Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1914-08-20
p VIII.

mere are some people in this world
win whom it seems impossible to omar
rel notably the parents of attractive
daughters.
FeFhaps, If Gracia Aragon had not
oeen watching him from the window
Fhllp DE Lancey would not have heen
quite so cordial with her father-,t
least, that was what Hooker Thought
and ne was SO badly peeved at the
way things had gone that he said If
too. o0 ~
linen, of course, they quarreled. and
Il Thing leading to another, Phil told
!7Qa ne had a very low way of speak.
ing, Bud replied that, whatever his
o~ehelehcles OF speech might be. he
was not fool enough to be drawn in
by a skirt, and Phil rebuked him again
1hen' with a scornful grunt, Bud
E1ookeF rode on in silence and thew
said no more about it.
At was a gay life that they led at
might for the Fortuna hotel was filled
with men Of their kind, since all the
staid married men had either moved
across the line with their families or
were under orders to come straight
home.
IN the daytime the hotel was nearly
deserted, for every man in town was
working for the company; but in the
evening, when they gathered around
me massive stove, it was a merry com.
pany indeed.
There were college men, full of pooa
stories and stories not so good. world.
wanderers and adventures with such
taies OF the East and West as never
nave been written in books, But mot a
colIege boy could match stories with
ami De Lancey, and few wanderers
Shere were who could tell him anv.
lnlhg new about Mexico, Also. when
II came to popular songs, he knew
Doth the words and the tune, So ba
was much in demand, and Don Imam
passed many drinks across the bar bo.
cause of him.
IN all such festivities the two pard.
stayed together; Bud. with q
aload, indulgent grin, listening to the
end, and Phil, his eyes altgbt with
liquor Il good cheer, talking and
far into the night,
t}atside the winter winds we're SIN
>ela and the MeXicans went wrapped
10 the eyebrows; but within the marry
company was slow to quit. and phil
making up for the lonely months
%hen ne had entirely lacked an audi.
ance, SAT long in the seat of honor and
was always the last to go.
Hlt on the evening after their spat
Ha aat Off to II side, and even Phirs
5pFIgAJiS and ventriloquistic conversa-
ll2h VITA theIittle-girl behind-the.door
called forth only a fieeting smile.
Bud was thinking, and when en-
5aged n tlat arduous occupation even ]
NE saucy little girl behind the door /
could hot beguile him. i
But after he had studied It all out {
aeEaG to a definite conclusion. he {
~potNleliyer an ultimatum. The old.
sood-aatared smile simply came back /
Q ms rugged face; he rolled a cigar
stfei and then for the rest Of the eye- t
llng he lay back and enjoyed the
'hcw Only in the morning, when G
-hey vent out to the corral to get their a
iorses, he carried his war-bag with
i'm and, after throwing the saddle on I
p Copper Bottom, he did the same for '
heir spare mount. i
what are you going to pack out, D
3nd@ inquired Phil, and Bud slapped
Us eatlyas-covered bed for an answer. y
fhen, with q heavs, he snaked it out 5
the harnessroom where it had been Ii
and slung 1t deftly across the &
'aek-saddle.
Why. what's the matter? said De 4
1ancey when they we're on their way
don't you like the hotefso Il
sHotel's ilness' conceded Bud. abut i u
eckon III better camp oat III the d
nine: Want to keep my eve Oh that Il
fexican Ut ours. !
MAw. he's all right" protested phil 4
Sure" Baid Bud; II amt afraid 1,
ell steal something-but he might il
2 notion to quit the country. Il
Why. what for?" challenged De
fNs