The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1920-01-01
The Star Trail
II
By IZOLA FORESTER
AeeAA9@a4seNtNA2N A2NaAeN4~eeseessA

&p<NsS~@ss~~rNN~@ ~@s~s~n~~sS~SSs~sA
copyright, 1919. by the Mcclure News.
paper Syndicate,)
II Walt had not been young and
trusting he'd never have answered the
advertisement, but when you've spent
your life in western Nebraska, per-
sonally conducting squads Of cattle
from range TO railroad station, and
thereafter riding with them and
punching them into submission to an
all.wise Providence, you're apt TO be
In receptive condition for romance.
Walt was. From the first day when
he found the advertisement he knew
the star path his feet must tread. He
was sitting on baggage truck In the
cool shadow of the Three Bears ex-
press office, peacefully sleeping. Runty.
the agent. laid over his face a copy
OF the Omaha Eagle. When Walt wax
ened his glance wandered idly over its
want columns. II was down among
the personals" Walt read It over
carelessly at first, then carefully, look.
Ing up once to gaze at the demure hut
forbIdding face behind the telegraph
Office window. Then he read over the
ad again.
WANTED - YOUNG EASTERN WIDOW,
blonde. lweuty tour, wishes 10 correspond
with western ranchman, not over thirty.
nlN "a
He held the newspaper firmly in both
hands. There was no reason why he
should NOT answer the appeal. He
didn't have ranch all his own, but
BIZ and he had been good partners
with the Triple Star outfit. The house
wasn't so bad--three rooms and p
leantO. He'd fix II up for her, chuck
all the old clutter he and Bill had put
up with. and send up a load of mail.
order honeymoon things for her to
make her know she wns welcome.
Here Walt took n second look at the
unfriendly face Mt the window, hut the
girl never turned her mead or noticed
his existence. Presently he Sauntered
around into the station doorway and
leaned over the little partition at the
ticket office. Could he have tele
graph blank, please2 Cherry did moi
glance my at all, just passed one t.
him coldly. lie spent half an houI
writing his message, tOok long drin|
from the water cooler and handed tht
telegram to her 70 count up.
"Send it Off any time it's handy" hi
remarked, trying to be nOnChalan
also. Cherry ran her pencil over It.
pear Madam; SEEING your ad in omahi
| Eagle ] am hereby presenting myself vii
| honorable intentions Have is2,acre ranCf
| IN partnership with one Bill Owens, "
money IN bank, but credit herenbouts pm
with mail order Arms. Height six foot on
inch weight 100. II satisfactory VIII w1r
''''' """'O" WAITER K RAMsDELL
might messagef" asked Cherry
pleasantly, as she drew her penci
through "Denr Madam"
Walt resented her afr Of aloofnes
and lack of curiosity. He hauled OIL
q plgskih wallet and extracted ycI
low hill.
"Send II now and get It there thl
afternoon. I don't care what 1t costs
Any corrections 10 suggestT
Cherry's blue eyes looked him owe
slowly. In one sweeping summary q
his apparent shortcomings as an ideT
sultor. and shook her head nggravn
ingly. with n certain little r,lrl to he
short upper lip. Some months prev
ously she had been courted assidl
ously nv Mr.. RamSdell, and hping III
only attractive and desirable girl In
radius of forty miles she had failed
take his offer Mt its proper valuation
Walt waipd grimly until she had di
patched the message, then rode ava
with a new aggressive tilt to his hi
and n sinking feeling in his heart
the desperate step he had taken.
In the days Of waiting for his NJ
swer he haunted the telegraph ofic
Cherry was likewise postmlstress, ar
Bill warned him Of his danger.
ats Just as dangerous hanglr
around some female you've been on,
, attached TO as II is getting measles Il
second time. wouldn't put It pa
Cherry a BIT to try and get ahead
i the eastern widow and think she's d
! ing something mighty smart"
g But Cherry held serehely 10 her Ov
cos.,e Of action. Instead Of bell
- ---------- --------f'-,''----