davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-04-22

men and 1t will be a good time to have an overhauling while the place is empty. You fellows have been eat ing free grub long enough. You'll have to make your packs and light out. I know that you won't give in and I'm going to get some riders who don't banker after society to a point where they use up the stock and themselves riding all over the state in search of parties.''
 He placed the note book in his pocket and went back to the house, while on the face of every man was a contented smile. Miss Kitty was a clever little f1irt, but every man felt that in the two days of grace he could press the point and win her assent to his proposal.
 But they had reckoned without the girl. Before breakfast the following morning she had galloped off across the prairie without escort, and in response to dozen different inquiries privately put, Mrs. Bellman explained that she had ridden over to Brewster's s to get a paper pattern.
 Mrs. Bellman did not know just when she would return and that aft ernoon the entire bunch were scat tered over the prairie in the direction
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-04-22

give my whole mind to business
 ''It is not broken,'- retorted Haver- ford. "I am under a sentence of sus- pension-not expulsion"
 Its not what you think-it's what I know" came the quick retort, and Haverford, seeing that the prolonga- tion of the conversation could do no good, took himself of.
 He knew Jeanette too well to be- lieve that she would change her mind. She had the Telford pluck, and he realized that for a time she would en- ter, heart and soul, into the business and forget her broken engagement. He learned of the time of her de- parture on her first trip, and a basket of orchids was his silent farewell, then he sat himself down to wait.
 From business friends he learned that Jeanette mad been given the route that the star salesman of the Telford company had been years in building up; "a self-selling route, '' some called 1t. and Telford began to
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-04-22

lon and he used the reason for a strike breaker"
 T wonder if she was in the game,'' unused Taylor loud.
 q make the motion that no one speaks until we all have an even chance" proposed Slim, and to this there was no dissenting voice.
 There were seven or eight weeks of hard work ahead-work that would take them far afield-and each man felt that he would be easier in mind if he knew that no one was getting ahead of him.
 Solemnly each pledged his word, and after the noon meal they rode of to the different tasks, determined to get through as quickly as possible.
 With such expedition did they work that in six weeks the cattle were all back on the range and the fences were all up again. There was a small cele- bration in honor of that fact, at which Coleraine took a hand. [ The men were all gathered in the bunk house, and Curly had just an- nounced that the prohibition on cOurtship had been raised when the door opened and the boys sprang up l to greet the old man. Glad to see you looking so happy,'' p he said as he glanced about the room I've come to make things a little livelier. We. are going to have a party ] here-a wedding
 1 For moment the silence was pro- 1 nounced, then Curly rose wrathfuIly. ] "You don't mean to say that you've l-" he began. The old man held up 1 a restraining hand
 l Pm not going to marry" he ex- l plained hastily. ''It seems that Miss
 Kitty has been engaged to an Eastern l chap for more than a year. I have | arranged to give him a position here as a sort of assistant and they are to be married next month. I suppose
 that you boys will be disappointed but its better after all. There was
 bound to be lot of hard feeling over l a contest for Kftty's hand''
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-04-22
|, back Monday"

, back Monday"
 Peters. expressed his grateful thanks and strode off well content. He would havo the inside track over the new men, and with the others out of the way success seemed assured. He could not know that each of the others had determined upon the same course, yet when Monday came the entire old crew came riding in from the station to fill their old hunks. In town each man had seemed to shun the others and not until nearly noon did they all return and face each other.
 The old man greeted each one with 1 sardonic courtesy and expressed his pleasure at seeing him back, adding that he hoped that a stay in town had | gratifed to satiety the desire for so- ciety.
 Curly glanced over the men as they I sat down to the noon meal. T thought I was ne only fool O. the lot" he said grimly as he eyed 1 the familiar faces Tt seems like giving in but I couldn't leave the old I man with a brand new crew, and ] 1 stayed over so there would be some one who knew the range" "AlI the same here," agreed Peters 1 Its hard to break in an all new crew and I told the old man that I would
 be back Monday"
 Funny he didn't tell me when ] 1 offered to stay on. I spoke to hin
 Thursday morning." said Curly. l ''He knew it then" confirmed Slim 1 ''I spoke about it Wednesday night
 You were in a precious hurry,
 grunted Smiling Boyd. "I waited un
 til Thursday noon, and I think l saw Butter Brown talking to him earlie, than that"
 T beat you aI1," proudly announced Bing Taylor. "I just come over thi
 morning and took chances on beint taken on again..
 ''It looks like a put-up job" de
 clared Curly. The old man knev
 that we had a good reason for stayinj
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-04-22

