The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-04-14
~ H13AyNY WAnS

BARBARA
"Oh, / get along. Take on your
cap and stay awhilel"
Ell amt" gasped Barbara
Make stared 1t her. She arose
and walked over to Q table. She
picked up . book.
Here's q story I been roadin.."
said Mai5io casually. ''Take . look
at It." as
She tossed &c over. Il came hur.
ting at Barbara on . true line for
fher Ian. lnstinctively Barbara
spread her knees. The book went
unhindered between her trousered
"Yeahl" said Maisis. II thought
so!."
.You'rs I GIRL" said Maisie.
"You're . liari" retorted Bar.
bara defiantly.
"That book threw at you.s
said Maisie, was written BY
Teller name Mark Twain. It's
about . kid boy-who tried to
masquerade ~ girl. A wise old
dame threw somethin' 1t his lap.
He pulled his knees together, like
boy would. every time. I tried
1t on you-with reverse English.
You're a girl"
I'm not! I'm notis
Maizie came over. and suddenly
yanked Barbara's cap off, Drag
gled' curls uncoilsd about her
cheeks.
do you give up2'' asked Maize.
II give up," mutterOd Barbara.
Make regarded her solemnly.
II knew It before I threw the
book at you" she said. II did that
to make sure. but knew til"
'How did you know it," walled
Barbara
IT knew it!' explained Maizie.
"But outside Of that" said bar.
bara eagerly. did l fool you!"
~Well-yes, an no. You're too
good -lookin' for . man. Then that
kitten looked kind o. queer. Mem
don't carry kittens around-excep'
maybe up IN Matteawan." She ran
her fingers through the curls.
whats the plot honY'
TITS . long story" said Barbara.
"You see, found out It was . lot
Of trouble to DO girl, 30 / decided
to be . boy
''ThatYl be . lot OF trouble. too"
said Maize. Its . lot Of trouble
Just bein' alive, rye found. Gee.
I'll say sol"
"l'll have to take my chances"
said Barbara. perhaps you're
right, but I've figured It out that
it's lesser evil"
| "You look like q nice kid" said.
Maizie. Don't tell me you're just
gonna be bum on the road, like
you was when I spotted you in
front o Ike's place, dressed up like
Nat Wills used to be-
I'm going to stick to the road"
y. ::You know where that roads
gonna lead your"
Into freedom" Us.
"Into trouble. Lissen, dearie.
took q likin' to you. How'd you
like to get rid o. that OUTFIT, get
into one. O. mine an pal up with
me here? You'd be . knockout.
There's plenty o. room in here for
the both OF US. I get lonely lots
o times. and it'd be great TO have
q pal. What do you seyf
Sne mistook Barbara's silence for
hesitation. and pressed on eagerly:
Don't think this is such q dead
burg. hon. It's no metropolis. but
there's lotta jack changin' hands
all the time. When We get 4 bank
roll we can hit New York an get
Z nat. It amt the best line In the
WORT. hon. but It's better than what
you're gonna hit cumming aroun'
like this. don't wanna see you 60
wrong. seer
II don't want to 60 wrong" said
Barbara.
II see.. The eager smile left
Makes f.ce. and . scowl took
It's place. you're one O. them
good women. chi"
"Only technically. admitted Bar.
bara. lmpulsivelY, she took Maj
xie's hand. "Maisis. I told you I
was running away from men.
That's true, IN q way. But that
isn't oil. I'm runnlng away from
myself, too. dou't expect you to
understand that, but It's true. l'm
awfully Obliged to you. really. but
I'm going on"
~Suit yourself" Maisie shrugged.
81 guess there amt nothin' ] can
do for you. then. eh?"
Eyes. you can" said Barbara
eagerly. you can let me use your
fnh and fharu WI, r>an hA1n ~ = o,,<
my hair or"
'There's the bathroom. said
Maixie.
| Barbara luxuriatsd IN the feel
OF clean linen against q clean body.
Rue1ully she felt the stubble OF
hair on her shorn head. She was
seized with q sudden sinking sensa-
ton every time she inhaled in
memory that odor OF burning hair.
Every curl and end. % Il fell I'M
der Maixie's expert shears. had
been thrown into IN earthenwaro
vessel and q match set to. what bar.
bara hoped was the last link II the
chain that bound her to her sex.
i She found Alley smuggling near
the radiator. picked him up and
put him into her pocket. Matte
seemed 10th to see. her 20. Dur.
ing Barbara'a bath. she had been
morosely engaged. In tho sitting
room. In . game Of cards. s.
| "Solitaire?" asked Barbara. a.
she picked up her bundle.
i ~No. bsen tellin' your for,
| tune"
i What DE- the cards have ia
say?"
j Don't taught. warned Maize.
/ Them cards amt never wised me-
l Vr0nn vat 00A tsNaA A. ~>.A.