Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-03-09
A Woman
Halter
How She Won Him
By IDA SPEED
Copyright by Frank A. Munsey Co.

= Copyright by Frank A. Munsey Co. }
Svvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv'
Women folks can usually git the
widest kind of fellers to eatin' out Of
their hands by just feedin' 'em fat
terry.
The sorriest horse In the world can
tell the difference between just good
smellin' feed and the kind that will
stick to his ribs. but it's just once In
awhile you'll find a man that knows
what's good for his soul.
Bill Christy was this kind. he was
also the handsomest man I ever saw.
he come to work at the Walkin'
Stick ranch and went by the name
Chris.
He had so much energy he worked
the rest of us to death tryin' TO keep
up with him. There wasn't any un-
dertakin' he wasn't equal to except one
that had women connected with It BE
Just wouldn't stand for the skirts, and
his favorite pony. Limbo. was just like
him in this respect.
Ed Beverstock. owner Of the Walkin'
Stick, had been married just year.
His wife had been to school back east
and liked to put 1t on strong. She
brought a cook with her, and US boys
was so tired of batchin' that we vel
coined her right now.
When summer came Mrs. Ed takes
up a notion to have big house party.
60 she invites a crowd out from town
and also Mr.. Lawson. the rich, unmar-
ried owner of the D Blanks. neigh
borin' ranch. Ed tells US boys he has
hired band of three pieces at S25 a
day to play for the dancin'.
"You fellers have at It," he says.
"Your pay goes on just the same. but
you are paid to show the company a
good time"
The evenin' before the bunch arriv.
ed the wind stopped blowin', and so
naturally the windmills stopped pump
in. No matter how many fiestas are
In progress. cattle still want to drink
water.
"This is too bad" Ed says, 'but you
fellers can take turns runnin' the en-.
CINE so none of you will miss much OF
the fun"
mo need Of that" says Chris. "Tll
run the engine night and day. This Is
where I slough"
The whole house party centered
around Della Dumont. a schoolmate Of
Mrs. Eds. who had never been in the
west before. She seemed powerful
pleased with our way Of doin' things.
By the first evenin' they all got on
to Chris not likin' the girls, and every
female in the bunch begins to make q
smoke at him. They nearly badgered
him to death. but timidity amt fail.
in with Chris. and he held bis own.
The second mornin' several couples
Of us have Just come in from a ride
and are loungin' on the front gallery,
with our saddles on the fence. where
we've left 'em.
Chris rides up in gallop on Limbo
and throws the bride over bis pony's
head and makes for the dog house,
which Is our name for the bunk house
in this country. He never looks at US,
but runs In for pair Of pliers to tx
somethin' about the engine.
Dee Dumont runs out to Limbo. In
tendin' to put her saddle on him for
fun and show US stunt. though no
body knew her intention.
| Dee don't know about western sad.
dies, 80 she starts to pull this one off.
and, 1t bein' strapped to Limbo. he be-
gins to kick, and Dee trips over root
and falls In a second or two Limbo
has made some bad dents In $75 Of
Bill Christys increment invested In
that hand carved saddle. We all run
to Dee, but Chris beats US.
he helps her up without even askin'
II she's hurt and then calls Limbo
some awful hard names, tellin' him
to come there.
"I'm so sorry about your saddle. Mr..
Christy," says Dee. 81 was just seized
with wild desire to ride your pretty
pony. do hope you'll forgive me. 1t
was all my fault"
Limbo won't stand for women" he
says and rides of.
The last night Of the house party
the wind began to blow so the engine
wasn't needed.
Ed Beverstock looked up his engi-
neerman.
"Step to 1t tonight. Chris" he says.
"Its your last chance, and the ladies'
are all anxious to dance with you"
There wasn't any gettin' around 1t.
so Chris washed up and put on bis
serge clothes and soft white shirt
and a dark blue strip Of tie down the
front.
wonder II he dances rs well as he
looks" says Miss Hubbard, the school,
teacher from Headwater.
"Divinely," says Mrs. Ed. II don't
know what might have happened II
I'd seen him before saw my hus-
band"
"Nothin', believe me!'' says Dee Du-
mont, and they all laugh.
Dee had been the life Of the crowd
all week. teachin' us turkey trots and
aviation glides and learnin' our fancy
stunts like "Put Your Little Foot
and Comm Thro' the Rye" that was
80 old they was new to her.
had Just had twostep with her
and kept sayin' to myself that tomor-
row was the last. and was half glad.
Dee makes for the back door Of the
big. broad hall. where Chris Is smokin'
and chattin' the musicians. I'm trail
m along after her. and Lawson saun-
ters up just as We do.
Chris has been dancin' every time,
but has never got around to Bee.
"Mr. Christy," says Dee. If they'll
play for us I'll teach you the turkey
trot next time" And she smiles at
him and the musicians too.
Thanks" says Chris. throwin' away
bis cigarette. "but I've got this num-
Der. Try me again."
She turns away to hide the way her
lips is quiverin'.
Lawson steps up.
Miss Dumont" he says, "may have
the honor?"