The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-12-02

1 his aged wife and married her again saddle. T work at Floyds. Been ! over on the river lookin' fer som strays. You atn't seen none or 1 FIoyd's bran on the range?" No. Pulled a COW of his outen the 1 bog 'tother day"
 Stimer searched the mans face with quick scrutiny. He was pleased despite his vague suspicious.
 Live over yere Iong?" asked the stranger.
 ''Ten years
 If you don't mind, I'd like drink of water" said the man suddenly, slipping from his horse. Step right in an help yerself.'' sttmer said cordially. The man en-
 ''What-what's yer name?" he ask ed suddenly.
 "Cook-Sam Cook" said the other, putting down the cup.
 ''You-you haven't heard -" he hesttated, his eyes on the spurs, 'of anyb body that has sheep fer sale 9"
 No, I ain't." Stimer confusedly. 'we1I-good night" Cook said from the door. He mounted and gal loped into the moonlight. Stimer stood staring after him. a puzzled look on his face. 'I-I wonder what he wanred?" he pOndered.
 Until Stimer came in contact with Ruth he had looked upon women as a. kind of being indispensable to the welfare of the race, a, necessary con- venience for others. but a luxury he had not felt the need of for himself. The few times he had come near them was when exchanging work with some rancher.
 On these occasions he had tried 10 picture to himself a woman in his cabin, and always dismissed the thought as repulsive.
 He felt that he was getting out og life all that it held for him-he was not conscious of lack. But all this had been changed in a twinkling of an eye. A flash of lightning had swept across a cIOUdless sky, revealing VOids beyond which he had never dreamed. A great illumination had come into his life. laying bare it's emptiness.
 His nature had been stirred to its depthS-elementa instincts touched into her life. He felt as q strong an imaI that had passed it's days tread ing the limits of confning bars might feel when brought for the first time into the presence of it's kind. A great fear swept over him at the thougth of the possibility of his hay ing met Ruth, of some one else low ing or possessing her. He could not go back to the @zd life again. Then his face suddenly went sober, an un- easiness stirred within him, a haunt ed look came into his eyes.
 'Why in hell did Bud Peters find that spur?' he said fjerceIy. starting up He sat down quickly hunchiug forward, his chin in his hands. 4 long time he stared at the ground un- seemingly.
 ing back to his face A spur is jest a spur"
 There was joyous shout out on the prairie. He turned.
 Tom came dashing up.
 He sat on his horse and stared al Stimer in amazement
 What you been d0in' ter yourself Stimer?" he asked wide-eyed Like ter not knowed you Look like one them dudes over ter Wichita. Gosh, but you look fine!"
 IT started over to see you. Tom But-I-I didn't feel well, an stop. ped an set down were fer a spell EeeItn better uow.'
 Wen, you wouldn't foun' nobody home Ruth made me an grandpa go to church over ter the school house on Kickapoo- You oughtel been there, Srmer- An sta all night with you-au' bet I lit out"
 I'm awful glad, Tom-Tve been eXpectin' you" said Stimer, his face. brighteneinE.
 He mounted and they logged aIon2 the top Of a hlEh divide. The plain tell away in Dlue-green sheen s,. Tar as the eye could see 4 pu.sing yellow glow filled the vast silent spaces.
 Tom leaped in the stirrup and way ed his hands in the air.
 Oozly. don't the sky make you feel s"eI4y - His eyes sparkIed. his nos urls dilated as he drew in -he pure air "Stimer, do the prairie make you feel like you want to say son,a- thin an can't? OozIy. But tt most hurts"
 He dropped back in the saddle and rode for some minutes in silence his face sober, his eyes wandering to the white peaks that lay like clouds on the horizon.
 Whats over there. sttmer?"
 "Over there, Tom ?''
 "Over there, past where the sky meets the prairie cross the white here? Prairie an sky an prairie an sky? Is there where folks come from -outen the prairie an sky?''
 Stimer's cabin was a ver-tabIe cu- riosfty shop 10 Tom. and while StIrner ! cooked supper he walked aoour the | ' oon, examining the trophies Of the 1 many adventures Stimer had had or his long rides on the plains The ! buffalo head above the fireplace, the ] deer antIers over the door and the i wolf skin rug before the bed espec- 1 ially wrought on his ina ginat on ] Once he slipped softly to the rug and l stroked the velve-y fur.
 Gosh. Stiraer. but you've had heap O fun" he exclaimed. his eyes glow 1 ing with excitment- It's jest my luck |