MARION EEID-GiRMDOT 
 
;h 
 
 / 
 
With a quick turn in the air, he landed with his head pointing in 
 the direction his tail had been but a second before. 
 
STEVE OF THE 
 "BAR-G" RANCH 
 
 A ThriUing Story of Life 
 on the Plains of Colorado 
 
 By 
 MARION REID-GIRARDOT 
 
 HEARST'S INTERNATIONAL LIBRARY CO. 
 NEW YORK 1915 
 
Copyright, i9T4> 
 
 BY 
 
 Marion Reid-Girardot 
 
ni 
 
 Dedicated 
 
 TO 
 
 MY HUSBAND 
 
 whose many adventures on the 
 
 Plains furnish much of the material for 
 
 this story. 
 
 MSi8948 
 
PREFACE 
 
 This book is a mixture of facts and fiction, and my 
 motive in writing it is much the same as that which 
 prompts an artist ^ who seeing a splendid hit of color- 
 ing in the sky, works feverishly to transfer it to can- 
 vas before it is lost forever. 
 
 The story is not a biography of any one person or 
 persons. I have simply combined characters and inci- 
 dents as I saw fit. Some of the people I created, but 
 most of them are taken from life, and can be met in 
 a day's ride from Denver. 
 
 However, most of the incidents actually occurred, 
 and are only a few of the many which the cowboys 
 encountered as they followed their hazardous occupa- 
 tion. They lived strenuous, busy lives, but through it 
 all kept a refreshing boyishness, which enabled them 
 to look death in the face with cheerfulness, and when 
 they met a maiden to their liking, to woo her with 
 impetuosity. 
 
 In the cities, constant rubbing of elbows smooths 
 down the rough edges, and brings about a certain 
 sameness in characteristics. One person becomes 
 much like his neighbor. But on the Plains, there zvas 
 room for growth. Each was able to maintain his own. 
 individuality. Strong characters were developed, and 
 many acquired peculiarities of manner and speech, 
 which were good-naturedly ridiculed, but genially 
 tolerated. 
 
/ use the past teiise in writing this preface, for in 
 the brief time I have known the West, I have seen 
 the Range close in, and the picturesque, rollicking 
 cowboy, replaced by the staid, plodding homesteader, 
 I have seen the Plains, barren since time began, rolling 
 in majestic splendor as far as the eye could reach, 
 scarred and disHgnred in attempts to wring from its 
 reluctant bosom, nourishment for meagre crops of 
 grain. 
 
 Wire fences nozv crisscross its surface, and instead 
 of sleek cattle gracing by thousands in zvell-fed con- 
 tenment, here and there a bleak, makeshift claim 
 shanty, mars its beauty. 
 
 I suppose this is progress, and as such I should not 
 decry it. Time, like a watchful policeman who 
 guards an open thoroughfare, has called to the cow- 
 boy, ''Move on! Make way for the procession which 
 follows!' To the cowman this has meant annihilation, 
 as there was no place to go. Some few stubborn ones, 
 unwilling to yield, have retreated to the fastnesses of 
 the mountains, and there on the forest reserves their 
 herds develop agility as they search for food. Many 
 unable to adjust themselves have retired and moved to 
 the city, either selling their ranches or turning them 
 over to their children, leaving the younger generation 
 to cope with the new conditions. 
 
 But as the heavily-laden wagon of the settlers comes 
 groaning and creaking up to our door, the driver 
 trudging wearily by its side, urging on his exhausted 
 horses, I sigh for a glimpse of the gallant riders who 
 with jingling spurs and flapping sombreros, dashed 
 recklessly into view, and then drawing rein, with re- 
 spectful salutation and quiet mariner, proffer their re- 
 quest or make known their errand. 
 
 Suddenly realizing that their day had passed, and a 
 
 ii 
 
bit of romantic history was passing with them, I at- 
 tempted this book, and if the reader does not feel the 
 lure of the West, and the charm of life on the Plains, 
 it will be because I have failed in my effort to depict 
 it, and not because either is dull or uninteresting. For 
 the lure is there. I feel it with every breath I draw; 
 in every rare glimpse of startled antelope bounding off 
 across the prairie, or distant view of a skidking coyote 
 slinking silently to cover. 
 
 Ill 
 
• CONTENTS 
 
 Page 
 
 I, Enter Woman Number One 7 
 
 II. Lost in a March Blizzard 33 
 
 III. The Last Great Horse Round-Up 43 
 
 IV. Enter Woman Number Two 74 
 
 V. Fourth of July 78 
 
 VI. Draining the Lake 103 
 
 VII. Chasing the Cattle Thieves from Cover. .108 
 
 VIII. Miss Parker Makes a Pie 123 
 
 IX. Coyote Chase 133 
 
 X. Steve Sells Some Cattle 142 
 
 XI. The Accident 150 
 
 XII. Camping in the Mountains 164 
 
 XIIL The Eagle 174 
 
 XIV. They Go a Berrying and Find a Bear. . . . 180 
 
 XV. The Proposal on the Summit 185 
 
 XVII. The Beef Round-up 203 
 
 XVIII. Steve Gets a Letter 212 
 
 XIX. Miss Little Proposes 218 
 
 XX. Miss Parker and Reggie Become Engaged 228 
 XXI. They Start East With the Polo Ponies. . .240 
 
 XXII. Steve Plays a Game of Polo 245 
 
 XXIII. They Capture the Horse Thieves 262 
 
 XXIV. Flint Sends a Telegram 274 
 
 XXV. Blackie Escapes 279 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G" RANCH 
 
 ENTER WOMAN NUMBER ONE % 
 
 It was only a simple puzzle, composed of a single 
 link of chain about two inches long, which contained 
 a star with six points of different lengths, so placed 
 that it was quite difficult to separate one from the 
 other; but in the hands of little Miss Little, the new 
 teacher, it had a drawing power, more potent than the 
 strongest magnet. Blackie had shown it to her as the 
 strains of the waltz died away, and she stopped where 
 she was and coquettishly pretended to become intensely 
 absorbed in its solution. Immediately there was a 
 cluster of black-coated figures about her, and only a 
 glimpse of her pink dress, which could be seen here 
 and there, indicated to the rest what was the center 
 of attraction. 
 
 Miss Little was pretty and no one was more cog- 
 nizant of the fact than she. Her merry blue eyes, 
 dark hair and saucy wit, bespoke an Irish ancestry. 
 She had been a coquette from the cradle, and now 
 found the susceptible cowboys easy victims to her 
 wiles. 
 
 "Pshaw ! I can not remove the star, and it looks so 
 simple. Can you do it.'^'' asked she, looking at Steve 
 with an innocent, appealing glance. 
 
 "Yes," answered he. "But this is our dance 111 
 show you how the next intermission." 
 
 "Oh, thank you," breathed she gratefully, 
 
 "Steve looked at her with a shade of suspicion in his 
 eyes, but she was all guileless innocence. She noted 
 
 7 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G" RANCH 
 
 the glance, however, and said to herself: "ITl have 
 to be careful. He is pretty astute, and will not stand 
 much trifling." When the dance was over Steve solved 
 the puzzle for her, which like all others was very easy 
 once you knew how, and then watched her with a 
 lurking admiration in his eyes, as she daintily manip- 
 ulated it, trying to put it back togetlMier; which was 
 just as hard as taking it apart. She looked up with 
 a sigh of relief when Ira claimed her for the next 
 two-step. 
 
 "Fm so glad of an excuse for not worrying over 
 that horrid puzzle. I am afraid Mr. Gardeau will 
 think I am very stupid, as I could not do it after he 
 showed me how, and as he is president of the School 
 Board, it would never do for him to get that im- 
 pression." 
 
 "Geel Old Steve always was lucky. Has all the 
 girls comin' to him lookin' for schools. Gets the ad- 
 vantage of all us other fellows. Think I'll try and 
 get on the School Board in our district. If I do, 
 the prettiest girl gets the place." 
 
 "Make a sort of beauty contest of it I am so glad 
 you told me for I shall not apply, now that I know 
 the qualifications." 
 
 "If you do, I won't look at any of the rest. Bum 
 up their letters as soon as I get them," said he gal- 
 lantly. "And talkin' of applications, reminds me that 
 I'm a goin' to apply right now to take you to the next 
 dance." 
 
 "Well, you are a little late," stated Miss Little, de- 
 murely. "Both Mr. Steve and his brother are ahead 
 of you." 
 
 "Which one are you goin' with?" inquired Ira. 
 
 "I do not know. I believe I will wait until all the 
 applications are in, and then use your method of select- 
 ing a schoolma'am. Go with the best looking one." 
 
 8 
 
ENTER WOMAIT NUMBER ONE 
 
 "Here you Steve/' called Ira. "Miss Little says 
 you and Blackie have both asked her to go to the 
 next dance, and I have, too. She says she is goin' with 
 the best lookin' one. Now, who do you think is goin' 
 to win?" 
 
 "You sure don't think it's goin' to be you, do you ?" 
 inquired Steve, laughing. "We'll just decide that ques- 
 tion right now. Here boys, line up. Miss Little says 
 she will go to the dance with the best lookin' one," " 
 
 "No, do not trouble. I do not believe I will decide 
 that way," objected she, somewhat confused. "I'll go 
 with the one of you three that is the first to arrive." 
 
 "Well, I'll just go over there and camp," resolved 
 Steve. "You are stayin' at my sister's." 
 
 "I'm goin' over and ask Bill Col well for a job to- 
 morrow," observed Ira. 
 
 "He won't hire you. I'll work for him for nothing," 
 said Blackie. 
 
 "No, that will not do," objected Miss Little, merrily. 
 "You boys will have to turn it into a race. All meet 
 some place and start at the same time." 
 
 "All right," agreed Steve, nothing loth. "We'll make 
 it a novelty race. It's two miles and a half from our 
 house to my sister's. We'll start from our place ar 
 seven o'clock, and walk our horses the first mile; trot 
 them the second mile, and run them the last half." 
 
 "Who will be judges," inquired Ira, interestedly. 
 
 "There will not be any judges needed," stated 
 Blackie. "There is only one place to cross that gulch 
 which runs between our place and Colwell's, and that 
 is at the road. The one that reaches that ford first 
 will win, as it is only a little ways from the house and 
 only room for one to cross at a time. The rest will 
 have to follow single file." 
 
 "That's so," assented Ira. "There's liable to be a 
 mix-up there;" 
 
 9 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G" RANCH 
 
 •*Oh, I hope none of you get hurt,'* exclaimed Miss 
 Little, "I never thought of there being any danger/' 
 
 'TDon't you worry any about that Danger is what 
 we thrive on," said Steve, recklessly. 
 
 When Mrs. Colwell heard of the plan she was filled 
 with anxiety, and with feminine intuition, gave a very 
 accurate forecast of the outcome. 
 
 "I do not like it at all," observed she to her hus- 
 band "Why can't she decide which one she wants to 
 go with and end the matter? She has no right to 
 come out here and stir up strife among my brothers." 
 
 "It won't stir up any strife, mother. They are all 
 taking it as a joke, and are more interested in the race 
 than they are in the girl," spoke Colwell, v^ith true 
 masculine obtuseness. 
 
 "That may be so now, but you know there has al- 
 ways been a rivalry between Steve and Blackie, which 
 has been more or less friendly up to now, but it will 
 be different once a woman comes on the scene. They'll 
 both try to w^in her just to get ahead of the other, 
 if for no other reason ; but she is pretty enough to make 
 any of the boys fall in love with her and just clever 
 enough to have fotmd out how things are between 
 Steve and Blackie." 
 
 "Well, let's not borrow trouble. She probably will 
 not marry either one of them. She seems mighty 
 anxious about gettin' letters every mail day. Maybe 
 she's already engaged," 
 
 "Engaged!" exdaimed Mrs, Colwell with much 
 scorn, "Why she has pictures of half a dozen differ- 
 ent young men on her dresser. And even if she was 
 engaged do you think it would keep her from amusing 
 herself with Steve and Blackie? It's like a cat play- 
 ing with a mouse. She does not mean to be cruel. She 
 is simply following her instincts. Miss Little is one 
 
 10 
 
ENTER WOMAN NUMBER ONE 
 
 of those soft, kissable sort of girls, with appealing, 
 helpless ways that are very attractive to men. So is a 
 cat's paw soft until you feel its claws." 
 
 **Well, I suppose they've got it comin' to them," 
 Colwell philosophically remarked. "If she doesn't 
 deal them misery some other woman will. No matter 
 who either one of them took a fancy to, the other 
 would try to cut him out." 
 
 When Saturday evening came Steve, Ira and 
 Blackie, all ready to start, lined up outside the gate 
 at the " — G" Ranch. The autumn twilight was just 
 coming on and they would have ample time to reach 
 their destination, i.e., the Colwell Ranch, before night. 
 Each had a light-top buggy with a single horse hitched 
 to it. They did not draw for places as they had the 
 whole prairie before them for a track. No one cared 
 to follow the road, which wound around more or less„ 
 Promptly, at seven at a shout from Pere Gardeau, they 
 set off. 
 
 Now, Steve had the knack of training all his saddle 
 horses to travel in a fast walk, which carried them 
 over the ground quickly, and was much easier on both 
 man and beast, on a long trip, than breaking from a 
 walk to a trot or gallop and then lapsing back to the 
 original pace, as most saddle horses do ; so he selected 
 a horse called ''Kentucky Jim" which was broken to 
 drive, and a descendant of a thoroughbred Kentucky 
 dam and a sire of old Revenue stock. He was long, 
 and lank and homely, but fast in all his gaits. Blackie 
 had a horse which was equally fast, while Ira was driv- 
 ing a blooded trotting mare belonging to old Man Mil- 
 ton, which he thought would put him away ahead on 
 the second mile and give him a good start for the 
 run, but he miscalculated. The mare fell far behind 
 in the walking contest and what she made up on the 
 trotting stretch was quickly lost when they started 
 
 11 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G'^ RANCH 
 
 to run. This left Blackie and Steve racing neck and 
 neck across the prairie; bouncing over cactus beds, 
 bumping over soap-weeds and prairie-dog holes, 
 straight as the crow flies to the Colwell Ranch. Each 
 bent upon making the crossing before the other, and 
 as Steve began to close in toward the road, Blackie 
 reached out and struck Kentucky Jim with his whip 
 and made him lunge aside. 
 
 "Well, keep the road, damn you," exclaimed Steve, 
 and using his own whip, drove straight for the almost 
 perpendicular banks of the gulch. 
 
 "Hold on, you fool!" yelled Blackie. "You can't 
 cross there." But he was too late. The horse checked 
 his wild run instantly on the edge of the gulch, and 
 then, fairly sitting on his haunches, slid down the steep 
 bank and clambered up the other side. The buggy 
 careened and rocked about, but stood the strain, and 
 old Jim lined out for one of his famous home-stretch 
 runs. 
 
 Miss Little and the Colwell family were out to wit- 
 ness the finish of the race, and as Steve drove up the 
 children danced up and down, delightedly exclaiming : 
 "Uncle Steve won! Uncle Steve won!" and were 
 quickly up in the buggy beside him, twining their arms 
 around his neck and kissing him. But Steve, like the 
 knights of old, looked beyond them for reward in the 
 smiles of his lady, and these, Miss Little knew so well 
 to give. However, when Blackie arrived, she managed 
 subtilly to convey to him that she wished he had been 
 the winner. 
 
 As they drove off to the dance Ira and Blackie fol- 
 lowed closely to act as chaperones, as they claimed. 
 
 "You need not bother," remarked Miss Little, mis- 
 chievously. "A school-teacher does not need a chap- 
 crone. We are used to making small boy^ behave, and 
 you know a man is only a boy grown talL" 
 
 12 
 
ENTER WOMAN NUMBER ONE 
 
 At the dance Blackie approached Miss Little and 
 putting on an injured air, said: 
 
 "You didn't play fair in that race. There ought 
 to have been more than one prize. We always have 
 a second prize in our races out here." 
 
 *'There was always a third prize in all the races I 
 ever ran," stated Ira. 
 
 •^Had to be, if you won, didn't they?" inquired Steve, 
 with good-natured sarcasm. 
 
 "Well, let's see," mused Miss Little. "I must follow 
 the rules. That is what I teach the children. I am just 
 crazy about riding horseback," said she brightly, "and 
 Mr. Colwell hasn't any gentle horses." 
 
 "Just the thing," said Blackie. "I'll come and take 
 you for a ride. When would you like to go?" 
 
 "Next Sunday would be a good day." 
 
 "It will be next Sunday in about ten minutes,** 
 promptly remarked Blackie, looking at his watch. "So 
 get ready." 
 
 "Oh, I meant Sunday-a-week. I'll be too sleepy to 
 go to-morrow." 
 
 "Where do I come in on this deal? What is the 
 third prize?" inquired Ira. 
 
 "Well," drawled Miss Little, in her soft, plaintive 
 voice. "I'll be home Wednesday eve, if you care tc 
 call." 
 
 Mrs. Colwell was right in her prediction. The race 
 was but the beginning of a hotly contested suit foi 
 Miss Little's favor. Blackie rode up promptly Sun- 
 day afternoon, followed by a pack of hounds, and Miss 
 Little tripped gaily out to meet him. 
 
 "Oh, you brought the dogs," delightedly exclaimed 
 Bhe, "Can we catch a coyote?" 
 
 "We can if we can find one. They are pretty well 
 hunted oflF the range around here, and we can't go 
 very far to look for them, as you are not tised to ridin'." 
 
 13 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G" RANCH 
 
 "I do hope we can find one, as I am always reading, 
 English novels in which the heroine is a superb horse- 
 woman and rides to hounds. It seems to me it would 
 be great fun. Last summer when I was East every 
 one asked me about chasing coyotes and antelope, and 
 seemed incredulous when I told them I had never hun- 
 ted them. They seem to think that all sorts of wild 
 game runs through the streets of Denver, and nibbles 
 the front lawns. It is great what stories one can make 
 them believe. They will swallow anything, and when I 
 found they were so gtillable I drew on my imagination 
 and my, what hair-raising pictures I described/' said 
 she, laughing. 
 
 "Yes," assented Blackie. "They sure think we are 
 wild and wooly. We had a teacher here last year 
 who came out from the East for her health. I guess 
 she imagined she was among savages, and so thought 
 she ought to act accordin'! The first night she sat 
 down to the table my mother introduced her all around 
 and she never took her eyes off her plate or answered 
 a word. As soon as she got through eatin' she made 
 a dive for her room, which was at the farthest end 
 of the house and stayed there. 
 
 "Us boys, when wc found out how she felt about 
 us and the country in general, took out all the 
 fire-arms on the place and began to act up to her ideas 
 of the West, We howled and screeched, and fired 
 enough shots to kill a regiment. The old man aidin' 
 and a-bettin' us. Finally we stuffed a suit of clothes 
 with straw and put an old black hat on it and stood 
 it outside her room by a tree. The wind was blowin' 
 hard, so it fell agin' her window, and she saw it. 
 
 "She thought it was somebody try in' to get in and 
 efot out a revolver she had brought along for protection, 
 I guess, and started to shoot it. 
 
 *lf it had been a man, he wouldn't have been in 
 
 U 
 
EKTEE WOMAIT NTJMBEE ONB 
 
 mttch danger. She didn't even hit the window most of 
 the time, but filled the whole side of the wall full of 
 holes. My mother heard her shootin' and thought it 
 was us boys. She woke my father and told him to 
 go out and stop us, as she thought we was carryin* the 
 joke too far. The girls who had the room next the 
 teacher's woke up and began to call to her, and she 
 was so excited that she turned the gun in their direc- 
 tion and commenced to shoot at them. Guess she'd 
 be shootin' yet if she hadn't emptied her revolver and 
 didn't know how to load it again." 
 
 "I should have thought she would have left next 
 day?" observed Miss Little much amused. 
 
 "She didn't though. She stayed on, but still kept to 
 her room most of the time and had nothin' to say at 
 meals. She was a good teacher, though, and mighty in- 
 terested in the kid," mused Blackie, "Guess she 
 thought she was doin' missionary work for she started 
 a Sunday school. 
 
 "One Saturday she asked my father for a horsCr 
 Said she wanted to go to Colwell's, as one of the 
 children was sick. There wasn't any horse up that was 
 gentle enough for her to drive, so my father told her 
 to ride the pony we kept in the barn to get up the 
 cows. 
 
 "She never rode before and didn't know how to 
 guide a horse and that little bronc was just sharp 
 enough to know it. We'd had him for years and 
 when my youngest brother and sister was little we 
 used to put one of them on his back v/ith only a halter, 
 and he would go out and drive up the milk cows, cut- 
 tin' them out from any others in the pasture. But it 
 was too early to get the cows that day and as he wan- 
 dered over the pasture he came upon a bunch of steers 
 belongin' to the next ranch, that had broke through the 
 fence, and started cuttin' tliem out" 
 
 15 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G" RANCH 
 
 "What did he do with them when he had theni sep* 
 arated from the rest?" inquired Miss Little. 
 
 "Oh, he'd cut one out and run it over in the pasture 
 a Httle ways and then go back and get another one. 
 When he had them all over there he*d cut them again 
 one at a time and take them somewhere else." 
 
 "Why didn't she get off.''" inquired Miss Little. 
 
 "I guess he kept movin' all the time and she was 
 afraid to." 
 
 "Couldn't she stop him or anything?" 
 
 "She was too busy holdin' on, I suppose. Anyway, 
 she didn't, and he kept workin' that bunch of steers 
 over all afternoon until time to drive up the cows ; then 
 he cut them out of the bunch and brought them home. 
 Her hair was flyin' in the breeze and she'd lost her hat 
 and hairpins and was holdin' to the saddle horn for 
 dear life when she rode up. She sure was a sight." 
 
 As he finished speaking he turned with a start and 
 uttered a shrill whistle to the dogs and ejaculated: 
 "There's a coyote !" 
 
 "Where?" excitedly asked Miss Little, hastily scan- 
 ning the prairie, 
 
 "It's gone behind the hill, now," answered Blackie, 
 and spurring his horse set him into a gallop, watching 
 Miss Little the while to see if she was in danger of 
 falling off. 
 
 "This isn't the first time you've been on a horse," 
 observed he. 
 
 "Oh, no. I used to ride a lot when I was Httle, and 
 I suppose one does not forget how. Why are the dogs 
 scattering?" asked she. 
 
 "By Gee, they've found three coyotes," exclaimed 
 Blackie. "They must have surprised them while they 
 was feedin' on some dead animal. Yes, there is a dead 
 cow and that old fox hound is trailin' one all by him- 
 sdf/' 
 
 X6 
 
ENTER WOMAj^ number ONE 
 
 "The coyote does not seem to be much afraid of 
 him. What makes him stop and look back? Is he 
 waiting for the dog to catch up?'* asked Miss Little, 
 
 "He knows the hound can't kill him by himself, and 
 I guess he is puzzled over him yelpin' that way. All 
 these other dogs run silently, and tlie coyote doesn't 
 know what to make of it. Them other two coyotes 
 ain't losin' any time. Let's go faster and overtake 
 them as they circle around the next hill. The dogs will 
 just about catch 'em around there." 
 
 The horses needed little urging, seeming to enjoy 
 the chase as much as the dogs. Miss Little's hair, 
 which was hanging in a long braid down her back 
 and twisted into a tliick curl at the end, came loose 
 and floated around her ; and with her blue eye dancing 
 with excitement and scarlet lips parted, she looked the 
 embodied spirit of the wild, free life of the plains. 
 As he galloped along beside her Blackie thrilled with 
 the exultant joy of being alive, while a fierce desire 
 for possession surged through him. 
 
 Upon reaching the brow of the hill a frightful timiult 
 could be heard and the whole valley seemed to he 
 covered with a whirling, seething mass of dogs snap- 
 ping, growling and snarling, fighting in blind fury ; the 
 coyote limp and mangled, being torn to bits between 
 them. 
 
