The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-12-14
STORY OF
A RANCH
By BARBARA PHIPPS

southern California. There are many
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 Atherton was young New
Yorker who went west to engage i'll
ranching He had been in the south
west couple of months without see
ing any woman except of low degree
and proportionately homely, when lie
met Inez. She was rugged out in Mex
lean style, with lot of gay colors and
gold lace. Her eyes were very black
and her lashes long. Her complexion
was olive and her cheeks 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, senOrita," said Bob.
"Good morning. senor," was the re-
ply.
"Where are you going senor.ta?'
"HOme. have been ont looking for
some stray sheep. Have you any to-
bacco, senOr?"
Bob produced tobacco. Inez produced
cigarette paper and rolled a cigarette
on the fiat topped pommel Of her sad
die.
"May see you to your homer asked
Bob.
you may, senior"
That was the beginning Of it. The
next step was Bob and Inez sitting on
log on the bank Of a stream. Bob
took her hand In his. He failed to no.
tee that 1t was short and thick and
the skin was rough. He failed also to
notice that the cable at her back was
composed Of very coarse hairs. There
was nothing soft or silky about 1t. Put
ting one arm around her waist, he
kissed her. Perhaps the really most
attractive thing about her was the
feminine turning Of her head and drop
ping Of her eyes.
Ten miles distant from Atherton's
ranch was Chambers ranch. Cham
bers was IN eastern gentleman Of
wealth who had invested in a ranch,
the management of which he delegated
to another About the time that Ath-
erton had become spoons with Inez
Chambers visited his property, bring
ing with him his wife and their daugh-
ter, Clara. Miss Clara had been long
ing for bit Of ranch life and was de
lighted with it. The morning after her
arrival she rode out on horseback with
her father, inspecting his flocks. On
the way they met Atherton and Inez.
There are not so many people in that
region as in New York, and when they
meet they don't hurry on-they salute
and often stop for chat. Mr.. Cham
bers refined in and asked Anterior
some questions as to 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 his
eyes upon Inez. Great heavens! Could
this dumpy, coarse little creature be
the beauty to whom he had been MAX
ing love? Inez was conscious of the
change. She saw the difference be-
tween Miss Chambers and herself and
It's 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 Inez should have
left him In this abrupt manner, evil
IDENTIFY Jealous. He must either ride
after her or let her go 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 ro-
nance. From the time he laid his eyes
on Clara Chambers, he saw Inez as
she was. He had not the assurance
see her and tried to reassure her. He
/! failed and that made matters worse.
When a 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
\ WIS i'op Si"uuuily diopl'tu ucT.
! 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 Inez riding in the oppo-
side direction from Clara. The two
girls met. and Bob saw that something
was being said between them. Then
Inez pointed with her finger. Clara
had evidently asked the way some
where.
Heavens" exclaimed Bob In an
agonized tone, and, digging his spurs
into his horses TANKS, he shot off to-
ward Clara. She was going directly
toward quicksand. She was nearly
two miles from Bob and quarter of
mile from the quicksand. Bob was
going like the wind, but before he
could reach her her horse began to
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 lariat. which
/ he ALWAYS carried and whirlipo a.