heaven by 8 racuous-voiced, red-faced man, and to be bidden for in more or less lively fashion by the group of chattering men, most of whom were arrayed in faultless riding togs.
 Langford nodded to his many ac- quaintances scattered about the pad dock, looked critically at the horse which was the center of interest at the moment-a bay geldfng, not over promising in appearance-and skirted the group of bidders to the far side, where several smart road carts were drawn up close to the fenced-in jump.
 Leisurely his eyes travelled over the occupants of the various carts, to rest finally with an eager light in them upon tall, dark girl, who was watch ing with a smile of tolerant amuse- ment the rather noisy proceedings about the auctioneer's stand.
 Langford slipped from his saddle, motioned to one of Johnson's stable boys who was standing near by, and, as the latter approached, tossed him his reins and a half dollar. Then he strode off to the line of road carts, singling out the one in which the tall girl sat.
 Intent on the scene before her, she did not notice him until he was at her side. Then she smiled, nodded, and her color heightened bit.
 And what has brought Tommy Langford here at this unearthly hour of the morning?" mocked, offering him her hand.
 "I thought I'd run over and see what they were doing here,' he said easily. Couldn't let 'em sell of all their tiptoppers without having look at them, you know. There might pos
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-04-22
JDANGTTE'S CAREER

fear that perhaps Jeanette might be successful after all.
 The thought worried him, and more than once he was on the point of seeking out Henry Telford, and ask ing how things were going, but before he could finally nerve himself to make the inquiry, he received note asking him to call.
 Telford's face frightened as Haver- ford entered the private office.
 'I was afraid that you might not come," he explained when greetings had been exchanged. Anything wrong?" asked Haver- l ford, anxiously, as he noticed the lines of care about the elder mans eyes.
 T want you to induce Jeanette to take that ring back" explained her father, abruptly. "Of course what I l tell you is in strict confdence?"
 Haverford nodded and the other produced a sheaf of letters. ''I put her on our star route,' he explained. ''She skipped Chicago because drum mer who introduced himself to her on the train explained that he had Chi man stole it from him. Listen:
 I MT. Boyce,'" '" he read, then added "Boyce being the best salesman in this line. He is not honest. This MT. Corey that I met tells me that Boyce has stolen a lot of customers from him and he thinks that Boyce drinks. He'd got the cutest little baby-he showed me his picture-and think 1t a shame that a house like ours should prevent a man with a pretty baby like that from earning a uving.'" 'Is that q sample or the worst p 1 asked Hayerford.
 Lust a sample" explained Telford l Here's another; T don't think I'll bother with Devine & Driggs. One of the men I met tells me that MT. De- vine sits in his office in his stocking | feet and that he chews tobacco all the time. I know that you would l not want me to associate with people | like that And Devine gave Boyce one order for s28,000.'' Something appears to have gone wrong" suggested Haverford and Tel 1 ford groaned.
 "The worst of it is she seems to be having "a perfectly lovely time,' as hind her schedule and-well, Boyce Is out ahead of her and I don't want her to catch up with him. Will you go for her, Jack?" 'Do you think that she will come ?'' he asked.
 Silently Telford handed out the l last letter.
 "P. S." Haveford read. 'If you see Jack please tell him that my ring finger looks awfully bare"
 q guess she's ready to be coaxed," said Telford.
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-04-22