 "There won't be much left of their hides," observed 
 Blackie. 
 
 After watching them awhile they called the dogs, 
 who reluctantly left their helpless prey, and rode on. 
 They had ridden quite a way when they heard an 
 occasional faint yelp, and looking around in search of 
 the cause, they descried in the distance two specks 
 which appeared on tlie crest of a hill and then dis- 
 appeared on the other side. 
 
 "That old fox hound is trailin* that coyote yet," ex- 
 
 IT 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G" RANCH 
 
 claimed Blackie. "And they both run like they was 
 about played out. Well take these dogs over and help 
 him kill it" Calling them they spurred their horses 
 and soon overtook the hound and made short work 
 01 its exhausted pre}^ 
 
 "Well, that's some coyote chase," remarked Blackie. 
 "You have some tiling to tell the next time you go back 
 East and you needn't strain the truth either." 
 
 "Well, I should think so. I never was so excited 
 in my life. I'd like to hunt coyotes all the time," re- 
 marked Miss Little. 
 
 "I don't think it is bad sport myself, when I've got 
 good company," agreed Blackie, his pulses tinghng 
 from her bright glance and smile. "But, I believe, I 
 like dancing better." And with a look in which ten- 
 derness gleamed he inquired : "How about the dance 
 Saturday night?" 
 
 "I have promised to go with your brother," an- 
 swered she. 
 
 "Damn him," muttered Blackie between his teeth. 
 
 "What did you say?" inquired she. 
 
 "Oh, nothing. Ill be 'round to take you for another 
 hunt next Sunday, if you'd like to go?" 
 
 "Very well," assented she. And then noting his 
 scowl she asked impudently: 
 
 "How did you get your name? I notice that most 
 of the nicknames out here are quite appropriate, but 
 I am puzzled to know whether yours is a compliment 
 to your complexion or disposition." 
 
 "Well, I guess it fits both pretty well," answered 
 he, with a short laugh. "But you see as all the other 
 children had either red or very light hair, my black 
 head was very conspicuous, and they jokingly called 
 me "The Black Sheep," and soon that was shortened 
 to Blackie and that name stuck. For a long time I for- 
 got I had any other. One day a man stopped at the 
 
 18 
 
ENTER WOMAN NUMBER ONE 
 
 ranch and asked me what my name was and I studied 
 for awhile and then said : 
 
 "Well, it ain't Blackie, but I don't know what it 
 is." 
 
 "Do you know what it is now?" asked the girl 
 laughing. 
 
 "Yes, I refresh my memory by goin' in and lookin' it 
 up in the family bible, where mother has the birthdays 
 written down- I was christened SamueL" 
 
 Matters went along in that way all winter. First 
 one would take her to a dance or for a ride and then 
 the other, and Miss Little played with them both with 
 consummate skill. She had no one with whom she 
 could exchange girlish confidences in the country, so 
 she was wont to write voluminous letters to her bosom 
 friend and chum in which she detailed the ins and 
 outs of her love affair, which to girls seems to be an 
 all-absorbing topic 
 
 My dear Antoinette: Yes, I am still teaching in 
 the country, and am not dead of ennui as you sug- 
 gest. They say, "Life has its compensations" and ] 
 find it is true of the country, at any rate. Of course 
 it is disagreeable at times, and I hate children — the 
 horrid grubby little things; and if it wasn't for mj 
 two handsome cowboys I suppose I should hav< 
 given it up long ago. They are the compensations 
 
 They both continue to be my most devoted slaves 
 but Steve is not as abject as I should like. In fact 
 it puzzles me at times to determine whether his at- 
 tentiveness springs from a desire to outdo hij 
 brother Blackie, or out of a sincere regard for my- 
 self. I can hear your exclamation of (I am sur- 
 prised that her vanity will permit her to acknowledge 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G" RANCH 
 
 so much). But you know a good general does not 
 ignore the strength of the enemy. 
 
 Blackie and Steve are by far the most striking per- 
 sonalities among the cowboys. The latter is tall, 
 straight, supple and well knit. Has broad shoulders, 
 deep chest and the tapering hips and slender, elastic 
 muscles of the athlete; with light, slightly waving 
 hair and aquiline features. In addition he has a mag- 
 netic personality that draws people to him involun- 
 tarily. He is always in the limelight If it is races, 
 he has the fastest horse. If it is a bucking contest, 
 he is the best rider — ^with Blackie always a close 
 second, so they are both well calculated to catch and 
 hold the feminine eye. 
 
 The former is more stockily built and, as his name 
 implies, is dark. With straight, black hair like an 
 Indian's, and a brooding, vengeful disposition. When 
 I dance with some one else he stands in a corner and 
 glowers furiously, and I can feel his eyes following 
 me about. 
 
 I was much puzzled at the contrast between him 
 and Steve, until I learned that they were not really 
 brothers. It seems Blackie is an orphan, his parents 
 having been victims of Indian massacre in the early 
 days. He is only a month or two younger than 
 Steve, and they were brought up as twins. But, alas, 
 for the theories of those who believe that environ- 
 ment counts for more than heredity. 
 
 Here is a good example to the contrary. No 
 amount of training or outside influence could make 
 these two alike. Nature, the grreat sculptor, has 
 moulded them of different clay. They have always 
 been rivals in everything and it has had one good ef- 
 fect: they have each become very proficient in every 
 way. This has been helped along by them having to 
 run the ranch and look after the stock since they 
 
 20 
 
ENTEE WOMAN NUMBEE ONE 
 
 were mere boys, as their father became almost blind 
 and the eldest brother died, so all the responsibility 
 fell upon their shoulders. 
 
 It seems that Steve is the trader and business man, 
 while Blackie looks after the ranch. So you see the 
 situation and that I am likely to have a very exciting 
 time before I am through. 
 
 A number of children out here are named "Steve/* 
 and now and then I hear of a race horse that is 
 called "Little Steve," or "Big Steve." One day I 
 asked him how that name happened to be so i;>opu- 
 lar and he had the audacity to tell me: 
 
 "Oh, when anybody gets anything good out here 
 they call it 'Steve.' '* There speaks the ego. So you 
 need not worry over my trifling with his young affec- 
 tions. I fancy a lesson in humility will do him good. 
 
 However, I am not so sure that I am going to be 
 able to administer it. Blackie has long been at my 
 feet and only needs a little encouragement to pre- 
 cipitate matters, but this I wish to avoid, as it is 
 much more fun to keep them dangling. But if I do 
 not bring Steve to subjection I shall consider my 
 winter as wasted, and that I am becoming passe. 
 
 And now, my dear, enough of myself. I am dying 
 to know how you are progressing in your love af- 
 fairs; do be sure and give me a full account in your 
 next letter, and answer soon. 
 
 Yours, as ever, 
 
 **Jackonettr'' 
 
 There was mtich speculation among th« neighbors 
 and cowboys as to which one Miss Little would eventu- 
 ally choose. There was also an undercurrent of re- 
 sentment at the way she kept them guessing, and sat 
 people in the country have nothing to talk about, ex- 
 
 21 
 
STEVE OF THE «— G'^ RANCH 
 
 cept their neighbors' affairs, this was sure to be ex- 
 pressed whenever tlie subject came up. 
 
 Sam Heiss, an old crony of Steve's, stopped at the 
 Williams Ranch one day and as usual the conversation 
 drifted to the Gardeau boys and their love affair, and 
 tlie old lady Williams remarked with much rancor : 
 
 "Well, no matter how Blackie feels about it, it 
 hasn't unbalanced Steve any. He may be in love, but 
 he is just as sharp on a horse trade as ever." 
 
 "I guess it would take a good deal to spoil Steve for 
 horse tradin*," remarked Sam. "He's a cowboy, 
 broncho buster and a lover of a fast horse and gen- 
 erally has one. All these occupations he practices in 
 their proper seasons. But first, last and all the time 
 he's a horse trader." 
 
 '"Yes, he sure skinned us good and proper," said 
 Frank, who then gave the details of a trade which he 
 made with Steve. Sam listened for awhile and then 
 got on his horse and rode away, making a point to pass 
 the Bar Gee Ranch, and if Steve was home get the 
 other side of the story. 
 
 Steve was there and ready for a chat. After they 
 had settled themselves comfortably on the sunny side 
 of the bam Sam broached the subject thus : 
 
 "I was over at the Williams Ranch to-day and the 
 whole family was roastin' you to a fare-you-well." 
 
 "What's the matter with them?" inquired Steve. 
 
 "They say you beat tliem out of a horse an' they are 
 mighty sore about it. They'd take turns tellin' the 
 story. One would talk till he played out an' then 
 to'them would chime in." 
 
 "What are they kickin' about? Has old High Ball 
 died?" asked Steve. 
 
 "Is that the name of the horse you traded them? 
 They didn't say anything about its dyin'.*' 
 
 "Well, then I don't see where they have any kick 
 22 
 
KNTER WOMAN NUMBER ONE 
 
 comin*. He's got four good legs anyhow, and the one 
 I got in exchange is a cripple and will be as long as 
 he lives." 
 
 "You don't say? What was your idea for tradin' 
 for it?" inquired Sam much puzzled. 
 
 "I got it to sell to old man Dempsey that lives on 
 the ranch below," answered Steve, chuckling at the 
 remembrance, 
 
 "He just brought out a new wife a couple of weeks 
 ago, didn't he?" 
 
 "Yes, and she is about twenty years younger than 
 he is. How she ever happened to marry him is more 
 than I know. Men must have been mighty scarce 
 back where she came from," 
 
 "Where did he get her?" 
 
 "Back East somewhere, and it's sure the truth that 
 love is blind. Since he got married old Dempsey is 
 sure locoed, but I guess I helped his eyesight some, 
 I think he can see plumb good out of one eye now, 
 and the other'n' is improvin' fast since I sold him that 
 horse." 
 
 "How much did you get for it?** 
 
 "One hundred and twenty-five dollars." 
 
 "Whew ! I thought you said the horse is a cripple." 
 
 "He is and always will be." 
 
 "Well, then Dempsey sure must have gone blind, for 
 he's quite a horse trader himself, ain't he ?" 
 
 "Yes, he can trade horses all right He trimmed me 
 pretty neatly last spring and I've been layin' for him 
 ever since." 
 
 "How did he happen to catch you? What was the 
 matter with your eyesight. You hadn't met the school 
 teacher then," said Sam, trying to draw Steve out on 
 that subject. 
 
 "No," answered Steve. "And if I had it wouldn't 
 have made any difference. That mare would have 
 
 23 
 
STEVE OP THE "— G" RANCH 
 
 fooled anybody. All she needed was a good liar back 
 of her." 
 
 "Well, I guess old man Dempsey can travel in that 
 class any day, but he must have told some pretty stiff 
 ones to take you in so completely." 
 
 "No, he didn't say so much. You see it was this 
 way." And Sam, finding that he at last had Steve 
 fairly launched on the subject, settled back comfortably 
 and lit his pipe. 
 
 "One day early last summer as I was sharpinin' the 
 sickle to the mower, gettin' ready to start cuttin' al- 
 falfa, the old man came up. It was right after he 
 had bought that place and he was drivin' as pretty a 
 team of light bay mares as I ever saw. Slick and 
 fat and perfect beauties, weighin' about twelve hun- 
 dred apiece. I looked them over and praised them up 
 a bit and the old man said : 
 
 " ^es, they are a mighty fine team, but a little too 
 high-lived to trust with that green man I have workin' 
 for me, so I guess TU have to sell them as I'm gettin' 
 too old to work much myself.' " 
 
 "Guess he sung a different tune when he was courtin' 
 his wife," answered Sam. 
 
 "Yes, and he's been hangin' onto every bronc on 
 the ranch ever since he came back and they drag him 
 around all over the corral, but he'll keep a holdin' on 
 and yellin' at 'em just as long as his wife is lookin' 
 .or can hear him." 
 
 "Looks like it would scare her." 
 
 "Humph, she encourages him in it, by praisin' his 
 fine horsemanship. Guess she thinks some of them 
 will kill him and she will get the ranch that mucli 
 sooner. That must have been what caught her eye. 
 It certainly couldn't have been him that attracted her. 
 When he spoke about wantin' to sell the horses I looked 
 them over closer. The old man sat and watched me 
 
 24 
 
E]S"TER WOMAN KUMBEK ONE 
 
 and when I had finished he asked: 'What will you 
 give for them/ 
 
 " *I don't know, I answered. 'I don't need any more 
 horses. Though I might trade you somethmg for 
 them, as I could use them for brood mares.' 
 
 "We dickered around all morning, but couldn't make 
 a trade for the team, so finally he said : 
 
 " TU trade you the mare on the off side for old 
 Roney and twenty-five dollars to boot. I hate to sell 
 one without the other, but TU tell you the truth,' said 
 he lookin' might honest. 'She's a little cold shouldered 
 and I'm afraid that man that's workin' for me will ruin 
 hen' " 
 
 "Thought he said they was too high-lived at first?** 
 said Sam. 
 
 "Yes, he did and I might a-known there was some- 
 thing awful wrong with her if he'd admit that much. 
 I did get a little suspicious, but finally agreed that if 
 he'd leave her for rae to try for a day and she worked 
 all right I'd trade him Roney and give him fifteen dol- 
 lars to boot. He tried awful hard to make a clean 
 trade of it then and there, but I stuck out for a trial 
 of the mare, and at last I guess he thought I was be- 
 ginnin' to mistrust something, so he answered : 
 
 " 'All right I'll do it.' Then he unhitched her and 
 put the harness on Roney, while I hitched her up to 
 the mower. 
 
 "As he drove off he called out kind of carelesslike, 
 as though he wasn't in any hurry. 'I'll be over in a 
 couple of days to see how you like her.' 
 
 "Well, I worked her all the afternoon and she went 
 along as steady and honest as an animal could. Went 
 right up into the collar and pulled her share, I began 
 to think I'd made a good trade. The next morning just 
 as I hitched up and started to drive out to the field 
 along came Dempsey. Said he had to go to Denver 
 
 25 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G" RANCH 
 
 that day and if I was satisfied we'd close the deal as 
 he liked Roney all right. 
 
 "I went into the house and brought him out fifteen 
 dollars, and when I handed it to him he shoved it into 
 his pocket and started off like he couldn't get away 
 fast enough. Right then I said to myself : Tm stuck.* 
 I don't know what made me think it, but he had a kind 
 of sneakin' look in his eyes when I handed him the 
 money and I asked him then : *This deal is all square, 
 is it? That man you bought these horses from hadn't 
 stole them had he?' 
 
 " *Oh, no,' he answered. *I got them from a man I 
 have known all my life.' 
 
 "I went to work and I hadn't gone three roimds 
 until the mare stopped." 
 
 "The old cuss," said Sam. "What did you do?" 
 
 "I sat there and looked at her for awhile and she 
 turned her head and watched me out of the comer of 
 her eye, to see how I was takin' it. I clucked to her 
 and after hesitatin' for a moment she started up, but 
 acted just like she had a notion not to do it. 
 
 " 'That ain't so bad,' I thought, but on the next 
 round she stopped again. I clucked to her and tapped 
 her up with my whip, but it took her longer to make 
 up her mind to start this time. Every time we reached 
 that place she would stop. I'd get off and oil the 
 machine and tinker around, tryin' to make myself be- 
 lieve I wasn't gettin' mad. She kept that up all after- 
 noon, gettin' a little worse all the time. I tried all the 
 ways I ever heard of for makin' a balky horse start, but 
 none of them worked. Along about quittin' time she 
 stopped for good. I unhitched the team and I couldn't 
 even lead her toward the house. That sure made me 
 mad and I picked up a club and went after her, and if 
 she didn't dodge, and I nearly knocked the other horse 
 down, 
 
 26 
 
ENTER WOMAN NUMBER ONE 
 
 ••At last she started and I drove her as far as the 
 comer of the yard fence and she balked again, so I 
 simply tied her to the comer post and left her there. 
 Thought I would leave her there all night, but before 
 I went to bed I began to feel sorry and went out 
 to get her — and do you think I could budge her? Not 
 an inch, and there she stood all night keepin' every- 
 body awake, stampin' her feet and rattlin' her harness. 
 The next morning I drove her in, fed and watered 
 her and hitched her up again. She never balked once 
 all day and worked all right the next time. She just 
 seemed to take it by spells. 
 
 "I worked and worried with her all the time I was 
 mowin' the first cuttin' of alfalfa. Some days she'd 
 work and some she wouldn't. Finally I tried driving 
 her to a wagon. She didn't balk much on the road, 
 but couldn't stand the trips and would get slower antl 
 slower, until she would play out completely.'' 
 
 "What did you do with her?" asked Sam. 
 
 "I turned her out in the pasture and I guess she must 
 have got a nail in her foot someliow. I saw her one 
 day limpin' around and I wouldn't even take the 
 trouble to drive her in to find out what was the mat- 
 ter. I didn't go out to the pasture again for about a 
 week and when I did her head was all drawn around 
 to one side and I saw she had lock-jaw. I said : *Cood 
 for you, old girl, I hope you die a good hard death.' " 
 
 "Did she die?" 
 
 "Yes, she died all right and I was glad of it'* 
 
 "I don't blame you," answered Sam. "When a man 
 gets a horse like that he ought to take it out and 
 shoot it. What do you reckon was the matter with 
 her?" 
 
 "I don't know. I believe she had been hurt, or 
 there was something the matter with her head. I 
 believe horses get crazy streaks same as people da 
 
 27 
 
STEVE OF THE ''— G" RANCH 
 
 She'd balk anywhere, with an empty wagon goin' down 
 hill, or when I was leadin' her down to get a drink, 
 after workin' half a day. So there must have been 
 something the matter with her besides onriness." 
 
 "I'll bet old Dempsey did some tall laughin'," ob- 
 served Sam. 
 
 "If he did he never laughed where I could see him, 
 and I guess it's my chance now." 
 
 "What color was the horse you sold him? I don't 
 remember the Williams boys havin' a crippled horse." 
 
 "It's a light sorrel and as pretty as a picture and, 
 like the balky mare, it is only crippled by spells, or 
 when used for awhile. As long as it runs in the 
 pasture it is all right and there ain't one mark on its 
 ankle to show what causes it to go lame." 
 
 "I suppose he bought it for his wife to ride," laughed 
 Sam. 
 
 "Yes, he wanted to give her a weddin' present of a 
 saddle horse and didn't have anything fancy enough. 
 The man that was workin' for him told me about it. 
 Said the old man wanted something extra. That 
 nothin' was too good for Mrs. Dempsey number two. 
 Just as soon as I heard it I saddled up that gray horse 
 I got from old man Milton, called High Ball, and rode 
 over to see the Williams boys." 
 
 "I don't see how you ever managed to trade with 
 them," observed Sam. "If a man takes them up on an 
 offer they back out for fear they ain't askin' enough." 
 
 "Yes, I know that, so I hung around all morning 
 and never mentioned horse trade. After awhile I led 
 the conversation 'round to crippled horses and Philip 
 said: 
 
 " 'Steve, what do you suppose is the matter with 
 that sorrel saddle horse of ours ? He goes lame every 
 time we use him a day or so.' 
 
 " 'Why, ain't he well yet ?' I asked as though sur- 
 28 
 
ENTER WOMAN NUMBER ONE 
 
 prised. I knew he was not and that was just the 
 opening I was lookin' for. 
 
 " *No/ said Frank. *He looks all right. His ankle 
 ain't any bigger than the rest and any one that didn't 
 know him would never think about his goin' lame.' 
 
 " * Why don't you sell him to some one ? No use in 
 your keeping him, if you can't use him.' 
 
 " *What would you give for him ?' asked Philip. 
 " 'I don't know,' I said, as though I wasn't much 
 interested. *Bring him up and let's have a look at him.' 
 When they brought him up I looked him over and to 
 all appearances there was not a thing the matter with 
 him, but I told them I would not give much for him.' 
 " *Maybe you can cure him. You are pretty lucky 
 that way„ What would you give for him as he stands ?* 
 asked Philip. 
 
 " 'Well, sir,' I said, as though just makin' up my 
 mind. 'I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll give you this 
 old gray horse I'm ridin' for the sorrel and you pay me 
 ten dollars to boot.' 
 
 " 'No, I can't do that,' said Frank, 'But 111 trade 
 even.' 
 
 "I never said a word, but uncinched my saddle and 
 flimg it on the back of the sorrel, tightened up the 
 cinch and rode off. You'd ought to have seen their 
 faces. They began to look sick even then, although 
 the horse I traded them was all right and they couldn't 
 have sold the crippled one to anybody else for any- 
 thing. Of course. High Ball is old, but he is just the 
 thing for Frank who is afraid to ride a horse that will 
 go out of a walk." 
 
 "Did he go lame on you goin' home ?" asked Sam. 
 
 "I should say he did. By tlie time I got home he 
 
 was travlin' on three legs. I had to get off and walk 
 
 the last half mile. I let him rest a day or two and 
 
 didn't say anything to the folks at home about him. 
 
 29 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G" RANCH 
 
 Day before yesterday as I was saddlin' my horse 
 my little sister come out and asked: 'Where 
 are you going? Can't I go along? I am just crazy 
 to try that pretty horse you bought the other day.' 
 
 " 'All right/ I answered. *You can come, but it 
 may not be a very long ride.' 
 
 " 'Why, where are you going?' 
 
 " *Oh, I don't know yet, but you can come along 
 and take your chances.' When she was ready we 
 started out and went straight to old man Dempsey's. 
 He was at home and his wiie came out with him and 
 wanted my sister to get off, but she answered: *No, 
 111 come down some other time. I want to go with 
 Steve to-day and ride this dandy horse. Isn't he a 
 beauty?' 
 
 " *Yes,' answered Mrs. Dempsey. 'Is he gentle?' 
 
 " 'He's as gentle as a lamb,' answered Phil. 
 
 "I kept still. I thought they were doin' pretty 
 well without me, although my sister didn't know any- 
 thing about what I was intending to do. 
 
 "Finally old man Dempsey became interested and 
 remarked : 'I'm lookin' for a horse for my wife and 
 if you want to sell him and your price is right maybe 
 we can make a deal.' 
 
 "I told him that as I had only had him a few days 
 I was in no hurry to sell him and that I might take 
 him to town, as I knew a party who was lookin' for 
 a showy horse and was willing to pay a good price. 
 'I wouldn't take less than one hundred and fifty 
 dollars.' 
 
 "At that the old man fairly snorted, and said he could 
 get a half a dozen horses for that as cheap as horses 
 are now. I told him maybe he could, but not like that 
 horse. Well, he hummed and hawed for a while, but 
 his wife was dead stuck on the horse and kept sayin' 
 that cme himdred and fifty dollars wasn't much for 
 
 30 
 
ENTEE WOMAif NUMBEE ONE 
 
 a horse; that they cost a lot more than that back 
 where she came from ; so he finally said he'd give me 
 one hundred dollars for him. I offered to split the 
 difference and let him have it for one hundred and 
 twenty-five dollars and when he took me up I said: 
 
 " 'YouVe bought a horse. Get off Phil.' 
 
 " *A11 right/ answered old man Dempsey. *Which 
 would you rather have? Cash or a check?' 
 
 *'I told him I would take cash. I "didn't want a 
 <:heck as I was afraid he would stop payment on it 
 
 "Him and his wife went for a ride that afternoon 
 and the horse went along fine for awhile, as they trav- 
 eled along slow, but as soon as the old man started to 
 hit it up a little faster the horse began to go lame, 
 and before they had gone a quarter of a mile he could 
 hardly hobble along. Mrs. Dempsey had to get off 
 and wait for the old man to go back to the house and 
 hitch up to the buggy, as they did not have any- 
 thing gentle enough for her to ride. 
 
