The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1916-11-30
STORY OF
A RANCH
By BARBARA PtlPPS


Mexicans there living peaceably under
the United States government They
were there when California passed to
Uncle Sam after the Mexican war, and
they remained there.
Bob Anterior was a young New
Yorker who went west to engage ~
ranching. lie had been In the south
west a couple of months without see
ing any woman except of low degree
and proportionately homely, when lie
met lnez. She was rugged out In Mex
lean style, with a lot Of gay colors and
gold lace. Her eyes were very black
and her lashes long. Her complexion
was olive aud her checks red.
The meeting occurred when the two
were riding over the plains. Inez rode
astride; her long black hair hung.
cable. under mans sombrero.
Good morning, senOrlta." said Bob.
Good morning. senior" was the re-
ply.
Where are you going. senorita7"
Home. have been out looking for
some stray sheep. Have you any to-
bacco. senorf'
Bob produced tobacco. Incz produced
cigarette paper and rolled a cigarette
on the fat topped pommel Of her sad
die
MAY | see you to your home 2" asked
| Rob
| You may. senior"
| That was the beginning OF II. The
next step was Bob and Inez sitting on
u log on the bank Of a stream. Bob
took her hand In his. lie failed 10 no
tee that IT was short aud thick ana
the skin was rough. lie failed also to
notice that the cable at her back was
COMPOSED Of very coarse hairs. There
was nothing soft or silky about II. Tut.
| ting one arm around her waist he
| kissed her Perhaps the really most
attractive thing about her was the
feminine turning of her head an1 drop
| ping Of her eyes.
Ten miles distant from Atherton's
| ranch was Chambers ranch. Cham.
bers was an eastern gentleman Of
wealth who had invested in ranch.
the management of which he delegated
TO another. About the time that Ath-
erton had become spoons with lnez.
| Chambers visited his property. bring.
ing with him his wife and their daugh.
| ter, Clara. Miss Clara had been long.
| ing for a bit Of ranch life and was de
| lighted with 1t. The morning after her
arrival she rode out ON horseback with
her father. inspecting his hocks. on
| the way they met Anterior and inez
There are not so many people in that
region as I'm New York and when they
meet they don't hurry on-they salute
and often stop for a chat. Mr.. Cham.
bers refined in and asked Atherton
some questions as 10 locations and
other matters. Then there was some
general conversation. in which Clara
Joined.
She was the first lady Bob had seen
In months From her he turned bis
eyes upon Inez. Great heavens, Could
this dumpy, coarse little creature be
the beauty 10 whom he had been max
ing love? Inez was conscious OF the
change She saw the difference be-
tween Miss Chambers and herself and
its effect upon her lover. Bringing her
quirt down on her horses launches.
she sent him onward.
Atherton was annoyed. He regretted
that he had been caught by the eastern
girl In company with the Mexican. He
was mortified that fnez should have
left him in this abrupt manner, evil
IDENTIFY jealous. He must either ride
after her or let her 20 her way. He
chose the latter course Not only this.
but when the others moved on he
moved with them.
That was the end OF Atherton's RI.
nance. From the time he laid his eyes
on Clara Chambers. he saw lnez as
she was. lie had not the assurance
TO drop the latter at once lie went 10
see her and tried to reassure her lie
failed and that made matters worse
When man is passing from one wo,
man to another the surest way to snap
their relations Is for her to show
jealousy. Inez did not improve mat.
tiers. Bob gradually dropped her.
Naturally he sought the Chambers,
who were OF his own class. and for the
same reason he was welcomed by
them. OF course Inez was not ignor-
| ant OF this.
One day when Bob was out looking
after his sheep he saw Clara riding
alone. He was about TO join her
when he saw Incz riding in the oppo-
side direction from Clara. The two
girls met and Bob saw that something
was being said between them. Then
lnez pointed with her finger. Clara
lad evidently asked the way some
| where.
"EIeavens." exclaimed Bob in an
agonized tone, and. digging his spurs
| into his horses TANKS. he shot on TO
ward Clara, She was going directly
toward quicksand. She was nearly
two miles from Bob aud a quarter of
nile from the qulcksand Bob was
going like the wind. but before he
| could reach her her horse began 10
founder. BY the time he reached the
margin OF hard ground the animal
was half immersed. Clara. who rode
sidewise. was still untouched by the
sand. Bob released his larlat, which
he always carried, and, whirling 1t,