Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1916-07-27

Js
ingly.
"Sho' thing" replied Kemp; 81 seen
'em. 1 won't forget the fust time be-
cause l was considerable embarrassed.
| missed a steamer in Moo Yawk an
the firm was in a hurry, so they sent
me acrost to southampton, an while
was waitin' for the Brazil boat a Teller
I'd picked up on boa'd showed me
around some. Well, it want long be-
fore he corralled me, quite willin, in
q bar. l pulled off my hat and he
says, why d'yOu take off yo' hat? and
l says, why don't you take off yourn?
Don't you see they's lady heap Then
he bust out Iaughin' 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 if she laughed because she
couldn't hep it."
Kemp paused to blush over the mem
DRY. He did not notice that the judge
and J. 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
can't rightly say what would have
happened but guessin's easy. When
he was through laughin' the Teller that
was shown me around slapped me on
the back and seq, That amt no lady:
it's a barmaid' An then they all
laughed some mo- and the missus lust
kind O. laughed an l mought "a been
dreamin', but I 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 l ce'tafnly
hope I'll 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 a genuine cowboy that had
ridden everything with four legs, they
worshiped from afar and gloried in
casual approaches.
Just before he went away KemD
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 few words to
ye. l seen Mister Lansing bout five
! weeks ago"
Alix sprang to her feet, her pale
| cheeks af1ame. "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 a stranger over
| whelmed her
Kemp sat down near her. "Sho Mis-
Lansing" he said, don you take it
| hard that you're gettin' word Of Mr..
Lansing through me. Him an me an
Liebers ben most pardners."
Tenderness had crept into Kemp's
| drawl. AliX looked up. Please" she
said, tell me all about him-au about
these years"
! Kemp hesitated before he spoke. 81
! 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 it
is with Mr. Lansing. I en- tell you
though, thet Mr. Lansing is we'll an
| strong-strOng enough to swing a steer
by the TAIL
That's what 1 know. Now I'll tell
We some O. my thoughts. Mr.. Lansing
| want born to be q maverick. Right
now, I'm wiIlin' 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 I seen him FIVE weeks ago
thought on hog-tyin' him an bringin'
him along, cause Mr.. Wayne had tot
me about you an the two-year-oId But
| IL GUILE 10 NE IIdL Il w Ouluu Ol SpeIll-
one of ourn-wouldn't want her man
should be brought in. She'd sooner
he'd hog-tie hisseff"
AK 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
toward the gate.
Alix jumped up and followed him.
She laid her thin, light hand on his
arm. Thank you" she said, little
breathlessly. Kemp's deep-set eyes
twinkled down on her. He held out
his big, rough hand and Alix gripped
it.
! Not good-by," she said.
IIEIM 16)Glj3lT1