 "The next day he came up just as mad as he could 
 be. At last he cooled down and said : 'Well, I know 
 I'm beat all right, but what is the matter with the 
 horse ?' 
 
 "I told him I didn't know. That it had been that 
 way for a year or so and nobody can find out. The 
 people I got him from took him to a good vetinary 
 and he could not tell what was the trouble, and I said 
 *I guess this just about evens us up, don't it Dempsey?' 
 He looked at me for a minute and turned and went 
 home without sayin' a word. 
 
 "When Walter Milton heard about the deal he said 
 he was goin' to get on his horse and ride right over 
 and tell the Williams boys how much I got for the 
 lioree. He said they'd howl about it for the next ten 
 years and from what you say I guess they will." 
 
 "Well, I don't see why they ought, they couldn't a- 
 31 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G" RANCH 
 
 sold it to anyone else," said Sam, ^'But Mrs. Williams 
 was right about one thing though." 
 
 "What was that?" 
 
 **She said your bein' in love hadn^t dulled your wits 
 any. That you was just as sharp as ever on a horse 
 trade," 
 
 "How does she know I*m in love?" asked Steve, 
 
 "I guess she's judgin' by the symptoms. You and 
 Blackie have been courtin' the teacher pretty vigorous 
 all winter and everybody is wonderin' which is goin' 
 to win," 
 
 "I suppose it does look as if we was both in love 
 with her an' I guess there ain't much doubt about 
 Blackie's f eelin's. He's hardly spoken to me all winter, 
 and is as sullen and as cross as a bear. But just be- 
 tween you and me I'm sure tryin' mighty hard to keep 
 my head and if I'd thought she cared anything for 
 Blackie I'd a-dropped out long ago, but shucks, she's 
 just playin' with us both and only wants to hang our 
 scalps to her belt. She's awful pretty and has soft, 
 little coaxin' ways that's sure hard to resist at times, 
 but I've pulled through so far and I guess Blackie has 
 a suspicion of how things are himself and is keepin' 
 a tight grip on his tongue, if he can't control his heart," 
 
 "It's a pretty interistin' game, but you'd better drop 
 out if you think she's got the cards stacked, because 
 you are liable to get badly burnt if you keep on," ad- 
 vised Sam. 
 
 "Yes, that's so, but I'll play it to a finish now. It won't 
 be long until school is out and that will end it. If I 
 dropped out now it would look like I'd been sacked." 
 
 "Maybe you are right But what if she applies for 
 the school next year?" suggested Sam. 
 
 "That's so, she might Well, if she does I'll give it 
 to her. I wouldn't want her or the people to think I 
 was doin' any spite work." 
 
 32 
 
LOST IN A MAECH BLIZZARD 
 
 II 
 
 LOST IN A MARCH BLIZZARD 
 
 Alas for the well-laid plans of mice and men. School 
 was out the last of March and both Steve and Blackie 
 sought the honor of taking Miss Little to the station, 
 and she, thinking of the long drive, decided to go with 
 Steve ; as so far he had not proposed and she hoped to 
 bring it about on this last trip together. 
 
 There was already a foot of snow on the ground 
 and this had been alternately melted by the hot sun 
 during the day and frozen by night until it was cov- 
 ered with a hard crust through which the horses broke 
 continuously, so they could make but slow progress. 
 
 The sky and atmosphere were of the same cheer- 
 less gray color which looked as if it might thicken 
 into a storm at any minute. When Steve reached the 
 Colwell Ranch his sister came out and inquired : 
 
 "Are you going to attempt to take Miss Little to 
 the station to-day? It looks like there is going to b^ 
 a blizzard. You had better put it off until to-morrow," 
 
 "It is just as Miss Little says. I told her I would 
 t^ke her to-day and I am here to keep my promise, 
 although I think it'd be much better if she would post- 
 pone her trip until next week, as the roads are already 
 bad and if it should storm it might be pretty dis- 
 agreeable." 
 
 "Mother will be so worried if I am not there when 
 they go to meet me," quickly objected Miss Little in a 
 solicitous voice. "I should not have written them wh^ 
 
 33, 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G" RANCH 
 
 to expect me and then it would have been all right to 
 wait over." 
 
 "It is too bad to disappoint her, but 1 believe she 
 would be more worried if she knew you were out in 
 such weather," suggested Mrs. Colweil. 
 
 "But she will not know about that and will only 
 wonder why I have not come," said Miss Little, meet- 
 ing all objections, and giving the impression of a duti- 
 ful daughter who would suffer any hardship ratiier 
 than give her mother an anxious moment, while the 
 truth was, she had planned to be one of a theatre party 
 that night and her friend Antoinette and the original 
 of one of the dozen photos Mrs. Colweil had com- 
 mented upon were to be at the station to meet her. It 
 was they and herself who would be disappointed and 
 not her mother whom she had not taken the trouble 
 to inform as the date of her arrival, but Miss Little 
 was far too clever to let that appear. 
 
 "We had better decide at once what we are going 
 to do," said Steve, putting an end to the discussion. 
 "We will have to start right away if we are to get 
 there in time for the train, as the roads are bad and 
 we will have to drive slowly." 
 
 "Very well. Til be ready in a moment," agreed Miss 
 Little, hurrying away for her wraps. 
 
 Mrs. Colweil brought extra robes and hot bricks for 
 their feet and saw to adjusting the houd of the buggy, 
 so as to protect them from as much wind and cold as 
 '^possible; Miss Little nervously protesting all the time 
 for fear the delay would make them late for the train. 
 
 At last they were ready to start and set off on their 
 slow toilsome journey of eighteen tortuous miles to the 
 station. They had not gone far when fine star-like 
 flakes of snow came gently drifting down, eddying 
 about as they neared the eartli, as if reluctant to alight ; 
 lulling all fears of the storm of which they were the 
 
 34 
 
LOST m A MARCH BLIZZAED 
 
 forerunner by the quietness of their approach. Pres- 
 ently a bitter blast swept down from the north, strik- 
 ing the travelers full in the face and the horses paused 
 for an instant and started to turn 'round. 
 
 "Are you going back?" inquired Miss Little, still 
 apprehensive. 
 
 "No," shouted Steve hoarsely through the raging 
 wind. "It is too late now. We'll have to keep on until 
 we reach some house. Pull the robes over your head 
 and do your best to keep up circulation in your hands 
 and feet. We are in for a hard blizzard," 
 
 "Oh ! I am so sorry I made you come," exclaimed 
 Miss Little, the tears starting from her eyes and freez- 
 ing before they fell. 
 
 "That's all right, little girl," said Steve, reassuringly. 
 "Don't cry," and putting his arm around her he ten- 
 derly pulled her up close to him and put the robe over 
 her head to shut out the stinging, biting cold. Miss 
 Little nestled down close to him, grateful for the added 
 warmth of his body which served to check the numb- 
 ness that had been gradually creeping upon her. She 
 could hear Steve beating his hands and felt the lurch 
 of the buggy as it alternately broke through or rode on 
 top of the crust as the horses stumbled and strained 
 through the blinding snow. Suddenly the vehicle 
 jerked downward with violent force and Miss Little 
 slid off the seat to the bottom and almost went out 
 over the wheel. Steve caught her with one hand and 
 pulled her back, saying: 
 
 "Hold on, we are in a gulch." 
 
 She climbed back into the seat again with an cflFort, 
 and beheld the horses floundering and struggling for 
 a foothold in the deep, powdery snow which the wind 
 was momentarily piling higher and higher in the gulch. 
 At a shout from Steve they lunged forward and 
 struggled up the high bank. After that they drove on 
 
 35 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G" RANCH 
 
 for what seemed hours to Miss Little, who had lost 
 all count of time. At last she inquired, making herself 
 heard with an effort: 
 
 "Do you think we are lost?" 
 
 "I don't know," answered Steve. *'It is hard to keep 
 the horses headed toward the wind, but if it hasn't 
 changed I think we are going in the right direction, 
 but we may pass a ranch and never know it." 
 
 At last the horses came to a halt and Steve started 
 to get out, thrusting the lines into her numbed and 
 stiffened hands. 
 
 "Where are we?" asked she, but the wind mufHed 
 her voice. 
 
 When the gate was opened the tired horses struggled 
 through with small guidance from Miss Little and nar- 
 rowly escaped hanging the wagon up on a post. Some 
 range cattle and horses had drifted in from the prairie, 
 seeing shelter from the storm. They had broken 
 tlirough the fence beyond the gate and stood shivering 
 in the lea of the bam, and seeing them Miss Little 
 breathed a sigh of relief at the thought that they had 
 reached some ranch. 
 
 Steve led the horses up nearer the yard gate and, 
 picking Miss Little up, wraps and all, carried her to 
 the house, uncerimoniously opened the door, thrust her 
 inside and stepped in himself. The startled occupant 
 jumped up from where he was huddled over a small 
 cook stove and regarded with widening eyes the two 
 snow-covered beings which the storm had thrust upon 
 him. Addressing him in Mexican, of which he knew 
 a little, Steve made known their plight and with a few 
 guttural words of understanding the man hastily put 
 on his coat and went out to unhitch the horses. 
 
 Steve helped Miss Little take off her wraps, she 
 being too numbed and exhausted to even inquire where 
 t^ey were. When the Mexican returued he shook tli<? 
 
 m 
 
LOST m A MAECH BLIZZAED 
 
 snow from the robes and comforts which he had 
 brought in from the buggy and spreading them on the 
 bed Steve induced Miss Little to lie down, while he 
 made a hot drink for them both from the whisky the 
 man produced. This put Miss little to sleep and when 
 she awoke a couple of hours later she sat up with a 
 start. 
 
 "Where are we?'* inquired she. 
 
 "We are at one of Mr. Rann's sheep camps. Don't 
 you hear the sheep bleating?" asked Steve. 
 
 "Yes, that is what woke me. I dreamed I was in an 
 orphan asylum which was full of little children and 
 they were all crying at once." 
 
 "Well, no wonder you woke up then," laughed Steve. 
 "How do you feel?" 
 
 "Pretty well. How long will we have to stay here?" 
 
 "I can't say. As soon as the storm quits I will try 
 to drive to the Rann ranch, which ain't more than two 
 miles from here, but it will not be safe to try until it 
 does." 
 
 "I have heard of the Ranns," said Miss Little. 
 "They have been out here a long time, have they not?" 
 
 "Yes, I guess everybody knows of them. They are 
 one of the oldest settlers." 
 
 "The old man used to be quite an Indian fighter, 
 didn't he?" 
 
 "Yes," assented Steve. "He came out here when the 
 Civil War was still only a possibility, and settled on 
 Running Creek. The Indians caused him a good deal 
 of trouble for awhile, burning his cabin once or twice, 
 so one of his Mexican sheep herders advised him to 
 build an Adobe house which would not bum, like they 
 build in New Mexico and Old Mexico." 
 
 "What is an Adobe house?" inquired the girl. 
 
 "Adobe, or 'Dobie' as every one calls it is composed 
 of a dark, heavy soil which when wet and packed hard 
 
 3T 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G" RANCH 
 
 and let dry is almost as hard as cement The Mexi- 
 cans and Indians of Old Mexico used to build houses 
 of it and do yet, I guess. It lasts for years and houses 
 of it are warm in winter and cool in summer. The 
 old man liked the idea and, hiring a lot of Mexicans 
 to mix the mud and make the blocks, he built a big 
 fort-like house with walls about three feet thick. 
 Through the middle he made a regular old-time fire- 
 place, with hooks to hold the pots and kettles for 
 cooking/' 
 
 "How interesting. Did the Indians every try to burn 
 it?" inquired Miss Little. 
 
 "Yes, but they soon found they could not do it, 
 and when they went on the war path the settlers from 
 all around used to come over to the Rann Ranch for 
 protection. One night when they were all asleep and 
 was not thinking of Indians, an enterprising young 
 buck tried to get in and tomahawk them all by slidin' 
 down the chimney into the fireplace. He got stuck 
 when he was about half way down anti couldn't go 
 either way and made such a racket tryin' to get loose 
 that they all woke up and when they found out what 
 it was the old man built a fire and smoked him to 
 death. 
 
 "The Indian hung there for two or three days be- 
 fore they could get him down. All the neighbors came 
 to see and help get him out and did a lot of jokin' about 
 the new kind of meat Rann had hangin' in his smoke- 
 house." 
 
 "Oh, how horrible!" exclaimed Miss Little, shud- 
 dering. 
 
 "Lots of times the Indians used to come along and 
 ask for something to eat. One day when an Indian 
 came by and Mr. Rann was away Mrs. Rann went to 
 bed and pretended to be sick. When the Indian 
 came up she sent the oldest boy to the door to say 
 
 38 
 
LOST IN A MAKCH BLIZZARD 
 
 'Squaw sick' thinking that would scare him away as 
 most Indians are afraid of sickness, but I guess he 
 must have geen pretty hungry or a little st:spicious, 
 anyway he swung his tomahawk around like he was 
 going to kill him and frightened the boy half to death." 
 
 "Wonder what was the reason he did not kill him ?" 
 
 "It was old CoUerah, chief of one of the tribes of 
 the Utes, and as they were supposed to be friendly 
 I guess he thought he had better not do it But he kept 
 ridin' 'round the house all day, lookin' in at the win- 
 dows and scarin' Mrs. Rann and the children half out 
 of their wits." 
 
 "How old is Mr. Rann now?" asked Miss Little, 
 
 "Somewhere between eighty and ninety, I guess. He 
 is gettin' pretty feeble. Spends most of his time settin' 
 in the corner dozin' by the fireplace. But he wakes 
 up long enough to buy a section of land now and then. 
 Last year he had a green man workin' for him and 
 he told him to hitch up to the wagon and haul some 
 posts out to where they was building fence. The 
 man hitched up all right, but when he tried to turn 
 around he cramped the wagon so that it almost turned 
 over. It made the old man mad and he said : 
 
 " 'You blankety, blank fool. I have twenty thousand 
 acres in this ranch and if that ain't enough for you 
 to turn around on FU buy a few sections more. Get 
 off that wagon.' And when the man climbed down old 
 man Rann got up on the wagon and straightened out 
 the team and turned it 'round." 
 
 "I am just crazy to see that old fireplace. How soon 
 can we start?" 
 
 "I don't know. The storm does not seem to get any 
 better. We will probably have to stay here all night, 
 so you might as well make yourself comfortable. The 
 Mexican will have supper ready soon." 
 
 "I will cook it myself. I am ravenously hungry aud 
 39 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G" RANCH 
 
 I could not eat anything that greasy looking man 
 cooked/* said Miss Little, getting up. 
 
 "Maybe he won't let you/' said Steve. "Some of 
 them are very grouchy/' 
 
 But when the Mexican returned from looking after 
 the sheep Miss Little smiled sweetly and searching her 
 mind for the few words of Spanish, which she had 
 stored up at such pains to both herself and teacher 
 i^hile in high school, said : 
 
 "Buonas noches, caballero. Tentimos molestarle/' 
 
 At that the sheep-herder, who was young and hand- 
 some, made a sweeping bow and much to her sur- 
 prise started off on a long string of Spanish, instead 
 of the Mexican jargon, and about all she could under- 
 stand was the word Senorita, which he repeated sev- 
 eral times, but from the gestures he made she gathered 
 that he and all he possessed were hers to command. 
 So, with a tentative look to see how he was taking it, 
 she started to cook supper with the Mexican her will- 
 ing assistant. 
 
 Steve watched Miss Little as she busied herself 
 among the pots and pans and daintily went about pre- 
 paring supper and he would have been scarcely human 
 if he had not had a vision of a home and this woman 
 as its mistress. Wasn't she his by right, thought he 
 fiercely. Hadn't he kept her from freezing by the 
 warmth of his own body and hadn't he fought the 
 elements for her sake all that long day, wresting her 
 from the very teeth of death by his sure instincts ? For 
 it was that alone that had guided him, as the storm 
 had obliterated all landmarks and the horses would 
 long ago have been wandering in a circle if he had not 
 forced them to face the whirling blizzard as it swirled 
 down from the north. 
 
 Perhaps some such thought entered Miss Little's 
 mind also, for she gave him a tender glance as they 
 
 40 
 
LOST IN A MAKCH BLIZZAED 
 
 sat down to supper and if he had proposed that night 
 while the Mexican was out caring for the sheep she 
 would no doubt have accepted him. But she, divining 
 what v/as coming, to hide her confusion inadvertently 
 picked up an old paper which the Mexican had brought 
 over wrapped around some groceries. In looking it 
 over she came across a long account of the play she 
 was to have attended that night, and she thoughtlessly 
 said: 
 
 "Oh ! I had forgotten all about going to the theatre 
 to-night." 
 
 "So that was why you was so keen to get to the 
 city to-day," said Steve, on the instant fiercely jealous. 
 "I thought you was mighty anxious about your mother 
 for a girl that is as light headed as you are. Mighty 
 little you cared whether I froze to death or not, so long 
 as you got to the train on time," exclaimed he angrily. 
 
 "Oh! How can you speak so. You know I never 
 thought about there being a blizzard," objected she, 
 bitterly regretting her carelessness in letting her true 
 reason appear. 
 
 But the thought of the other fellow who was going 
 to take her to the theatre banished all tenderer ideas 
 from Steve's mind and, putting on his coat, he went 
 out to help bed down the sheep for the night. When 
 they w^ere throtigh he and the Mexican came in and 
 getting a few comforts repaired to the hay loft for the 
 night, and Miss Little did not get the proposal for 
 which she had manoeuvered so long. 
 
 The storra was still raging the next morning and 
 kept it up all day, so it was not possible to attempt driv- 
 ing to the Rann Ranch. Steve and Miss Little avoided 
 speaking to each other as much as they could, until 
 seeing that the Mexican seemed puzzled at their silence, 
 they gradually became more sociable and before night 
 Miss Little had coaxed Steve into good humor. How- 
 
 41 
 
STEVE OF THE "— &' RANCH 
 
 ever, she knew that he still retained a secret resent - 
 ment which he would be slow to forget. 
 
 The next day they were able to get over to the Rann 
 Ranch, where they had to stay for two or three days 
 before they could make the trip to Watkins where 
 Miss Little was to take the train. When they at last 
 reached the station and she was getting on the train 
 Steve asked : **Well, when will I see you again ?" 
 
 "Oh ! I don't know," airily exclaimed she, half turn- 
 ing as she mounted the steps and glancing at him in- 
 differently over her shoulder. "I am going to Cali- 
 fornia with my mother in a week or so and we will not 
 be back until the latter part of June." 
 
 "Are you sure it is your mother you are goin' with ?" 
 inquired Steve. 
 
 "Why of course," laughed she. "Who did you think 
 it was?" 
 
 "O ! I don't know. I can't help being suspicious 
 when you mention your mother, somehow." 
 
 "Well, it is her this time." And then apropos of 
 nothing, she remarked : "I promised Mrs. Evanston ol 
 Elizabeth that I would come out the Fourth of July 
 and go with them to the picnic at the Alton Ranch." 
 
 "All right, ril be there," said Steve. The conductor 
 called ail-aboard and Steve was left standing on the 
 platform looking after the train. 
 
 A tall slender cowboy strolled up just then and see- 
 ing Steve watching the departing train and guessing 
 the reason, drawled out: 
 
 "Hello ! You look like you had lost something." 
 
 "No !" answered Steve, quickly recovering his wits. 
 "I've just found something." 
 
 "What have you found ?" inquired Fred. 
 
 "I've found out that a man can be as dry on a day 
 in March as he can in the middle of June. Come on 
 over to Mike's," 
 
 42 
 
Ill 
 
 THE LAST GREAT HORSE ROUND-UP 
 
 It is a far cry from the crowded cities of the East 
 to the boundless prairies of the West, but in spite of 
 the distance the conditions in one place affect the other. 
 The American people are speed mad, for which the 
 size of our country is largely responsible. The dis- 
 tances are so great that we must have quick modes of 
 transit if we hope to get an3rwhere or do anything in 
 the short time allotted to us here on earth. Moses and 
 the Children of Israel spent forty years wandering 
 around in the Wilderness before entering the Promised 
 Land. Some of our present day Marathon runners 
 would make an endurance race of it and cover the 
 distance in three or four days. 
 
 So in pursuance of this craze for speed a baker's 
 dozen of men in a certain eastern city decided to install 
 cable cars and do away with the old horse car. This 
 was the first step and since then many have been taken. 
 The slow, jerky^ cable was replaced by the swiftly 
 gliding electric cars, and now even these are aban- 
 donded to the common herd. The rich have achieved 
 exclusiveness and speed through the medium of the 
 automobile, while a few adventurous spirits shake off 
 the dust of earth and sail about in airships, but none 
 of these later changes have had the far-reaching effect 
 on the West which the abandoning of the horse car had. 
 
 Up to that time the horse had been King of the 
 
 43 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G" RANCH 
 
 Plains. In fact he continued to be king for a number 
 of years after, but with this difference his crown had 
 no value. However, I fancy, tl^at nvver did a king 
 yield up his prestige more gladly, for it meant being 
 shipped East in vast hordes to satisfy the rapacious 
 monster which had yearly devoured them by thousands, 
 breaking their spirits and crushing out their lives, fol- 
 lowing the same weary, toilsome trail up and down the 
 narrow streets, day in and day out, as long as breath 
 remained in their body. No change, no variety, only 
 the same monotonous grind. The little bell jingling 
 and the old car bumping along behind. 
 
 But with the passing of the horse car all this ended. 
 Instead they were left on the plains to gambol in happy 
 freedom and increase prodigiously. Year after year 
 their number multiplied until, as one old timer put it, 
 "The plains were lousey with horses." They grazed 
 In droves, here, there and everywhere. 
 
 If one bunch became startled and commenced to 
 run another herd, seeing them, would toss their heads 
 and start off, kicking up a cloud of dust. This would 
 frighten another lot and they would communicate their 
 excitement to those farther off, and so on all over the 
 prairie. Horses would be running in every direction. 
 
 Prices went lower and lower and that of cattle went 
 higher and higher until they had usurped the position 
 that the horse once held, and the cry went out all 
 over the land: 
 
 "Away with the horse! He is eating up the range 
 from the cattle. Le roi est mort! Vive le roi!" So 
 in the very heart of his empire and in one of his great- 
 est strong-holds his downfall was planned. 
 
 Now most of the ranchers ran both horses and cattle, 
 but the old "B" Ranch, about fifty miles East of Den- 
 ver, on Kjowa Creek, was devoted exclusively to 
 horses, and it was here that a nimiber of ranchers met 
 
 44 
 
THE LAST GREAT HORSE ROUND-UP 
 
 one day in mid-winter and planned that, with the open- 
 ing of spring, there should be one general round-up 
 and each man should collect his horses and sell them 
 to make room for the cattle. This decision reached, 
 the men departed, spreading the tidings over a radius 
 of about a hundred miles. 
 
 About the first of April, as soon as the snow went 
 off and green grass appeared, the round-up started. 
 One morning, while it still lacked an hour or two of 
 daylight, Steve, Blackie and Ira, who were to represent 
 the ** — G" Ranch, saddled their horses, gathered the 
 twenty-five or thirty head that were to furnish them 
 with mounts during the rotmd-up and, herding them 
 before them, set out. 
 
 Each was dressed in the regulation cowboy costume 
 of leather chaps, boots, spurs, flannel shirt and grey 
 Stetson hats, with the inevitable scarf around their 
 necks, while tied behind their saddles were the in- 
 dispensable yellow slickers. One horse carried their 
 beds, which were done up in a compact roll and each 
 composed of two or three pairs of blankets and a 
 tarpaulin. 
 
 "Which way are we headed?" inquired Ira, who had 
 just arrived as they were starting and had not heard 
 any of their plans. 
 
