The Elbert County tribune., 1914-01-23


me off with message.
rolled my tail. and curved off with
Tiger to take in the sights OF the town.
He shied heaps. and it's curious to
think why he objected to sign-boards,
awnings, lamp-posts. even to harm
less person lying drunk Then a rail-
road engine snorted In our face. SO
Tiger and me was plumb stampeded
up a little side street It's thar that
he bucks for all he's worth. because
of kneeling man with straw hat
and a punctured soul. praying abun-
dant. OF course this penitent turned
round to enjoy the bucking match
and sure reveals the face of my old
friend, Bull Durham. We hadn't met
for years, so as soon as Tiger was
tired, Bull owned to finding the Lord.
and being stony busted. ask II I was
saved. ! seen he'd got 'em bad. and
shared my wad of money level with
him. So we had cigars. pound of
chocolate creams, an oyster stew, and
he bought a bottle of patent medicine
for his liver. We shared that. and
went on. he walking by my stirrup to
the revival meetings.
This revival was happening at
barn. so l rode in. Tiger. you see,
needed religion bad, and when people
tried to turn him out, he kicked them.
You should just have heard what the
preacher told the Lord about me. and
all the congregation groaned at me
being SO young and fair. with silver
harness, and the hottest prospects
nuf fafo lxxuou WI 7
was late for breakfast.
They had great big wooden cross
upon the dais, and somehow. ! dunno
why. that made me feel ashamed A
girl in a white dress was singing
Rock of Ages"-oh. most beautiful,
her arms thrown round the cross. the
sun-bright hair about her like glory.
The sight Of girls went to my head
like liquor. and this one was surely
good with her sun-bright hair, her
cheeks flushed cause stared, her
sulky lips rebuking when I throwed a
kiss. her yellow-brown eyes
Oh. had l really washed behind my
ears? Suppose I'd got high-water
marks Was my hands, whipped
off my gloves to inquire. That's what's
before bein' introduced. Got to get a
move on Tiger. swung. spurred
with one spring through the doors.
yelled "1njuns" and stampeded. scat
term gravel and panic through abb
lene. Just went like one man for
our cook wagon down by the railroad
corrals.
Now, for all the shaving-glass could
see. ! was nice an clean, but then
that mirror has small views. and I'm
not taking risks. but stripped and
scrubbed all over. The place was SO
burned public blushed from nose to
heels till | was dressed again, shining
my hair and boots. Then / procured
out of the wrangler's kit.
Some of our boys made friendly
signs as passed on my way back. and
fired few shots after me for luck.
but I'd no time to play ! Joined the
revival meeting just as the hat came
round. SO penitent sinners making
for the door. came back to stay and
pay because of Tiger. gave Bull ten
dollars to hand to the hat, only he
passed 1t into his own pocket He
seemed annoyed. too, saying. Waste
not, want not" Then he explained
how the fire-escape only paid Mise El-
lis fifty dollars a day. whereas he was
making hundreds.
Just then she passed, and got in
troduced. Say, Polly" says Bull.
heres Sailor Jesse wants to get ac-
quainted.' aF
She stopped. sort of impatient for
supper. and velvet-eoft her voice, full
of contempt.
Another damned suppliant?", she
asked. and Bull was holding a light
for her cigarette. 'Ts 1t saved?" she
added.
| couldn't speak. / wanted to tell
her how i despised all the religion
I'd seen. the bigots 1t made, an the
towards. I'd rather burn with the
goats than bleat among the sheep
even now.
"Oh, that's all right, them" she said
as though she answered me, and frank
as man she gave her hand to- shake.
Good stunt of mine. eh 2" Although
own I'd like to have that cross stage
managed"
She passed the weather. admired tt
ger, talked Browns and Jones with
Bull. turning her back on me. asked
him to supper. walked of with MIN.
an that's all. Egg-shells throw:d In
the ash-heap may feel like did tnen.
Nobody loved me. 'cept our pony
herd, inquirin' piteous for food an
water Our boys. of course, was drunk
by then, just sleepin' wher they'd fell
so l was desolate as a moonlit dog
howl. ridin' herd with my night horse
whar Polly's little home glowed lights
across the prairie. / seen Bull and the
preacher leave there toward midnight
walkin, sort of extravagant into town