would listen to your scheme-what- ever it is-until I know what it is?'' she suggested at length. ''Pll tell you and you may decide,'' said Langford, gravely. Suppose we enter into a partnership, a strictly limited corporation, as it were, here and now and buy him together?'' 70, I don't know" she demurred. That wouldn't be satisfactory, would it? We'd be eternally squabbling about him. You'd probably want to have him at your stables, just when I wanted him most at mine, and vica versa
 'I think we can obvtate that" said Langford. We might = well, we might pool our whole outfit, stables and all, you know said he.
 Goodness she laughed. You do put value on him, don't you?"
 Not so much as do on some other things" said Langford, with an em- phasis there was no mistaking.
 Helen, let's own him together. Tn fact, let's own everything together. I have waited very patiently, you'll ad- nit. have stood all your rebuffs and your parrying like little man. You want Lapwing; so do I. But there are things that want far more than do 2 horse that can take a six-rail fence.
 Let's buy him together and own him together, and rechristen him to- gether-I think Cupid would be ap- propriate-and then let's enter him in the register under the ownership of-of-"
 He looked at her eagerly, but her eyes were steadfastly turned away. ''The ownership of MT. and Mrs. Tom my LanGford! he finished boldly.
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-04-22

The girl looked at him with an amused smile for moment. Then she laughed.
 Langford turned to her quickly. His face was very grave and his eyes were somewhat disturbed.
 Look here" said he, ''how did you know this? I thought I was the only one in the vicinity that knew Lap wing could top timber. I didn't sup pose even Johnson himself knew it.'
 How did you find it out?" she asked, suddenly. ''I wonder if it was in the same way I did-by seeing that stable boy, Pat, taking fences on him, when he had him out for exercise?"
 Langford nodded. "Yes, that was it, he said.
 "And so that is why you're here?" she unused, softly. When Lapwing is put up you intend to get him, if strenuous bidding will do it for you. Is that so?"
 Again Langford nodded. That is quite right" he admitted cheerfully.
 Tt seems a shame" said Langford, slowly, that when no one but you and I and Pat know about him, that we should have to bid against each other and run his price of. If we MeIon CO uIu against OdCA OIno1' l haven't a doubt he'd go at ridicu- lously low figure
 You want me to promise not to bid?" she asked quickly.
 Goodness, no," Langford declared. You don't think I was limiting at that, do you? I was merely thinking that if we run him up pretty well, some of these other chaps about here may get an inkling as to his real worth and put in their oars and so
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-04-22
the Crazy c.

the Crazy c.
 Coleraine had made a few remarks
 on the subject of laziness that were
 almost audible at the bunk house, an
 eighth of a mile away, then he had grimly harnessed the team himself, while the boys enjoyed the perfor- nance from the corral fence. The next afternoon he came driv- ing slowly back, and the bunk house | moved in body over to the big house to regard the arrivals.
 Curly cursed the fate that had led l him to refuse to go over to the rail road. He had been mindful of the ] fact that the old man always em- ! plOyed a middle-aged housekeeper, and he had not been keen to spend several hours in the company of one of Coleraine's paragons. Mrs. Bell
 man was comfortably old, but on the rear seat of the blackboard sat. a girl i just budding into womanhood. She was blue of eye and fair of hair, and there was a smile on her full red lips as. she regarded with frank interest the little knot of ad- miring cowboys.
 For the first time since the strike had been declared, the wood box in the kitchen was filled without anyone being bribed to perform the service. Mrs. Morrow had sacrificed countless pies since the beginning of the strike to induce someone to chop a little wood but now the men fought for the | privilege, and the box was heaping full before the last man had con tributed his armful.
 By general consent the strike head | quarters were moved over to the well curb back of the house, where a giant windmill raised the water for house and corrals.
 Thereafter Miss Kitty did not lack for squires when she went abroad. She had only to appear with her sun bonnet GU her head to have the entire bunch spring forward to offer their escort, and she made her acceptance
 so impartially that not man was of fended and each secretly felt that 1t was he that she most approved of, though she was too diplomatic to make that fact apparent so early in the game.
 For week Coleraine made DO move. though daily he grew more content, but the eighth day after the arrival of the Bellmans he seized a moment when the bunch were all hanging around the house to stroll slowly
 down to the bunk house. He counted upon the curiosity of
 the boys to make them follow, and he did not count in vain. Curly was the first to come slowly toward the house, but the others followed in close order and presently they were all as
 sembIed in front of the house watch ing the old man as he inspected the premises and made measurements and notes.
 He worked on, seemingly unaware of their presence until Curly, unable to restrain himself, broke in.
 Want some help, boAA' he in
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-04-22