 "We are goin' to the Alton Ranch, about twelve 
 miles southeast of here and start with them, as they 
 are sendin' out a mess wagon." 
 
 "I've heard of them," stated Ira. "They're new- 
 comers out here, ain't they?" 
 
 "Yes, they've only been out here a few years. They 
 had a ranch down by Colorado Springs before, but 
 they are mighty fine people. Everybody likes them." 
 
 "I wonder if they will take old what-you-may-call-it- 
 in-there with them on the round-up?" inquired Blackie, 
 
 "Who's that?" asked Ira. 
 45 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G" RANCH 
 
 *^He'5 a man workin' for the Alton's,^ said Steve. 
 "And every time he gets a little excited or embarrassed 
 he says Vhat-you-may-call-it-in-there/ He mixes it 
 up in his talk so much that everybody calls him by it." 
 
 "What's his right name?" inquired Ira. 
 
 "Flint, and he's a good man, when there ain't any- 
 thing to drink handy," answered Steve. "But when he 
 gets about half full he goes plumb crazy, and always 
 wants to whip somebody." 
 
 ''Well, I'd think he'd get plenty to accomodate him," 
 said Ira, laughing. 
 
 "Oh I everybody knows he's a little rattle headed 
 and don't pay any attention to him," said Steve. "He 
 always picks a time when he has some friend handy 
 that he thinks will help him out if he get's more than 
 he can handle and if someone just catches hold of him 
 and tries to keep him from fightin' he'll tug and pull, 
 beggin' them to let him go so he can fight. One time 
 he got in trouble with some fellow and another man 
 was holdin' him and he was beggin' them to let him 
 go and I came up. I told them to let him go, that the 
 other fellow was about his size. But I told him, *I 
 ain't goin' to help you Flint if he's too much for you.* 
 At that Flint began to cool off and when they let go 
 and the other fellow made a pass at him Flint fell 
 over before he was hit and began to hollar enough." 
 
 "Is that the Alton Ranch ahead of us ?" inquired Ira 
 as Steve finished speaking. 
 
 "Yes," answered Blackie, "And they are all ready 
 to start.'* 
 
 Ira upon looking more closely said with surprise: 
 "Ain't that a woman on one of the horses?" 
 
 "Yes," said Steve. "That's Marcia." 
 
 "What's she doing along? Does she go on the 
 round-up." 
 
 "She sure does," said Steve. "She and Ned are 
 
 m 
 
STEVE OF THE BAE GEE RANCH 
 
 one and inseparable, as it says in the Constitutioa 
 Wherever you see one there you will find the other. 
 If Ned is on the round-up she rides beside him, and 
 if he's breakin' horses Marcia has one end of the rope 
 twisted round a snubbin' post holdin' on. Ned says she 
 wears out as many pairs of ridin' boots and Stetson 
 hats as he does, and uses up as many saddle horses. 
 She wears a short corduroy skirt most of the time, but 
 if the work gets too strenuous, or the bronc she is ridin* 
 too lively, she puts on a pair of corduroy pants and 
 goes ahead. She's sure all right,** said Steve. 
 
 "I thought some one said she was an Eastern woman 
 and an artist," said Ira. 
 
 "She was," agreed Steve, "and has the house full of 
 pictures she painted and, accordin' to them that know, 
 they are all right. I don't know anything about art 
 myself, but they look good to me." 
 
 "How did she ever happen to drift so far off her 
 natural range?" 
 
 "I think her mother and Mrs. Alton were old friends 
 and Marcia wanted to see the West before goin' to 
 Europe to study art, so came out on a visit and that 
 ended the artistic career. Instead of paintin' life she 
 began to live it. She had a mighty fine complexion 
 when she came out, but now she is tanned as brown 
 a.s an Indian, but that doesn't bother her a bit." 
 
 Just then Marcia came dashing up and called out 
 in a ringing tone. 
 
 "Hello there Steve! How are you Blackie?" And 
 upon being introduced to Ira slipped off her thick buck- 
 skin glove and presented a long slender hand in greet- 
 ing. 
 
 "Hello !" shouted Flint coming up. "What-you-may- 
 call-it-in-there, put your string of horses in the west 
 corral. I'm goin' to be the wrander." 
 
 ''Well, I don't know anybody Detter suited for the 
 47 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G" RANCH 
 
 job," said Steve, laughing. But the double meaning 
 of the word was lost on Flint, who could barely read 
 and write. 
 
 "Marcia whirled her horse and went off to help Ned, 
 who was trying to hitch up two snaky little mules to 
 the chuck wagon. 
 
 "I thought you said Mrs. Alton did not take any 
 care of her skin," said Ira. "Her hand was as soft and 
 white as any one's I ever saw." 
 
 "I was speakin' about her complexion. She takes 
 good care of her hands," said Steve with a reminicent 
 chuckle. "If they haven't got a cook Ned has to do 
 it. She wears thick buckskin gloves all the time and 
 won't go near the stove. One time when I was over 
 there we was all playin' cards and Marcia smelled the 
 roast bumin'. She called to Ned, 'Say, Ned, don't 
 you think that roast is cookin' too much.' And he 
 answered, 'Maybe it is, Marcia, you'd better look at 
 it' 'Indeed, I'll not look at it and bum my hands all 
 up,' answered she indignantly. That afternoon we was 
 all out pitchin' horse-shoes and Marcia's mother, who 
 was visiting them, came in and said: 'Haven't you 
 all washed the dishes yet? Well, I'll do them for 
 you.* 'Don't you do it,' said Marcia. 'First thing 
 you know Ned won't even cook dinner.* " 
 
 'Them's rather dangerous sentiments, ain't they.'*" 
 inquired Ira, laughing. "All the other women are apt 
 to pattern after her." 
 
 "Oh! most of them have several children and are 
 too busy, but they all envy Marcia. She does as much 
 work outside as Ned does and they are together all 
 the time. I don't know any other couple that is as 
 happy as they are, so it seems to be a pretty good 
 plan.^* 
 
 Soon all was in readiness and they started out. 
 Marcia on horseback and Ned, accompanied by Balle- 
 
 48 
 
THE LAST GREAT HOESE EOUND-UP 
 
 han, the cook, driving the chuck wagon. Steve, Ira, 
 Blackie and Flint driving the herd of fifty or sixty head 
 of horses that were to furnish mounts for them on 
 the round-up, each one having from eight to ten horses 
 apiece. Even then they might have to send back 
 for more in case of accident or some of their horses 
 playing out. 
 
 Steve rode up alongside of the wagon and seeing 
 Ballehan, said : 
 
 "Hello, Ballehan. What are you doin' here?" 
 
 "I'se goin' to cook for de outfit," said Ballehan. 
 
 "Well, then I'm sure we will be well fed," answered 
 Steve and, turning to Ned, he inquired : "Where are 
 we goin' to camp?" 
 
 "I guess we will stop over on Wolfe Creek about ten 
 miles from here. That's where the fellows who are 
 goin' to eat with us are cuttin' out to-day." 
 
 "Where did they get the coon ?" asked Ira as Steve 
 rode back. 
 
 "Oh, that's Ballehan. He has a ranch of his own 
 over here. He came out here several years ago as cook 
 for some outfit and saved up his money until he got 
 enough to start up for himself. He has quite a bunch 
 of horses and cattle now, but he still likes to go out 
 as cook on a round-up. He keeps a bunk house where 
 anybody that comes along is welcome to stay. Has it 
 specially for that purpose. We'll probably hit their 
 place about noon some day and get dinner. His wife 
 is quite a character, but a regular old Southern cook, 
 so I always stop when I'm anyways near there." 
 
 The place Ned had selected was an ideal one for 
 a camp there being an abundance of wood and water, 
 with plenty of grass for the saddle horses. While 
 Ballehan was getting dinner the saddle band was 
 bunched and thrown into a quickly constructed corral 
 made by attaching an end of a rope to the mess wagon 
 
 49 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G" RANCH 
 
 and passing to two or three cowboys on foot, who held 
 it so as to form a circle. 
 
 Each man soon roped the horse he wanted to ride 
 with more or less dexterity and then began the fun. 
 Every one always took their toughest horses on the 
 round-up and this meant that many of them, although it 
 might have been several years since they were first 
 ridden, still retained their youthful propensity to buck 
 when freshly saddled. So there was always an element 
 of excitement and uncertainty in changing horses, and 
 the spectacle never seemed to grow old. Each unruly 
 mount was greeted with a chorus of delighted laughter 
 from the cowboys, and their riders did not seem to 
 be much disconcerted and no matter how vicious or 
 unmanageable his horse each man was supposed to be 
 mounted and ready to start with the rest. 
 
 Steve had selected for his string of horses those 
 which he knew to be possessed of the greatest endur- 
 ance, paying no attention to the fact that many of 
 them disliked a saddle so much that they tried to take 
 it off at every opportunity. This first day, when he 
 was ready, he made a quick spring into the saddle, 
 without even so much as touching the stirrup and at 
 the same instant his horse humped his back and started 
 to buck, jumping about four feet from the ground. 
 From the first jump it could be seen that he was a 
 past master at the art. Instinctively finding the stirrups 
 with his feet Steve's lithe body swayed with the 
 motions of the horse and the laughing cowboys shouted 
 pertinent instructions such as: "Fan him with your 
 hat ! Stay with him Steve ! Get onto the curves V* 
 
 Blackie, who could not bear to see Steve attracting 
 so much attention and wishing to divert some of it to 
 himself gave a quick jerk on his bridle reins, then sud- 
 denly loosened them, and as if obeying a signal, his 
 horse ducked his head, reared and with arched back 
 
 50 
 
THE LAST GREAT HORSE ROUND-UP 
 
 landed stiif legged far to one side. Digging in his spurs 
 and waving his hat Blackie urged him to greater effort, 
 seeming to take a fierce delight in each fresh contor- 
 tion, until the frenzied horse reared on his hind legs 
 and thre'v himself over backwards, pinning Blackie 
 beneath him. On the instant he was up and Blackie 
 made a quick jump, but his spur was caught in the 
 cinch and there he hung suspended. As the horse 
 bounded off across the prairie he whirled himself over 
 and thrust down his hands, keeping his hand from 
 bumping the ground. 
 
 The now sobered cowboys started in pursuit and 
 Steve, riding up, tried to catch the dangling rein ; the 
 horse dodged and circling around ran toward Marcia. 
 She, cooly whirled her rope aloft for a moment, then 
 threw it with nice precision, and the wide loop settled 
 around the neck of the runaway, choking him into 
 submission. 
 
 Blackie kicked his feet free of the cinch and got up 
 all intact, except for a few cactus needles in his hands 
 and his leg slightly bruised where the horse fell on 
 him. After this the cowboys separated, each going in 
 the direction he had selected to cover that afternoon. 
 
 Before the sun went down the riders began to arrive 
 singly or in pairs, suddenly appearing on the crest of 
 the ridge, or picking their way across the bed of the 
 creek, trying to avoid the treacherous quicksands which 
 often gave way beneath them, causing their horses to 
 plunge and scramble to keep from being sucked down 
 and hopelessly mired. 
 
 Each one brought in a number of horses, which 
 were bunched and herded out on the plains by a 
 couple of cowboys. After supper Ned and Marcia 
 busied themselves erecting a small tent off to one side 
 behind a clump of trees, which was the only con- 
 cession made to Marcia's sex. In all else she took the 
 
 51 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G" RANCH 
 
 place of a man, going always with Ned and could 
 ride and rope with the best of them. 
 
 Horses had been so cheap for several years that 
 many people had not taken the trouble to brand the 
 colts, unless there should chance to be an exceptionally 
 fine one, so that in every bunch of horses found, there 
 would be a number of "Slicks," as they called the 
 unbranded horses. 
 
 One night after they had been riding for a couple 
 of weeks, the tired men rode into camp, pulled the 
 saddles from the hot and steaming backs of their weary 
 horses and turned them over to the night herder. 
 Throwing themselves on the ground around the camp- 
 fire they began rummaging through their pockets for 
 chewing tobacco, or cigarette papers, as the case might 
 be. There were some fifteen or twenty of them loung- 
 ing around in differetn postures of ease. After awhile, 
 Ira, who was smoking a cigarette, took it out of his 
 mouth, blew a few rings of smoke toward the sky, 
 watched them dwindle and vanish mto nothingness, and 
 then put a sort of general query to the crowd. 
 
 *'What are you folks goin' to do with the 'Slicks'?'* 
 
 "Blessed if I know,'' answered Ned. "Guess who- 
 ever wants 'em can have 'em. Nobody has any spe- 
 cial claim to 'em, although they might belong to any 
 of us, as no one has branded for several years." 
 
 "Why not play poker for them ?" inquired Blackie. 
 
 "Say, Blackie !" said Ed Knox. "You've got a head 
 on you like a tack. We'll just do that. Has anybody 
 got a deck of cards handy.'*" 
 
 Several greasy and much-thumbed packs were pro- 
 duced, but just then supper was announced, so the 
 game was postponed until after they had eaten. When 
 they were through, Steve said: 
 
 "I'm going to hunt up a lantern. I want to get a 
 52 
 
THE LAST GEEAT HOKSE KOUXDUP 
 
 good look at my cards. I see a chance to go in the 
 horse business right now." 
 
 They spread down a horse blanket, put the lantern 
 in the middle, and seated themselves around it. Steve, 
 Ned, Ira, Fred Kjiox and two cowboys riding for the 
 Lazy Y outfit, were in one group, while Blackie and 
 Flint joined the other group playing nearby. Marcia 
 who hated cards, was seated behind Ned looking on. 
 
 "How'll we play?" inquired Ira. 
 
 "Let's put up a horse for each man and use matches 
 for chips," suggested Steve, and this plan was adopted, 
 each man taking ten matches. They played along for 
 awhile, laughing and joking as befitted friends, when 
 suddenly their game was interrupted by loud talking 
 from the other group, and looking around they saw 
 Blackie drawing his gun on Flint. 
 
 "What's the trouble between you two?" inquired 
 Steve. "Put up that gun Blackie." 
 
 "You go to hell," answered Blackie. "That damned 
 coward says I cheated, and he's got to prove it or 
 eat his words." 
 
 "What-you-may-call-it-in-there," stuttered Flint. 
 "Blackie tihrowed down four aces in takin' a trick, and 
 I had one." 
 
 "Well, where did you get yours?" sneered Blackie. 
 
 "Let's see the deck," said Steve. But as Blackie 
 had caught his foot on the blanket when he jumped up 
 after drawing his gun on Flint the cards were scat- 
 tered in every direction. They all helped pick them up, 
 but search as they would the extra ace could not be 
 found and Blackie again drawing his gun on Flint said : 
 
 "Now you damned liar, eat them words." 
 
 "Hold on," said Steve. "We don't know that he 
 lied. We don't know it I say," looking at Blackie 
 meaningly. "So you had better drop that gun until wc 
 do/' 
 
 53 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G" RANCH 
 
 Blackic glared at Steve with baffled hate and fury 
 in his look, but dropped his gun back into his belt 
 and walked off. After that they played every eve- 
 ning, and had no more difficulty. Steve had a run of 
 luck, and received much chaffing about his collection 
 of horses. 
 
 One morning Ned asked : "What's the matter with 
 your string Steve? They seem all played out. 
 Thought you said you brought a good bunch of horses 
 with you." 
 
 "I did," answered Steve. "I'm doin' some ridin'. 
 Whenever I see a man quit a snaky bunch of horses 
 he is tryin' to drive up, I go after 'em. I want to get 
 every one of our horses this year, and the more that 
 are brought in the more of ours will show up." 
 
 "I wondered how it was you brought in such big 
 bunches every day." 
 
 "Well, that's the reason, and I'm ridin' hard to get 
 them." 
 
 "Well, a man with as many horses as you have ought 
 not to be a-foot. Why don't you break a few of your 
 slicks?" inquired Ned suggestively, with a wink at Ira. 
 
 "All right, I believe I will," assented Steve. 
 
 "When are you goin' to do it? Will you let me 
 pick the horse?" 
 
 "Sure, go ahead. I'll ride it to-night when I get 
 back." 
 
 "Which way are you goin' to-day ? inquired Marcia. 
 
 "Think I'll go over by Ballehan's." 
 
 "So are we," said Ned. "Let's meet there for 
 dinner." 
 
 "Yes, do," said Marcia. "I just love to get Mandy 
 started telling how she and Louis got married." 
 
 When noon came, Steve, Ned and Marcia rode up, 
 and while they were putting the horses they had gath- 
 
THE LAST GREAT HORSE ROUND-UP 
 
 ered in the corral, Ballehan's wife came running out 
 and exclaimed : 
 
 "Fo' de Lawd's sakcl If dere ain't Mr. Alton and 
 Mrs. Alton and Mr. Steve. Come right in, while ah 
 gets you-all some dinnah." 
 
 '*Don't put yourself to any trouble, Mandy," said 
 Marcia. 
 
 *'Dat's all right. Dat's all right, honey," said Mandy, 
 bustling about. "Dis old niggah ain' goin' to hurt 
 herself.'' But presently when Marcia came in from 
 helping Ned and Steve water the horses, she found 
 Mandy beating and stirring vigorously. 
 
 *'What are you making, Mandy?' 'inquired Marcia. 
 
 "Ise makin' some of dat dere may-yondays (Mayon- 
 naise) dressin', Mrs. Alton, for dis yere lettuce. Do 
 you like may-yondays dressin'?" 
 
 "Yes, I like it pretty well," said Marcia. 
 
 "Well, seh, ain' dat funny ? Mos' ingeniously, every- 
 body likes may-yondays dressin'. Ebber where ah 
 ebber worked dey liked hit." 
 
 "Where did you used to live?" asked Marcia. 
 
 "I'se done come from Georgia, Mrs. Alton." 
 
 "That is a long way from here, Mandy. How did 
 you ever happen to get so far from home?" inquired 
 Marcia, wishing to draw her out. 
 
 "Yassum. dat's quaite a ways from heyh. But ah 
 done comed out heyh fo' mah health," said Mandy, 
 proudly. "Yassum, ah done got dat sumption, and 
 de peoples dat ah wucked for done bought me a ticket 
 an' sent me out heyh to Denvah. Bimby ole Mars 
 Anderson, what runs de hotel in Kiowa, comded to 
 Denvah lookin' fo' a cook and ah got de job. 
 
 "One day, when ah's hahed at wuck in de kitchen a 
 niggah stuck his haid in at de do' an' hollered out: 
 'Whah's Mars Anderson?* Ah declare fo goodness, 
 ah's so 'sprised ah neahly fell ovah. Dat was de fust 
 
 65 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G'^ RANCH ^ 
 
 cuUuhd pusaen ah'd done seen since ah'd left Denvah ; 
 an' my, but wasn't he some scrum'tous lookin', humm ! 
 yuum!" said Mandy, reminicently. "Had a yaller 
 handkercher 'round his naik, dem luther chaps on his 
 laigs, an' a great big pistol stropped 'round his waist. 
 I'se done been 'gaged to a niggah down South, but 
 shucks, honey, dem odder niggahs nevah looked good 
 to me no mo'. But ah nevah let on to dat niggah. No, 
 seh. Ah just put on mah dignaty an' says : 
 
 " 'Wah f o' you-all yelling so niggah ? I'se ain' deef . 
 Who you-all t'ink ah is, nohow?' 
 
 " *Ah tink you'se a servent same as ah is,' said he 
 mighty sassy. 'What you-all tink you is, a lady ?' 
 
 ** 'Don' you git sassy, niggah. I'se ain' afraid of you. 
 Ah's seen dem guns befo'.' 
 
 "Wid dat he jerked out dat gun and pinted hit at 
 me, an' ah let out a screech an' fell ovah backwards. 
 Yasstun, an' dat niggah picked me up an' gib me a 
 great big smack right squah on de mouf. Ah done pre- 
 tend to faint some mo' den, an' he kept a kissin' ob me, 
 an' ah kept a screechin' an' a faintin', until bimby 
 ole Mars Anderson stuck his haid in at de do', an' 
 said: 
 
 " 'Heyh, you niggah. Let go mah cook. Ah done 
 thot when ah got a culluhd cook ah cood keep her 
 fo' awhile. Ebber white one ah done gets out heyh 
 done mahries inside ob two weeks. Whah did you-all 
 come from niggah?' aixed Mars Anderson, mighty 
 mad. 
 
 " 'I'se wukin' fo' de Cross Bah Cross outfit/ said 
 Ballehan mighty scaid. 
 
 " 'Well, you stay out ob dis kitchen,' said Mars 
 Anderson. 
 
 "But shucks, honey, all dat obbositionen just made 
 dat niggah dat much wuss. He went out an' bimby 
 ah's done hear sompin' tappin' on de windo' an' when 
 
 56 
 
THE LAST GEEAT HORSE ROXJKD Tip 
 
 ah looked aroun' dat niggah was standin' dab bccknin' 
 fo* me to come out do's. Wehn ah went out he said: 
 'Come on, Mandy, let's get mahed. I'se done got dc 
 liscense, and de jedge am home.' 
 
 " *Why fo' you-all in such a hurry, niggah,' sez ah, 
 pretendin' I'se mighty skittinish. 'Ah's got to put on 
 mah new red dress.' Yassum, dat dress was some 
 scrum'tous. Was all trimmed up wid blue and yaller 
 beads. But what a old fool dis niggah is. I'se done 
 talked and let de biscuits bun. 
 
 "You-all draw up yo' cheers now. Ah ain' got 
 nothin' fit to eat hardly," said Mandy depreciatingly, 
 although she had loaded the table with all kinds of 
 jellies and preserves, which she had put up out of wild 
 fruits. 
 
 "Whyfo' didn' you-all let me know when you-all was 
 comin' an' ah'd had a cake made and killed a chicken." 
 
 "We couldn't, Mandy," answered Ned. "But you 
 have a-plenty. If we had this much everyday, we 
 would get so fat and lazy we wouldn't want to work." 
 
 "Don' dat niggah feed you-all good?" inquired 
 Mandy, indignantly. "Ah'l lambast him good when he 
 gets home." 
 
 "Oh, it ain't his fault, Mandy," answered Steve, 
 laughing. "He don't have all these nice things to cook, 
 you know. And all this jelly and preserves." 
 
 "Well, you-all just let me know if he don' gib you-all 
 plenty to eat." 
 
 When they reached camp that night, in spite of their 
 being tired from the hard day's ride, Steve and Ned 
 after throwing the horses they had gathered that day, 
 in the general herd, rode among them to pick out a 
 horse for Steve to ride. 
 
 Ned looked closely, trying to find one among Steve's 
 slicks that showed special evidence of being a good 
 
 57 
 
STEVE OP THE "— &' KANCH 
 
 bucker, and finally throwing his rope, caught a snaky 
 looking light gray, which immediately ran back 
 the full length of the rope. Ned's horse braced his 
 feet, the other pulled back, and began to emit a chok- 
 ing, wheezing sound, as the tightened rope shut off his 
 wind. Steve cautiously walked up, carrying his sad- 
 dle, and as he was about to put it on the horse began 
 to kick and lunge, striking out with his fore feet. At 
 this several of the cowboys ran up to assist them. One 
 caught hold of the horse's ear and twisted it, while 
 another slipped a rope halter over its head, and blind- 
 folded its eyes. 
 
 At this the horse stood quiet for awhile, in apparent 
 subjection, then quickly gathering itself together, as 
 it felt the cinch tighten, it sprang up, shaking its head, 
 and with a lunge fell prostrate on the ground. Steve 
 finished buckling the cinch, and then tying the loose 
 end of the rope halter to the other side of the nose- 
 piece to act as reins, he attempted to make the horse 
 get on his feet, but he had become sullen, and only 
 rolled over on his stomach. Steve seated himself in 
 the saddle, and when the horse felt his weight, he arose 
 with a bound, scattering cowboys in every direction. 
 He reared to his hind feet and stood poised for a 
 moment, as if undecided whether to go backward oi 
 forward, and at last decided to do neither, but with 
 a quick turn in the air, landed with his head pointing 
 in the direction his tail had been but a second before. 
 This he repeated several times, bawling at every turn 
 and landing with humped back and rigid legs. 
 
