The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1915-04-23
The Gum
Woman
How on One Occasion She
Lost Her Nerve
By IDA SPEED
Copyright by Frank A. Munsey Co.
By IDA SPEED
Copyright by Frank A. Munsey Co

Indian champion girl roper. emerged
from her tepee in the Indian quarters
of the "a Ranch Real Wild West Show
which was In camp at Wilhelmina
Ark.
She was dressed for the parade that
was scheduled to take place shortly
Her rowing eye rested for a moment
on a group by the campfire where a
pot of the big mulligan" had long
been boiling. Not finding what she
sought she abruptly set off toward the
big tent
she's lookin' for AL Fleming now
said Uncle Rus Rayburn, the veteran
cowpuncher who was entertaining an
admiring audience of this seasons re-
cruits to the organization.
And, by the way, with her hot on
his trail we are liable to git little ex.
with her and that little she greaser
Juanita TO keep his mind off of Miss
Mary Moore. He don't know we can
all tell he's crazy about her. while she
amt got no more use for him than q
pig has for sidesaddle.n
wish l could shoot pistol like
Miss Moore can. She gifts more grapes
than anybody on the 81 payroll, and
guess she cant be beat" said one OF
the listeners.
AIn1 i-tI Ac..lxy 70 he
general delivery window at the post
office.
"Feming. a. CO" said the postmas
ter in response to his inquiry. 10 his
amaZement he was handed the letter
1t had followed him from point to
point for week.
He scanned the half dozen typewrit.
ten lines that meant so much to him
The land had been sold and the money
deposited to his credit minus tho com.
mission of his agent.
Then that Was settled. He WAS no
longer "land poor" He need not fol.
low profession so distasteful to him.
1t had been that or starve while he
waited.
In two weeks the show would go into
winter quarters ut the "a ranch, and
he would be released to go back to
his beloved southwest. Somehow the
thought did not bring with cit the de-
light he had anticipated.
The haze of Indian summer en-.
shrouded the hills. AS he rode on
through the streets of the strange town
Il cloud mOmentarily Swallowed the sun.
Al Fleming's mind reverted to the
night Of the big sandstone. when he
had taken refuge In n lonely shack on
the prairie. He could see again the
dieting vision of the girl as she stood
poised OH the doorstep. whittier she had
been attracted by his light.
Then before he could close the door
behind her the wind had extinguished
the lamp and left them without n
match to rclight it.
During the hours that they had wait.
ed for the storm TO abate she had
grown unSpcakably dear to him. They
had cOntided to each other their names.
md he had told her he was riding to
Sanderita to join the 81 ranch show
cars. which would stop there the next
day to water their stock on the long.
thirsty ride from I'll Paso to Fort
Worth.
He had doEe everything he could for
her comfort. She had told him that l,
was the first time man had taken
thought for her reputation when he
had left her ut the gate Of the Circle y
ranch. where she was staying. with an
admonition not to speak of having been
alone with him in the deserted shack.
With reverence he had raised her hand
to his lips in farewell.
He remembered his astonishment
when Murdoch. the owner Of the show.
had informed him that she-Mary
Moorc-was the crack pistol shot of
the world. resting and practicing up
after a tryout on the dramatic stage.
where she had proved failure.
BY this he had known she. too
loathed the Wild West show. though
her salary was sufficient to enable her
to stay at n hotel, only filling her en-.
gagement each afternoon and night.
the hated street parade,
which was the most desirable part Of
their contracts to the Indians and
Mexlcans with the show.
When she had Joined the organiza-
tion some weeks later she had chosen
to ignore the happenings on the night
of the sandstorm. Fleming was not
the man 10 press himself on her.
Therefore an exchange Of greetings
had been the only words to pass he.
tween them. though more than once he
had cspoused her cause. until it had be.
come current gossip that he ndored
her.
1t came to him now that the situa
ton had changed, He need no longer
hold back because her accomplishments
were commanding higher price than
his own. Tie was the possessor Of n
in cold cash. The 'irriga-
ton company had been compelled to
have his sections for their big srescr-
voir and Mt his own figures.
The combined horrors Of brass
band and steam calliope smote the
mir. He had forgotten the parade.
With an exclamation OF disgust he
HIS horse and took q short cut,
guided by the music and the cheering