sibly be something worth while''
 The girl moved over on the seat. "Climb up," she invited. You can get an excellent view of it all from here D
 Langford accepted with aIacrity.
 T don't think your explanation is the whole truth,' the girl said, look ing at him steadily. You wouldn't [ have come over here just on chance. It isn't the fact that there might be something worth while, but the fact that you know there is something worth while that has brought you. Isn't that right?'
 T cant dispute you" Langford laughed. "Yes, I'll admit there is somehing worth while that will be put up a little later on. I don't mind telling you confidentialIy that there is a horse in Johnson's bunch that can Top timber in way to make us all sit up and take notice, and I think most of us have seen some pretty tol- erable jumpers in our day.
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-04-22

My dear little girl" Haverfords s tones were tender now. T appre- ciate the sacrifice you are making, but I also see the useIessness of your trying to take your dead brothers s place. As a salesman on the road you will only prove a failure, and even greater disappointment to your father than by refusing to make the at tempt"
 If that's the way you feel about it, perhaps you feel that I will not make a good wife, she suggested hot ly. She was nerved to every sacrifice and his unbelief hurt her.
 ''It is because I believe that you will make a good wife that I hate to see you attempt a business career, '' exclaimed Haverford. "I1 I thought you could make good selling goods I
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-04-22

Eome and disappointed that I slipped up behind him-a and kissed him before he knew that I was there, and I said It's all right, daddy, I'm going to be a business woman; and then he cried B little, and I cried a lot. and I guess I must have kept on crying all night.
 ''Next week I'm going to take to tHe road as a salesm man-just as Dick would have done had he lived-and I guess I'll show some of those men that a woman can sell hats better than they can"
 "I don't know whether to sympa- thize with you or your father" said Haverford. "On the whole, I think the greaterssympathy $ due him.
 Jeanette drew back stiffy. "If you feel that way about it l suppose it is useless to discuss it any more," she Eaid, co1dly. "I supposed could look to you for sympathy. I don't want to be a business woman, but since it will please daddy, think that I ought to.''
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-04-22
1ould he the last to interfere." "

should be the last to interfere
 "As it stands, perhaps it would be well not to interfere anyway" came a voice from the doorway and Haver- ford turned to confront Henry Tel ford, his fiancee's father.
 You know" continued the elder man, "now I have set my heart upon Jeanette's taking the place of my poor, dead boy. Do you think it right to urge her not to make the triaI?"
 'I don't think that she can make good, and her failure will be greater disappointment than her refusal to try" defended Haverford.
 we Telfords are all business peo- ple," declared Telford, warmly. ''I am certain that Jeanette will be & very great success on the road. I only want her to stay out long. enough to learn selling methods, and then shall bring her in for the office man agement."
 Jeanette caught the gIeam of amuse-
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-04-22

ment in Haverford's eyes, and she i'm petuOusly drew of her engagement ring.
 "Take this," she commanded i'm periously. 'T don't want to be en- gagged to man who has no faith in me-
 Haverford took the solitaire and carefully placed it in his pocketbook.
 "To be kept until called for," he quoted, lightly. My dear little girl, you are overwrought. You have nerved yourself up to this sacrifice, and you do not realize just what 1t means. When you do realize-then send for me, and I shall have the ring ready for you"
 That will never be-" was the pas sionate reply. Its just as well that the engagement is broken. Now can
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-04-22