 **He's a pin-wheeler," observed Fred Knox. "But 
 old Steve is stay in' with him." 
 
 "The horse whirled around and around, Steve all the 
 while fanning him with his hat, and at last deciding 
 that he could not throw him that way, gave it up and 
 ran off across the prairie. Then others decided they 
 
 58 
 
THE LAST GBEAT HORSE ROUKD-XJP 
 
 would break some of their horses, and as the evening 
 twilight stole on, such a broncho-busting contest was 
 enacted as no city audience ever saw. There were no 
 unaccustomed sights or sounds to puzzle or distract 
 their attention. The only unusual thing was those 
 whooping, howling savages, that stuck like a burr to 
 their backs. Only now and then one would be dis- 
 lodged, and the triumphant horse would gallop off to 
 a brief enjoyment of his hard-earned freedom. Some 
 horseman would ride out and after a long chase drive 
 him back to camp, where he w^ould be again roped 
 and with great difficulty relieved of the troublesome 
 saddle. 
 
 Ira, who was a fine rider; went up to one of the 
 boys who had been thrown and said : 
 
 "Come here, I want to show you where you made 
 your mistake. You see the horse bucked straight 
 ahead until he got right about here, and then he 
 changed his mind and decided to go in the opposite 
 direction, and you went on. That's where you made 
 yonv mistake. You'd ought to have changed your 
 mind when the horse did." 
 
 "That's so," answered the fellow, laughing. 
 
 The next morning dawned gray and foggy, and along 
 about noon it seemed that the clouds opened and the 
 rain came down in torrents. Many of the cowboys 
 rode into camp during the drenching downpour. After 
 the rain ceased, the sun came out, and they saw that 
 the Bijou, upon which they were camped, was full of 
 water. Like its fellows for most of the year it was 
 a dry bed of sand, with perhaps a narrow thread of 
 water creeping along its length, except as happened 
 to-day, there came a sudden heavy shower, or a cloud- 
 burst up stream. Then a wall of water would come 
 rushing down, filling its banks, and overflowing the 
 meadows along its course, until the drooping boughs of 
 
 59 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G'^ RANCH 
 
 the willows and grasses would be immersed in its 
 turbulent waters. 
 
 Blackie noting its overflowing banks, remarked : **I 
 believe I'll take my annual bath/' 
 
 "That's a right good idea," drawled Fred Knox. 
 "Guess I will, too. We'll have plenty of time before 
 Ned and Marcia get back, even if they come. They 
 said they might go to the ranch while they were over 
 in that direction." 
 
 The rest of the cowboys were quick to follow suit, 
 and stripping off their wet clothes, hung them on the 
 branches of the willows to be dried by the sun and 
 wind. They splashed about for awhile in the swiftly 
 moving stream, until Steve glancing out across the 
 prairie, saw two riders appear in the distance. Upon 
 looking closely he decided that it was Ned and Marcia, 
 so he quietly waded out among the trees, collected his 
 clothing and dressed. Then gathering the clothing of 
 the rest, and mounting a horse that was standing 
 nearby, he shouted : 
 
 "There comes Ned and Marcia," and galloped off 
 with their clothes. 
 
 The cowboys that were sitting on the bank basking 
 in the warm sun, scrambled back into the water, and 
 sat down, imploring Steve to bring back their clothes. 
 At last relenting, he threw them down and rode out 
 to halt Ned and Marcia until the rest were again fit 
 to appear in civilized society. When he reached them, 
 Marcia said: 
 
 "Here, Steve, is a chance for you. Fve just received 
 a letter from a girl friend of mine and she says she 
 is coming out to visit me." 
 
 "When is she coming.''" inquired Steve, much in- 
 terested. 
 
 "About the middle of June. Here's her letter. Fll 
 read it to you." 
 
 60 
 
THE LAST GREAT HORSE ROUND-UP 
 
 My dear Marcia: As I was taking a walk through 
 Central Park this morning, I saw a policeman be- 
 longing to the Mounted Squad standing beside his 
 horse, which was a light, sorrel thoroughbred, and 
 my desire to mount it and go for a ride was so great 
 that I could hardly pass. The horse seemed to un- 
 derstand my longing for he started to walk out to me. 
 This incident made me remember your oft-repeated 
 invitation to visit you on your ranch, so if it is con- 
 venient to you, I believe I will take advantage of it 
 and come and see you this summer. 
 
 I am all run down from too close application to 
 my work, and the doctor has advised me to take a 
 rest, hence my walk in the park this morning. 
 
 My aunt from Boston will visit mother and take 
 care of her for the summer. So I am able for the 
 first time to follow my own sweet will and answer 
 the call of my spirit, which had I been free to indulge 
 it, would long ago have lured me to Colorado. For 
 to me it has always been the land of romance, with 
 its gold and wild, free life. 
 
 I could come about the middle of June if it would 
 suit you. Be sure and have plenty of handsome cow- 
 boys on tap, as I am tired of the kind of men pro- 
 duced by the effete East. 
 Anxiously awaiting your reply, I am, as ever. 
 Yours lovingly, 
 
 ELOISE. 
 When she had finished, Steve said musingly: "So 
 the West has been calling her, has it? What is her 
 work she speaks about .'^" 
 
 "She is an illustrator," said Marcia. "She and I 
 went to art school together." 
 
 As they were nearing camp it began to rain in a 
 slow, dreary drizzle, and when supper was over, the 
 cowboys, removing their boots, crawled between their 
 
 61 
 
STEVE OP THE "— G" RANCH 
 
 blankets in their wet and soggy clothes. Steve and 
 Ira, who were bunking together, in the dark, had acci- 
 dently made their beds in a little hollow, which as the 
 rain increased, soon collected enough water to run 
 over their tarpaulin. They both slept on for awhile, 
 but as the water flowed in their bed, Ira began to dream 
 that they were on a raft floating in mid-ocean, and 
 the raft struck a rock. At this he awoke, and heard 
 the thunder rumbling in the distance, and saw an old 
 tree which had been struck by lightning commence to 
 bum. Steve awoke also, and finding their bedding was 
 hopelessly wet, inquired: 
 
 "What are we going to do now?" 
 
 "Maybe we can crawl in with some of the others," 
 suggested Ira, and this he proceeded to do. 
 
 But as Steve went about from one group to an- 
 other, they all seemed to be rolled up tight in their 
 blankets, so he could not get in with them. Finally 
 he found several fellows that had put their bedding 
 together, and tried to crawl in beside them, but as 
 there was not room he lifted the covers, climbed in on 
 top, and slept there all night. The cowboys under- 
 aeath him, squirming and groaning, but kept in place 
 by the others closely wedged alongside of them. 
 
 At last they had rounded up all the horses on their 
 allotted sweep of range. Each day as they gathered 
 they would throw the horses in one herd, and when it 
 became too large and unwieldly they drove them to 
 some corral and worked them over, turning loose on 
 the range again those belonging to some rancher who 
 did not wish to sell. The rest would be cut out, and 
 each bunch sent home in care of two or three cowboys. 
 
 It had been previously decided that all the horses 
 that were collected near the "B" Ranch, that is within 
 a radius of forty or fifty miles, should be driven there 
 
 62 
 
THE LAST GREAT HOESE ROUND-UP 
 
 and worked over in their immense corrals which cov- 
 ered an area of fifteen or twenty acres. So early one 
 morning, the latter part of May, the Altons' mess 
 wagon set out followed by the cowboys belonging to 
 their outfit who, shouting and galloping, herded before 
 them the many hundred head of horses. 
 
 Many similar outfits had been working on different 
 parts of the range, and all were to meet at the "B" 
 Ranch on a specified date. 
 
 It was an unusually hot day for tlie time of year, 
 and the merciless rays of the sun beat down upon 
 the prairie, making the air vibrate with waves of heat, 
 which danced before the tired eyes of the weary cow- 
 boys. All about, hanging cloudwise around them, were 
 myriads of tiny gnats. These settled greedily upon 
 their heads and shoulders, biting and stinging, and in 
 the windless heat could not be eluded. 
 
 Now and then a cloud passing over the sun would 
 throw a grateful shadow across their path, or a cool 
 breeze would blow for a time and carry away the tiny 
 pests that hovered over them, only to die down and 
 expose them again to the torture of heat and pests. 
 But short though the respites, they enabled the horses 
 as well as the men to better endure the trip and bear the 
 parching thirst that all the while consumed them. 
 
 Only once during the morning had they come across 
 a little pool, shimmering in the bright sunlight. The 
 thirsty horses rushed upon it, the leaders pausing ac 
 instant to take a quick mouthful of the tender gras! 
 about its edge, waded in, and crowding and trampling, 
 churned its clear depth into yellow mud before any 
 could quench their thirst. 
 
 At noon they made camp on a dry sandy gulch, where 
 they found enough water for cooking purposes and 
 saddle horses by digging a few feet below the bed, bul 
 
 §3 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G" RANCH 
 
 there was not enough for the herd. This did not 
 occasion the cowboys much worry as they supposed 
 they could water them when they reached the "B" 
 Ranch sometime in the middle of the afternoon. 
 
 Now when they had planned to gather all the horses 
 in that vicinity in one general round-up and then work 
 them over, no one had any idea what a vast under- 
 taking it was going to be. Everybody knew there were 
 lots of horses, but no one dreamed that any locality 
 would yield the numbers that began to pour into the 
 "B" Ranch from every direction. 
 
 Soon all the corrals were comfortably full, and still 
 they came. Then they became packed with horses, 
 kicking, squealing and neighing. Mares became sep- 
 arated from their colts, never to find them again, and 
 the latter perished by hundreds and nobody cared. 
 
 It was impossible to water them at first, and they 
 were too much excited to drink even if it were, so, 
 consequently, numbers got lockjaw, and others were 
 trampled under foot. They were crowded so closely 
 in the corrals that no one could get among them to 
 cut them out, so at last they decided to drive them 
 out on the prairie and work them over out there. 
 
 Did you ever watch a colony of ants working? At 
 first glance they seem to be running about with no rea- 
 son or order in their labor, and to the uninitiated the 
 round-up presented much the same appearance. Horse- 
 men rode around among the corrals, seemingly in aim- 
 less confusion, but upon looking closely it could be 
 seen that each one was going about his business, and 
 had some definite duty to perform. 
 
 They would drive out of the corrals from four to 
 five hundred at a time, take them out on the prairie 
 and, when the different outfits had stationed them- 
 selves around them, it looked like a huge wheel The 
 
 U 
 
THE LAST GEE AT HORSE EOUND-UP 
 
 herd was the hub, from which the riders who were 
 cutting out, kept a constant stream of horses going 
 in every direction. 
 
 The Altons, Steve and Blackie, and the Knox boys, 
 who lived near each other (that is, near for the West, 
 being about ten miles apart), decided to put their 
 horses as they were cut out all in one herd. Early 
 the next morning they drove in their saddle band and 
 each one selected for his mount some horse among his 
 string which he knew to be an especially good cutting 
 horse. This meant that he must be exceedingly quick, 
 and handy; able to stop and turn on the instant and 
 dart about like a flash. 
 
 Steve, Ira, Ed and Ned were to do the cutting out 
 of their horses. As they rode among the different 
 herds, whenever they saw one or more horses belong- 
 ing to either, would gradually work it toward the edge, 
 and when they had it outside would endeavor to chase 
 it off to where Blackie, Marcia, Fred and Flint were 
 to guard them. This was no easy matter, as the horses 
 half frenzied from hunger and thirst, did their best 
 to break away, and would double back and twist and 
 turn at the most unexpected moments. 
 
 After they were bunched they seethed about, and 
 maddened by the unusual press and confusion, which 
 presaged they knew not what terrors for the future, 
 struggled incessantly to get away, and again enjoy 
 their old delightful freedom. 
 
 Frantic mothers lamented the loss of their foals, and 
 strove constantly to go in search of them, and to pre- 
 vent this kept the riders who were holding them so 
 busy, that, as the bunch increased, two or three more 
 cowboys had to be added to the guard, and Steve sent 
 home for a couple of his younger brothers. 
 
 The fine alkali dust rose like a fog, through which 
 the sun shone with ever-increasing intensity, until late 
 
 65 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G" RANCH 
 
 in the afternoon a sort of hush fell over the prairie. 
 The sun was darkened by a cloud, and a heavy shower 
 cooled the air. The weary cowboys paddled about like 
 a lot of delighted ducks, and the horses, soothed and 
 refreshed, quieted down. When the rain was over they 
 drove them out in large bunches and watered them in 
 the now flooded creek. 
 
 Soon the camp fires began to blink out of the gath- 
 ering dusk, dotting the plains in a large circle. 
 Around these the cowboys gathered. Acquaintances 
 of years met and exchanged greetings, swapped stories, 
 played poker, and took many a daredevil ride on 
 rearing, plunging horses. 
 
 An element of sadness would now and then drift 
 through the conversation of the more thoughtful, and 
 there would be heard such remarks as : "The good old 
 days are passing?" Or another would observe : *'We'li 
 never see so many horses together again. The range 
 is closing up, and soon the cowboy will be a thing 
 of the past." 
 
 "How many horses do you reckon are gathered in 
 this round-up?" asked Walter Milton of a bystander, 
 as they were all as usual speculating upon the number. 
 
 "Oh, my, I don't know," said the bystander. "It's 
 hard to tell. The estimates range all the way from 
 ten to fifty thousand. They say these corrals cover 
 from fifteen to twenty acres and, if that is the case, 
 the way they are packed there are lots of horses. I 
 have a corral at home that takes in about one acre, 
 and there have often been two thousand horses in it at 
 a time. And when this round-up is over, and each 
 man markets his horses, the area of the horse is ended, 
 never to be revived. It is the beginning of the end/' 
 said he with a sigh. 
 
 "Well, it had to be," said Ed Knox. "They are not 
 66 
 
THE LAST GREAT HORSE ROUND-UP 
 
 worth anything any more, and we'll have more room 
 to run cattle." 
 
 "Yes, if there are any cattle left to run," answered 
 Steve. "The way the rustlers are workin' through the 
 country there soon won't be any cattle left on the 
 range." 
 
 "We'll have to settle with them after we get these 
 horses disposed of," said Milton. "They are gettin' 
 too bold. If one or two were swung up it would quiet 
 thfjxn down a little." 
 
 When they began to talk of cattle rustlers, Blackie, 
 who was sitting near, became restless and began to 
 move about. At this remark from Milton, he said: 
 "Yes, but they'll have to catch them before they hang 
 em 
 
 Just then Steve's younger brothers rode up, and one 
 of them handed him a letter. 
 
 "Ah, ha!" said Ira, looking over Steve's shoulder. 
 "From California, I see. When is Miss Little coming 
 back?" 
 
 "Is she going to come back in time to be out to 
 our picnic the Fourth of July?" asked Marcia. 
 
 "She said when she left that she was," answered 
 Steve. 
 
 "Well, Miss Parker, my friend from New York will 
 be here then too, so you boys must all be sure and 
 come," said iviarcia. 
 
 "Yes, we must all be there, because she said she 
 wanted Marcia to have a lot of handsome cowboys 
 on hand," remarked Steve, laughing. 
 
 "Have you staked out that claim too?" inquired Ira, 
 "Ain't one enough?" 
 
 "Oh, the right man can always pull up the stakes/' 
 sneered Blackie, 
 
 §7 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G'' RANCH 
 
 "Sure, the right man can," assented Steve. "But I 
 don't believe he's in this crowd." 
 
 At last the round-up was over and the different out- 
 fits started homeward, herding their horses before 
 them. One by one the neighbors, who had bunched 
 their horses together, cut out theirs as they neared their 
 ranch, until at last there were left only the " — G" 
 horses. 
 
 "How many have you?" inquired Ira. 
 
 "I don't know," answered Steve. "Let's count them 
 as they cross that gulch." And riding forward they 
 formed the herd into a wide-spreading "V" and as 
 they neared the crossing the rest of the cowboys forced 
 the horses to pass in single file between Ira and Steve, 
 who had stationed themselves in the wide sandy bed 
 of the gulch, and kept tally of the horses as they crossed 
 one behind the other, and then spread out over the 
 prairie and went to grazing. 
 
 "How many did you make it?" asked Steve. 
 
 "I counted four hundred and eighty-five. How does 
 that tally with your count?" 
 
 "I made it four hundred and ninety head," stated 
 Steve, "but that is close enough." 
 
 "What are you goin' to do with them when you get 
 them home?" 
 
 "We'll put them in the two big pastures east of the 
 house, and hold thiem there until we sell them. I am 
 expecting a buyer in a few days.", 
 
 "How much do you expect to get a head for them?" 
 
 "I don't know," answered Steve. "The way horses 
 are pouring into Denver I guess we will be lucky if we 
 get ten dollars a head for them." And this estimate 
 proved to be correct, or, in fact, it was not even low 
 enough. The market was flooded with horses, and 
 the bottom fell out of prices, until in spite of the fact 
 that there were many fine horses in their bunch, the 
 
 68 
 
THE LAST GREAT HOKSE KOUND-UP 
 
 best offer the Gardeaus could get was seven dollars 
 per head. This they finally accepted and delivered 
 them together with a number of others which they 
 brought in from other parts of the country, only keep- 
 ing about one hundred head of the best. 
 
 Many other ranchers took their horses in at the same 
 time, and one afternoon, as Steve, Ira, Blackie and 
 Flint were standing at the bar of the Stock Yards 
 saloon, drinking and telling stories of the round-up, a 
 stranger approached and after listening to them for 
 awhile, remarked at the close of an unusually good 
 story, speaking with a strong Boston accent. 
 
 *'That is a pretty good story, and as Tve been an 
 uninvited listener I should like to buy the drinks as 
 my share of the entertainment." 
 
 "The boys looked him over and seeing only a kindly 
 stranger who was almost shabbily dressed, seemed in- 
 clined to accept his invitation and Steve, acting as 
 spokesman for the crowd, said : 
 
 "All right, sir, well go you." After they had drunk 
 the stranger observed : 
 
 "ril tell you, boys, I am just passing through Den- 
 ver and do not know a soul. My train leaves at three 
 o'clock to-morrow morning, and if you will help me 
 while away the time between FU pay all expenses, and 
 you can go as far as you like. I'm interested in horses 
 to the extent that I always like to look at a good one 
 when I get a chance, and stayed over to-day on purpose 
 to visit the Stock Yards, as I heard that it was flooded 
 with horses, but I have not a thing to do between now 
 and train-time." 
 
 At this speech the cowboys looked at each other for 
 a moment, and then they exclaimed with one accord: 
 
 "That sounds good to us. Lead the way, and we'll 
 sure whoop her up." 
 
 "What would you like to do first?" inquired the 
 69 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G" RANCH 
 
 stranger. "I am good for a feed for the crowd at the 
 svvellest place in town. And before we go any farther, 
 my name is Robinson." 
 
 "We are glad to know you Mr. Robinson," said 
 Steve, shaking hands and introducing the others, little 
 thinking that this stranger whom they met so casually 
 was to play such an important part in his life in the 
 near future. 
 
 They left the Stock Yards and a short time after 
 entered the cafe of the Brown Palace Hotel. An ob- 
 sequious waiter found them a table in a secluded 
 corner and handed them the menu, which, of course, 
 in that up-to-date hostelry, was printed in French. 
 
 The cowboys looked at this in hopeless confusion for 
 awhile, and then Ira said : 
 
 "Here, Steve, parle vous this for us. You are 
 French." 
 
 "I am French all right, but I don't savy any of this 
 lingo. Let's see what it says on the other side, ^Regular 
 Dinner,' and printed in English. That looks good to 
 me. I don't know how the rest of you feel, but I am 
 hungry enough to eat a regular dinner myself." 
 
 "So am I," agreed Flint, to whom the English was 
 almost as unintelligible as the French had been to the 
 others. 
 
 This seemed to be an easy way out of the difficulty, 
 so Robinson ordered a Regular Dinner for the crowd, 
 but while they were waiting he ordered a round of 
 cocktails, and a bottle of champagne to be served with 
 the dinner. 
 
 Presently the waiter set before each of them a little 
 bowl of consomme, and when they had eaten that, 
 brought an entre composed of a diminutive piece of 
 fish, decorated with parsley. The cowboys looked 
 more and more discouraged as each course came on, 
 and finally when the waiter set down a dainty salad, 
 
 70 
 
THE LAST GREAT HORSE ROUND-UP 
 
 Flint looked at it for a moment, and then calling the 
 waiter, exclaimed: 
 
 "Here, waiter, take this away, and bring me some- 
 thing to eat. What-you-may-call-it-in-there, I've al- 
 ready filled up a lot of valuable space with nothin', an' 
 I'm hungry." 
 
 "Well, seh," said the waiter. "You all done ordered 
 the Regulah Dinnah, an' dat's what Ise bringin' yeh." 
 
 "That doesn't seem to suit," said Mr. Robinson, 
 laughing. "How would a good-sized porter house 
 steak please you boys?" 
 
 "If it's a good-sized one it will just suit us," agreed 
 they. 
 
 After they left the hotel and were walking down 
 Seventeenth Street, they encountered Ned and Marcia 
 as they were just, leaving the Albany on their way to 
 the Broadway Theatre, where a Western play was 
 being given. 
 
 "We want to see if it can come up to the real thing," 
 said Ned. 
 
 "If it don't, shoot 'em up," suggested the boys reck- 
 lessly. "And if you can't do it, we'll come and help." 
 
 "Well, come along then," answered Ned. "For I 
 guess if I was to start anything like that I'd need 
 help." 
 
 "We will go, if you boys wish to," said Robinson. 
 "It is a good play. I saw it in Boston." 
 
 They started in the direction of Broadway and had 
 not gone far until some one exclaimed : 
 
 "Here comes Ballehan and his wife." 
 
 "Let's take them along," suggested Steve. "Here 
 Ballehan, we are all goin' to the theatre, so come 
 along." 
 
 "Ah can't go to the theatre, Mr. Steve," objected 
 Mandy. "I'se done jined de chuch, an* it's 'gin my 
 'liggin.'' 
 
 71 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G" RANCH 
 
 "What church did you join?" inquired Robinson, 
 much amused. 
 
 "Ah done jined de Mefodist chuch long time ago, 
 and dey done tole me dat de debil am a sashain' all 
 'roun' in dem theatres, an' ah don' tink ah'd bettah 
 go." 
 
 "Oh, they have changed since you joined the 
 church," objected Steve. "I'm a church member and 
 I go to the theatre every time I come to town and the 
 devil hasn't got me yet, so come along. He*d take me 
 first anyway, and wouldn't be able to carry you, so 
 you are safe." 
 
 Somewhat doubting, Mandy and Ballehan fell in be- 
 hind, and Robinson inquired : 
 
 "Will they let us in the theatre?" 
 
 "I guess we can get in the Balcony. I've seen coons 
 up there. But they found they could not get seats 
 anywhere except in the Gallery, and as they decided 
 that was too high up they all trooped down to a Curtis 
 Street theatre, where the color line was not so closely 
 drawn. It was a regular blood and thunder play, and 
 as the curtain went up and the characters came on, one 
 of swarthy skin and lank black hair began to speak 
 Spanish. As he rattled off his sentence or two of 
 dialect, Ira, who had been down in Mexico, answered 
 him in that language, the cowboys joining in with the 
 few stock phrases they knew. 
 
