Mexico Missouri message., 1916-04-27


either side of a bar in this country, but
I've strayed some from the home fence
cn' you may be surprised, Mis- Wayne,
to know thet they's lands where no one
amt never heerd tell on a barman an
where barmaids is some commoner'n
the milkin' brand"
"Yes?" said Mrs. ]. Y. encourag-
ingly.
"Sho' thing" replied Kemp; 81 seen
'em. / won't forget the fust time be-
cause 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 q feller
I'd picked up on boa'd showed me
around some. Well, it want long be-
fore he corralled me, quite willin', in
a bar. I pulled Off my hat and he
says, Why d'you take Off yo' hatT and
l says, why don't you take of yourn?
Don't you see they's a 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 1t 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 ]. 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.
l 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 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 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'tainly
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 lanky
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 Kemp
took 1t 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. Allx looked up in wonder at
his tall. lank form. Kemp held his nat
In his hand and twisted 1t nervously.
Mis- Lansing" he said, 81 want
you should let me say a few words to
ye. l seen Mister Lansing bout FIVE
weeks ago"
Alix sprang to her feet, her pale
cheeks aflame. "YesP she said.
"When-when Is he comingP 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 gettln' 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. II
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 1t
is with Mr. Lansing. l en- tell you,
though, thet Mr.. Lansing Is we'll an
strong-strong enough to swing a steer
by the tail.
THAT'S what / know. Now I'll tell
ye some o. my thoughts. Mr.. Lansing
want born to be n maverick. Right
hS"g 4 III " nuSCiy lC y hCduGu
for home and the corral, but he amt
comm, on the run--he's browsin' and
chewin' his cud.
when l 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-olu. But
IT come to me that woman of sperit--
one Of ourn-wouIdn't want her man
should be brought in. She'd sooner
he'd hog-tie hisseff."
Alix' head hung in thought. Her
hands were elasped in her lap. AS
Kemp's last words sank in the 6rst
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 I'm his pockets. be slouched
toward the gate.
Allx jumped up ana followed him.
She laid her thin. light hand on his
arm. THANK you,' she said, a little