The Washington herald., 1915-09-21
DAILY SHORT STORY.
THE CAPTAINS GIRL.
By IZOLA FORESTER.

by FoHhESI6n.
Kapper's Spur lies on the west side
of Mount Lawrence, over the Wyo-
ming State line. And the very center
of Kapper's Spur. from social as
we'll as civic standpoint. was its
| town hall and schoolhouse.
Early in August Cap Henty began
casting about for teacher. Cap was
chairman of the school committee.
local judge. undertaken and hotel
keeper; so his word carried author
ity.
Out of the whole lot" he an
nounced. waving his hands disdain-
fully over the heap of answers from
his ad, there's just one that talks
real turkey. and I'm going to send
for her. NaHe's Sidney Baxter. Good
sort of name. too"
where's she FROM" inquired Mrs.
Henty. Il suppose she'll want to
board with US"
NO, she won't. She's got a good
shack already for her. and new
stove in it. too. Writes good hand
and talks like she knew something.
Let me see, pa please" Rita Hen
ty begged. 1T will Seem awfully good
to have girl ch> up here. l hope
she's nice
Might have taught scnooI your
self If you'd been mind to. Rita
II don't care to teach school, pa,
not on Kapper's Spur" laughed Rita
mischievously. rs Len going to take
bookkeeping from the new teacherE
Len Walters. waiting for the judge
to sign some papers on transfer OF
stock. flushed at her tone.
II will IL 1 have time" he retorted
sturdily. IF she hasn't got any place
to board. we'd like mighty well TO
accommodate her. Cap"
Rita lifted her pretty eyebrows ana
looked just as provoking as she could
The Walters ranch was the largest
on the mountain. and they had good
house in the little town besides. But
she had been at school for four years
down at Laraine. and Len had never
gone beyond the course he had right
there at Kappers Spur. 1t had been
part of the fun of coming home sum-
mers to tease him and show him the
decided difference between a person
who has studied at Laramie and one
who has spent the best years OF MS
teens herding cattle.
Miss Baxter was to arrive on q
Saturday, and just for nonsense Rita
went to the station to meet her Len
was there, too. There had been some
correspondence and il was settled
the teacher was to live at the wal
ters' house. But Rita was migh{y
sweet to the stranger when she step
ped from the westbound train. clad
in brown, with a white felt nat on
her soft blonde hair. And she TOOK
her away from Len with iaugh. II
was right that the chairman OF the
committee should meet her nrst. Sne
would take her home to supper ana
take her to Mrs. Walters later.
Len stood and watched them pass
down the street from the statioh'
thoroughly nonplussed and resentfuL
You're awful tame. Lem. said
Scotty. the bus driver. sympatneticai.
ly. Let that girl Of Caps walk risnt
over you. you do"
But Len was not thinking OF tne
captains girl Just for a minute ne
had looked into Sidney's eyes ana tney
had been diverting. In the weeks
that followed they never lost tnat nfst
charm for him. Twice a week ne rooe
in from the ranch. and sidney gre"
to look for the visits.
you know" he told her IN
burst Of boyish confidence one oay
when they were riding togetner'
never met q girl Just like you. 1ou
don't firt and you don't say = Iot: ..
fool things Just to worry fellow. ana
you're interested in things-hke 1snse
rights and forestry. and % on