The Press., 1917-03-15

kling black eyes" At 6 o'clock. when the stage arrived at the Irma, Goat was sitting on the bar fiour,shing an empty glass and assuring a delighted audience that the lady of his choi.c ! was "a- rosy brunette with white cheeks. sparkling hair and true blue l nose"
 At this juncture the recitation was
 brought to an abrupt end by the en trance of Lame Mort. You're a pretty
 bridegroom. ain't you?" he storme
 wrathfully And me writin' to e01 that you're sober, industrious citizen
 Lord! You look 1t, don't you. and only two hours till train timer
 | Whereupon, weighed down by feel ing of responsibility to the bride, Lame Mort took forcible possession of the erriig groom, assuring the public that it would no more behold him until he was delivered safely-and as soberly as the limited time peFmitted-into the hands of Miss Helm. And the male public, except the justice, who reluc- ! tantly. sat in his office awaiting his '.job," were on the platform when the | train came to see her arrive and incl dentaIly to see how Goat would "brace up." Goat was there, standing near | the platforms edge just ahead of Lame i Mort-ahead of him because the latter discerned symptoms of flight since Goat had been brought to realization of the nearness of his fate. Only a strong staying hand prevented sud- den development of the symptoms as the train slowed up and woman was seen making her way down the aisle of | the rear coach.
 As she neared the door every man on the platform held his breath and craned his neck to secure as good q view as the one lantern swinging over the sta ton door permitted. Lame Mort tight ened his grip on Goat preparatory to making him projectile headed toward the car steps the moment S01 appeared. But when she did appear he not only forgot his intentions, but the bride groom as well, so transfixed was he by her appearance.
 She swung down the car steps, a straight six feet of muscle surmounted by a mans hat of black felt with a broad, Tapping brim drawn, over her face. Hanging clear of pair of heavy, thick soled half calf was a scant black skirt which seemed to impede the free movements of her limbs.
 Her shoulders were loosely incased in Il mans black coat buttoned to the chin over a high chest, the tails of the coat reaching the hem of her skirt. On her head with one hand she balance1 q large bundle tied up in a red check cred tablecloth, the other hand bearing lightly q heavy, bulging telescope, strapped to which and extending far beyond were a hoe, a pitchfork and d shovel
 "Is there a MT. Wilson here?" she asked in an ascertain voice, quite de void of joyful anticipation.
 The station agent, reduced to speech lessness, jerked his thumb over his shoulder at the platform, toward which Miss Helm courageously advanced, As she scanned the spectators they faded away in the darkness, and an instant later Lame Mort realized that Goat had also faded, and he stood alone be fore the deserted bride elect
 Are you Mir. Wilson?' she asked in d distinctly forbidding tone. without looking up.
 ''No, ma'am," he faltered in confu- sion and alarm, "GOat-that is, MT. Wilson was here a minute ago, but but ...
 Run away, did he?" interrupted the girl hopefully. That's exactly what counted on his doin'"
 Lame Mort was struck dumb by the unlocked for relief expressed in her words and in every line of her figure as she deposited her bundle on the edge of the platform, tossed her telescope after it with vigorous swing, sat down on the latter amid jingle of the farming implements attached thereto and, taking off her hat, ran her fingers through her short brown hair, glancing at her auditor for the first time.
 'So this Is the vest" she remarked with contentious satisfaction, her lin- gering gaze swinging from the man to the limited space visible, but that the former object had aught to do with her satisfaction Lame Mort dared not con lecture.
 Once, twice, he opened his mouth es- saying apologies for Goat, but. finding none were expected, spat nervOusly in stead, his eyes glued to Miss Helms face
 It was a comedy face, in which shone a curious mixture of the humOrOuSly shrewd and of a hkable womanliness in surprising contrast to her manly garb. Her Scandinavian percentage was betrayed by slight accent in her speech as we'll as by the color of her eyes, whose depths bore so pleasing and sly twinkle that Lame Mort for got the Tecalcitrant bridegroom, also the male inhab bitants of Cody listening unseen behind him.
 'I can't remember when l didn't want to come west, she continued slowly. i've always had to work the farm hOme," with a downward glance at her coat, but back l,!Hrc land ain't worth nothin'. I've alWa..S imhkered to see what l could do With a home stead claim. But With father dead and the debts l never eXpe ted to have enough to come on till run acrost the Heart and Hand Then l see my way clear"
 "You see your way clear!' repeated Lame Mort stupidly. Then, "Je-ru-sa- lem" as her scheme began to dawn on him. But when it struck him in the
 l
 A N t-H-rI"