The midland journal., 1916-04-28

ner 0, speakin'. Lscan't rightly rec'llect
that-l ever seen missus leanin' over
either side Of bar in this country, but
I've strayed some from the home fence
@n' you may be surprised, Mis- Wayne,
to know thet they's lands where no one
amt never heerd tell on barman an
where barmaids Is some commoner'n
the milkin' brand"
"YesY' said Mrs. J. z. encourag-
ingly.
'Sho' thing" replied Kemp; II seen
'ern. ! won't forget the, fust time be-
cause | was considerable embarrassed.
missed steamer in Moo Yawk an
the firm was in hurry, so they sent
me acrost to southampton, an while I
was waitin' for the Brazil boat feller
I'd picked up ON boa'd showed me
around some. Well, it-wa'n't long be-
fore he corralled me. quite willin', in
a bar. pulled Off my hat and he
says, why d'you take Off yo' hat? and
says, why don't you take of yourn?
Don't you see they's lady heap 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 it didn't
sound as IL sh9 laughed because she
couldn't hep it."
Kemp paused to blush over the mem
ory. He did not notice that the Judge
and j. Y. had drawn quietly nearer
and that the rest of the group of
0roxun11pc xuoro intov+ ~ nj. x-x,-.s.
"They's times" he continued, when
it's fittin' that a man should be without
shootin' irons an that was one of 'em,
can't rightly say what would have
| happened but guessin's easy. When
he was through laughin' the Teller that
was showin' me around slapped me on
the back and seq, That amt no lady:
it's barmaid.' An then they all
laughed some mo- and the mlssus just
kind o. laughed an mought "a been
dreamin', but l thought 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 a missus has no
call to handle drinks an ce'tainly
| hope TIL never see one a'doin' Of it
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 genuine cowboy that had
ridden everything 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, II want
you should let me say few words to
ye. seen Mister Lansing bout five
weeks ago."
/ Alix sprang to her feet, her pale
cheeks afiame. "YesY 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 a 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. Il
amt got the words ner the right to
tell you all about them three years,
Mis- Lansing, an / can't tell you ali
about Mr.. Lansing, cause the biggest
part o. some men don't meet the eye
it's inside on 'em. Thet's the way it
is with Mr.. Lansing. / en- tell you,
though, thet Mr.. Lansing is well am
strong g-strong enough to swing steer
by the tail.
That's what know. Now I'll tell
We 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 browsln' and
chewin' his cud.
when seen him Eve weeks ago
thought on hog-tyin' him an bringin'
him along, cause Mr.. Wayne had tol'
me about you an the two-year-olo. But
it come to me that a 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 we'll over his brows and
his hands in his pockets. he slouched
k1- A.