La Junta tribune., 1915-02-27
Greeting a Grn
Handler
With q Surprise All Around
By vINciE e. ROE
Copyright by Frank A. Munssy Co.


That the old west was not entirely
gone was apparent on every side a. the
sboidy old coach numbered along.
But that II was making Its last pa
thetic stand WIS equally plain in the
dotting homestesds. In the telephone
line that had timidly followed the bold
Old road Of the stage line for many
miles.
woman and three men rocked and
bumped on the shabby seats inside
and the driver. q weathered old timer
who handled his four lines with the
deftness Of lifelong habit. swayed on
the boot. straight as an indian. In bis
blue nannel shirt
The woman was slim aud handsome
about thirty years Of age. clad In the
last word Of urban taste-the east by
every sign and token.
And yet she bore one earmark Of the
west-she ira reled light"
Only one small alligator bag WIS to
her credit amid the luggage.
OF the other passengers one was
patiently a travelling man. a dapper
young man OF the new west: one was
q rancher. middle aged and calm. and
one was that motley offspring Of the
old and the new. an irresponsible ny
brid. taking the worst strains OF both
parents. He was neither q cowboy. q
miner nor a rancher: neither q farmer.
q promoter nor a business man. and
yet he partook little Of all.
He was loud voiced. with the over
drawn vocabulary OF story book Wild
ley as himseif-s sombreso. a light dan.
mel shirt exaSgeratedly open necked.
brondcIoth trousers. patent leather
shoes and cartridge belt from whose
two holsters giowered the black butts
of couple OF guns,
He monopoiizcd the conversation and
cast bold rlances at the young woman.
Yes" he said loudly. 1.-The west
hain't what II usta be. It's ben over
run with these here d. Easterns"
i've met a few OF en-" said the
rancher quietly. 'an' I've noticed that
most Of 'em make II q pint not 10 cuss
before lndies-spccinily when that same
Is shet m In a stage with the cusser
an can't help theirselves."
The woman shot the interrupter a
grateful glance which struggled with
a smile for mastery.
Hey" said the bully. "meanin'
mcy"
The rancher looked calmly out at The
dropping hills. clad In their noble vest.
ments Of constantly hei.hteninr pines.
''Shoe pinchY' he asked Of the seen
cry.
TIL. other studied him a moment In
suspicious pcrplcSi'y.
''oid man." b. said largely. n few
years back you'd "a got plugged fer
that"
Maybe. Hu, the west has changed
also Its men
The woman could not repress the
smile that twi,cb-i her hand.om.
mouth. nud sh, ga1ci out Of th. win.
dow nj ih. i-au,lfui road winding and
climbing among the i.-igcs.
The dnpp-r travelling man hdgctssi
ubcasily. cigipg away from the blatant
black guns.
tn. owner saw the signs Of the ten
d.rfoot ani mistook the woman's alb
sorbci study " the landscape for the
f.ar Of hiu..lf b. loved 10 instiii.
Therefore he talked with heightened
visor
Yes. sir. the west hain't what Il
was Why. thry's been = horse thief
ru.tiin' ny on Sleepy Fork fer months.
an they hain't men enough In the
country to k-ich him-sn' string him
Up"
~. glanced mt the woman. cxpectins
= shiv.s ~ horror. lie thought he ssw
u and pressed bis line u talk.
"fisc. yes. three ycars back he'd q
ten In hin hrsrra BY now. An
asi.-n- why. II he'd o. ben tryin' his
doln's In Rig Riil Daiiy's time he'd
a furnished sport Ter the county side
Now. there was q msn: know the
time b. RIDE into Circle snd shot three
cf tb. Hursc-s gang all by his lone
some. tie was . guu snan risht"'
The trim shoulders In the blue srav'
cling suit shv-rs-i i'erccpsibiy. spd the
red lit~ of the woman dropped from,
their amused smile.
Tn. bull. vent on deiishtes3iy:
"Hain't many of us left Of the old
gun handlers I know when Big nill
trimmed a Johnny Easicrn's new som
brcro Into lnccwork fringe on his
head Gee. Them was days. Unin'i
hut few of ~ left"
The trsvclin. mnn wns gnawins hi-
small mnstnch.. and the fingers Of HI
immaculate hands were srippei tigh,
together
The rnnchcr'. kindly eye. took In th,
pain IN the woman. face.
NO" he said. ''thcy haib't nny left e
"oh. . don't know said the othei
In ssasrersied ofYhandesin~ss. hitch
laa kta Aat.s 49, - IA a.. A.. g. ..As