White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1923-12-14
The Dude
Wrangler
Caroline Lockhart
Copyright. Doubleday. Page & Co.
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FIFTH INSTALLMENT
Continued from pr. vlous issue)

Continued from pr. vious issue)
VUALIIE had told himself emphat-
W ically that he would never speak
again to Helene Spencely. That
wsuld be an easy matter since she
had glared at him when they had
PASSED as she was going In for break
fast In a way that would nave made
him afraid to speak even If he had
intended to. To refrain from think
ing OF her was something different.
He sat on a rustic bench on the
Colonial lawn watching the silly rob-
ms and wondering why she had
called him Gentle Annie" 1t was
clear enough that nothing fattering
was intended, but what did she mean
BY it? There was no reason that he
could see for her to fly at him
quite the contrary. He had been
very generous and gentlemanly, it
seemed to him, in congratulating
Pinkey when 1t was due to them that
ha Wallie. was thrown into the Pc
tunias.
Gentle Annie! Gentle Annie!
Gentle Annie!" The name ranked.
Wanie pitched pebble at robin
and accidentally hit 1t. Stunned for
an instant, it keeled over, and Wallie
glanced guiltily toward the hotel to
see II by any chance Mr.. Cone, whIo
encouraged robins, was looking.
Pinkey was crossing the lawn with
the obvious intention of Joining him.
"Gee!" he exclaimed, sinking down
beside Wallie, i've nearly sprained
my tongue answerin' questions. is
It true that snakes shed their skin,
and do the hot pools In the Yellow
stone Park freeze In winter? I'm
goin' to drift pretty pronto. can't
stand visitin'."
do you like the East, Mr.. Fripp"
inquired Wallie, formally.
I'm glad theys West" Pinkey
replied. crptically.
~You and Miss Spencely are from
the same section, l take it,"
"Yep-Wyomin'."
"Er-by the way"-Wallie's tone
was deliberately casual-"what did
she mean yesterday when she called
me Gentle Annie?"
Pinkey moved uneasily.
could you give me the precise
sisnifcance?" persister Wallie.
II could, but wouldn't like to-
replied Pinkey. dryly.
"Oh, don't spare my feelings" said
WalIe. loftily, there's nothing she
could say would hurt them"
TT that's the way you feel-shn
meant you were harmless"
4 trust So" Waliie responded with
dignity.
"Td ruther be called a-er-a Nor
mon," Pinkey observed.
Shocked at the language, Wallie
demanded.
1T is. then, an epithet Of oppro-
brium!"
al cant say as to that" replied
Pinkey, judicially, but she meant
you were perfect lady"
TITS more than can say of her!
Wailie retorted, reddening.
Pinkey merely grinned and
shrugged a shoulder.
He arose a moment later as II the
conversation and company alike
bored him.
"WeN-I'm goin' to pack my war.
bag and ramble. Why don't you come
West and git civilized. With your
AEger you ought to be good fer
somethin'. S'Iong, feller!"
Naturally, Wallie was not comfort
Cd by his conversation with Pinkey
Now he knew himself to have been
insulted, and resented 1t, but along
with his indignation was such a
feeling of dissatisfaction with his life
as he had never known. His brow
contracted while he, thought Of the
monotony Of 1t. Just as this sum
mer would be duplicate of every
other summer. 80 the winter would
be a repetition Of the many winters
he had spent In Florida with Aunt
Mary. After few months at home
they would migrate with the robins
He would meet the same people he
had seen all summer. They would
complain Of the Southern cooking
and knit and tat while they babbled
amfably OF themselves and the mem
bers Of the family and their doings
The men would smoke and compare
business experiences when they had
finished faying the Administration
Discomfort grew within him as he
reviewed It. Why couldn't he and
Aunt Mary do something different
for the winter7 BY George! he would
suggest It TO her!
"I've come to make a suggestion,
Auntie," Wallie began, with a little
diRfdence.
What is it," Miss Macpherson
was shaking bottle.
Lets not 60 South this winter
Where then?" She smiled indul-
gently as she measured out the medi.
cine.
why not California or Arizona?'
he suggested.
4 don't believe this tonic helps me
q particle She made a wry face as
she swallowed It.
That's IT," he declared eagerly
"You need a change-we both do"
I'm too set In my ways to enjoy
new experiences, and don't like
strangers. We might catch con