 The audience looked and laughed appreciatively 
 tmtil first the usher and then the manager came and 
 threatened to put them out. They quieted down for 
 awhile, and Mandy and Ballehan who had not been 
 to a theatre before became intensely interested. Pres- 
 ently the villain, a sombre individual with coal-black 
 hair, lured the hero to the railroad track and slipping 
 up behind him, caught and bound him to the rails. As 
 the train was seen approaching in the distance, Mandy 
 
 72 
 
THE LAST GREAT HORSE ROUND-UP 
 
 to whom it was all real, jumped up with a whoop, and 
 yelled : 
 
 *'Fo' de Lawd's sake ! Won't somebody go an' sabe 
 dat man?" and started to climb over the seat in front 
 and go to the rescue. This was too much; the audi- 
 ence roared with laughter, and the long-suffering man- 
 ager came and put them out, which through Robinson's 
 intercession was done peaceably. 
 
 After leaving Ned and Marcia at the Albany and 
 putting Ballehan and his wife on a car, the cowboys 
 proceeded to show Robinson the town, and when time 
 came for him to take the train, hilariously escorted him 
 to the depot. As he was taking leave of the boys, he 
 remarked to Steve : 
 
 "I'll be back this way about October, and will come 
 out and see you. I should like to go on a round-up. 
 You have your beef round-up then, don't you ?" 
 
 "Yes, that's the time. Be sure and come. We will 
 be glad to have you." 
 
 78 
 
IV 
 
 ENTER WOMAN NUMBER TWO 
 
 On the fifteenth of June, Miss Parker, accompanied 
 by her aunt arrived at the Grand Central Depot, at 
 42d Street, New York, and purchased a ticket to Den- 
 ver. After she had kissed her aunt good-bye, she 
 gave her this parting admonition as she mounted the 
 steps : 
 
 "Don't you or mother give Reggie Van Rennssler 
 my address. I do not wish to be annoyed by him any 
 longer." 
 
 "Annoyed," marveled her aunt. "Most girls would 
 not consider a proposal from a millionaire an annoy- 
 ance." 
 
 "Well, let him take himself and his millions to them 
 then," answered Miss Parker, determinedly. "I do not 
 wish either." But her aunt only shook her head over 
 the folly of youth and her niece in particular, and ^ 
 returned to the cosy, little flat where she was to spend 
 the summer, and care for her invalid sister, who had 
 years before been stricken with paralysis. Her 
 daughter who was now speeding so happily westward 
 had been her constant companion through all her young 
 girlhood, and was now free for the first time to take 
 a much-needed vacation. 
 
 74 
 
ENTER WOMAN NUMBER TWO 
 
 They had never been wealthy, but had been left com- 
 fortably off. However, bad investments and trying 
 new cures had eaten up most of their income, and the 
 daughter was forced to turn her talent for art to prac- 
 tical purposes. This she gladly did, and earned quite 
 ia substantial income for herself by illustrating for one 
 of the leading fashion magazines. She had worked 
 steadily for two or three years, and had only given 
 up when her physician forecasted all sorts of dire pos- 
 sibilities if she did not take a rest at once. 
 
 Miss Parker was a girl with well-defined ideas as 
 to what she expected the man she married to be, but 
 like all girls the possibility of acquiring an imlimited 
 income had been somewhat alluring, so that Reggie 
 and his proposal disturbed both her sleeping and wak- 
 ing dreams more than she cared to admit.. Wishing to 
 put temptation out of her way she had not told him 
 where she was going to spend the summer, and if her 
 aunt and mother would only carry out her instruc- 
 tions, and not give Reggie her address, then she could 
 enjoy her vacation in peace. 
 
 But, alas, for her well-laid plans. Hardly had she 
 reached the Alton Ranch and become rested from her 
 trip than Reggie arrived on the scene. Careful as to 
 toilet as ever, he emerged from the folds of a trailing 
 linen duster in which he had muffled himself to protect 
 his costume from the dust of travel. He had even 
 wrapped up his feet so that when he presented himself 
 he was as speckless and spotless as if he had just 
 stepped from a cab at her door. 
 
 "Well, where did you come from?" inquired Miss 
 Parker, much dismayed. "And how did you find out 
 where I had gone?" 
 
 "Why, your aunt told me, don't-cher-know." Reg- 
 gie had the advantage or disadvantage of being both an 
 Englishman and a Bostonian, which combination of 
 
 75 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G" RANCH 
 
 ancestry had been brought about by his parents mov- 
 ing to Boston upon their arrival in this country, his 
 father dying before he became naturalized, and his 
 mother subsequently marrying a wealthy Boston mer- 
 chant. He had also died leaving the bulk of his for- 
 tune to his wife, which Reggie would ultimately inherit. 
 
 She had spent much time in England, and so Reggie 
 bore traces of both environments in his accent and 
 conversation, while in person and dress he was the fin- 
 ished man-about-town. His mother and Miss Parker's 
 aunt had been old friends before the former's second 
 marriage, and in this way the two young people had 
 met, and Reggie much to his mother's chagrin, had 
 immediately fallen in love. Being flouted where he had 
 expected to be delightfully accepted, all the stubborn- 
 ness bom of twenty-four years of spoiling at the hands 
 of a doting parent, was crystalized into a determination 
 to win the girl at any cost. True his mother was op- 
 posed to the match, but Reggie had had his way too 
 long to be moved by such a tardy attempt at discipline. 
 
 Two days after Miss Parker's departure he called at 
 their apartment, and found a willing accomplice in the 
 aunt, who considered it almost sacriligious of her niece 
 to be so indifferent to the material advantages to be 
 gained by the acquisition of so much wealth. Hurry- 
 ing home he had his valet start packing a huge trunk 
 and several suit cases for his western trip, while Reg- 
 gie fidgeted about from room to room. At last he put 
 his head into the room and said: 
 
 "I don't believe I had better take you along, Thomas. 
 Don't-cher-know, those cowboys might make me walk 
 the plank if I arrived with a valet. No that is what 
 they do on the ocean. What is the bally thing they do 
 to people in that awful place they call The West' ? Oh, 
 Yes ! It is to make the tenderfeet dance. Well, I am 
 sure that would be painful as my bally feet are so 
 
 76 
 
ENTER WOMAN NUMBER TWO 
 
 big I always have to wear shoes four sizes too small." 
 At last the packing was done and they hurried off 
 to catch an eight o'clock train, and Reggie bade his 
 half-weeping servant an almost tearful good-bye. The 
 valet was English also and looked upon his master 
 as quite a hero for attempting such a dangerous en- 
 terprise. 
 
 77 
 
V 
 
 ' FOURTH OF JULY 
 
 Reggie and Miss Parker had been at the Alton Ranch 
 almost two weeks when the Fourth of July came, and 
 as he had the field all to himself, he began to think that 
 his trip West was not such a bad move after all. His 
 only difficulty was that he had not yet learned to ride 
 or drive with anything like success. True he essayed 
 one or the other every day, but Ned would not trust 
 him with anything but the gentlest of horses. These 
 went so slowly that after one or two trips Miss Parker 
 could not be induced to drive with him again, and if 
 they went for a ride, and any one else was along she 
 would gallop oif and leave him to plod along by him- 
 self, far in the rear. 
 
 However, they could not ride or drive all the time, 
 and on the long, quiet evenings at the ranch he came 
 in handy to help while away the dragging hours. For 
 this reason Miss Parker had shown him more consid- 
 eration than he had formerly received at her hands, and 
 he was proportionately encouraged. 
 
 He tried to persuade Miss Parker to drive with him 
 out to where they w^ere going to hold their celebra- 
 tion, but she laughingly assured him that she wished to 
 get there in time for lunch anyway, and as a means to 
 
 78 
 
FOURTH OF JULY 
 
 that end, climbed into the wagon with the rest, and 
 Reggie perforce followed. 
 
 As the crowd drove out to the picnic grounds a 
 pretty open glade near the creek, circled by large cot- 
 ton-wood and willow trees ; they saw coming across the 
 prairie a light-top buggy, drawn by a long, rangy, dark 
 bay horse, and seated therein, a slender and bronzed 
 young cow-puncher. As he drew nearer, Flint, who 
 was driving, exclaimed : 
 
 "Why, it's Steve, in-there." 
 
 Then every one began to exclaim : "There's Steve ! 
 There's Steve !'* And in the voice of each was a ming- 
 ling of surprise and affection, and in the eyes of Flint 
 was the fond look with which a dog greets its master. 
 
 Miss Parker, who was sitting beside Reggie Van 
 Rensseler, wondered who Steve was, of whom they 
 all seemed to be so fond. A number of other cow- 
 boys rode up just then, some singly, some coming in 
 pairs ; all tall and slender and riding with easy grace ; 
 some were picturesque in leather chaps and gaudy 
 handkerchiefs; others wore white collars and shirts 
 and dark suits. 
 
 Wagons drove up loaded with happy-hearted people, 
 bent on a day's outing. Introductions came thick and 
 fast, and soon Miss Parker was lost in maze of new 
 names and faces. Everybody was busy passing from 
 one group to another, greeting old friends, and were 
 only brought to a realization of the passage of time by 
 seeing Mrs. Alton stretching a long table-cloth on the 
 ground under the trees, on which to spread the lunch. 
 Then there was a general bustling about among the 
 wagons in search of lunch boxes. 
 
 Ned and Marcia walked around over the grounds, 
 shaking hands with the people and hospitably inviting 
 everybody to come and have lunch with them, so that 
 by the time Mrs. Alton had the hampers emptied and 
 
 79 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G" RANCH 
 
 the contents placed on the long cloth there were quite 
 a number of people ready to seat themselves around 
 it. Just as they were sitting down a carriage drove 
 up, and Dr. and Mrs. Evanston and Miss Little were 
 its occupants. Marcia immediately invited them to 
 get out and have lunch, then introducing Miss Little 
 to Miss Parker and Mr. Van Rensseler, assigned her 
 a place nearby. 
 
 Blackie came along at that moment, and was about 
 to sit down beside her, but when she turned from him 
 to greet Steve with a bright little cry of welcome, he 
 moved away with a scowl. Steve gave her a searching 
 glance as he shook hands, and after he was intro- 
 duced to Miss Parker, seated himself between her and 
 Miss Little, and as he sat half propped up on one elbow, 
 took silent appraisement of the man and girl from the 
 East. As he watched there came into his eyes a look 
 which was a mingling of contempt and amazement. 
 Contempt for the man who was dressed, manicured 
 and barbered with all the care he would bestow upon 
 his toilet for a promenade up Fifth Avenue, and amaze- 
 ment that a girl like the one before him should allow 
 herself to be identified with him. 
 
 "I wonder if that is one of the products of the 
 effete East that she spoke about bein' tired of ?" mused 
 he to himself. 
 
 In Reggie's manner was a confident and pleased 
 possession, by which he meant to convey to the world 
 that he was a successful suitor. On his face was a 
 smug look of content with himself, and superiority over 
 his fellowmen. 
 
 It was impossible to tell from Miss Parker's cool 
 acceptance of his attentions whether the man's assur- 
 ance pleased her or not. She courteously kept Steve 
 supplied with food out of the abundance that Reggie 
 showered upon her, and laughed appreciatively at the 
 
 80 
 
FOURTH OF JULY 
 
 constant stream of good-natured banter going on 
 among the others around her. 
 
 Presently the conversation drifted to the dance to be 
 held that evening at Kiowa, and some one asked Miss 
 Parker if she was going. 
 
 "Of course, she is," answered Marcia. 
 
 "I do not know about it," objected Miss Parker. 
 "Marcia tells me they dance all night, and you know 
 I came West for a rest. I never danced all night, and 
 am afraid it will make me too tired. If I could come 
 home at midnight, I should like to go." 
 
 "I'll bring you home at twelve o'clock," said Steve, 
 promptly. 
 
 "Very well, then, I'll go," acquiesced she, accepting 
 the invitation as cooly as it was offered. 
 
 At this Miss Little started and her face grew scarlet. 
 Blackie seeing her confusion looked at Steve with sur- 
 prise, and maliciously exclaimed: 
 
 "Say, ain't you gettin' your dates a little mixed?" 
 
 "I don't know as I've mixed any so far," answered 
 Steve, winking at Blackie to keep still. 
 
 After lunch things rather lagged for awhile, every- 
 body lounged around in well-filled contentment. Ned 
 in order to liven things up called to Miss Parker : 
 
 "Get your mandolin and sing us a song." 
 
 "I did not bring it," answered she. 
 
 "Well, then, we'll just send somebody for it. Here, 
 Flint, ride to the house and get Miss Parker's man- 
 dolin." 
 
 While he was gone after it, Reggie, who had set 
 ideas as to how the Fourth of July should be cele- 
 brated, produced some fire-crackers and childishly be- 
 gan to try to frighten Miss Parker with them. She, 
 like all girls, jumped and screamed as one went ofif 
 under her feet, and then wanted one to shoot. Reggie 
 gave her one and held the match to light it 
 
 81 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G" RANCH 
 
 Miss Parker fired a few, and then began to tire of 
 the foolish amusement, but every time she turned away 
 Reggie would say : 
 
 **Here, shoot another. It is great sport, don't-cher- 
 know." 
 
 So Miss Parker hoping to exhaust the supply, fired 
 them off industriously for awhile, Reggie handing them 
 to her one at a time. Finally he had emptied one pocket 
 and Miss Parker breathed a sigh of relief, but he began 
 producing them from another and she exclaimed in 
 dismay : 
 
 "Are you made of fire-crackers?" 
 
 "Gee, I wish I had some fire-crackers," drawled 
 Fred Knox to a group of cowboys standing near. 
 
 "Yes, I guess them are about as dangerous weapons 
 as Reggie'd dare carry," said Ira. 
 
 "It's a wonder he didn't bring a bean-shooter. 
 ThatM be more appropriate for a Bostonian," com- 
 mented Steve. 
 
 Just then Flint returned with the mandolin and Miss 
 Parker with an eye for the picturesque found a seat 
 between two trees that grew out of the earth side by 
 side, and spread apart just high enough from the 
 ground to make a sort of rustic chair. The cowboys 
 gathered around, Steve leaning against a tree near 
 Miss Parker. 
 
 "What shall I sing?" asked she. 
 
 "Oh, sing that one about wantin'' to be loved," sug- 
 gested Ned. "I think that will just about make a hit 
 with these boys." 
 
 "Yes, sing that," said Steve. "I believe that will 
 just suit me." 
 
 "Miss Parker played a few chords, and started to 
 sing the foolish little ditty and as she sang, the boys 
 kept edging a little nearer, but Steve had the most 
 
 82 
 
FOURTH OF JULY 
 
 strategic position and would not allow any one to 
 oust him. 
 
 The girl was unusually attractive, having jet black 
 hair, creamy skin and soft brown eyes, and had long 
 ago learned her power over men. Her voice was noth- 
 ing remarkable, but clear and sweet, and the boys at- 
 tracted by her personality and rich beauty, lingered 
 on as she sang one song after another. 
 
 The belated arrival of a keg of beer proved a counter 
 attraction after awhile, and they drifted away, one by 
 one in the direction of the clump of trees where it was 
 hidden, all but Steve. 
 
 As they came back, Ira remarked : 
 
 "Look at Steve* He's sure hard hit. Never knew 
 a girl to keep him interested when there was anything 
 to drink handy." 
 
 "Yes, she's got him hog-tied and eatin* sugar from 
 her hand," said Fred. "But where does Miss Little 
 come in?" 
 
 "I guess she's in the discard," answered Ned. "And 
 she looks like she ain't enjoyin' it any too much either." 
 And then he called : 
 
 "Oh, Steve ! Come over here. I've got something 
 to show you." 
 
 "Let me alone," demanded Steve. "Don't you see 
 this is the first time I have been happy in six months ?" 
 
 "Old Steve sure had the nerve to ask her to go to 
 the dance right before that beau of hers from New 
 York," observed Ira. 
 
 "Guess she don't care much about Reggie, as she 
 didn't hesitate any about acceptin* Steve's invitation," 
 said Fred. 
 
 "Yes, but that may just be her way of keepin' him 
 guessin'. Not many girls have the courage to refuse 
 a millionaire, even if he ain't much of a man," said 
 Ned 
 
 83 
 
STEVE OF THE «— G" RANCH 
 
 "Let's get up some games," suggested Flint 
 
 "Call Steve, Ned," said Fred. "He used to be some 
 good, but now all he can do is stand around and listen 
 to *I Want to be Loved' played on the mandolin," 
 
 "No use to call him," exclaimed Ned. "I did call 
 him. Ill see if I can wake her up," and then he 
 shouted : 
 
 "Oh, Miss Parker. Take the hobbles off of Steve 
 and turn him loose with the herd. We want to have 
 some fun." 
 
 Reggie came up and he and Miss Parker jomed 
 the crowd. 
 
 Blackie mounted a horse and Steve untied his lariat 
 and with a graceful sweep of his arm, sent his rope 
 curling out and the loop settled over Blackie and 
 around the horse's neck. Then he caught the horse by- 
 first one foot and then the other, and then by both as 
 Blackie galloped by, and as a wind-up to the per- 
 formance, threw a large noose and caught both Fred 
 and Blackie as they approached each other in com- 
 ing from opposite directions. 
 
 Ira and Ned had a wrestling match, and soon every- 
 body was doing something. There were no seats, so 
 Reggie took a lap robe from the wagon and spread 
 it on the ground to make a seat for Miss Parker. 
 
 Ned tired from his wrestling sat down beside her 
 to rest. Steve saw him, and exclaimed : 
 
 "Here you, that's my seat," and catching him by 
 the arm pulled him up and sat down himself. 
 
 Then Blackie pulled Steve up and sat down in his 
 place, and the latter went around on the other side. 
 
 Soon Reggie was crowded off entirely as the cow- 
 boys laughingly scrambled for a seat on the robe be- 
 side Miss Parker, who, very much amused, took it all 
 in the spirit in which it was meant. 
 
 84 
 
FOUETH OF JULY 
 
 Several more drifted up and threw themselves on 
 the ground and presently Ira suggested : 
 
 *'Let's see who can tell the biggest lie. Til tell one 
 and then some one else see if they can tell a bigger." 
 
 "All right," assented Ned. "Go ahead." 
 
 "Well, let's talk about strong men. While I was 
 out in Wyoming I saw a man that was so strong that 
 when he picked up a big ball of iron and squeezed it 
 it all squashed out between his fingers." 
 
 "Pshaw, that's nothin'," observed Fred Knox. "I 
 heard of a man that was a lot stronger than that. You 
 know in the beginnin' the earth wasn't like it is now, it 
 was a lot bigger, and a strong man put his arms around 
 it and squeezed it in two." 
 
 "Yes, and when he got through it was all dry land, 
 wasn't it?" inquired Ned. 
 
 "Yes," agreed Fred. 
 
 "W^ell, that strong man had a pal, and he wasn't 
 so strong in his arms like them two fellows you and 
 Ira tell about, but he was a great one to chew to- 
 bacco, and after that man had squeezed the earth in 
 two, he spit just once, and it splattered and made 
 five oceans." 
 
 While tliey were still laughing over the finish of 
 Ned's story, two men and a boy were seen driving 
 up, leading a horse. Presently one of them approached 
 Ned and said : ' 
 
 "Are you Mr. Alton?" 
 
 "That's my father's name. He is over there. My 
 name is Ned." 
 
 "Well," answ^ered the fellow laughing. "My name is 
 Baxter. I came out to Kiowa this morning from 
 Denver, thinking the picnic was there. I've brought 
 along a horse that can run a little and I'd like to match 
 a race with you." 
 
 85 
 
STEVE OF THE "-— G'' RANCH 
 
 "Well, I haven't anything that is fit to race, but 
 maybe Steve has. He generally has a race horse." 
 When they approached Steve on the subject he ob- 
 jected, saying: 
 
 "Oh, my horse is in no condition to run. I just 
 got him in oif the range yesterday, and then drove him 
 over here to-day." 
 
 "Which is your horse?" inquired Mr. Baxter. 
 
 "That's him over there hitched to that buggy, but 
 he is in no condition to run, been running out all 
 spring." 
 
 The horse in question certainly did not show up very 
 well, although the discerning could see that he was 
 built for speed, having an unusual length of body and 
 limbs, but he was covered with alkali dust which had 
 been matted in his hair by the long drive over. 
 
 The more Mr. Baxter looked at him the more 
 anxious he became for a race, and finally Steve said : 
 "Well, if I can get some one to ride my horse, 111 run 
 him." 
 
 Looking around among the crowd he found a boy 
 who was small for his age and proportionately light, 
 who had acted as jockey for him before. As soon as 
 Mr. Baxter found that the race was assurred, he began 
 trying to get bets and as no one, after sizing up the 
 two horses, cared to bet he began to increase the odds. 
 
 Flint came up to Steve and said : 
 
 "What-you-may-call-it-in-there, them fellers are of- 
 ferin' to bet five dollars to one that their horse can 
 beat yours." 
 
 "Well, take all you can get at them odds, and if you 
 haven't the money, borrow it. 
 
 "If they knew this horse they wouldn't be so reck- 
 less with their money. He is one of them rawboned, 
 ugly cusses that looks worse when in condition than 
 out, and while he ain't had any trainin' this year and 
 
 86 
 
FOURTH OF JULY 
 
 has run out all summer, still there ain't been enough 
 grass to make him fat. 
 
 "It's been so dry they have to go a long way to 
 water, and several times when I've been out ridin* I've 
 seen him start out with a bunch of horses to go to 
 some water hole for a drink, and they'd all be runnin' 
 like the devil was after 'em, and that old rangy bay was 
 always in the lead. You know them old Revenue 
 horses can all run. I'll bet all I can get at them odds." 
 
 The word went around among the cowboys and 
 ranchers that Steve's horse might be in better condi- 
 tion than he looked, and as most of them knew what 
 he could do when in shape, they began to place bets, 
 putting up a few dollars at a time, so as not to make 
 Mr. Baxter suspicious. Presently the two men had 
 up all the money they brought with them, and expected 
 to make quite a clean-up. 
 
 They paced off a half mile track along the level road 
 that led to Kiowa, and the two horses lined up for 
 the start. 
 
 The boy who came with Mr. Baxter stripped off his 
 outer garments and stood arrayed in brilliant jockey 
 costume of green and white, and as he sat on his 
 satiny-coated thoroughbred, he made a striking con- 
 trast to the rough-coated range horse, and the bare- 
 footed boy in overalls on its back. 
 
 "What fools these cowboys are," remarked Reggie, 
 contemptiously. "Do they think that old buggy horse 
 can beat that trained race horse? Why their old horse 
 looks all played out, don't-cher-know, and covered with 
 dirt." 
 
 "I don't know," answered Miss Parker, "whether it 
 can outrun the other or not, AnyAvay, the cowboys arc 
 not afraid to back him with money." 
 
 "Well, I am not either," answered Reggie, rather 
 87 
 
STEVE OP THE "— G" RANCH 
 
 nettled. "I'll wager two hxindred dollars that the sorrel 
 wins." 
 
 "At five to one?" asked Steve, who chanced to hear 
 the remark. 
 
 "At whatever odds you wish, don't-cher-know." 
 
 "Oh, that's good enough for me," said Steve putting 
 up forty dollars. 
 
 Reggie pulled out a fat roll and stripped off two one 
 hundred dollar bills and placed them with the stake 
 holder. Others hearing of the wager, came up, and 
 Reggie accommodated all until he had a thousand dol- 
 lars bet ; ranging in sums all the way from five to fifty 
 dollars besides the two hundred dollars bet with Steve, 
 
 Ned hearing of it came up to Reggie and said: 
 ''Ain't you goin' in rather steep on a horse you know 
 nothin' about?" 
 
 "Oh, I guess I can stand it if the rest can," replied 
 Reggie, insolently. "I don't think I am taking much 
 of a chance, don't-cher-know." 
 
 "All right," said Ned. "I guess you know your 
 business." 
 
