The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1915-01-22

WHY, Iilitt YOU Suuulu Ie Ndlltlu
y're buggy today he drawled. II
kinder calculated you'd hey no sorter
use for it longs court was settin', and
l loaned it " to Rubc Stacey"
LOANED my wagon"' l roarcd.
well, of all the
Words failed me, and l stood glar-
ing in helpless wrath at the imper-
turbable countenance upturned to me.
Did you lend the horse. too?' l con-
Guided, with forced calmness.
NO, sir! No, stree! | wouldn't think
of loaning none of the critters in my
barn. No, indeed".
The aggrieved tone Of the reply was
so utterly ridiculous that l almost
laughed in spite Of myself.
well, l wish you hadn't thought Of
lending the buggy either" I retorted.
'However, l suppose l ought to be
grateful. Put the horse to the best
wagon you've got and let ME get away.
I'm in Il hurry"
The countryman tipped his bucket
forward, picked up a straw and leaned
back against the stable wall.
"lAin't that too bad" he drawled.
"What's the matter now:" l demand
ed sharply.
"We amt got a thing on wheels in
the place, mister, and l don't reckon
there's as much as a gOcart left in
town. The hull outfit was hired last
night"
l could have shaken the man in
sheer rage, and for some seconds l did
not trust myself to speak. Finally l
last suggestion.
"Have you got a saddle?' l inquired.
MOO. Yes. sir. I think likely l kin
get you a saddle off the Perkins people
if you kin stick on the English kind"
II can" l answered. Try the Per-
kins people, whoever they are, and
hurry up about it,"
The man rose slowly from his perch,
stretched himself, scratched his head
thoughtfully and at last wandered off
in the direction of the Melton house.
Ten minutes later he reappeared carry
ing a first class English saddle and
bride, a pair of smart riding breeches,
Il hunting crop, a pair of spurs and an
assortment of soft caps.
"See if any of themll fit ye," he sug-
gested as he dropped the collection on
a bench.
"Where in the world did you get all
that loot:' I inquired as he disappear
ell toward the stable with the saddle
and bride.
"Over to Perkins," he. answered.
Help yourself. There's plenty more
truck Over there if them don't suit
yer"
With some misgiving that l might be
arrested on sight by the accommodate
ing Perkins or whoever owned the
outfit, l made n judicious selection and
soon found myself as comfortably
equipped as I would have been in nv
own belongings.
Looks as though them things was
made for yc." calculated the stable
man as he 1eappeared with my horse.
Il thought yer vas about the cut Of
them Perkins boys"
Not knowing the Perkins boys, I was
doubtful whether this was intended as
a compliment OF moi and busted my
self readjusting the saddle girthS.
THAT ought to be a good ridin'
horse" commented the man. and then
as | swung into the saddle he added.
"Hcckon this amt the first time YOU
backed him. eh:'
NO. answered shortly.
Learned your ridin' out west, too"
he vouchsafed diSinterestedly.
what makes you think so:' in
quirel somewhat less CURLY.
"Way YOU mount" he answered. 81
was to Montana for a ear onct. and I
seed they generally turned more to the
tail than the head of a horse when
they backed him."
II learned the little I know in .AriZo-
ma l answered.
"Then l guess you know 'nough to
keep from fallin' off both sides to
onct." he reflected. There won't he
no charge for keepin' the horse on
count of the buggy" he added as l
started.