Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-09-03
csprseAt. 1919. Dy rns R,iuv Leo Co.

the station waiting for the express from
the East. Slender Of waist and hip
etslwart of shoulder, some seventy two
inches of sinewy height, he was tn,
hgmre Of the typical cattlemaH. Hi
eyes were deep-set and far seeing his
lean, brown face, roughencd by out
door life, was austere and resolute In
expression.
The train had barely stopped when a
boyish looking. 1.-the limbed youth leap
ed from the platform. The blue serge
suit and checked cap he wore did not
disguise the fact that his working clothes
-Ahis field, uniform-were those Of a
cow puncher. A few quick strides
brought him to the man in waiting.
Hoped you'd be on hand to meet
me, Kurt. so ! could get out to tho
ranch tonight How's things up there?'
''Just the same MS they were when
you left, Jo," said the one addressed
in whimsical tone. you've only been
gone ten days, you know"
''You don't say" CALCULATED Jo. fol-
lowing his companion through the de-
pot. "City does age n man.
Gone are the days of the Golden West
when spurrcd and revolvercd horscmen
sprang into saddles and lopcd out of the
brush or skinned over matted mesquite
4 on a blackboard drawn by swift running
ponies.
A long racing car was waiting for
the two men. and they were soon speed
ing over a hard baked. steel like road
that led up. around and over the far
flung. undulating hills before them.
III thought Kingdoms best car was
worth million bucks before ] went TO
Chicago" said Jo critically, "but it
sure would look like n two-spot on
Michigan avenue"
The other smiled indulgently.
81 trust everything out here won't
suffer By. comparison with the things
you ha 70 seen during your journey.
81 should say not. 1t all looks
pretty good to me. l wouldn't change
this trail to Top Hill for all the boule-
wards aud asphalts of Chicago. and our
ranch house has got any hotel / saw
skinned by mile for real living. l had
some vacation. though. and it was
mighty good Of you to send me on that
business. I tended to it. all right as
soon AZ got there. before took in
any of the sights or let loose for my
time won't forget il in YOU. Kurt
to send me instead of going your
E self"
.'well. 10. you'd been cooped up here
long time for younSster. said
Kurt. laying a hand on the younger
mans shoulder. "and saw YOU were
rnrin' for little recreation. thought
You would settle down to hard sea
sons work IL you let ont little. l
received your report and check. You
managed that cattle deal very shrewdly.
Kingdom was much pleased.
That's encouraging. but | feel bet
eter at pleasing you. Kurt.
They rode on without talking for some
distance. From time to time Kurt
cast a searching glance at the young
man whose eyes shone with n strange.
steady light-a look of exaltation and
despair combined.
Tho slowed down to conversa-
tlonal need.
..What It's. 10? Did you come to
grief when you let loose? Let GO all
your earnings in one big game without
any way slips, or did you have such
a round of theatres. cabarets and night
life that you are feeling the depression
OF reaction?'
''You're guessing wrong. replied 10
quietly. "I know that's the way most
% us grass fed men act when we get
a chance at white lights. had beau
tiful time that was as short and ms fnr
!. off as a pleasant dream. As / said.
started out for regular time. but |
didn't take a drink or touch card. or
say. Kurt. think I'd like to ten
YOU about i'll know you wont kid
me, fo- I'm in earnest and-in trou-
bie."
Another quick glance at rnc cue ewes.
usually so brimming with s0arkling
Rayety but which were now serious and
Respondent, brought a transformation
70 the grim face of the older man. max :
Eng him look kinder. warmer, younger.
ssShoot. Jon was all he said. but
the lad felt that the crude word was
backed up by a real interest, a readi-
I. ness to hear and advise.
s'Some one gave me steer TO
dance Mace" he began. Hurricane
Hall. think it was called. and as soon
AZ I looked in. 7 saw it was tougher
even than a cowboys cravings called
for: but sort Of stuck around until !
happened to look at one OF the tables
over in n cornered- off place. little
girl was sitting there alone. different
from all those other fierce looking ones
who were dressed in high water skirts
and with waists that looked as if they
needed inside blinds TO get by.
'.sha had on white dress. real
dre.s--not a skirt and bib-that COW
cred her. and without much fXings.
Her hair was drawn back plain like
a Lids. knew right off she'd got in
wrong. and I thought It was up to me
10 yet her out of that Joint.
at vert over to her and said: 'Ex .
euse nv nerve. little girl. but ! guess
you're in the wrong pew
'She looked at me sort OF funny
then she smiled and said: Same tc
you!
ssfIer voice sounGed like low, soft
music--c0ntralto kind.
Yes I said. You're right. I'm
a cowboy, not country boy ana ! "
n Chicago to see the sights; but Ia
AK for binders II stayed around here
much longer. Who brought you hereF
s' Nobody she said, looking down
Il came by myself.
"'I'm glad Of it. / tell her. and
I'm the guy that's going to take you
away from here
!" Why? she asked me. and how df
You know I'll 20 with your
..She'd kept her eyes away from m'
all this time. said: Took at me.