 The thoroughbred champed his bit, and pranced, and 
 the jockey had all he could do to hold him in, while 
 Steve's horse stood calmly at the post, seemingly half 
 asleep, until the word "Go !" sounded like a trumpet in 
 his ear, and he shot out from the line in one long leap 
 that carried him far in advance, and then for a htm- 
 dred yards or so he bounded along, seemingly never 
 drawing a breath. After that the pace slackened some- 
 what, but he was already so far in the lead that the 
 other horse could not overtake him. 
 
 The cowboys shouted and tossed their wide som- 
 breros in the air and danced up and down like maniacs, 
 hugging each other in tlieir joy. Nearly every one 
 had placed a bet either with Reggie or Mr. Baxter, and 
 many had bets with both, so all stood to win something, 
 
 88 
 
FOUETH OF JULY 
 
 but greater than that was the partisan joy of having 
 their horse win. Mr. Baxter and his partner were so 
 disgusted and chagrined that they hadn't a word to 
 say. They simply paid their bets, hitched up their 
 horse and started back to Denver. 
 
 Miss Parker went up to pet Kentucky Jim and pre- 
 sent him with a piece of candy, which he nosed for 
 appreciatively. As to the victor belongs the spoils, she 
 consented to drive back to the ranch with Steve, leav- 
 ing the crestfallen Reggie to go back without her, in 
 the wagon with the rest of the people from the ranch. 
 They were ready to go before Steve had his bets all 
 straightened out and as Miss Parker did not like to 
 stand around and wait for him, she started to get in 
 the wagon to return with them. 
 
 Steve seeing her came up and said : 
 
 "I thought you were going to ride with me?" 
 
 "Very well," assented Miss Parker. "You do not 
 mind, do you Reggie ?" And Reggie weakly answered 
 "No." 
 
 When they reached the buggy, they found Ira al- 
 ready seated in it, and as Steve offered to help Miss 
 Parker in, she drew back and inquired: "Where do 
 you expect me to sit?" 
 
 "On our laps," suggested they. 
 
 "Is that the custom of the country?" inquired she. 
 
 "Yes," they replied. 
 
 "Well, I do not believe I am sufficiently Western- 
 ized to adopt it as yet," spoke she, starting to turn 
 away. 
 
 "Come on," urged Steve. "There is plenty of room, 
 this buggy was built to hold three, you can sit be- 
 tween us." 
 
 "Oh, all right," said Miss Parker, laughingly accept- 
 ing the novel situation. 
 
 **But how is it that I find two cowboys riding in 
 89 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G'^ RANCH 
 
 a carriage anyway? I am surprised; I supposed they 
 were always dashing about on horseback, and preferred 
 a bucking broncho to anything on wheels?" observed 
 she. 
 
 "I heard about you visiting the Altons, and I ex- 
 pected I might get a chance to take you to the dance/' 
 said Steve. "And Ira has just come back from Wyom- 
 ing and drove over from Elizabeth with the Man- 
 nings." 
 
 "What cool assurance/' said Miss Parker. "Do you 
 always get what you expect?" 
 
 "Well, I always try to get it," answered Steve, 
 
 "You two all dated up already! Why don't you 
 hold off awhile and give some other fellow a chance? 
 I was just figuring on askin' Miss Parker to go to the 
 dance with me," said Ira. 
 
 "Well, you can ask her yet, she might change her 
 mind." 
 
 "That's right," spoke Ira. "Steve and I are old 
 pals, so you take your choice/' 
 
 "A Western Damon and Pythias," remarked Miss 
 Parker. "But the matter is already settled. I have 
 said I would go with Mr. Gardeau, and I never break 
 an engagement or give one partner a dance belonging 
 to another, no matter how much I might be tempted, 
 it makes the favored one too conceited." 
 
 Blackie rode up beside the buggy on a horse that 
 seemed to be about half broken. 
 
 "Make him buck," urged Steve. Blackie, notliing 
 loth, viciously jabbed in his spurs, and the horse in- 
 stantly responded by humping his back into a half 
 circle, and, gathering his four legs together, jumped 
 straight up and landed stiff legged, giving his body a 
 sinuous twist at the same time. This he repeated with 
 variations several times, but Blackie stuck like a burr 
 and seemed to enjoy it 
 
 90 
 
c 
 o 
 
 CS 
 
FOUKTH OF JULY 
 
 "What a vicious beast!" exclaimed Miss Parker as 
 Blackie returned. "Do not make him buck again, he 
 might kill you." 
 
 While supper was being prepared and the long 
 stmimer twilight came on the cowboys, too restless to 
 sit still, went out in front of the house, and as usual 
 when a number of them were together, the boyish 
 spirit, which is not far from the surface in these 
 loiights of the saddle at any time, came uppermost. 
 They were soon running foot races, jumping and 
 wrestling with all the abandon and enthusiasm of boys 
 of ten. In all these tests of agility Steve and Blackie 
 easily led; first one winning and then the other, but 
 with this difference : When Blackie won it was often 
 through some trick or fluke, and received little applause 
 or commendation, while everybody always seemed 
 pleased when Steve won, and sorry when he lost. Thus 
 spoke the difference of personality between the two. 
 
 Presently Steve and Ira went down on all fours and 
 bgan to buck, with old man Alton's two little grand- 
 sons on their backs as riders. Ducking their heads, 
 they humped their backs, and twisted their sinuous 
 bodies in imitation of all the contortions known and 
 practiced on them by the horses they had ridden. 
 
 The little boys twined their legs tightly around the 
 bodies of their impromptu steeds, and left arms and 
 hands waving free, to show that they scorned to pull 
 leather, but at last they were unseated and thrown, just 
 as the gong (an old ploughshare, on which Ned 
 pounded with a clevis) sounded for supper. 
 
 Reggie and Miss Parker had been interested spec- 
 tators throughout it all and, as they turned away, Reg- 
 gie remarked: 
 
 "They are all drunk." 
 
 "Yes, but with the intoxication of youth and bound- 
 less vitality," replied Miss Parker. 
 
 91 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G" RANCH 
 
 While Miss Parker was dressing to go to the dance, 
 Marcia came in and asked: 
 
 "Are you going with Steve? What is poor Reggie 
 going to do ?" 
 
 "I do not care what he does," said Miss Parker, 
 laughing. 
 
 "He should have known better than to follow me out 
 here. If I do not do something to make him angry he 
 will stay all summer. 
 
 "Poor Reggie I It is awfully hard for him to learn 
 that he can not have everything he wants. He has 
 been an only child and a mamma's darling, and, not 
 having much imagination, so far, his money has pro- 
 cured for him whatever he desired. He thought that, 
 of course, since we are poor and my mother an invalid, 
 that his money would win me, even if I could resist 
 his own fascinating personality. 
 
 "His mother was furious at him for wanting to 
 marry me, and now that I have refused him she is 
 raging at the presumption of 'That girl* as she calls 
 me. But the man I marry will have to be a man, 
 anyway, and do something else besides act as a tailor's 
 dummy for displaying fine clothes." 
 
 When they were ready to start. Miss Parker was 
 surprised to see Steve appear newly arrayed in clean 
 linen and a spotless and neatly-pressed light gray suit. 
 
 "His tie is a little too vivid, but it is probably a 
 Christmas present from his mother or sisters. I 
 wonder how he happened to know that that shade of 
 gray was just the color for blonds? He is more hand- 
 some than I thought and if his face was not so tanned 
 would be quite distinguished looking." Thus did Miss 
 Parker take mental appraisement of her cavalier, and 
 her next remark was along that line. 
 
 "How did you achieve it?" inquired she, looking 
 him over, 
 
 92 
 
FOURTH OF JULY 
 
 "Achieve what?" asked Steve, 
 
 "A fresh toilet, so far from home? Do you carry a 
 Saratoga along with you as Reggie does?" 
 
 "No," answered Steve. "I told my sister to bring 
 me clothes over. She couldn't come to the picnic, but 
 is going to the dance, and came just after we got 
 through supper." 
 
 "Well, I am agreeably surprised. When I saw you 
 brushing the dust off your clothes before going in to 
 supper I supposed that was all the concession a cow- 
 boy made to the conventions, but now I am prepared 
 for anything. Have the rest been equally as fortunate ?" 
 
 "No, they ain't all lucky enough to have a sister 
 bring them a fresh relay of clothes, but they are all out 
 in the bunk house doin' their best. The first man 
 dressed always had the best clothes. He picks out 
 what he wants regardless of who they belong to, and 
 the rest take what they can get. Blackie had to sit 
 on the clothes my sister brought him while he shaved, 
 and the only thing Ira could find that wasn't already 
 appropriated was a clean collar, so when I came out he 
 was puttin' on the clothes I pulled off." 
 
 "I wouldn't think they could be any great improve- 
 ment over what he had on, after you have been rolling 
 around in the dirt in them all day, wrestling and buck- 
 ing," laughed Miss Parker. 
 
 "No, but he thinks they are. And they say imagina- 
 tion is a great thing." 
 
 It was only four miles from the Alton Ranch to 
 Kiowa, where the dance was to be held, and as it was 
 early, Steve drove slowly along ; twilight deepened into 
 the thick darkness of a summer night, which pressed 
 upon the senses with strange hipnotic power. Soon 
 the shifting gleams of a new moon threw a luminous 
 whiteness over the silent prairie, piercing the gloom. 
 
 The girl had the senitive organism of all artistic 
 93 
 
STEVE OP THE "— G^' RANCH 
 
 people, to which the forces of nature made a strong 
 appeal. They both fell silent for awhile, and then Miss 
 Parker spoke out of her simple child-like faith. 
 
 "I do not wonder that God used to talk direct to 
 people when they lived simple, pastoral lives, so close 
 to nature. I can feel my soul expand, and seemingly 
 being purged of everything petty, small, and mean. 
 It is not surprising that wickedness thrives in the cities. 
 People are shut in until their souls become as narrow 
 as the walls of the box-like places that confine their 
 bodies, and which they call *home/ 
 
 "Right now is the season of hottest weather in New 
 York, and my heart aches with pity when I think of all 
 the people who are sweltering with the unbearable heat. 
 Wouldn't it be splendid if we could, by some magic, 
 puff through its noisy streets some of this dry, cool 
 air?" 
 
 "Yes, but it is impossible to take the air to the people, 
 and when the people are brought to the air they often 
 pine and fret until they get back again. A man from 
 New York came out here for lung trouble a few years 
 ago. He was improvin' right along, but the silence and 
 loneliness that appeal so to you got on his nerves he 
 said, and he went back. Said he'd rather live one year 
 there, than fifty out here — and it's the same way with 
 women. 
 
 "There's lots of girls come out here from the city 
 to teach and they pretend to like it awfully well, but I 
 notice very few of them marry and stay out here, and it 
 ain't because they lack chances. Women are so scarce 
 out here that most any kind of a girl, no matter how 
 homely, can get a pretty decent sort of a man, as men 
 go, for a husband. I suppose you are like the rest, 
 you'll amuse yourself with us poor cowpunchers for 
 the summer, but when it comes to marryin', it'll be the 
 bean cater from Boston that'll win out," 
 
 94 
 
FOURTH OF JULY 
 
 "I don't know about that," laughingly answered she. 
 "Since the world began women have blindly followed 
 men who have been great enough to inspire them with 
 sufficient love. I suppose I am no exception to 
 the rule, and would go anywhere, or live anywhere if 
 the right man beckoned." 
 
 "Well, if that's the case I*m goin' to try mighty hard 
 to be that man and don't you forget it, but here we 
 are at Kiowa, and there comes Blackie with Miss 
 Little." 
 
 Now Steve had not been strictly truthful when he 
 told Miss Parker that he had come to the picnic in 
 the buggy because he had heard that she was to be 
 there. He had really intended to take Miss Little, who 
 had told him in the spring, w^hen she was leaving, that 
 she would be out at the picnic the Fourth, and had 
 confirmed it in her letter applying for the school for 
 the next winter. 
 
 We are all aware of the value of opposition in mat- 
 ters of the heart. Many parents, by opposing a match, 
 have hurried on what they hoped to avert. So the 
 rivalry between Steve and Blackie had stimulated the 
 interest of both. This Miss Little well knew, and had 
 mercilessly led them both on, although as long as she 
 felt sure of them, she did not think she wanted either. 
 All summer she had been debating the matter in her 
 mind, and it was not as to which one she would take. 
 She had long ago decided against Blackie, who had 
 been shrewd enough to divine it, and so had not put 
 the question to the test. 
 
 She did not want to become engaged and put an end 
 to the fascinating game she had been playing all winter. 
 "It was much nicer to have two lovers than one," 
 she thought, but there was one thing on which she had 
 not reckoned. After she had left, and there was no 
 longer the incentive of outwitting Blackie, Steve's in- 
 
 95 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G" RANCH 
 
 terest in the game began to flagg, and when he saw 
 Miss Parker, he forgot all about his earlier intention, 
 and poor, little Miss Little, when she saw the prize 
 escaping, began to realize the extent of her loss. 
 
 When Blackie had seen Steve getting ready that 
 morning he went off on horseback, although he knew 
 Miss Little was to be at the picnic. He thought, of 
 course, Steve was intending to take her to the dance, 
 and did not wish to go prepared to take her, and 
 chance being humiliated by seeing her go off with 
 Steve, as had happened before. When he learned that 
 Steve was going to take Miss Parker he borrowed a 
 cart from Ned, which was the only vehicle available, 
 and went after her. 
 
 There was a large crowd at the dance, which was 
 held in a hall over Wiley's General Merchandise Store, 
 and the place was well filled. Most of the people whom 
 Miss Parker had met at the picnic were there and a 
 good many others. The air became rather close in the 
 early part of the evening, and the fastidious Reggie, 
 who was devoting himself to Miss Little in hopes 
 . of making Miss Parker jealous, began to sniff and 
 coming up to Ned who was talking to Steve, said: 
 
 "Really, Ned, this air is stifling, don't-cher-know. I 
 do not believe these people ever take a bawth. Fll 
 have to chuck it or I'll cat. (Making a sidewise duck 
 with his head and opening his mouth expressively, 
 which left no doubt of his meaning.) 
 
 "Well, cat, then," said Ned, laughing, and comically 
 emitting a meow and spitz like a cat. 
 
 The joke was too good to keep and soon everybody 
 had heard of the way in which Reggie relieved his 
 stomach of any foreign substance, and there were de- 
 lighted meowings, spittings and caterwauling all over 
 the hall every time Reggie appeared. 
 
 As the strains of the first waltz commenced Steve 
 
FOURTH OF JULY 
 
 led Miss Parker out on the floor, and she was amazed 
 at the grace and ease with which he danced. 
 
 One after another of the cowboys danced with her, 
 and paid her more or less broadsided compliments. 
 When she was dancing with Ira, he heaved a sigh that 
 seemingly came from his boots and said : 
 
 "Gee ! but Tm lucky to-night. Dancing my favorite 
 waltz, with the prettiest girl I ever saw." This was 
 too much for Miss Parker, who laughingly appealed 
 to Marcia. 
 
 "Tell me, is the range a finishing school for men. 
 I never have been so jollied in my life, and I never 
 saw better dancers. I always understood that New 
 Yorkers carried off the palm for talking nonsense, but 
 these cowboys seem to be past masters at the art. 
 How can one stem the tide of their flattery?" 
 
 "I don't know," said Marcia, laughing. "It is not 
 exactly jollying, for they mean it for the time any- 
 way. Steve just told me awhile ago that the Humane 
 Society ought to prevent girls like you from straying 
 off their natural range. That it was cruelty to ani- 
 mals for you to come out here and make the boys dis- 
 contented with home products. 
 
 "They ought to be good dancers," continued Marcia, 
 "As they commenced dancing and riding about the 
 time children back East are learning to walk good. 
 That is practically the only amusement out here, and 
 whenever there is a dance everybody goes and takes 
 all their children along. They pack the babies and 
 little ones on a bed or in some corner out of the way, 
 where they sleep on undisturbed through all the noise 
 of squeaking fiddles and stamping feet. When they 
 get old enough to keep awake they begin trying to 
 dance and coax somebody to lead them around for 
 awhile, and they soon get the step. Their life ia the 
 saddle makes ihem light on their feet." 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G" RANCH 
 
 When twelve o'clock came Miss Parker was enjoy- 
 ing herself as only a young girl can when surrounded 
 by a lot of admirers, and never thought about her in- 
 tention of going home at that time. 
 
 A few people who lived near began to leave after 
 the midnight supper, but those who came from a long 
 distance stayed on until daylight came, to make driving 
 over the prairie, which was virgin of roads, a safe 
 proceeding. 
 
 Miss Parker and Steve left the dance following 
 closely behind Marcia and Ned as the first gray 
 streaks of early dawn were stealing over the prairie, 
 and the distant mountain range that ran parallel with 
 their course still showed only as a black shadow against 
 the western horizon. 
 
 Black, too, against the sky at the south loomed a 
 crest of rocky hills covered with a thick growth of 
 pine trees. The stars twinkled and grew dim, van- 
 ishing and lost in the rosy light which spread across 
 the east, announcing the birth of a new day. 
 
 The two young people for a time watched with some- 
 thing like awe the quick changes of coloring playing 
 over the mountains and sky. Miss Parker being 
 unused to the climate, had only taken along a light eve- 
 ning wrap, such as she used in the East, and soon 
 began to shiver in the chill morning air. She paid no 
 attention to it at first, but as the wind raised with the 
 advent of the sun, the shivering fast became a seizure. 
 
 "What is the matter?" inquired Steve. 
 
 *T do not know," answered she. *T seem to have 
 a chill. I should have brought along a warmer wrap, 
 but I never thought about it being so cold this morn- 
 ing. I might have known it, too, as I have been sleep- 
 ing under blankets ever since I came. Is it always 
 so cold?" 
 
 'Tt is generally cool out here of nights, but, of course, 
 98 
 
FOURTH OF JULY 
 
 I do not notice it. I am used to it. I'll square myself 
 around so as to keep the wind off of you. I make a 
 tine wind-break." 
 
 "How do you know, have you been used much for 
 that purpose.'^" inquired she, mischievously. "But I 
 know you have. Such proficiency in paying compli- 
 ments denotes much practice." 
 
 "What is that about, Trom the abundance of the 
 heart the mouth speaketh?' My heart has been talkin' 
 mighty loud ever since I saw you yesterday, and what 
 Tve told you ain't half what it's been say in'." 
 
 **Is it not behaving rather recklessly for such short 
 acquaintance?" inquired she. 
 
 "Well, maybe the time is short as you measure it 
 by days and weeks, but it seems to me like I'd known 
 you for a long time." 
 
 "I can understand it in a measure. I suppose it is 
 the vastness and stillness. It is like being out on the 
 ocean, where friendships ripen quickly. I will admit 
 that you undoubtedly attract me, although I am filled 
 with surprise at my being prompted to tell you so. I 
 never would have admitted as much to a man back 
 East. 
 
 "It seems to me that you have a remarkable amount 
 of what is known as personal magnetism, which I imag- 
 ine must have greatly smoothed life's pathway for you, 
 and enabled you to easily acquire many things that 
 others strive for in vain. I noticed it last evening, 
 when you boys were running races and jumping. It 
 was easy to see that you and your brother, whom they 
 call *Blackie,' were far ahead of the others, and evenly 
 matched in skill, yet he received little applause when 
 he won, but when you beat, every one seemed de- 
 lighted. It is hardly fair, I think, although no one 
 is to blame." 
 
 "I never thought about it before," replied Steve 
 »9 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G" RANCH 
 
 "But I guess there is something in what you say, and 
 if it enables me to attract you, then I am glad I have 
 it. You must have quite a lot of magnetism yourself, 
 for I've been plumb locoed ever since I first saw you 
 yesterday." 
 
 "Perhaps you think so now, but to-morrow you may 
 feel differently. This early morning light, I believe, is 
 as bad as moonlight for misleading young people's af- 
 fections," answered Miss Parker, laughing. 
 
 "Maybe so, but I certainly do enjoy bein' misled." 
 
 Just then they heard another vehicle approaching 
 and upon looking around saw Blackie and Miss Little 
 behind them. 
 
 "What's the matter?" inquired Steve. "From the 
 way you are makin' that horse eat up the road you two 
 must not be enjoyin' yourselves." 
 
 Blackie growled out something in reply, and Miss 
 Little gave him an angry look. They all four entered 
 the house at the same time, and as Steve took leave of 
 Miss Parker, with a tender, caressing look in his eyes, 
 Miss Little, with never a glance at Blackie hurried out, 
 her eyes filled with unshed tears which came in a flood 
 when she reached her room. Bitterly did she regret 
 her coquetry of the winter before. After a time the 
 paroxism of weeping passed, and she began to con- 
 sider the situation in which she found herself, and at 
 last murmured resolutely: 
 
 "There is one thing sure, no girl from New York 
 will marry a man and live out here, so I will teach 
 the school this winter and win him back. Guess I had 
 better quit playing with fire. It is a dangerous pas- 
 time." Finding consolation in this thought she fell 
 asleep. 
 
 Steve unhitched his horse and found a bed in one 
 of the bunk houses, while Blackie saddled up and sav- 
 agely galloped homeward. 
 
 IQQ 
 
FOUETH OF JULY 
 
 Miss Little awoke along about noon, and dctennincd 
 to make the best of a bad situation. Anyway, she 
 thought, there was Reggie, who was in much the same 
 plight as herself, and had the added charm of being 
 a millionaire. 
 
 After every dance a number of cowboys would drift 
 into the Alton Ranch to sleep and rest up. The day 
 after the Fourth was no exception to the rule. They 
 arose when their fancy dictated, and one by one joined 
 the crowd in the yard, all more or less disheveled after 
 the dance, and lounged in careless ease on the ground, 
 heedless alike of the dirt and wrinkles with which 
 their clothes were being covered. Presently Reggie, 
 who liked to listen to the stories and good-natured 
 banter with which they passed the time, strolled out; 
 faultlessly dressed as ever, sox and tie to match, and 
 feet incased in brilliantly polished tan shoes. 
 
 Like all the English he had remarkably large feet, 
 and this was a sore point with him. He was always 
 dressed in the height of fashion, and would stand be- 
 fore the glass and preen and primp by the hour, but 
 like the peacock, when he looked at his feet his spirits 
 drooped if his feathers didn't In vain did he pinch 
 his feet into shoes two or three sizes too small, they 
 still looked all out of proportion to the rest of his 
 body. 
 
 A silence fell over the group of cowboys as Reggie 
 appeared among them. This Reggie accepted as a fit- 
 ting tribute of the country person to one of his great 
 wealth and as he deemed, extensive culture. But he 
 did not rightly interpret the cowboys. They were sim- 
 ply observing him as they would a new specimen from 
 the zoo, and when they were satisfied, fell to convers- 
 ing as before, paying no more attention to him. At 
 this Reggie perched himself on the fence, and carefully 
 pulled up each leg of his trousers to keep them from 
 
 101 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G" RANCH 
 
 bagging at the knees, revealing his gaudy silk sox clear 
 to their rainbow tops. These caught and held the 
 slanting rays of the sun, which filtered through the 
 leaves of the trees, and showed up Reggie's feet in 
 striking relief against the shadows around them. Ned 
 who always loved a joke, looked up and saw them, and 
 with an appreciative chuckle, inquired: 
 
 "Say, Reggie, how old are you?" 
 
 *T am twenty-three, why?** inquired Reggie. 
 
 "Oh, go on. You must be older than that," pro- 
 tested Ned. 
 
 "No, I am not," answered Reggie. 
 
 "Why, man, you must be!" seriously objected Ned. 
 
 "No ! I was born on the twenty-ninth of December 
 in the year of 1876," said Reggie, precisely. "Do you 
 think I look older than that?" asked he hopefully, for 
 like all young men he wished to be thought older than 
 he was. 
 
