The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1920-04-23

| idea through the look of her brown
eyes; perhaps it was because she
never contradictsd a man, but gave
| him smile which prompted him to
contradict himself if he had an idea
| that that was what the smile meant
Perhaps, as Miss Virginia herself
would have said, it was Gust because
AS long as James bargains work
had kept him in Texas, Alkali was
one of the favored in a dozen and a
half "suitors" who called at his home
In Texas, Alkali paid attentions in his
own distinctive way.
If it was pony Miss Dargan
wanted, Alkali presented her with
the fastest and easiest-gaited pony to
be had. If she fancied five pounds of
| chocolate bonbons, it was Alkalis
| bronco that measured the 20 miles Ii
the nearest candy-shop.
In fact, Alkali on his native heath
| was master of all he surveyed, except
| ing of course when he looked at Miss
Virginia And even then, once in a
great while, he received "fAir, speech
less messages" that didn't require a
French dictionary to translate.
But in Candeleria it was different
| A cowboy in jungle is about as much
| ut home as a Hell's kitchen CANISTER
ON Fifth avenue.
Besides, in small community a
| foreman like A. Decker taxes pecul.
| lar sort of precedence over an ordi
| nary section-hand like Alkali that
nerve, physique and devotion don't en-
tirely Offset.
This information is offered to pre-
pare you for the news that Foreman
A. Decker was in South America also
| one of the favored dozen who spent
their month-ends at Mr.. bargains
| home
AS the work went on recruits fol
| Miss Virginia's favors began to DROP
cut of ranks, leaving on the firing-line
Foreman A. Decker and section-hand
No Is, Alkali Richards.
Gradually Miss Virginia appeared tc
show the foreman preference, or so Il
| seemed to Alka1i. He lay awake
nights while the pangs of Jealousy
grew and ranked in his breast like &
tropical weed And here was plenty
of time to think of her
In fact, there was nothing to do bu
think of her after night came and tn,
| sang lay chatting and smoking in the
| little circle about the tents
Foreman Decker brought matters Il
a showdown one morning when tn,
work train backed up to take Squat
80 to Candeleria for the monthly va
cation.
Alkali was in his tent, rolling u
the pelt of puma-the latest victim
| Of his six-shooter-to be presented t
Miss Virginia, when he heard the bias
of the whistle.
He reached the track in time to Sc
the last car of the work train swing
ing around the curve. Alkai didn'
have to be told what had happened.
He knew that Decker's hand on tn
bell-cord had given the starting signal
and he also knew that Decker had dc
| liberately taken the train in withou
him.
| LnrfT1notn1v fn,. nnolror hn h oil
mile away when Alkai gave vent t
| his feelings on the matter in an cruz
ton of oaths that would have mad
| Stonewall Jackson give orders to re
treat. Had Decker been within rang
of a pistol-ball his life wouldn't hav
been worth Esau's mess Of pottage.
Two black men, camp servants, wer
unfortunate in coming In contact wit
AlkaH when the explosion occurred
| At the point Of gun he forced then
| to man a hand car, and the next day
standing solidly over them, Alkal
pumped into Candeleria. weary, jea
GUS and defiant.
When man Is bested by his riva
he often fails to take account OF tn
fact that the girl hasn't directly cor
tributed to his humiliation. He doe
not distinguish victory won purel
ON tactics from a victory won throug
q personal reference she may have e1
/ pressed.
Alkali, blinded by jealousy and ur
able to think nationally, was in nue.
the same state of mind as a Texa
steer that had been thrown heavily b.
skilfully swung rope.
Alkali did not walk peacefully l.
Mr. bargains cottage; he charged
like a bull, with eyes shut and hea
down.
And it isn't the unexpected that a
ways happens. When he burst int
the little parlor he found the foreman
and Miss Virginia talking together.
Miss Virginia arose a good deal SUI
prised, and if Alkali could only hav
detected it bit happier than befor
he had come into the room.
How did you get here, Alkali? MI
Decker was just telling me how sorr
he was you missed the train"
Alkali's reply was to Decker:
$50 that is the kind of sport yo
are? You leave me in the jungle Will
you ride to town. Well, if that's you
game you didn't get away with il
I'm hereto stay"
Alkalis tone was a sheer as col