Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1916-07-13

Where are you bound for?"
I'm headed down the drawn iookin'
for a chalk line where I en- dry my
feet. What do you known
"Can you see the water In the ditch
at your right?"
"fasser, l can. en- see you. too"
We'll" shouted back Gerry. your
eyes beat mine. Follow the ditch un-
til you come to bridge II, meet you
there"
Gerry found the little cavalcade
waiting for him, six pack-mules, a ma
tive driver and, towering above them,
great lanky figure in a yellow oil
skin slicker topped by broad
brlmmed Stetson. Gerry looked over
the outfit as carefully as the darkness
would allow and then said tentatively.
There's house down there In the
valley"
rs the'?' drawled the stranger spit
ting deliberately into the ditch. Well"
ne volunteered after a further pause
my names Jake Kemp. The rest OF
this outfit is six mules packin' orchids
and the greaser packin' the mules"
That's all right" said Gerry, ST
guess we can put you up
He led the way and the pack-train
splashed along after him. The mules
We're soon relieved OF their burdens
and turned into the pasture. Boni-
facio took the native muleteer away
to his quarters and Gerry and the
stranger passed through the house to
the kitchen.
A patriarchal hospitality came nat
prally to the inmates of Fazends
Flores. 1t was tradition not only on
that plantation but throughout a vast
hinterland, where life was rude and
death sudden, to be gentle to the
stranger, to feel him and his beast
and to speed him on in the early morn
Ing. There was but one rule to the
stranger: He must keep his eyes to
the front. Jake Kemp had evidently
learned the brief code. He ate raven
ously, poured down coffee with the
recklessness of man that draws on
llmitless power to sleep, and made
his few remarks to Gerry and to Ger.
~ alone.
Gerry was feeling strange citation
that he strove in vain to account for.
This was an American but beyond that
they had nothing in common New
York and Texas are connected only by
fiction. Perhaps 1t was just curiosity.
Curiosity invaded him. What was
Texas cowboy doing on the road past
FaZenda Flores with a mule-train of
orchids? AS an opener he declared
himself. "My names Gerry Lansing"
he said. 1--WE settled down here
"So?" said Kemp, as he drew from
his vest pockets the markings of ciga-
rette. Gerry had seen the yellow pa
pers and the little bags OF faxed to-
baccO They struck convincingly the
note Of the West. Reckon you're FIN
the States" drawled Kemp as he ac-
cOmplished the cigarette.
YES" said Gerry aid added, with
an idea to establishing a link, "like
you"
Reckon you're I'm Moo Yawk," was
Kemp's next deliberate contribution
to the conversation.
stinctively avoided the question direct
and Kemp vouchsafed nothing more.
Not till Gerry came upon him hitching
up his loads early next morning did
he speak again and then he said with
a CLINT In his eye that was almost
smile, Il guess them's the first orchids
that ever Travelled to ma'ket under a
diamond hitch"
Here was an opening but it came
too late. Gerry did not try to follow
1t up. Once more In the saddle Kemp
seemed to acquire sudden new ease
Of body and miRd. He hung by one
knee and a stirrup and leaned over
toward Gerry. stranger" he said,
I'm much obliged to We. It's long
way FIN the Alamo to Moo Yawk, but
the hull country's under one fence"
He waved his hand and was gone at
ter his Dack-train, lifting his mule with
his goose-necked spurs into a protest
ing canter. Two weeks after his pass
ing, as evening was settling on Fa-
zenda Flores, the echo of mules
mincing steps on the bridge made Ger
ry look up from his work
"Howdy," said Kemp and paused on
that to measure his welcome. He was
satisfied and urged his tired mule on
towards the house. Gerry walked be-
side him and learned that the ship
ment of orchids had just caught the
steamer at the coast. Kemp unsaddled
his mule and tossed the harness and
slicker upon the veranda. AS Gerry
was closing the gap into the pasture
Kemp came up and stood beside him.
He cast knowing eye over the fat
stock. you done a good job for Lie
Der" ne remarked.
Gerry nodded little sadly. "Yes,"
he said, "the contracts filed. Lieber's
sending for the stock day after tomor-
row"
AS they sat on the veranda that
night smoking endless cigarettes,
Kemp turned to his host Dye mind
If stay over day with you? Truth |
Is, l want to hep drive hat stock up
to Lieber's. l want to hep whistle
bunch o. steers along once more and |
smell the dust an the leakin' udders, |
an | shouldn't wonder If | let out a |
yell or so, corralin' 'em at the other |
end"
n