The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-12-15
A SAGEBRUSH CINDERELLA
By Max Brand

light, the crowd was swirling rapidly through tho door, and in the o8t- l fusion which made a hell of the '3ance-han TetgncRd In the open air. Sut there was more space 10 man. euye.'. and Jac gathered her gown up l high ana slipped through the crowd to t1e rlace at which CarriGen had ! tethered his horse.
 up 10 the saddle like a man. There was slckeriiig SouTi of ripping and tearing: The green gown was hope less3y done for. She gave no thought to it. and landing as-ride in the sad dIe-a position which completed the his head and drove forward with a shout like that of a drunken cow pUncher.
 And ,shes.was truly intoxicated wi;h fought for her in the dance-hall. They were her knights battling for he smile of their lady. To one of them would go the victory but hers coming dawn and urged the horse in-o a faster run. The wind caught at her face and whistled sharply past her cars--the song of victory! NJ delay for the fording of the rtve-! She took ds on the run. s2Isshed from head to foot with mud gown was a wreck. Her hair. tunl- bled down her shoulders. But she reached the further bank and drove on a1 a G7Ior shouting like ona of the ValkyrIe.
 Al A b3t1:Y 1I;; oc giants waged at the aud Carr.gan ragged back and forth, sometimes standing at arms eHgrh and siugGing With bCHh hands, sonc- times grapping and punching at close range. sometimes rolling over and over on the floor and fighting every inch Of the way. IT the great arms of Maurie %3re him an advantage iii the open Sight ing the venomous agility of Carrlgan close quarters.
 Dave Carey drew himself up to a sitting posture. with both hands watched the conflict. Ben Craig leaned against the wall sick and white of face. Through his swollen eyes he could barely make out the slngged and smashed with a noble will, until, missing a swing at the same time, they were thrown to Vne own blows and sat staring stupidIy at one another.
 The growing daylight made them quite visible now. It showed two battered countenanceS. It showed equally torn clothes. Where's Jacqueline?" cried Mau-
 "Goner' cried Carrigan, and started to his feet.
 Gordon followed suit, but slowly, He was badly hurt in both body and mind The two heroes stared each other.
 Done for!" groaned Dave Carey from the distance.
 "stung!" sighed feeble Ben Craig. 'Beat!'' growIed Maurie. 'Roped!" said Carrigan.
 'Fellers,'' sad Carey, struggling to his feet, and still caressing his in Jured ribs. T got an idea we better 
 we do more ightin'.''
 T got to find her. said Gordon stoutly. ''She depends on me. I'm the one real man she's ever known"
 You be damned before you find her" said Carrigan, and the light of battle flared in his eyes again.
 Hold on," tnterposed Carey. You ain't the real man she's found. I'm it!"
 You are?" sneered Craig. '"They tried to bury her in the West but she's goin' to be set free by a man who-''
 Who tried to bury her in the wes- tern desert?" asked Carrigan.
 The other three spoke with one voice.
 Her uncle" said Carey. Her cruel father" said Craig Tier old brother" said Maurie. other, stunned. Once more they spoke in one voice.
 'tStung!"
 q believe her." defended Maur1e.
  all these years-'
 'In a boarding school, you mean" ! said Craig.
 Wrong, a girls school said Craig They stopped again. Light from the dim distance was coming in their I eyes.
 And. Jac, ofter leaving the down i headed horse in front of her fathers 1 hotel stole swiftly up the stairs to 1 her rocrl.
 ''wt,o's there?' roared the familiar voice from Jim During's room. ! ''W1aere've you been all night:" ! None of yer business
 "Jac, I'm going to raise the devil ny tricks"
 q been out walk;n'." | 'A1l night?''
 ''Ain't I got a right to walk" l 'Jac, why wasn't you born @ boy:'' 1 groaned old Jim, reverting to his old
 Because it's a. lot more fun Dein' the golden touch.''
 Anu she went into her room. i It vas hard to look at herself in the pocket m3rror which had been ample for her all needs before.
 The glory Of CiderelIa was gone quite gone, The green gown. was a l WI etched trFavesty; her hair was a tumbled mass; only in her smile and her eyes there was a different, a, new light Of power which, having once come to woman, dies only with her 1 death. Truly the victory was hersl She started to remove her clothes. l It was z. long task, but finally they l were rolled into a small bundle and 1 tucked into q little corner. She put on her old clothes and carefully yre- 1 tied the hard knot in her hair. The fairy godmoth"r was gone She wash | cd the powder from her face. Cinder- i ella once more sat in the 'ashs. Sh was ratt1ng away a5 the stove, | preparing 10 make the f1re for break l last, when a sound of singing down ! the road brought her to the window 1 There came another Three Muskc i teers. They were mounted-Porthc Athos, and AraIniS. And before them walked the new snan-Ca rri- ! gan. And with one voice they sang 1 IL should have been sad song, for | as they came closer she saw that l n.a ta of ar,rl