The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1914-06-11
the HOPE PIONEER
June 4, 1914

II No q n0peo Tor an Out0ur6 OF
rapture on the part Of the little gun
man he was disappointed, for Willie
shifted his holster, smiled evilly
through his glasses. and inquired. with
ominous restraint:
where 10 hef"
Being the one man on the Flying
Heart who had occasion to wear a
gun. Willie seldom smiled from a
sense of humor. Here 1t may be said
that, deceived at first by his scholarly
appearance, his fellow-laborers had
tibed at Willie's a%ifeotation of a swing
ing holster. but the custom had Ian
guished abruptly. When it became
known who he was. the other ranch
hands had volubly declared that this
was q free country. where q man
might exercise q wide discretion in
the choice Of personal a%dornment;
and as for them. they avowed unani-
mously that the practice of packing a
Colts was one which met with their
most cordial appreciation. In time
Willie's six.shooter had become &C.
oepted al a part Of the local scenery,
and, like the scenery. no one thought
OF remarking upon 1t, least Of all those
who best knew his lack Of humor. He
had come to them out Of the Nowhere,
some four years previously. and while
he never spoke Of himself, and dis
oouraged ~remfniscence in others, it
became known through those vague
unoharted channels by which news
travels on the frontier. that back in
the Texas Panhandle there was q
limping marshal who felt regrets at
mention Of his name. and that farther
north we're other men who had a su-
perstitious dread Of undersized cow
men with spectacles.
This here Is q real footrunner,"
said Slower.
"Exaotly." agreed the other. where
is hei"
He'll be here this afternoon. Mig
ger Mixes bringin' him over from the
railroad. He's a guest"
"Oh!"
yep! He's intercollestt champeen
Of Yale"
"Yale'" repeated the near-sighted
man. Don't knowb I ever been
there. Much Of q town."
II amt never travelled east myself,
but Miss Jean and the little yaller-
haired girl say he's the fastest man in
the world. I faggered We might rib
up something with the Contipede."
stu Bill winked sagely.
"See here. do you reckon he'd run1"
sure! He's q friend of the boss.
And he'll run on the level too. He
can't be nothin' like Humpy."
If he is. Ill git him." said the COW.
boy. "Oh. III git him sure. guest or
no guest. But how about the phono-
uaphi"
I ":Tha CenhpedaN NIL mt Il up. quick
enough; there ain't no sentiment in
that outfit"
Then It sounds good"
An u II work. Gallashes's anxious
b trim % again. Some folks can't
seand prosperity"
Willie apat unerr4ndy at q grass
hopper. "Lordl" said he, "its too
Goodl It don't sound possible"
Well, It II, and our man will be
hare this evenin'. Watch out for Mig
ger Mike and when he drives up let's
give this party . welcome that II
warm his heart on the Jump. There's
noth1n' like q good Impression"
aIn be on the Job" assured Willie.
"But I state right here and now. If we
do get . race there Amt a-goin' to be
no chance Of our losin' for a second
time"
And Slower went on his way to
spread the tidings.
It was growing dark when the rat
tie of wheels outside the ranch-house
brought the occupants to the porch in
time to sec Niger Mike halt his buck
board and two figures prepare to de.
scend.
"1t's Mr.. Speed" cried Miss Blake.
Then she uttered a scream as the vel
vet darkness was rent by a dozen
tongues Of fame, while a shrill yelp.
ing arose, a. Of an Apache war-party.
TITS the boys" said Jean. "What
on earth has possessed them?"
But Slower had planned no ordinary
reception. and the pandemonium did
not cease until the men had emptied
their weapons.
Then MI. J. Wallingford Speed came
stumbling up the steps and into the
arms of his friends, the tails Of hie
d%ust-coat streaming,
Really This is more than I ex,
pected." he gasped: then turning,
doned his straw hat to the half.re.
vealed figures beyond the light, and
no~,~u ~ ~- 90,