Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1931-09-11
ENN"""" y ~ :" y y y y !" y ," " y
Jim Blakeham's Old
! Suit Won
BY ROSE MEREDITH
*xx* X X X M X y X y X ~ n X M xxxlI
"a by Mcclure Newspaper svndlcatel
(WNtI Servlcel

TIM BLAKEHAM. the most important
- of all the cowboys at Red Gulf
ranch, was getting ready for the dance
at the Gulf schoolhouse.
"You look like blue-eyed baby"
offered Frank Perks.
Al am" retorted Jim shortly
"How about the new school teacher
we can't all dance with her2"
"Why try 1t, then?' was Jim's reply.
"If you'd stay home once-only once,
and give some of us other fellers a
chance" complained another young
man mournfully.
"Try t, keep me home,' suggested
Jim gaily And II was that remark
that started the thing. One by one
his con )anions left the table and hur-
ried to the clubhouse.
By the time Jim Blakeham reached
his own room, the clubhouse was
empty and his companions were riding
off the range, In one swlft-m0vlng
body.
"Wonder what the hurry Is" NUT
tered Jim pulling Off his clothes, and
five minutes later, after careful
search of the place, he understood.
His best clothes had completely dis
appeared. n he went to the dance at
the schoolhouse, It would have to be
in suit Of khaki clean and cool-but
working clothes.
Jim Blakeham was not angry-he
knew 1t was n mlschievous trick they
had played upon him. But they
couldn't keep him home that way
he cared too much about going to see
this new school teacher for she bore
the same name MS girl he used TO
know-Mlllle Gray. II this was his
Mile Gray, perhaps he could discover
from her own lips why she had never
answered the important letter he had
written to her.
If It was his Mile Gray, she
wouldn't care about his clothes. He
got into them, glad that the khaki was
clean and that he bad n new black tie.
All the windows in the schoolhouse
were wide opeL when Jim arrived,
and the sound OF nddles, and the
thump of dancing feet, was exhilarat-
ing. Outside, in the moonlight, many
couples strolled under the cottonwoods,
so that when Jim bent his head to
enter the schoolhouse door, his APP
pearance was an event. The voices
Of his friends greeted him, and some
one started little applause. Jim
bowed gracefully, and the whole thing
was getting along splendldly, when
some one exclaimed:
"LoOk at the school ma'm-she's
faintlngw
Jim Blakeham saw big Dick Forest
awkwardly supporting a very small
6gure-there was a cloud of rich red
hair tumbllng over her shoulder.
ITS Mlllie-my Miller thought
Jim as he pushed his way forward.
but by the time he reached Dick For
est, the girl had been borne away by
mlnlsterlng women
The next morning all the men went
rushing Off to long days riding,
quite forgetting about the new school
teacher. Jim Blakeham himself was
the only one who actually had her on
his mind that morning as he rode
toward Red Gulch post office He
had made up his mind that II Mile
Gray appeared cold and Indifferent, he
would not be the one to try to arouse
her interest
Dreaming thus as his white pony
ambled along the trail, Jim suddenly
heard horses hoofs, and then turn
Ing, saw the girl Of his heart riding
RIn la M ola
up at his face at first. II was only
when he whIrled his pony out OF the
trail and gave her free passage that
she looked up gratefully.
ooh, thank you-I was Just bit
afraid Of an indian I met yonder--
why, Jm--Jm Blakehami Is II real.
ly your She was radiant with de
light, and Jim rode up to her, hat In
hand
~ didn't believe you'd remember me,
Mile" he said, contentedly.
Remember your aow rldlculousl"
She blushed warmly, but her blue
eyes were dancing with pure delight.
"Just imagine, seeing you here"
"Imnglne meeting the only girl
ever loved out here In my loneliness"
muttered Jim In n low, tense tone.
For moment the girl stared nj him
unbelleylngly, then the lovelest look
came into her eyes, and she smiled
happily. ooh, Jim Blakeham, do you
really mean thatT she whispered
softly.
"Ah, Mile Gray, Mile Gray, my
heart has ached for you ever since
left LeadenvllIe--I mailed you a
letter, and you never answered II, and
so, just pulled stakes and came out
here--iJ IL true-that you care?" He
was holding her hands now. and his
hungry eyes asked questions.
Mile hung her head. Presently she
nodded gently, and added so that only
his ear heard In that vast prairie.
"Would be here today, Jim, II did
notf Last spring read In the paper
something about you and the ranch
here-nnd that night | applied for the
Office Of school teacher never re.
ceived your letter--and last night
when saw you-I falntedw
"Surely II Is quite all right now,
sweetheartT asked Jim as he took