make it pretty expensive for us @ whichever one of us it is that is fnal- Iy lucky enough to get Ainn."
 Well, what are we going to do about it?" she challenged. "You are supposed to have a remarkably active mind-especially so where horse you want is concerned. Can't you suggest something?" ~r
 Langford looked at her long and thoughtfully. Indeed, he looked so steadily that her color rose and her eyes were turned away.
 There is a scheme that might prove efficacious." said he very slow ly. fThe only trouble is that I am rather doubtful as to whether you would consider it seriously"
 There was little period of silence between them. The bidding about the auctioneer had suddenly become very active. Ttn girl was apparently absorbed in it.
 How can I tell whether or not I
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-04-22

the matter may have been, Johnson was in financial difficulties, and to relieve the pressure of the moment the South Ridge stock farm and all that pertained thereto were going under the hammer of the auctioneer.
 Langford, astride a magnificent hunter, swung briskly into the gate way, galloped past the stables to the paddock, where one after another the horses were being led forth to have their many virtues extolIed to high
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-04-22

going to stay on. If it's all the same to you, sir
 ''It doesn't matter" was the care lessSreply as Sims voice traiIed into silence. Ride over to town with the rest If you want to and then come
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-04-22

your father and are going to give the best years of your life to business"
 'Tc father" she corrected. Poor daddy has his heart set on my taking an interest in his business. gave in last night, Jack. I came in from the Burlington ball. and poor dad was sitting in the library looking so lone
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-04-22

ROUBLE reigned on 0 5. :. . : $" $. $: $: $:
 M crazy "C" on their
 e2RS Hanks. Little bunch
 h. &SS5 es of cattle, branded
 1sry/ with a ''C,' that sug- NPN gested a half coiled
 snake suffering from
 the cholera morbus, strayed from the range and sought fresh pastures through the breaks in She line fence, while the riders sat about the bunk house and rolled cigarettes and Peter Coleraine sat Oh the porch of the big house and swore Violently at men and things.
 It had all started when the hard work of roundup was completed and they felt that they were entitled to some relaxation. There had been started the series of balls and the old man had set his foot down, declaring that the men employed on the Crazy c should not go riding off to every fes- tivity within 50 miles of the home ranch.
 More than that, he declared that the men could not do their share of the entertaining. and this to men who had set their hearts upon outdoing all previous balls ever held in the SagawatCh valley.
 Some weeks had been spent in vain argument; then one night every man on the place had ridden 30 miles to Brewster's in direct defiance of the old mans orders, and the next morn ing, unrepentant, had sent Curly Diggs to announce that they would not ride range until they were per mitted to give their own entertain ment and attend all others within reaching distance.
 The old man had violently declared that he would see the cattle drift across two states into Mexico before he would be dictated to, so both sides had sat down to play the waiting game, with this diference-that the riders enjoyed their inactiOn and the old man didn't.
 It was the middle of the third week of the strike that Kitty Bellman ar rived on the scene. Mrs. Morrow, Coleraine's housekeeper, had left to get married. and Mrs. BeIlman came to take charge of the big house for the choleric owner. Kitty came with bar mother, and life held a new in teresr for the men of the Crazy c.
 It was the old man himself who brought LuGul IO Iu6 IduCu. he udU suggested to Curly that in view of the free board that he was receiving that he might at least ride over to the rail road town and bring back the new housekeeper, but Curly, who had rid den over the day before for fresh sup plies of tobacco and paper, had de- clared that il Brewster's was too long a ride for ball, it was even farther to the railroad, and he did not care to make the trip, since there seemed to be a prejudice against long rides on
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-04-22
EANETTE TELFORD

TELFORD drew back as Haver- ford bent to kiss her.
 T don't know that you'll want to kiss me when you hear,' she began, doubtful ly, and Haverford groaned.
 "I suppose that means that you have been won over by
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-04-22

of Brewster's, each man hoping to be the one to see Kitty first, for by tacit consent none had trod upon another's privilege, and the first man to reach kitty's side held his place until it was her pleasure to make a change.
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-04-22

l. sorts of rumors were in the air as to just why Johnson had made a fiZzle of the South Ridge stock farm. One was that he had gone in too steep; another reported him to have dabbled too freely in marginal stocks, but whether the truth of