The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-06-22
THE lOWRIE PASS FEUO
BY ELLEN MARIE CLIFFORD.

N.Y., wharton Llnu.
Here was the situation: At Lowr1s
Pass the better class of the rancE
community had centered. Two miles
down the river the settlement called
Paynters had been slow to meet the
advance guard of civilization. Wnet
young Wharton Lind had come to an
cry words with Budd, the Wharton
family, discerning trouble, had moved
over to Lowrie.
It was the sister of Wharton LIND
who received the warning challenge
She opened it and read 1t, and heI
proud handsome face flashed and her
eyes took a somber determined look
to their depths.
Wharton had been away at college
I'D to a year previous. He was brave
as a lion, but he had not acquired the
sturdy strength that comes with out
door ranch life On the contrary
Helena had gained the bronze, the
hardened muscles, the health-glowing
face of a true northwestern prairie
girl She was the admiration of her
own sex and the cherished model OF
her numerous gentleman friends
There went back to Budd terse
single line: Wharton Lind is ready
for you"
Budd staggered around his friends
down at Paynters all the morning OF
the day set for the combat. He went
over to Lowrie about dusk, took a
drink or two and rode up to the Lind
home on his melted broncho boldly
and full of confidence.
It was a moonless night and the
house was wrapped in darkness, ex-
cept where a broad stream Of radi-
ance reflected across the grass from
lamp in the untenanted sitting room.
He made out a figure leaning against
one of the posts clad in buckskin garb
and wearing the shadowing sombrero
of the district
I'm Budd PAINTER" announced the
visitor brusquely. Ready for bust
ness?"
In reply his waiting adversary nod
ded and led the way to clear level
spot fifty feet away. Then began the
battle
Budd sailed in" over-confident in
his opinion of his superiority over a
tenderfoot Then he set on guard.
There had come half dozen quick
blows that dazed him. AS his op-
ponent grappled, he felt himself lift
ed featherlike and flung ten feet
away, landing with a shock.
you've won," he acknowledged,
and then with true frontier chivalry
advanced with outstretched hand.
Budd changed the anticipated grip
to clasp. His recent opponent had
suddenly staggered and had he not
reached out would have fallen to the
ground. Budd half lifted, half dragged
his inanimate burden towards the
house.
"Hey. there!" he hailed as he came
within the radius of the light, young
Lind has overdone himself, though he
whipped me, mind you, and fair and
square. Thunder"
For the first moment Budd Paynter
saw the face of his opponent. The
hat had fallen of, the light streamed
directly across Helena.
Across one cheek was an abrasion.
Her lower lip was slightly cut and
bleeding
II hit you!" gasped Budd-"a
woman! I did that Say, could cry
over It! Lady, shall never forgive
myself"
Aye, he could indeed have wept
over his rough handiwork, he could
have kissed those trembling lips. AS
Helena reused up in her usual strong
womanly way, she directed one brief
singing rebuke.
1t was to upbraid him for his idle,
useless ways. Because her brother
was III, because he would have met
the challenge even at that disadvan-
tage, she had assumed his part, she
told Budd. and he hung his head in
shame Then he went from her pres
ence, for the first time In his life
with lowered head and awakened
conscience.
Then strange things began to hap
pen. At Paynters the old chums of
Budd began to marvel at a sudden
somber change that had come over
him.
A month later, two days before the
announced wedding of Wharton Lind,
there appeared at the Lind home the
subject Of considerable thought and
interest to Helena-the new Budd
Paynter.
1--WE come from the boys down
home, Miss Lind" announced Budd
shyly. but very polite, though embar-
raised. They've authorized me to do
the usual thing when a friend like
Miss Willis steps on" and he pro-
duced neat case containing a hand
some bracelet.
why, this is truly charming" de-
clared Helena, and she invited the
caller in. Then when he went away
she accompanied him to the road.
There Budd halted, fumbling his
hat seriously. He stole a glance at
her proud handsome face.
Miss Lind" he blurted out, "Tm a
better man than I was when first
met you"
you deserve credit said Helena
and she flushed a trifie.
You can make me still better" he
continued. and only you. Miss Lind
il l could call here once in a while
His face glowed with hope. His