The Washington herald., 1920-11-18

IulB MUCH you snail learn.
At midnixht Santa slipped softly
out OF the ranch-house. clothed In
something dark and plain. She
paused for moment under the live
oak trees. The prairies were some
what dim, and the moonlight was
pale orange, diluted with particles
the mock-bird whistled on every
bough of vantage: leagues OF
flowers scented the air; and a kim
ldergarten Of little shadowy rab-
bits leaped and played In an open
face to the southeast and threw
none to see.
Then she sped silently to the
blacksmith shop, fifty yards away;
and what she did there can only be
surmised. But the forge glowed red:
and there was a faint hammering
such as Cupid might make when he
sharpens his arrow points.
Later she came forth with a
queer shaped. handled thing in one
hand. and a portable furnace, Such
as are seen in branding camps, in
the other. To the corral where the
Sussex cattle were penned she sped
with these things swiftly in the
moonlight
Again she made the cast, while
the aroused cattle milled around
the four sides Of the corral in a
plunging mass. This throw was
fair: the white COW came to earth
again; and before 1t could rise San
to had made the lasso fast around
I - .
and simple knot, and had leaped
hide hobbies.
In one minute the feet of the ami
NAL were tied (no record-breaking
deed) and Santa leaned against the
corral for the same space OF time.
painting and lax.
| And then she ran swiftly to her
furnace at the gate and brought the
branding-iron. queerly shaped and
white-hot.
The below Of the outraged white
COW, as the iron was applied
should have stirred the slumbering
Iauricular nerves and consciences OF
the nearby subjects of the Nopalito
but it did not.
And it was amid the deepest noe
turnal silence that Santa ran like |
=, lapwing back to the ranch housi
and there fell upon q cot and sobbe'
-sobbed as though queens hai
hearts as simple ranchmen's wiye
have. and as though she woul
gladly make kings of prince con
sorts, should they ride back aSi
: from over the hills and far away
In the morning the capable, re
] a-I L. ~
, forth, driving the bunch Of SUISSE
cattle across the prairies to I'll
4 Rancho Seco. Ninety miles it was
a six days journey, grazing an
D watering the animals on the wa!
3 The beasts arrived at Rancho Sec
:. one evening at dusk, and were re
: ceived and counted by the forema
3 of the ranch.
The next morning at o'clock
. horseman loped out of the brush I
l the Nopalito ranch house. He dis
mounted stiffly, and strode. wit
whizzing spurs, to the house. III
: horse gave a great sigh and swaye
foam-streaked, with down-droopln
< head and closed eyes.
i But waste not your pity upo
= Belshazxar. the fiea-bitten sorre
J, Today, IN Nopalito horse pasture h
J, survives, pampered beloved, unric
i den, cherished record = holder
: long distance rides.
d The horseman stumbled into I'll
|. house. Two arms fell around n
;. meek. and someone cried out in IN
}, lvoice of woman and queen alike
: l"webb-oh, webb!"
8 81 was q skunk" said Web
/. Yeager.
Hush" said Santa, did you Sc
s litr
e "I saw it," said Webb.
n What they meant God knows: an
: lyou shall know. If you rightly rea
d 1.-THE primer of events.
b BE the cattle-queen," said Webb
"and overlook 1t IL you can. wa
e q NANCY, sheep-stealing coyote"
: "Huski" said Santa again, layin
lher fingers upon his mouth. There
: mo queen here. Do you know VIII
n IL am? am Santa Yeager, Fir'
n Lady of the Bedchamber. Con
= here"
|. She dragged him from the CALLER
into the room to the right. The'
stood a cradle with an infant in it
la red. ribald. unintelligible. bal
bling. beautiful infant. sputtering
life In an unseemly manner.
There's no queen on this ranch
said Santa again. Look at Il
king. He's got yo:ir eyes. Web
Down on your knees and look at II
j Highness."
But jingling rowls sounded on Il
gallery. and Bud Turner stumble
le there again with the same que
"a that he had brought, lacking a fe
days, a year ago.
e informing. Them beeves is ju
~ turned.out pm the trail. Shall dri
; 'emf to Barber's, or"
He saw Webb and stopped. ope
J. mouthed.
y. ba-ba-b ba ba-ba shrieked q
,s king ire his cradle, beating the a
. with his fists.
:. You hear your boss. Bud" sa
Webb Yeager. with a broad grin
just as he had said q year ago.
'r And that Is all. except that VIII
= lold man Quinn, owner Of the Rancl
ie Seco went out TO look over the ne
y of Sussex cattle that he had boug
frona the Nopalito ranch. he ask
10 his new manager.
Ie whats the Nopalito ranch brar
twiIsonr
ic "x Bay r" said Wilson.
ID 'T thought so." said Quinn. B
Id look at that white heifer there; sh'
~ got another brand-a heart with
" cross inside Of It. What brand
" thatr'
tossasA. 1ss. ~ uasslsr asaaizsss-'
n. 3