The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1916-05-05

that ! ever seen A misSus ltanih 6s ar
either side of Il bar in this country. but
I've strayed some from the home fence
an you may be su'prisefI Mis- Wayne,
to know thet they's lands where no one
ain't never heerd tell on a barman an
where harmaids is So.ne commonern n
the milkin' brand"
'Yes?" said Mrs. j. Y. encourag-
ingly.
"Sho' thing" replied Kemp: II seen
'em. | won't forget the fust time be
cause | was considerable embarrassed.
| 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 be corralled me. quite wilin', in
bar. l pulled Off my hat and he
says, why d'yOu take off yo' hat? and
/ says. why don't you take off 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 if she 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
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 feller that
| was shown me around slapped ne on
the back and seZ, That amt no lady
it's barmaid.' An then they all
laughed some mo- and the missus just
kind O. laughed an l mought "a been
dreamin', but l thought / seen n look
in her eyes thet says she wasn't laugh
in inside at all. Ever sence then Eve
been of opinion that missus has no
call to handle drinks an I ce'tainly
hope I'll never see one a'doin' of II
under the home fence"
Kemp stayed at Maple House for q
week Before he left he was known
| throughout the countryside. His lanky
figure. dropping mustaches, domed hat
and the way he held out the reins iu
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 nervousiy.
Mis- Lansing" he said, II 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 "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 il
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 hiIp-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 all
about Mr.. Lansing, cause the biggest
part o. some men don't meet the eye
it's inside OH 'em. Thet's the way 1t
Is with Mr.. Lansing. I en- tell you,
though. thet Mr. Lansing is well an
strong-strong enough to swing steer
by the tail.
That's what l know. Now I'll tell
We some O. my thoughts, Mr.. Lansing
want born to be a 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 tol'
me about you an the two-year-old. But
it come to me that woman of sperit-
one Of ourn-wouldn't want her mau
should be brought in. She'd sooner
he'd hog-tie hisseff.'
AIix' 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, a 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
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. sss . y . . = = = = . y
=. Kemp is a simple soul, for all !.
: his travels. viii Alix be able :
to worm out of him the facts :
! about Gerry's affair with little :
. Margarita and 'the boy" in +