The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-02-15

clasped in front Of her.
And all day Chick stayed by her.
Not engagin' In the cigar race and
contests of various kinds, he Just |
stayed BY Elsie's side. and took her
from stand to stand buyin' her every.
thing in sight.
Mexico Charlie always took first
money on these occasions, him bein'
the star roper and rider in these
parts; but today he couldn't win moth
in, and when 1t last . bronze
thsowed him, he got mp with wicked
look, and never even smiled when e.
sic rushed over to ask II he was hurt.
Just before shutdown when 1t was
all over but the biley. which was to Be
In the schoolhouse that night. the
crowd had dispersed and . little
bunch Of three or four cow-punchers
In front Of the hotel was al there
was in sight.
Chick was leanin' against . post
listenin' 10 the rest Of US auger,
when Mexico Charlie walks out Of the
hotel and stands ON the gallery lookin'
down at Chicks feet.
'Fellows." he says short, do you
know why got throwed today?"
Course We didn't.
Some low-lived son-of!a-gun
snapped his dull spurs for my sharp
Ones" he says, "and there they are"
he says, pointin' to Chicks feet you
all know EN-"
Nobody says . word, for shore
enough Chick 10 wearin' different
spurs from the ones he bought down
at Headwater about . month before.
and shore enough they're just like
Mexico's.
Chick looks up at Mexico to see
what kind Of joke 1t is, then he
crooks one leg and begins to spin the
rowel around foolish.
"These here" he says, ARE my
spurs. I traded for 'em today with
Wild Cat Mike"
sand Wild Cat Mikes gone home, I
suppose" says Mexico suggestive.
Eyes, he's gone home." answers
Chick still twirlin' the spur.
Mexico steps down and forces Chick
to look at him.
I'm goin' for my gum" he says
furious. "I'll fix you for this" And
he rushes of toward the store.
Chick looks at us kinder be-
wildered.
"Now what did he mean?' he asks
innocent.
Then we all explain at once. for we
know this Mexico Of old and that's
why nobody else has ever throwed in
too much with Elsie.
"Have you got a gum" asks ex.
cited.
Chicks puts down his foot and
reached back to his hip pocket.
"Yes," he says. DRAWN out. not q
As, but sack Of tobacco and q book
Of cigarette papers.
Heavens. man." says Johnny Car.
ton, where ia IT,"
I'm my pocket" says Chick, cool
as a refrigerator. II guess I'll have
time to roll q cigarette before he
gifts back" he adds in his injured
tone. i've got date with Elsie for
the dance, too" he says regretful.
Well, we all looked foolish.
This was the coward we had laughed
at. and tortured. now ready to face
the Bad Man of F1oretta in the worst
of his moods!
The whole group sauntered on a bit
from the hotel. for there were ladies
inside and they must not be disturbed.
It was only a step to the store, and
Mexico was comm back now. Nobody
made a move while he walked up to
within twenty steps of where we
stood, his back to the hotel gallery.
Chick spat out his cigarette.
Mexico whipped out his gun, and
glanced at the tenderfoot.
It was all over SO quick, and man
can't see everything at once. l re.
member Chick had his gun-then
saw the widest look Of misery come
into his eyes. Almost at the same
moment came the sound Of sharp
step on the gallery, there was whir
of polka-dots, and then I heard the
report Of Mexico's gun.
CnlCk naO Ialieu 10 SuOOt
We all looked from one of the com
batants to the other, too dazed to
speak. for there stood Chick unhurt
while Mexico was lookin' at q place
on his right arm from which we could
see the blood was tricklin', him havin
the sleeves Of his shirt rolled up.
Little Elsie Dalhart was standin
there. A pair of spurs was in hel
hand.
Here's your spurs, Mr.. Mexico
Charlie" she was sayin'. I'm sorry
cut your arm, but 1t only serves you
right. Between tn mattress and thu
spring." she says contemptuous, III
no place for a pair Of spurs. I Gu
my own hand on I'm while putin OF
the clean Sheets" she says, putin
her hurt hand t.. her lips like ,
woman does when she burns. or cuts
; or scratches 1t.
Way down the track we heard tn,
whistle OF the evenin' passenger &c
in west. It was the only sound Their
was. "Supper's ready" says Elsie
D kinder peevish. And we all turne'
: and went in the house like bad boy
! that'd been caught stealth green ar
t pies. All, that Is, except Mexic
Charlie. l amt never seen hir