Cheyenne Wells record., 1922-05-04

she was vowed to Hop-Light Martin
the man of oil others she wished u
avoid.
He had money, and traces OF col
lege education. Also, and further' ne
fancied himself so greatly he suspected
womankind In general of sharing ms
feelings, Worst Of all, he hated with
deadly malice young John Glover
upon whom Miss Benny had fixed her
mind and heart as her proper mate.
Young John was just getting n foot-
hold In the lnw-but he was AMBITIOUS
as Lucifer Hence. Benny's diplomacy
she knew all things needs must have
n beginning-yOung John with his ma
tive township behind him solidly had
more than an even chance of getting
the county. and state, to have the
same mind. sss
He knew what Hop-Light thought
of him-and returned the opinion with
interest. He had also an understand
ing as to Benny's inclinations and
plans. So he ought not to have minded
in the least seeing her swinging down
the middlss7n the opening Virginia
reel, nor the setting in Sir Roger de
COverly, which walked general ap-
plause.
Mind 1t he did to a degree that
made him rampantly careless. Torn
gowns, trodden cOrns marked his
progress to such an extent that there
was wide-eyed amazement and whis-
pers that he must somehow have got
more hard cider than he well could
curry. Benny knew the truth, but his
seeming mistrust of her made her 40
furious she forgot prudence for time
and outdanced herself. Hop-Light, all
said and done, was certainly a fine
partner-he knew plenty Of old catches
fitting the tunes, and sang them with
gusto in a robustious tenor that set
the crowd clapping and laughing hard.
Slow jenkins even shouted. you're
3ected. Hop-Light, no matter what
you're runnin' fer" Hop-Light bowed
grandly; then, the dance ended, he
stood out clear of everything crying.
"Now for hornpipei Say, Johnny,
you watch mel" to Glover.
A taunt this. Johnny was ADLER in
head than heels. But he was pas:
prudence with anger. SO he stepped in
front OF the hornpiper. saying with
curling lip: "No matter about the
split. Right now we'll have the
smack" suiting the action to the
words. and sending Hop-Light reeling.
A clinch was the logical rejoinder.
HopLight did not make 1t. Instead
he caught balance, flung his arms
above his head. saying airily: "Bad,
bad boy; Have to tend to him later"
Back, forth. In, out, around. about
he leaped and flung, In perfect time
to the music and swapping his own
fingers. benny was blind with rage.
Mt both Of them. John should have
known better. Hop-Llght should have
acted worse. She must somehow
intervene, 1t would never do to make
matters serious by taking notice of the
blow.
It must pass us sportive or raise a
great scandnl-one that would mean
Johns being forbidden the house.
Squire Jordan was a hearty man, bur
had the strictest ideas of hospitality
Horse-play he did not mind-the IL
cense Of parings amply excused it.
But there might be- vicious set-to
when the dance ended unless-sudden.
ly she had an lnspiration-and dartetl
away to realize 1t.
Thus 1t fell out that In almost the
last flourish before the split Hop-Light
stepped upon an apple peel carelessly
flung at his feet. From whose hand
none saw, or cared to know, but the
result was deadly. He slipped, stag
gered, tried to find his feet, staggered
again harder, and fell sprawling al
Nell Crabb's feet. Then be sure roal
went up. Nell, poor dear, had pursued
HOp-Light faithfully ever since sh'
let down her frocks. Glow Jenkini
caught Hop-Light by one arm. Benn!
Jordan by the other; together the!
yanked him upright and thrust Nell
hand In his, crying: Before witness
es you've knelt to Nelly. Now kis
her and she'll say yes"
"You, too?" John Glover, asked II
Benny's ear. She nodded. And q