Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-06-25

ciety far into the lake
Curley crawied out and up the bank
spluttering like a porpoise.
Ranse met him with a piece OF soap
| and a coarse towel in his hands.
go to the end Of the lake and use
this" he said Buck win give you some
dry clothes at the wagon" -
The tramp obeyed without protest. BY
the time supper was ready he had re-
! turned to camp. He was hardly to be
/ recognized in his new blue shirt and
brown duck clothes. Rause observed
him out of the corner of his eys.
"Lordy, hope he amt a coward" he
was saying to himself 81 hope he won't
turn out to be a coward"
His doubts were soon aIlayed. Curly
walked straight to where he stood. HIS
light :ato blue eyes were blazing,
maybe you'n talk to me. Think you've
| got a picnic here, do your You c1od-
/ hoppeFs think you can run over q man
because you know he can't get away.
All right Now, what do you think Of
Curly planted singing slap against
Ranse's left cheek. The print Of his
hand stood out a dull red against the
Ranse smiled happily.
! The cowpunchers talk to this day Of
! the battle that followed
| Somewhere in his restless tour Of the
cities Curly had acquired the art ,of
| self defense. The rancbuau was equip
| ped emily with the splendid strength and
equilibrium Of perfect health and the
The two attributes nearly matched.
There were no formal rounds. At last
the fiber Of the clean liver prevailed. ThA
last time Curly went down from one Of
/ the ranchman's awkward but powerful
blows he remained on the grass, but
looking up with an unQuenehed eye.
| Ranse went to the water barrel and
washed the red from cut ON his chin Ia
the stream from the faucet.
=. On his face was grin Of gaffsfac-
ton.
Much benefit might accrue to educa-
tors and moruHsts, If they could know
| the details OF the curriculum Of rec
lamation through which Ranss put his
Walt during the month that he spent in
| the San Gabriel camp. The ranchman
/ had no fine theories to work out-4pef-
haps his whole stock. Of pedagogy en-
/ braeed only a knowledge u horse break
ing and belief in heredfty.
! The cowppnchers saw that their boss
was trying to make a man out OF the
strange animal that he had sent among
selves into q faculty of assistants. But
/ their system was their own
| CuFleys first lesson stuck He became
on friendly and then On intimate terms
that pleased Ranse most was that HIS
| 'sub5ec held his ground at each sue
cessfve higher step. But the steps we're
! Once he got at the quart bottle Of
whisky kept saered1y in the grub tent
for rattlesnake bites, and spent sixteen
Aoqrs on ths grass magntheently. drunk.
But when he staggered to his feet his
! FIRST move was to find his soap and
towel and start for the eharco. And
once. when treat came from the
tomatoes and young onions, Curly de-
voured the entire consignment before the
punchers reached the camp at supper
| time.
And then the punehsrs punished him
| IN their own way For three days they
did not speak to him, except to reply
to bis own questions or remarks. And
| they spoke with absolute and unfailing
politeness. They played tricks on one
another; they pounded one another hurt
fully and afectiORately; they heaped up
| On one another's heads friendly curses
and obloquy: but they were polite TO
Curly. He saw it, and it stung him IS
much as Ranse hoped it would.
Then came a night that brought q
cold, wet norther Wilson, the youngest
| Of the outfit, had lain in camp two
| days Ill with a fever. When Joe got
up at daylight TO begin breakfast he
found Carly sitting asleep against q
wheel OF the grub wagon with only a
saddle blanket around him. while Curly's
| blankets were stretched over Wilson to
protect him from rain and wind
Three nights after that Curly rolled
| himself IN his blanket and went to Sleep
Then the other punchers rose up softly
and began to make preparations Ranse
saw Ions Collins tie rope to the horn
Of sadne. Others were getting cut
their six hooters.
Boys said Ranse. TN much obliged.
| was hoping you would. But I didn't
Half dozen sfx-shooters began to pop
awful yells rent the air-Long Collins
galloped wildly across Curly's bed, drag
ging the saddle after him That was
| Victim Then they hazed him for an
hour, carefully and ridicuIously. after the
code OF COW camps. Whenever he uttered
protest they held him stretched over a
roll OF blankets and thrashed him woe
Iully with pair Of leather leggings
And all this meant that Curly hid
won his spurs, that ne was receiving the
Puncher's accolade. Nevermore would
they be polite TO him But he would be
to foot.
When the fooling was ended al hands
made raid on JOe's big coffee pot By
/ the fire for a Java hightcap. Ranss
watched the new knight carefully to see
u he understood and was worthy Curly
hmped with his cup of coffee 10 log
and sat by HIS side. Buck Rabb went
and sat at the other Curly-grinnad.
And then Ranse furnished Curly with
mounts and saddle and equipment, ana
turned MIN over TO Buck RaEb, instruct
ing him to finish the job
Three weeks later Ranse rode from the
ranch into Rabbs camp, which was then
in Snake Valley. The boys were asd-
ding for The days ride. He sought out
Long Collins among them.
How about that broncO?" he asked.
Long Collins grinned.
Reach out your hand, Ranse Trues-
dell, he said, "and you'll touch him
And you can shake his'n, too, II you like
for he's plumb white and there's none
better in no camp"
Ranse looked again at the clarified.
tronzed, smiling cow-puncher who stood
at Collins side. Could that be Curly?
he ED out his hand and Curly grasped
1t with the muscles Of a bronco buster.
Il want you at the ranch" said RSnse.
IAN right, sport" said Curly heartily.
But want to come back again. Say
pal, this is a dandy farm. And I don't
want any better fun than hustlfn' cows
with this bunch Of guys. They're all to
the merry merry"
At the Citolo ranch house they dis
mounted. Ranse babe Curly wait at the
door of the living room. He walked IL
side Old 'Kiowa" Truesden was reading
at table
Good morning, Mr. Truesden." said
The old man turned his white head
quickly.
How is this?" he began. 'why do
you call re Mr.. -"
When he looked at Ranss's face he
stepped and the hand that held his news
paper shook slightly.
Boy" he said slowly. "how did Won
find out ?"
ITS all right" said Ranse, with
smile. II made Tia Juana tell me. 1t
was kind of by accident, but it's all
7sYor,ro baor IT. - a. sss