Evening star., 1922-07-09
wedding Bells, GOD.

sheriff. ......-.. {.
Sure"
But i though, you were to win. this
race"
II am. Last three heats" Ed
wards pointed out imputientiy.
''Oh. yes, that's right. Five heats.
That's purity slick, isn't it?"
What's tn mattuh? Won't yo'
hoss stand up that long?' asked
Brown in = SLOW smiling drawl.
Might stand up. but 1 can't say
he'u pace that long" replied o'Brieas
laughing. you put Brown down for
the second. The third. fourth and
fifth heats to Edwards. That right?"
fTHE other two nodded. o'Brien, AZ
Edwards rose to go. remembered
ssmething, and spoke up with = great
show of caution.
Wait a minute" he said. What
about this Tolin? Will he stand.
hitched? How do we know he's all
right?"
/ III guarantee TO him. replied
Brown. i've known Sam .Tolin To-
fifteen yeahs. He's all right"
I'VE can't be too sure about these
things" said O'Brien. Let me see
that paper. Mr.. Edwards. I'd like
to go over it. Thanks" O'Brien stuff
ed the paper in pocket. and the
party broke up. Edwards excused
himself on the plea of other busi-
ness.
What is yo' hoss?" asked Brown
| of. the. sheriff as they stood up to
leave.
"A bunch of bones answered
| O'Brien. Il call him Wedding Bells.
He's by Claymore and the mare Bow
Bells. He can do better than eight
on mile track for about one heat"
| ne added, jovially.
"Yo. dor't seem very complimentary
to yo' own hoss," said Brown.
You haven't seen him." OBrien re-
| torted. laughing. He wears mil
| lion dollars worth of trappings
Spreaders. hobbies, quarter boots, a
stick on his neck. sponge on his
nose. and binders. Hes got every
thing. Racing him is more fun than
| sheriffing in hot weather. l can al
| ways get one mile out Of trim. Some
times two Once in a while three,
but not often"
Mr.. Sheriff" Brown rejoined.
you're layin' it on too thick. l for
one am gonna keep an eye on you to-
morrow
You'll see a lot Of speed for one
heat" the sheriff retorted. laughing
again. They parted company. Brown
leaving O'Brien with the check to
pay.
When O'Brien left the bar after set
thing for the refreshme nts. Brown had
disappeared. but as the sheriff reached
the door Of the barber shop he saw
Edwards within. apparently quarrel
ing with the girl At the cash register.
She was the same Irish girl he had
seen at the manicure table. and the
flushed face and the emphatic man
ner in which she was shaking her
curly head were as typical Of her face
as the smile she had bestowed on the
sheriff. O'Brien turned in a. the door
and walked slowly toward rhe mani
cure table.
Nails in bad shape. Thought I'd
get 'em fixed up while I'm handy to
the barber shop here. Girl busy he
asked, looking at her Questioningly.
She shook her head as Edwards
spoke: Nope. guess not. I'll be run.
ming along and she can give you
service"
II r
0'BRIEN offered one plump paw to
" the girl. You're Irish," he chal-
lenged, as she took his hand and
dipped it into a pannikin Of warm
water.
You're another" she laughed.
That makes two of u.s. he replied.
Knew you were Irish. for I saw you
clad and mad. Awful mad. l judge"
why 20 curious?" she countered.
Say, are you the sheriff that's in the
big race tomorrow"
I'm one sheriff that ia and I reok-
on there's no other" answered O'Brien.
Why"
81 was just asking"
She busted herself with his nails for
a time. and neither spoke until he
decided to try further questions.
II don't suppose Mr.. Edwards hap
pens to own this shop"
Lots OF people do suppose 50. but
l don't" she snapped.
OBrien thought a long time be-
fore he offered another suggestion.
"A business man who goes in for
racing isn't likely to OWE anything
very long" he said finally. watching
the girl closely from under his bushy
eyebrows.
I'll say he's not she Ushed.
That's why he gets into tight
places. pulls all sorts Of stuff. and
loses his friends" pursued rhe sheriff.
That's why his best friends get mad
at him.
The girl sat back in her chair.
paused in her work. and gazed at
himA He smiled. a friendly. mean
ingless smile.
You're a wise guy. you are" she
said deliberately. AN awfully wise
guy"
Well. l don't mind saying among
day"
He says you were born late this
morning" and the girl laughed out
right.
Edwards" asked the sheriff. join
ing in her laughter. She nodded.
Isn't much use OF our sparrinG
around like this. is there?' he asked
as she shifted from one hand to the