The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1916-06-23

ner o. speakin'. eau ~ EiBnsy ~ ~
that 7 aver seen missus leanin' over
either aide OF a bar In this country, Dui
I'VE strayed some from the nome renee
en, Won may be surprised, Mis- wayne
to know tibet they's lands where no one
amt never heerd tell on barman an
where barmaids is some commonern
the milkln' brand"
"YesY said Mrs. J. 7. enco7rss
ingly.
"sbo' thing" replied Kemp; Il seen
,em. I won't forget the fust time be
cause | was considerable embarrassed
I missed steamer In Moo Yawk an
the Arm was Ia hurry, so they semi
me acrost to southampton, an while !
was waitln' for the Brazil boat fellei
ia picked up on boa'd showed me
around some. Well, 1t want long De
fore he corralled me. quite willin', In
bar. pulled of my hat and be
says, why d'you take of yo hatY anc
/ says, why don't you take of yourn'
Don't you see they's lady hea'r Their
he bust out laughin' and everybody
that was nea' enough to hea' bust out
laughin' an the missus behind the bal
laughed, too, though somehow 1t didn't
sound as II sha 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 guessln's easy. When
he was through laughin' the Teller that
was shown me around slapped me on
the back and SEE, That amt no lady,
it's a barmaid.' An then they ali
laughed some mo- and the missus just
kind O. laughed an mought "a been
dreamin', but thought l seen look
in her eyes tibet says she wasn't laugh.
in inside at all. Ever sence then I've
been of opinion that missus has nc
call to handle drinks an | 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 hal
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 Kemr
took it upon himself to call on Alix
Alan led him to where she sat on the
lawn among the trees at The FRS an6
left him. Alix looked up in wonder al
his TALL lank form. Kemp held his ha
in his hand and twisted it nervously.
Mis- Lansing" he said, 81 wan
you should let me say few words tt
ye. seen Mister Lansing bout fiv,
weeks ago.
Alix sprang to her feet, her pal,
cheeks atiame. "YesT" she said
"When--when is he coming?" Sh,
sank down again and buried her fac,
III 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
hard that you're gettin' word of MI
Lansing through me. Him an me an
Lieber's ben most pardners."
Tenderness had crept into Kemp
. drawl. Alix looked up. Please" sh
said, tell me all about him-all abou
, these years."
, Kemp hesitated before he spoke. e
: amt got the words ner the right t
! tell you all about them three years
Mis- Lansing, an l can't tell you a.
, about Mr.. Lansing, cause the bigges
part O. some men don't meet the eve
! It's inside on 'em. Thet's the way
E IS with Mr.. Lansing. | en- tell yor
p though, tibet Mr.. Lansing is well an
? strong-strong enough to swing a stee
by the tail.
That's what l know. Now I'll te
We some O. my thoughts. Mr.. Lansin
want born to be a maverick. Rigt
. now, I'm willin' to wager, he's heade
for home and the corral, but he ain
comm on the run-he's browsin' an
chewin' his cud.
= when l seen him i've weeks ago
! thought on hog-tyin' him an brlnri,
: MIN along, cause Mr.. Wayne had 10
= me about you an the two-year-olu. b,
: u come to me that woman of sperit-
y one OF ourn-wouldn't want her ma
: should be brought in. She'd soon,
= he'd hog-tie hisseff."
Z AK head hung in thought n,
! hands were clasped in her Ian.
! kemp's last words sank in the Ar
4 smile of many days came to her lin
Kemp rose and said good-by. Wi
ms nat pulled well over his brows mr.
= MS hands in his pockets, he slouch,
Il toward the gate.
!. Alix jumped up ana followed ~,