The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1915-02-26
By IDA SPEED
Copyright by Frank A. Munsey Co.

widest kind Of fellers to 'eatin out Of
their hands by just feedin' 'em fat
terry.
The sorriest horse in the world can
tell the difference between just good
smellin' feed and the kind that will
stick to his ribs, but it's just once in
awhile you'll find a man that knows
what's good for his soul.
Bill Christy was this kind. He was
also the handsomest man, i ever saw
He come to work at the Walkin'
Stick ranch and went by the name
Chris.
He had so much energy he worked
the rest of us to death tryin' to keep
up with him. There wasn't any un-
dertakin' he wasn't equal to except one
that had women connected with it. He
just wouldn't stand for the skirts, and
his favorite pony. Limbo. was just like
him in this respect.
Ed Beverstock. owner of the Walkin'
Stick. had been married just a year.
His wife had been to school back east
and liked to put it on strong. She
brought a cook with her. and US boys
was so tired of batchin' that we well
coined her right now.
When summer came Mrs. Ed takes
up a notion to have a big house party.
So she invites q crowd out from town
and also MI. Lawson. the rich, unmar-
ried owner of the D Blanks. a neigh
bOrin' ranch. Ed tells us boys he has
hired a band Of three pieces at $25 a
day to play for the dancin'.
You fellers have at it." he says.
"Your pay goes on just the same. but
you are paid to show the company a
good time"
The evenin' before the bunch arriv.
ed the wind stopped BLOWN. and SO
naturally the windmills stopped pump
in. No matter how many festas are
in progress. cattle still want to drink
water.
This is too bad" Ed says. but you
fellers can take turns runnin' the en-.
CINE SO none of you will miss much of
the fun"
NO need of that" says Chris. I'LL
run the engine night and day. This is
where I Slough"
The whole house party centered
around Della .Dumont. a schoolmate of
Mrs. Eds. who had never been in the
west before. She seemed powerful
pleased with our way Of doin' things.
By the first evenin' they all got on
to Chris not likin' the girls. and every
smoke at him. They nearly badgered
him to death. but timidity amt a fail
in with Chris. and he held his own.
The second mornin' several couples
Of us have just come in from a ride
and are loungin' on the front gallery,
with our saddles on the fence. where
we've left 'em.
Chris rides up In a gallop on Limbo
and throws the bride over his pony's
head and makes for the dog house.
which is our name for the bunk house
in this country. He never looks ut us
but runs in for u pair Of pliers to fx
somethin' about the engine.
Dee Dumont runs out to Limbo. in
tendin' to put her saddle on him for
fun and show us a stunt. though no.
body knew her intention.
Dee don't kEow about western sad
dies. SO she starts to pull this n of.
and. 1t bein' strapped to Limbo. he be-
gins to kick. and Dee trips over a root
md falls. In a second or two Limbo
has made some bad dents in SIS of
Bill Christy's increment invested In
that hand carved saddle. We all run
to Dee, but Chris beats us. .
He helps her up without even askin'
II she's hurt and then calls Limbo
some awful hard names. tellin' him
to come there.
I'm so sorry about your saddle. Mr..
Christy." says Dee. Il. was just seized
with a wild desire to ride your pretty
pony. do hope youth forgive me. 1t
was all my fault"
Limbo won't stand for women" he
says and rides of.
The last night Of the house party
the wind began to blow sc the engine
wasn't needed.
Ed Beverstock looked up his engi-
neerman.
"Step to It tonight. Chris" he says.
Its your last chance, and the ladies
are all anxious to dance with you"
There wasn't any gettin' around It,
SO Chris washed up and put on bis
serge clothes and a soft white shirt
and a dark blue strip Of tie down the
front.
wonder If he dances as well az be
looks" says Miss Hubbard, the school.
teacher from Headwater.
"Divinely." says Mrs. Ed. II don't
know what might have happened II
I'd seer him before ! saw my hus'
band"
"Nothin', believe mer' says Dee Du.
mont, and they all laugh.
Dee had been the life Of the crowd
oil week. teachin' u turkey trots and
aviation glides and learnin' our fancy
stunts like .'Put Your little Foot
and Comm Thro' the, Rye" that was
30 old they was new to- hsr. Il
I had Just had a twostep with her
and kept sayin' to myself that. .tomor.
rOW,WaS the last, and I was half glad.