Rocky Ford enterprise., 1916-10-27

milk pail, which isn't drink In q man
ner O. speakin'. can't rightly rec'llect
that l ever seen a missus leanin' over
either side of bar in this country, but
I've strayed some from the home fence
en- you may be surprised, Mis- Wayne.
to know tibet they's lands where no one
amt never heerd tell on barman an
where barmaids is some commoner'n
the milkin' brand"
"Yes?" said Mrs. ]. Y. encourag-
ingly.
"Sho' thing" replied Kemp; II seen
'em. l won't forget the fust time be-
cause l was considerable embarrassed.
l missed a steamer In Moo Yawk an
the firm was in hurry, SO they sent
me acrost to southampton, an while
was waitin' for the Brazil boat feller
I'd picked up on boa'd showed me
around some. Well, 1t want long be-
fore he corralled me, quite willin', in
a bar. I pulled off my hat and he
says. why d'you take off yo' hatT and
l says, why don't you take off yourn7
Don't you see they's lady hea'?' Then
he bust out laughin' and everybody
that was nea' enough to hea' bust out
laughin' an the missus behind the bar
laughed, too, though somehow 1t didn't
sound as If she laughed because she
couldn't hep it."
Kemp paused to blush over the men,
ory. He did not notice that the Judge
and ]. Y. had drawn quietly nearer
and that the rest of the group of
grown-ups were intent on his words
"They's times" he continued, when
it's fittin' that man should be without
shootin' irons an that was one of 'em.
I can't rightly say what would have
happened but guessin's easy. When
he was through laughin' the feller that
was showin' me around slapped me on
the back and sez. That amt no lady;
it's a barmaid.' An then they all
laughed some mo- and the missus Just
kind O. laughed an mought "a been
dreamin', but thought l seen a look
in her eyes thet says she wasn't laugh
in inside at all. Ever sence then I've
been Of opinion that missus has no
hope I'll never see one a'doin' of IL
under the home fence"
Kemp stayed at Maple House for a
week. Before he left he was known
throughout the countryside. His Ianky
figure, dropping mustaches, domed hat
and the way he held out the reins In
front of him when he rode marked him
from the start, and when the youth
Of the surrounding farms learned that
he was a genuine cowboy that had
ridden every thing with four legs, they
worshiped from afar and gloried in
casual approaches.
Just before he went away Kemp
took it upon himself to call on Alix.
Alan led him to where she sat on the
lawn among the trees at The Firs and
left him. Alix looked up in wonder at
his tall, lank form. Kemp held his hat
in his hand and twisted it nervously.
Mis- lansing" he said, 81 want
you should let me say a few words to
ye. l seen Mister Lansing bout five
weeks ago."
Allx sprang to her feet, her pale
cheeks aflame. "Yes?" she said.
"When-when is he coming?" She
sank down again and buried her face
In her hands. The shame of putting
that question to stranger over
whelmed her.
Kemp sat down near her. "Sho. Mis-
Lansing" he said. don you take 1t
hard that you're gettin' word of Mr..
Lansing through me. Him an me an
Lieber's ben most pardners."
Tenderness had crept into Kemp's
drawl. Alix looked up. please" she
said. tell me all about him-all about
these years"
Kemp hesitated before he spoke. II
amt got the words ner the right to
tell you all about them three years.
Mis- Lansing. an l can't tell you all
about Mr.. Lansing, cause the biggest
part O. some men don't meet the eye
It's inside on 'em. Thet's the way 1t
is with Mr.. Lansing. l en- tell you,
though, thet Mr.. Lansing is well an
strong-strong enough to swing a steer
by the tall.
That's what know. Now I'll tell
ye some O. my thoughts. Mr.. Lansing
want born to be a maverick. Right
now, I'm willin' to wager, he's headed
for home and the corral, but he amt
comm on the run-he's browsin' and
chewin' his cud.
"When l seen him FIVE weeks ago
thought on hog-tyin' him an bringin'
him along. cause Mr.. Wayne had toll
me about you an the two-year-olu. But
1t come to me that woman of sperit-
one of ourn-wouldn't want her man
should be brought In. She'd sooner
he'd hog-tie hisseff."
Alix' head hung in thought. Her
hands were clasped In her lap. As
Kemp's last words sank in the first
smile Of many days came to her lips.
Kemp rose and said good-by. With
his hat pulled well over his brows and
his hands In his pockets. he slouched