Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-03-19


at the lowering sky. Although thu
grass of the plains was green and
lush with many summer rains, thu
gathering clouds gave promise of more
water.
I'D hate to get these glad rags al
dampened up" nIuttered Ben regret
fully as he glanced down at his gala
attire.
He made a brave figure, indeed, as
he sat on his big black horse. He wore
new buckskin breeches-brand new
and snow white Angora chaps, white
silk shirt with blue silk handkerchief
tied about his strong brown throat and
a fifteen dollar hat on top Of his fair,
curly hair.
"AIl on account of girl who would
not look twice at me if I was all COW
cred with gold lace, like that army
| fellow that's been staying there" sigh
| ed Ben as he pricked the black horse
! with his silver spurred heels
The horse bounded down the trail,
| and Ben Finney, riding like a centaur.
| turned his thoughts from the impend-
| ing disaster of rain upon his best
| clothes and meiitated upon flfs chances
| of finding Betty Dangerfeid at home.
Old man Dangerf1eld, as he was 10
caIly known. was pounding out Of the
| gate when Ben approached the house.
Another good for nothing cow
| puncherw snorted Dangerfield fiercely
| as they passed.
| Ben laughed lightly. They were all
accustomed to Dangerfeld's insults
when his rheumatism was more
wrenching than usual.
But the big hearted cowboys of Rat
tie county would have risked more
than Dangerfeld's banks for smile
and a word from lovely Betty, his
pretty daughter and keeper of his wild
owed household.
Betty was sitting in the front porch
now, demurely sewing a seam, as
housewife should.
Wah Ching, the Chinese cook, peered
from his kitchen window and, glimps-
ing Ben's glad attire, cackled shrilly:
Him come, alice samee, velly fine;
him go, chop-chop, velly fast, alice
samee, velly madw he muttered.
In truth, while Ben Finney looked
very fine and brave, his heart was
1uttering painfully before it made one
last drop into his shining boots.
To dream about Betty Dangerfield
when he was a dozen miles away was
one thing; to look into her changing
eyes-now gray, now brown, now green
was another proposition.
He detected mirth and admiration in
her first glance at his gallant form.
He banished the admiration as fictt-
tious, and he remembered the quickly
repressed mfrth, and his heart found
refuge in the splendid boots.
Good afternoon, Mr.. Finney," dim
pied Betty as she came forward with
outstretched hand and carefully low
cred lashes.
Ben dropped from the saddle and |
held her hand in his own big brown |
palm for an instant. Then the deli |
cious second was over, and he was |
sitting on the steps, one knee cIasped !
in his hands and his eyes devourng
her sweet face.
He didn't know what to say The |
heart that might have prompted him, |
having departed from its accustomed |
place under the pocket of his white |
silk shirt, was also dumb.
Father has gone over to River |
Bend" volunteered Betty after they |
had discussed the weather.
81 met him." said Ben; then, with
sudden inspiration he added, what |
do you think he said. Miss Betty?"
Something awful, I am afraid"
laughed Betty. "Daddy's rheumatism
is bothering him a lot just inow-poor
dear! What did he say, Mr.. Finney?"
Ben turned brick red, but he kept on
doggedly:
aHa said gTbero oooa oootbar oooy7 |
for nothing cowpuncherr explained
Ben.
1t was Betty's turn to blush, and she
did it most becomingly.
How horrid of daddy, I must apoi-
ogize for him. I am sure he is very
fond OF all of his neighbors. You know
his rheumatism is very painful
81 don't mind that at all,'' interrupt
ed Ben, "Only 1 wish he could have ex-
pressed it little differently. If in
stead OF saying another cowpuncher'
he had said, There goes that good for
nothing cowpuncher' meaning me
alone, that would have suited me down
70 the ground"
"Why?" asked Betty, amazed.
Because 1t would have wiped ont
Ill the others, showing there was only
one cowpuncher coming here, and-oh.
we'll, you understand, Betty. that I'd
ike to be that onep' In this manner
Ben Finney's heart leaped up for a mo-
nent's heroic action and prompted his
ongue. to bold speech.
"Oh, Mr.. Finney-Ben-Im so sor-
y" began Betty in a panic stricken
one as she started up from her rock
ng chair, but
Ben's heart went back to his heels.
lie arose and put out a protesting
land.
Never mind. Miss Betty. Don't
mind me. I've got nerve to think OF
'ou, you know, with that swell army
hap around, only-well, forget II, yon
now. l must be going. I'm afraid
is going to rain. Good afternoon" i
With the words tumhlin2 ON his ma | L