St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1922-11-18

chance for the girl-just because 20,
were afraid shed fall In love. You'v,
always been strange, even silly, abou
that I've done my best for Nell
loved her as II she were my owl
daughter. I've changed many bust
ness plans to suit your whims. Their,
are rough times ahead, maybe. 1 neet
men. I'll hire this chap Gale II he'll
stay. Let Nell take her chance Will
him. She'll be all the better for It.
II hope Laddy's not mistaken in hi,
opinion Of this newcomer" repliet
Mrs. Bedding, with sigh Of resigna
ton. "Well, supper il to be got. Tha
young man and tho girl will b,
starved. I'll 60 in now. II Nell hap
pens around don't-don't flatter her
Laddy, like you did at dinner. DOM
make her think Of her looks"
Dick heard Mra Bedding wan
away.
ashore she's powerful particular
about that girl" observed Laddy.
"Say, Tom, Nell knows she's pretty.
doesn't she"
"She's liable to find It out unless
you shut up, Laddy. When you Wis
tied us out here some weeks ago, you
kept paying cowboy compliments to
her"
"An' it's your idea that cowboy
compliments are plumb bad for girlsT'
Downright bad, Laddy, 10 my wife
says"
'I'll be darned If believe any girl
can be hurt by a little sweet talk.
1t pleases 'em.
"Chop it." interrupted Bedding.
'Here comes Nell now"
Dicks tingling ears took in the pat
tertng of light footsteps. the rush OF
someone running.
Here you are" cried sweet, hap
py voice. dad. the senorita is per-
rectly lovely. I've been peeping at
her. She sleeps nke-like death.
She's SO white. Oh, hope she won't
be Ill. How strange and sad. that
about her! Tell me more, Laddy.
You promised. I'm dying to know.
Didn't you say the senorita had
sweetheart
"Shore I did"
"1s he the young man who came
with your"
"Nope. That fellows the one who
saved the girl from Rojas."
"Ahl Where is he, Laddyr
Hes in there asleep"
us he-nice, LaddyT
"Shore."
"What Is he lfkef'
well, I'm not long acquainted,
never saw him by day. but l was some
tolerable took with him. An Jim
here, Jim says the young man can
have his gun an his hoss."
"Wonderful! Laddy, what ON
earth did this stranger do to win You
cowboys in just one nightf'
"I'll shore have to tell you. Me an
Jim was watchin' a game Of cards In
the Del Sol saloon In Casita. That's
across the line. We had acQuaint-
ances-four fellows from the Cross
Bar outfit, where we worked while
back. This Del Sol IL billiard hail.
saloon, restaurant, an the like. An
it was full Of Greasers. Some OF
Campo's rebels were there drinkin' an
playin' games. Then pretty soon In
come Rojas with some Of his outfit.
They we're packin' guns an kept to
themselves off to one side.
"A little while afterward I seen
fellow standin' in the restaurant
door. He was a young American
dressed In corduroys an boots. Ike
prospector. He looked round the ~
loon, an when he spotted Rojas he
sorta jerked up. Then he pulleds his
SLOUGH hat lopsided an began to stag.
ger down, down the steps First of 1
made shore he was drunk. But re-
membered he didn't seem drunk be-
fore. It was some queer. 80
watched that young man.
"He reeled around the room like
fellow who was drunker'n a lord.
Nobody but me seemed to notice him.
Then he began to stumble over pool
players an get his feet tangled up In
chairs an bump against tables. He
got some pretty hard looks. He came
round our way, an all Of sudden he
seen us cowboys. He gave another
start. like the one when He flrst seen
Rojas. then he made for US. tipped
Jim of that somethin' was dom.
Then this queer young man shot some
cool, polite words at me an Jim.
"He was only blufan' at bein' drunk
he meant to rush Rojas, to start .
rough house. The bandit was after q
girl. This girl was in the hotel. an
she was the sweetheart Of a soldier,
the young fellows friend. The hotel
was watched by Rojas' guards. an the
plan was to make a fuss an get the
girl away In the excitement. Well.
Jim an me got a hint Of our bein
Americans-that cowboys generally
had name for loyalty to women.
Then this amazin' chap-you can't
imagine how scornful-said for mo
an Jim to watch him.
Before could catch my breath an
fgger out what he meant by rush an
rough house he had knocked over a
table an crowded some Greaser half
of the map. Then, quicker'n l can
tell you the young man dove at Ro-
Jas. Like a mad steer on the ram
page he charged Rojas an his men.
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