White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1923-11-30
The Dude
w rangler
BY
Caroline Lockhart
Copyright, Doubleday. Page & Co.
THIRD INSTALLMENT

THIRD INSTALLMENT
TIME train upon which Will Smith
L was expected was not due until
twelve-thirty, so, since he could not
go swimming and still felt rebellious
over being forbidden, Wallie Went
upstairs to put the finishing touches
on a lemonade tray of japanned tin
which he had painted and intended
presenting to Mr.. Cone.
The design was his own, and very
excellent it seemed to Wallie as he
stopped at intervals and held it from
him. On a moss-green background of
rolling clouds most artistic cluster
of old-fashioned cabbage roses was
tossed carelessly, with brown slug
on leaf as touch Of realism.
In addition to this he had manlier
accomplishments, playing good games
of tennis, golf and Switchboard. Be-
sides, Mr.. Appel was his only danger
Gus opponent on the bowling alley,
and he had learned to ride at the
riding academy.
Now, as he worked, he specialized
as to whether he had imagined it OF
"the girl from Wyoming" really had
laughed at him. He could not dis
miss her from his mind and the in
cideat ranked. He told himself that
she had not been there long enough
to appreciate him; she knew nothing
of his talents or of his popularity
She would learn that to be singlel
out, by him for special attention
meant something, and he did not con
slider himself a concsited man either
Yet Wallie continued to tinglo
each time that he thought of the
laughter in her eyes-actual derisioa
he. feared it was. Then he had an
idea, a Very clever one 1t seemed tt
him. BY this time she would have
returned from bathing and he would
go down and exhibit the cabbage
roses. They would be praised and
she would hear 1t. 1t was nearly
time for Will Smith to arrive, and
he had to stop painting, anyhow
Bearing the lemonade tray carefully
in order not to smudge 1t, Waliie
stepped out of the elevator and stood
in the wide doorway. agreeably
aware that he was pleasing figure
in his artists smock and the flow
ing scarf which he always put on
when he painted.
No one noticed him, however, for
everyone was discussing the return
of the Smith boy" and the five dol
lars which Mr.. Appel, the railway
magnate, has Unexpectedly contribute
present him on behalf Of the guests
Miss Spencely was on the veranda
as he surmised she would be, and
Wallie debated as to whether he
should wait until discovered and
urged to show his roses, or frankly
offer his Worn for criticism. =
While he hesitated. the CHATTER OF
hoofs and what appeared to be a ser
ious runaway on the side avenue
brought everyone up standing. The
swaying vehicle was a laundry wag
on, and when it turned in at the
entrance to the grounds of the Co
lonial, the astonished guests saw thai
not only had the horse driver but
a rider!
1t was not runaway. On the
contrary, the person on the horses
back was using his heels and his hat
at every jump to get more speed out
of the amazed animal.
The wagon stopped in front Of the
hotel with the driver grinning un
certainly, while soldierly figure
sprang over the wheel to wiring the
hand of Smith, the gardener. An
other on the horses back replace
his service cap at an extraordinar.
angle and waited nonchalantly 70
the greetings to be over.
Before he went to the army evil
lie" Smith had been bashful DO.
who blushed when the guests spok
to him, but he faced them now wit
the assurance of vaudeville entel
tainer as he introduced his Buddy.
"Pinkey Fripp, of Wyoming
hero, ladies and gentlemen! TIL
grittiest little soldier in the A. f
F., with medal to prove It'll"
Followed an account of the deed o
reckless courage for which Pinke
had been decorated, and the Smft
boy told 1t so we'll that everyone