Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1915-05-28
The Gun
! Woman
How on One Occasion She
Lost Her Nerve
BY IDA SPEED
Copyright by Frank A. Munsey' Co.

OOOOOOOOOOOoOOOoooooOOOooo
The Princess Wenona, the half breed
Indian champion girl roper, emerged
from her tepee In the Indian quarters
OF the "a Ranch Real Wild West Show,
which was I'm camp at Wilhelmina,
Ark.
She was dressed for the parade that
was scheduled to take place shortly.
Her rowing eye rested for n moment
on a group by the campfire where a
pot OF the big mulligan'' had long
been boiling. Not finding what she
sought she abruptly set Off toward the
big tent.
"She's lookin' for Al Fleming now"
said Uncle Rus Rayburn, the veteran
cowpuncher, who was entertaining an
admiring audience of this seasons re-
cruits to the organization.
And, by the way, with her hot on
his trail we are liable to git little ex.
element yet. AL, he's just firtin' along
with her and that little she greaser
Juanlta to keep his mind Off of Miss
Mary Moore, He don't know we can
all tell he's crazy about her, while she
amt got no more use for him than
pig has for sidesaddle."
wish | could shoot a pistol like
Miss Moore can. She gifts more grapes
than anybody on the "a payroll, and
ohn ,.untf ho hnnf - ~
the listeners
Meanwhile AL went listlessly to the
general delivery window at the post.
Office.
"Fleming. A. or" said the postmas.
ter In response to his inquiry. To his
amazement he was handed the letter.
1t had followed him from point to
point for week.
He scanned the half dozen typewrit.
ten lines that meant 30 much to him.
The land had been sold and the money
deposited to his credit minus the com
mission Of his agent
Then that was settled. He was no
longer "land poor" He need not fol
low a profession so dlstasteful to him.
1t had been that or starve while he
waited.
In two weeks the show would go into
winter quarters ut the "a ranch, and
he would be released to go back to
his beloved southwest. Somehow the
thought did not bring with 1t the de-
light he had anticipated.
The haze Of Indian summer en-
shrouded the hills. AS he rode on
through the streets of the strange town
n cloud momentarily Swallowed the sun.
Al Fleming's mind reverted TO the
night Of the big sandstone, when he
had taken refuge In lonely shack on
tho prairie He could see again the
fieetlng vision Of the girl as she stood
poised on the doorstep, whittier she had
been attracted by his light.
Then before he could close the door
behind her the wind had extinguished
the limp and left them without a
match to relIght II.
During the hours that they had walt.
grown unspeakably dear to him. They
had conilded to each other their names,
and he had told her he was riding to
Sanderlta to Join the "a ranch show
cars, which would stop there the next
day to water their stock on the long,
thirsty ride from lei Paso to Fort
Worth.
He had done everything he could for
her comfort. She had told him that II
was the first time a man had taken
thought for her reputation when he
had left her Mt the gate Of the Circle A
ranch. where she was staying, with an
admOnition not to speak Of having been
alone with him in the deserted shack.
with reverence he had rnised her hand
10 his lips In farewell.
He remembered his astonishment
when Murdoch, the owner OF the show,
had Informed him that she-Mary
Moore was the crack pistol shot Of
the world. resting and practicing up
after tryout on the dramatic stage,
where she had proved a failure.
BY this he had known she, too
lOathed the Wild West show, though
her SALARY was sufficient to enable her
TO stay at hotel, only filing her en-
gagement each afternoon and night
eliminating the hated street parade
which was the most desirable part OF
their contracts to the Indians and
Mexlcnns with the show.
When she had Joined the organlza.
ton some weeks later she had chosen
to ignore the happenings on the night
Of the sandstone. Fleming was not
the man TO press himself ON her
Therefore an exchange OF greetings
had been the only words to pass be-
tween them, though more than once he
had cspoused her cause, until IL had be.
come current gossip that he adored
her
II came to him now that the situa.
lion had changed. He need no longer
hold back because her accomplishment
were commanding a higher price than
his own. He was the possessor OF
competency In cold cash. The irriga.
ton company had been compelled 10
have his sections for their big reser.
vJir and ut his own figures.
The combined horrors OF brass
band and steam cnlllope smote the
air Tie had forgotten the parade.
with nm exclamation Of disgust he
wheeled his horse and took n short cut,
guided by the music and the cheering
crowd.
nA~RAUnM aAsraa mnaa aAan