Sharp County record., 1914-05-15
"CUT IT OUT"
ey A. F. BoNNEY.

With elbows wide spread on the top
rail of the yard fence, hands under
olean-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 lust 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
his 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
from his own kind, a guest of the
boss"
There was q consideration which
added to the habitual scowl on his
brow, the inevitable return to the sad
die; the weary night guard, the fren.
zied chase after the stamping herd.
The retribution for few days Of ease
he saw looming in the tomorrow, a
whole perspective of tomorrows. In
fact, and unconsciously the smoke of
his cigarette oozing from lips and nos
trils was mixed and blended with his
one persistent soliloquy:
"Aw, cut 1t out!"
His savage glance now took In for
the first time the girl, who was watch
ing him with amused interest. 1t gave
him a queer, not unpleasant sensation,
and conscious Of height, weight and a
certain savage beauty of head, he
drew himself up, taking pull at his
neglected smoke.
The most Of the herd was now past
the house, and the girl and the own
ers son went out through the rude
gate to the corall near by, where some
calves were being branded. AS they
passed the taciturn one the owners
son said, pleasantly:
This Is all very novel and interest.
ing to US, while constant repetition
has, presume, made 1t 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 flower-bedecked summer
hat. His heart struck his throat, and
setting his teeth in his inoffensive
cigarette he growled:
Jaw, cut It out!"
And then there came a distant yell
mingled with the sound of pounding
hoofs, and turning to look he saw a
maddened steer charging down on the
two, 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
Ing his big hat from his head, sprang
for the fence, which he cleared at q
bound, feeling for his gun as he landed
on the other side, to give vent to an
untranslatable snarl Of rage as his
hand groped over the empty scabbard
The steer was within q few feet Of the
glaring red thing now, never pausing
at the sight Of 30 common thing as
a cowboy, until with savage Jaw, cut
1t out!' the man hurled himself on the
animals head, grasplng the nose with
one hand and horn with the other
As the muzzle Of the brute was driven
into the sand there came the cracking
Of pistol shot; but the bullets, spent
from long fight, only angered the
brute the more.
Then; Jaw, cut" and merciful OBJ
livion cut It out for him.
He lay for long time dimly con
scious Of life, not remembering and
not caring, only wondering a little re-
garding his surroundings. Something
very like his mothers hand was
smoothing his brow, while his nostrils
took In a perfume new to the desert
He was not breathing easily, while
there was a strange roaring In his
ears, through which he heard words OF
laviah praise he could not understand
nor apply, then, oil In a fash, hla
mind cleared and he opened his eyes
his lips moving silently with; Jaw
cut 1t out!"
The ranch owner stood over him
twisting his hands together.
MY boy!" he cried, you saved
their lives. You did, by Jovo! And
M"
The Injured man stirred uneasily
looking him squarely In the face from
under eullen brows.
"Aw, cut II outl" he snarlod,
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