Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-11-27

sturdily IF she hasn't got any place to
board, we'd like mighty we'll to accom-
modate her, Cap"
| Rita lifted her pretty eyebrows and
just looked 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 Laramie, and Len had never
| gone beyond the course he had right
i there at Kapper's Spur. 1t had been
part Of the fun Of coming home sum-
| mers to tease him and show him the
who has studied at Laramie and one
who has spent the best years Of his
teens herding cattle.
Miss Baxter was to arrive on Sat
urday. and just for nonsense Rita went
| to the station to meet her. Len was
there, too. There had ben some cores
pondence, and it was settled the teach
err was to live at the Walters house.
But Rita was mighty sweet to the
stranger when she stepped from the
westbound train, clad in brown, with q
white felt hat on her soft blonde hair.
And she took her away from Len with
a laugh. It was right that the chairman
of the committee should meet her first.
She would take her home to supper,
| anu TAKE uST W MIS-. w oAlCIS A0SCA.
| Len stood and watched them pass
down the street from the station, thor
oughly nonplussed and resentful.
You're awful tame, Len, said
Scotty, the bus driver. sympathet1cally.
Let that girl Of Caps walk right over
you, you do"
| But Len was not thinking Of the cap
tain's girl. Just for a minute he had
looked into Sidney's eyes and they had
/ been diverting. In the weeks that fol-
lowed they never lost that first charm
for him. Twice week he rode in from
the ranch, and Sidney grew to look for
! the visits.
"You know" he told her in a burst
Of boyish confidence one day when they
girl just like you. You don't flirt and
you don't say lot Of fool things just
: to worry fellow, and you're Interest,"
ed in things-like range rights and for
estry, and so on
"My father was ranger" Sidney
told him. I'm named for him. I was
born in the forest, so I guess it's ma
tural for me to feel at home there and
love it best That's why l wanted to
come up here and teach school. After
he died we went back east to live, and
there I saw the ad for teacher way
out here, and I answered 1t more for
fun: but I came"
Would you like to stay?" he blurted
it out clumsily, but she did not seem to-
understand what lay behind his words.
How could she know that he pictured
her living out at the ranch, his wife,
and all the world turned golden. Sid
ney shook her head doubtfully. Per-
haps, if she could go back east soms-
times. Rita had told her how tiresome
Kapper's Spur became. If her brother
could come out and take up ranching,
then she would like it.
"Send for him. I'll take him on with
me" promised Len.
And the next few weeks Kapper's
Spur thrilled at the small drama en-
acted under it's very nose. Big Al Bax-
ter, fresh from college, with half back
record behind him, a sense OF humor
and plenty Of good intentions not only
came on and went after ranching as if
it had been trout fishing. but also after
Rita Henty.
"The trouble with you western girls
is that you're trying to be like eastern
girls" he told her flatly. why don't
you drop these latest style flubdubs and
get into a short skirt and flannel waist
and ride over to see us with Sid? After
We're married. some day, I'm going TO
teach you how to enjoy life
4 wouldn't marry you for anything,
Mr.. Baxter, Rita told him teasingly.
Well maybe not said. AL easily.
did you know Len and Sid are engag-
ed?"
"Really?'
Certain sure He nodded his head
solemnly. Last night. This big gold
moon of yours does wonders. ] saw
how things were going as soon as
came west, so I rather hurried them
UP. Told Sid she'd have to go back with
me: that didn't like the place. or Len
or the ranch. If you want a girl to go
certain way, you pull the bride oppo-
Site
Rita's brown eyes flashed at the big,
complacent fellow. He was SO serenely
sure of himself and his power to win.
1t was fearfully slow at the Spur.
Somehow Miss Henty began to find in
terest in teaching the easterner west
ern ways. She was hospitable to him
and con, ldely. 'rh- captain liked I'm,
Sidney would not be married until
spring.
"Then I'll be going back east" said
AL. II came west to please Sid. It's a
fearful worry this having one small
brother on your mind
1T takes courage and pluck to be a
rancher,' Rita told him, with little
half smile. you're a gutter, aren't
you?"
mo. I'm not. little girl. 1t takes
more courage and pluck to buck the
game Of life in the cities against big
odds and ! prefer the larger range.
+! This is bully for Len, and Sid like it,
too. To you and Cap the Spur is the
jumping off place of endeavor and OPP
portunity. But I'm going back
= .'When?", she almost whispered it.
Her back was turned from him. N,i for