigarette oo2ing from lips and nos
Yils was mixed and blended with his
ne persistent soliloquy;
"Aw, cut it out!"
His savage glance now took In for
ae first time the girl, who was watch
9g him with amused interest. 1t gave
i'm a queer, not unpleasant sensation,
nd conscious of height, weight and a
ortain savage beauty of head, he
irew 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
er's son went out through the rude
gate to the coral near by, where some
calves were being branded. As they
passed the taciturn ono 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 a tangle Of golden
curls, the bewildering combination
shaded by a flower-bedecked summer
hat. His heart struck his throat, and
setting his teeth in his inoffensive
cigarette he growled:
Jaw, cut 1t out"
And then there came a distant yell.
mingled with the sound Of pounding
hoofs, and turning to look he saw a
naddened steer charging down on the
.wo, the bright crimson of the girls
sash a focus for his murderous efforts.
The sullen.eyed man spat out the
roll of paper his teeth held and, sweep.
ng his big hat from his head, sprang
Tor the fence, which he cleared at
bound, feeling for his gun as he landed
on the other side, to give vent to an
lntranslatable snarl OF rage as his
hand groped over the empty scabbard.
The steer was within few feet Of the
glarlng red thing now, never pausing
lt the sight Of so common a thing as
cowboy, until with a savage "Aw, cut
/ out!" the man hurled himself on the
head, grasplng the nose with
,ne hand and horn with the other.
As the muzzle Of the brute was driven
nto the sand there came the cracking
1f pistol shot; but the bullets, spent
from long flight, only angered the
brute the more.
Then: "Aw, cut" and merciful OBJ
ivion cut 1t out for him.
He lay for long time dimly con-
scious Of life, not remembering and
not caring, only wondering q little re-
sardlng his surroundings Something
very like his mothers hand was
his brow, while his nostrils
-ook in perfume new to the desert.
He was not breathing easily, while
here was strange roaring in his
aars, through which he heard words OF
lavish praise he could not understand
nor apply, then, all in a fash, his
mind cleared and he opened his eyes,
his lips moving silently with: "Aw,
cut 1t out!"
The ranch owner stood over him,
twisting his hands together
MY boy!" he cried, you saved
their lives. You did, BY Jovel And
III"
The Injured man stirred uneasily,
looking him squarely In the face from
under sullen brows.
"Aw, cut 1t out!" he snarled.
Copyright by Daily Story Pub. Coz
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