The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-12-11
A SACEBRUSH CINDERELLA
By Max Brand

i way I fix my hair" she muttered. It was tied so tightly that it pulled l up the skin of her forehead and rais- | ed her eyebrows to a look of con l tinua1 plaintiveness. | .'There's certainly something wrong | with the way I do my hair!' 1 ''Is that all that's wrong with your l face?" whispered the voice. | My hair is red,'' said Jac. Like paint,' said the voice. | There's no help?" | ''None!" | To escape from this merciIess dia- l logue, Jac went back to her post of l vantage. The square shoulders of | Maurie Gordon were just disappear | ing through the outer door. All the 1 others were gone. with the exception i of her father, her brother Harry, and ! the man of many whiskers. The last was hardly to be considered as a hu- man being. She felt practically alone | with her family so she entered the ! d ming room and sat on the edge of l the table swinging her feet. E,Harry,'' she said, "d'you see any | thing the matter with the way I fix my hair?" Her brother glanced at her with unseeing eyes. The man of many whiskers stopped string his coffee and glanced up with the keen twinkle which Jac had seen before. She turned her shoulder upon him. Throw me your tobacco. pa.'' said Harry. Did you hear me ask a question 9" said Jac fiercely. Harry rolled his cigarette before he answered.
 Dot get so sore you rope am tie yourself. What did you say?" T asked you if you was goin' 10 the dance at Bridewe1l." The stranger chuckled softly. Say, what's eatin' you. Whiskers?" snapped Jac. but without turning.
 ''Sure, I'm goin,'' said Harry. ~rt's going to be a big bust-'' What girl are you takin'?" Nobody. I'll find plenty to dance with when I get there.'' Jac blinked her eyes once. twice, and again. Why not take me?" The cigarette fell from Harry's lips.
 What the -" he began. Say, Jac, are you sick?"
 The ache came in Jac's throat again. Her face changed color ana the freckles across the bridge of her nose stood out with a startling dis tinctness.
 s'Don't dance good enough. self for a straight-from-the-sh builder selef for a straight-from the ssh builder retort. At this gentle question he gasped and rose with g, look of broth
 "Jac, if you was a man I'd say you'd been hittin' the red-eye too much.'
 
 Harry touched her under the chin and tilted back her head. The deep blue eyes stared miserably up to him.
 "Whats the matter with her, pa?" he asked.
 'ePlain foolishness!" said the lat ter.
 Jac struck the hand from her chin and leaped from the table to her
 Harry" she said, of I was a man I'd hang @ bunch of fves on your chinI"
 The chuck1e of the stranger made
 "Get out, whiskers," she command ed, GOT I'll pull gun an give you free shave.''
 The man rose obedient1y and went from the room to the porch. Harry followed him out and swung into the saddle of his horse. His father de- layed an instant.
 Now cut out this talk of goin' to the dance." said Jim During. You stay right here, an if any of the boys come in late fix them up some chow. I got to slide over to see old Jones on sorne-some business
 Sure you do." said Jac scornfully. '1 know that kind of business. It comes five in a hand and you draw to
 The hair of her father seemed to take on a deeper tinge of red.
 ''Weu?" he said.
 "Weu?" she replied. no less angrily eff I couldn't play no better hand of poker than you do, I'd go no farther than solitaire, believe mel"
 "Jacquelinen"
 you think I atn't right just sit down and play a hand with me"
 Her father was so swelled with wrath that he could make no re- feet and strode toward the door. pulling his sombrero dowr over his eyes.
 At the door he turned back and pointed a long angry arm.
 An if I catch you leavin' this place tonight-' he began.
 ''We7I?"
 His face altered and the anger fad ed from his eyes.
 "Jac.'' he said angri1v. "why in hell wasn't you born a boy?"
 He went on out and a moment later his horse clattered down the
 f'Why?" repeated Jac.
 CHAPTER II.
 Land.
 She went out to the porch and started after the disapp caring horse man. When he had quite vanished evening she turned back. She stopped. The stranger sat on the edge of the porch whiting a stick
 His black hair pushed out under the brim of his sombrero, and for some reason it stirred the latent wrath in Jack. She went to him, and stood with arms akimbo. staring down.
 "'Too bad" he said, but did not look up.
 Whats too bad?"
 "The red hair."
 It was long moment before she spoke.
 'Huhr' she said. "If was to talk about your hair you'd think I was discussin' a record crop of hay. If was to-"
 She stopped for the twink1ing eyes were smiling up to her.
 ''I look like the land of much rain, all right said the stranger.
 Jac dropped to a cross-legged po- sition with the agility of an Indian, and supporting her chin on both hands she stared impudently into the face of the stranger