 "No, your face don't," said Ned. "But do you mean 
 to tell me you have grown them feet in twenty-three 
 years? Why, man, you couldn't a-done it." 
 
 At the yell of laughter from the cowboys, who had 
 understood from the beginning that Ned was baiting 
 him, Reggie climbed down, much crestfallen, and 
 went off in search of Miss Little, with whom he seemed 
 to have a bond in common. After awhile they came 
 past, each making a great show of paying marked at- 
 tention to the other, in hopes of showing to Steve and 
 Miss Parker, who had just then appeared, that they 
 cared nothing for their slights. 
 
 102 
 
VI 
 
 DRAINING THE LAKE 
 
 The house on the Alton Ranch was situated on 
 Kiowa Creek, which ran through the place, and at 
 the point where the buildings were it spread out into 
 a wide, flat basin, with high walls on either side, form- 
 ing a natural sight for a reservoir. The former owner 
 with fine business acumen had taken advantage of this 
 and built a dam at the low end of the hill, and thus 
 had a lake of quite respectable dimensions for Colo- 
 rado. He used the water for irrigating his meadow 
 land, and raised splendid crops of alfalfa. 
 
 Long ago it had been stocked with several different 
 kinds of fish, among which were some mud carp. 
 These were so full of bones that they were unfit for 
 food, so whenever one was caught it was thrown back 
 into the lake. By this process they soon multiplied 
 until the lake was overrun with them, and all other 
 varieties gradually became extinct. 
 
 Ever since the Altons had owned the ranch they 
 had been planning to drain the lake and take out all 
 the carp and restock it with good fish, which could 
 be had from the Government Fisheries outside of Den- 
 ver. So at their Fourth of July picnic they announced 
 that the second Sunday following they would draw 
 off the water and invited everybody to come and bring 
 their friends. 
 
 Now, fresh fish is almost an unknown luxury on 
 
 103 
 
STEVE OP THE "— &' RANCH 
 
 the plains, so people flocked from far and near to get 
 some, bringing their lunches, and making a gala day 
 of it. Ned put a screen across the sluice gates, and 
 then opened them, letting the water rush out to flood 
 the meadows below. Soon the uneasy fish began flop- 
 ping about. 
 
 Men and boys pulled off their boots and shoes, rolled 
 up their trousers and waded in. At first every one 
 attended strictly to catching fish, dipping them up in 
 buckets, or grabbing them with their hands, until the 
 water began to get lower and they could see that there 
 were hundreds of them, more than enough for all. 
 
 Then began the fun. They ducked each other, and 
 threw the soft, slimy mud of the banks. Suddenly, 
 upon looking up, Steve saw a young cowpuncher and 
 his new wife, all decked out in their nuptial finery, 
 standing bashfully on the bank. Steve shouted to Ned : 
 
 "Look who's here." 
 
 "Weil, ril be doggoned!" said Ned. "All dressed 
 up, too, with a biled shirt on. Let's duck him." 
 
 No sooner said than done. Both putting on a look 
 of guileless innocence, walked up the bank as if to 
 congratulate the grinning bridegroom, grabbed him at 
 an unexpected moment and had him half way down the 
 bank before he realized what they were up to, and then 
 began a lively tussle. Others joined the fun and helped 
 to carry the struggling cowboy, down the bank, and 
 stand him on his head in the black mud. Then they 
 lifted him and set his feet down, and the thick oozy 
 mud and water from his face and head ran all over 
 his gay plaid suit. 
 
 At this pandemonitim let loose. Others in the water 
 ran out on the bank and grabbed unwary on-lookers, 
 dragged them into the water, and woe to the ones who 
 had foolishly donned their good clothes* They were 
 «^hc especial victims, 
 
 104 
 
DEAINING THE LAKE 
 
 Reggie stood beside Miss Parker, and owing to the 
 etiquette due a stranger he had not been molested, al- 
 though many a longing glance had been cast in his 
 direction, and they all would have been delighted to 
 see his fashionable clothes splashed with mud. But 
 Reggie was unmindful of his danger, and continued to 
 make disdainful remarks, loud enough for any who 
 were passing to hear. 
 
 This made Miss Parker, who was enjoying the fun, 
 angry, and as Steve ran past, chasing another victim, 
 with a look and slight inclination of the head, she sig- 
 naled for him to take Reggie. Nothing could have 
 pleased Steve better, and emitting a loud whoop, which 
 would have done credit to a Commanchee Indian, he 
 grabbed the Bostonian and started to take him to the 
 lake, saying: 
 
 "Come on, and take that bawth youVe been talkin' 
 so much about." But Reggie was not as easy prey 
 as might have been expected from his slight build. He 
 made up in skill in boxing and wrestling what he lacked 
 in size and muscle, and was a good match for Steve's 
 wiry strength. 
 
 Ira ran up to help Steve, but Ned who was standing 
 near, said: 
 
 "Keep back. It shore don't take two of us to handle 
 one city dude.*' 
 
 Finally Steve took him down to the edge of the mud, 
 which was now several feet above the water. Reggie's 
 feet slipped and he went down with Steve on top, al- 
 most burying him in the ooze and slime, where he held 
 him while he v/ashed his face with great handfuls of 
 mud. 
 
 While the wrestling had been going on, the crowd 
 fell silent. Nowhere was heard the shouting and 
 laughter that had accompanied the downfall of other 
 victims. Every one seemed to recognize the fact 
 
 105 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G'' RANCH 
 
 that the playful element was lacking in this contest. 
 All were aware of the episode of the Fourth, when 
 Steve had boldly carried off the lady from under the 
 nose of the millionaire who had crossed the continent 
 in her wake, and were wondering what the next move 
 would be, but the lady had said "Thumbs down" again 
 for Reggie, and they were wondering if it meant 
 **Thumbs up" for Steve, but they expressed their sen- 
 timents only in sly nudges and winks as Reggie slunk 
 off up the hill, muttering impotent threats of 
 vengeance. 
 
 This seemed to put a period to the fun, as it was 
 already getting late. Everybody began to collect their 
 belongings and get ready to start home. 
 
 From Reggie's room could be heard muttered curs- 
 ing, and a noise of tininks and grips being jerked and 
 slammed about. For the first time in all his pampered 
 life, Reggie was packing up. That night he sought out 
 Miss Parker and with tears in his eyes again pleaded 
 with her to marry him and leave this beastly place, as 
 he called it. But her answer was characteristically 
 open and frank, and she said : 
 
 "No, Reggie I can't marry you. I wish I could, as 
 like all girls, I should like the many pretty things your 
 money would buy. It is too bad, you were so molly- 
 coddled in your youth, for from the game fight you 
 put up to-day and the stubbornness you evince in 
 your wooing, I believe there is good stuff in you and 
 that you could do something worth while if you ever set 
 3 VLT mind to it. Earning my own living has made 
 me too self-reliant, I suppose. I could never respect 
 a man who could not put his shoulder to the wheel and 
 make his own way." 
 
 These ideas were too radical for Reggie, and medi- 
 tating for a moment he said: 
 
 **Well, at any rate, I shall start for New York in 
 106 
 
DRAINING THE LAKE 
 
 the morning, and when you return perhaps you will 
 feel differently. I suppose if I had to I could *put 
 my shoulder to the wheel/ as you call it, but I don't 
 see the necessity, don't-cher-know. What's the use 
 of grinding when some one has already done it for 
 you. I find it quite hard enough work putting the 
 money in circulation. It is no end of bother stand- 
 ing for four or five hours at a time while some grubby 
 tailor fits my clothes, without earning the money to 
 buy them. Have to get up at five o'clock in the morn- 
 ing to catch that early train, so as to make connections 
 in Denver with a train going East. Guess I had bet- 
 ter say good-bye to you to-night. Beastly bore, get- 
 ting up so early. Sure you won't change your mind 
 and go with me?" said he, shaking hands perfunctorily, 
 all other emotions seemingly overshadowed by the 
 awful thought of having to get up at five o'clock. 
 
 The next morning as tlie wagon clattered off bear- 
 ing Reggie and his huge trunk and many- suitcases, 
 Miss Parker looked out of the window, and as they 
 disappeared over the hill, sighed and said somewhat 
 regretfully to herself : 
 
 "Well, I suppose that is my last chance to become 
 a millionairess. There are not many young men with 
 a million or two at his command searching for strug- 
 gling young illustrators to endow with their riches. 
 Too bad that money and brains so seldom go together, 
 especially inherited money. Now if Reggie was only 
 like Steve, or Steve had Reggie's millions — ^yes, if," and 
 with that she drew the shade and went back to bed 
 
 107 
 
vn 
 
 CHASING THE CATTLE THIEVES FROM 
 COVER 
 
 About twenty miles southeast of Denver, on Cole 
 Creek, somewhat back from the road, stands an old- 
 fashioned, large, square house, partially hidden by great 
 Cottonwood trees, whose shimmering leaves twinkle in 
 the bright sunlight, and strive to lessen the melan- 
 choly gloom that prevades the premises. Whatever 
 motive prompted the original owner to erect such a 
 house on that dry, barren ranch, was quickly aban- 
 doned, and the buildings soon became the nesting place 
 of owls and chattering magpies that flew in and out 
 through a broken window pane, making the empty 
 rooms to echo with the ghostly swishing of tlieir wings. 
 
 Now and then some chance tenant would occupy the 
 place for awhile, but after a time it would be vacated, 
 and again revert to its former state of dusty empti- 
 ness. At last it seemed to be utterly deserted. No one 
 had lived there for several years; doors creaked on 
 their hinges as they swung back and forth by every 
 gust of wind, and through these skulking coyotes would 
 sometimes peer cautiously, and sniffing at the ancient 
 man smell, patter about, taking advantage of this rare 
 opportunity to curiously inspect the habitation of their 
 greatest enemy. 
 
 108 
 
CHASIKG THE CATTLE THIEVES 
 
 However, at last passersby noticed that the ranch 
 showed signs of being occupied. The windows of the 
 lower floor were thrown open, and a thin hatchet-faced 
 woman briskly swept and scrubbed, while outside a 
 man with low brow and heavy visage went about the 
 business of repairing the corral so as to keep his 
 saddle horse from straying away. This done he rode 
 about among the neighbors, buying a few head of cattle 
 here and there, and when these were branded and 
 turned loose on the range it looked as though the old 
 house had at last found a permanent tenant. 
 
 No one knew from whence they came, for whenever 
 they were questioned they would simply state that 
 they were from back East and then quickly change 
 the subject. As it was not considered polite, and 
 in many cases hardly safe to inquire too closely into 
 a man's past, the matter would be dropped. 
 
 However, it is not necessary to know a person's 
 former residence in order to judge his character. 
 Like draws like, and after a few years people began 
 to notice that most of the ne'er-do-wells of the country 
 seemed to collect at Bradley's as the people were called, 
 and always found a ready welcome. And simultan- 
 eously, his herds became very prolific, and now and 
 then a cow could be seen caring for two calves, while 
 Bradley bought more right along, and always seemed 
 to be plentifully supplied with money. 
 
 Heavy beef steers just ready for market had a way 
 of disappearing suddenly off the range, and people be- 
 gan to couple those disappearances with the many 
 night trips made by Bradley to Denver, always with 
 heavily laden wagon. One day when a number of 
 them chanced to meet, the suspicion which had been 
 gradually crystalizing in their minds was openly 
 voiced, and it was finally agreed that they would all 
 keep a sharp lookout for proof of his guilt, and once 
 
 109 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G" RANCH 
 
 that was obtained the solution would be very simple, 
 as there were many trees quite handy. 
 
 The same night after this conversation, Steve, 
 Blackie, Flint and Ira all started to a dance which was 
 to be held on Cole Creek at a school house a mile or 
 so north of the Bradley Ranch. They rode hard so 
 as to reach their destination before darkness set in, as 
 the full moon on which they had relied to light their 
 way was likely to be completely obscured by the heavy, 
 ink-black clouds which hung menacingly in the south. 
 
 They reached the school house about eight o'clock 
 and already the sound of scraping fiddles and stamping 
 feet proclaimed that the dance was in progress. 
 Through the open windows and door could be heard 
 the noise made by many feet shuffling and rasping over 
 the sand shaken off the rough boots and shoes to the 
 rough and knotty, soft pine floor. Figures moved in 
 and out through the mazes of a waltz, having learned 
 from much practice to step lightly over the splinters 
 and cracks which would have been fatal to the unini- 
 tiated. The light streaming out penciled the gloom, 
 and revealed many saddle horses hitched to the fence, 
 or turned loose to crop the short grass inside the yard, 
 while here and there a light buggy or wagon indicated 
 that there were enough girls and women present to 
 insure the dance being a success. 
 
 At intervals as they had ridden along the gentle 
 stillness of the night had been broken by distant rumb- 
 lings of thimder, followed by zigzag streaks of light- 
 ning, shooting downward to the southern horizon. As 
 the boys were tying their horses this culminated in a 
 sudden blinding flash which seemingly rent the clouds 
 apart, and sent the contents of some heavenly reservoir 
 pouring upon the earth. Only the northern fringe of 
 the cloud passed over their heads, but the rain came 
 down in columns which, carried by the wind, beat 
 
 110 
 
CHASING THE CATTLE THIEVES 
 
 against the house like water flowing over a fall. There 
 was a quick letting down of windows, and the united 
 strength of two men closed the door upon the blast. 
 The horses humped up and with heads pointed toward 
 the earth leant back against the storm, their tails and 
 manes whipped about by the wind. 
 
 The musicians bent farther over their instruments, 
 and strove to be heard above the crash of thunder and 
 steady beat of the rain. So the hilarious progress 
 of the dance was in no wi^ lessened, for two or three 
 strangers who had come out from Denver thought- 
 fully brought along several bottles, which they gener- 
 ously passed around in the shelter of the cloak room. 
 
 As suddenly as it started the rain stopped about 
 midnight. Shortly afterward some one called 
 Blackie outside and he and the strangers disappeared 
 and could not be found when the other boys were 
 ready to start a couple of hours later. The clouds 
 had cleared away and the moon was shining in all its 
 brilliant promise, lighting up the prairie alniost like 
 day. 
 
 The tough little bronchos were galloping along in 
 steady, even strides, making but slight sound as tlieir 
 feet sank in the softened earth, when Steve abruptly 
 wheeled his horse and started back over the trail they 
 had come. 
 
 "What-you-may-call-it-in-there, where are you 
 goin'?" stuttered Flint, who was almost inarticulate 
 from his frequent libations of the evening. 
 
 By this time Steve was leaning far over in his saddle 
 closely studying the ground as he rode diagonally to 
 the way they had come. The other cowboys halted, 
 some eight or ten in number, and rode back to see what 
 Steve had found. 
 
 "What's the matter?" inquired they as they came 
 up. 
 
 Ill 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G" RANCH 
 
 "Looks like somebody has been driving cattle along 
 here since the rain. Here are a lot of tracks." 
 
 "Maybe it's a bunch goin' to the creek for water/' 
 observed one. 
 
 "No, I see a horse's track," objected Steve, who 
 had dismounted and was scrutinizing the ground more 
 closely. 
 
 "Here's another track on this side," said Ira. "There 
 are three horses altogether, and one is shod." 
 
 "Yes and they are headed straight for the Bradley 
 Ranch. If they was goin' in any other direction I 
 wouldn't think anything about it, but it might be worth 
 while for us to follow it up." 
 
 "Come on," shouted the others, starting ofif. They 
 had all drunk just enough to make them ready for 
 any adventure, no matter how reckless. 
 
 "Hold on," called Steve. " This is no picnic. If 
 we are goin' after cattle thieves we have got to be 
 more careful. And before we go any farther we had 
 better examine our guns and see if they are loaded." 
 
 At this they all gathered around, and somewhat 
 sobered at Steve's serious tone, began to break their 
 revolvers, and reload. Some borrowing cartridges 
 from those whose belts were more plentifully stocked 
 than their own. At last they were all ready and 
 started out, following the trail of the cattle, which was 
 plainly marked and went straight toward the Cole 
 Creek ranch. 
 
 "They are sure gettin' bold to drive these cattle 
 straight to the ranch, right after a rain, on the very 
 night when there was a dance at the school house, 
 and some of the crowd would be sure to cross it," ob- 
 served Fred. 
 
 "I guess they thought we would all be too drunk 
 to notice it," remarked Ira, succinctly. "Looks like 
 there are some calves in the bimch. Guess some more 
 
 112 
 
CHASING THE CATTLE THIEVES 
 
 of Bradley's cows will come out with twins to-mor- 
 row." 
 
 "What does he do with the cattle?" inquired Flint. 
 
 "He must kill them and haul them in to Denver, as 
 none of his bunch show any blotched brands. He 
 
 takes a lot of beef to town, and I think . But what 
 
 it was, Steve thought was lost in a sudden roaring, 
 swishing sound of rushing waters. Upon looking 
 up as they were about to cross the creek, the startled 
 cowboys could dimly see through the thick shadows 
 cast by the cottonwood trees a high wall of water bear- 
 ing down upon them. 
 
 "Hurry," shouted Steve to his followers. "There's 
 been a cloudburst up stream, and a flood is comin' 
 down the creek. We can make it if we get a move on." 
 Spurring their horses they scurried across with so little 
 time to spare that the oncoming wave caught the last 
 horse and swept him around as he was clambering up 
 the steep, high bank above. His nimble rider lightly 
 sprang over his head and, holding onto the reins, en- 
 abled him to secure a footing and make his way to 
 safety. 
 
 Fortunately they came out on a high bluflF, otherwise 
 they would have been carried down with the flood, for 
 as they stood looking back at the peril from which 
 they had so narrowly escaped they could see from the 
 moonlight gleaming on the water that the low meadow 
 land an the other side was already covered. 
 
 At a sign from Steve, whom they had instinctively 
 chosen as their leader, they rode silently on their way. 
 The crashing of falling trees and the roar of the flood 
 drowning all other sounds, and making speech impos- 
 sible. 
 
 Faintly and then louder as they neared the ranch 
 could be heard the sound of calves bawling. The cow- 
 boys rode up in the shadow of the cgrral where the 
 
 113 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G" RANCH 
 
 calves were penned, tied their horses to a tree, loos- 
 ened their pistols in their belts, and drew them around 
 so as to be easier to get, and bending over, slowly 
 but steadily crept around to the barn. 
 
 A ray of light penetrated through a chink in the rock 
 foundation, and the sound of a muttered curse greeted 
 their ears. 
 
 They slipped around to the bam door and opened it 
 carefully, but the absence of light or sound, convinced 
 them there must be an underground room. 
 
 Cautiously they made their way round the barn 
 again, searching for an outside door to the cellar, but 
 save for the little crack in the wall, which sent out a 
 penciled ray of light, there appeared to be no other 
 opening. 
 
 One after another tried to see what was going on 
 inside by peering through the chink, but it did not seem 
 to be favorably located to give them a view of the men 
 or their occupation. 
 
 While the rest were striving to look in through the 
 small opening in the wall, Steve and Ira went around 
 to the other end, and from the many tracks leading 
 to and from the corral they decided that they must 
 have driven the cattle inside and killed them. Care- 
 fully opening the double doors they saw a rope dang- 
 ling from a pulley above to an open trap door, while 
 lying close by were three dead steers, ready to be low- 
 ered to the cellar below, where doubtless their com- 
 rades were now being skinned. 
 
 Ira motioned for the rest to follow, which they did ; 
 the roar of the flood drowning what little sound they 
 made walking over the moist earth. 
 
 From below could be heard the men busily skinning 
 an animal and chatting away. Long immunity had 
 made them careless of discovery, and one might have 
 thought from the way they talked and discussed neigh- 
 
 114 
 
CHASING THE CATTLE THIEVES 
 
 borhood gossip that they were following the most hon- 
 est pursuit in the world. 
 
 With tense nerves and bated breath the cowboys 
 gathered around the opening, and halting a moment, 
 tried to determine from the conversation how many 
 were beneath them. The creek boomed and tumbled 
 nearby, and the rays of the moon came in at the open 
 door, lighting up the dark interior. 
 
 Scorning the stairway as being too slow a mode of 
 approach, Steve was about to swing himself down 
 when a rooster perched on a beam behind them awoke 
 with surprise at the bright light streaming in and evi- 
 dently thinking that he had overslept, hastily stretched 
 himself, and a shrill cock-a-doodle-doo rent the air as 
 he sent out his clarion announcement of the dawn. 
 
 Flint jumped and dropped his gun with a clatter, 
 and the startled cowboys, galvanized into sudden ac- 
 tion, tumbled pell mell through the hole after Steve, 
 who had swung himself down immediately with the 
 crash of the falling gun. 
 
 As he landed he saw a foot swing out and kick over 
 a lantern which dimly lighted the low vault-like room. 
 The light flared up and flickering a moment went out, 
 but that momentary flash revealed three frightened 
 men straightening up from over an animal which they 
 had been skinning. To one side were two other beeves, 
 already dressed and suspended from a joist overhead 
 to cool. 
 
 Thick, impenetrable darkness now enveloped them 
 like a wall. The cowboys picked themselves up and 
 closed in around Steve. Momentarily expecting an 
 attack they breathlessly waited, every sense on the 
 alert. The silence was so great they could hear a watch 
 in Ira's pocket busily ticking off the seconds, and every 
 second seemed an age. 
 
 Presently from the other side of the room could be 
 115 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G" RANCH 
 
 heard a vague sound as of some one tugging and pull- 
 ing at a heavy object Thinking they were trying to 
 make a barricade of the dead animals two cowboys sta- 
 tioned themselves so as to guard the stairway, while 
 the rest with drawn revolvers began to stealthily creep 
 through the darkness. 
 
 Quietly they made their way for a few steps, and 
 then without warning, stumbled and fell headlong over 
 the steer which they discovered still remained in the 
 center of the room. Getting up they reached out grop- 
 ingly, but found nothing but emptiness, or the blank 
 dirt wall. They were feeling their way along this when 
 Ira came to an open space, and thinking it might be 
 a passage leading outside, peered in, but nothing but 
 the same thick gloom met his view through which it 
 was impossible to distinguish any object. Putting out 
 his hand he started to enter and touched a rough, heavy 
 door which swollen from the damp, and with hinges 
 rusted from lack of use, was slowly being forced shut 
 by an unseen hand. 
 
 Instantly throwing his weight against the door he 
 wedged it open with his foot and shouted to his com- 
 panions : 
 
 "Come here! They've gone out through a tunnel 
 and are tryin 'to close the door behind them." But 
 with his cry a hand reached around the edge of the 
 door and a long pointed knife pierced his shoulder; 
 Ira flinched; the door went shut, and a large iron bar 
 fell into place just as the cowboys brought their united 
 weight against it. 
 
 The two who had been left to guard the stairway 
 rushed to their assistance, and as Steve turned to brace 
 himself better he saw a form appear in the trap door, 
 darkly silhouetted against the moonlight streaming 
 down. At first he thought it was one of the cowboys 
 going for a pole to use as a battering ram, but as the fig- 
 
 116 
 
CHASING THE CATTLE THIEVES 
 
 ure dashed up the stairs the true situation burst upon 
 him. 
 
 "Hell r he exclaimed. ''They've tricked us. There 
 goes one up the stairs." With two leaps he was at the 
 top of the stair, and darting to the door, saw a man 
 crouched low, and running across the corral to where 
 the horses were tied. 
 
 Vaulting over, the runner whipped out a knife, cut 
 the reins of the nearest horse, swung himself into the 
 saddle and galloped away up the creek, just as Steve 
 jumped over the fence after him. Not having a knife 
 precious moments were lost in untying his horse, but 
 once in the saddle he gained steadily on the fugitive, 
 who, seeing his plight, rode his horse toward the creek, 
 and attempted to force him into the whirling torrent 
 But tlie beast snorted, and stood stubbornly on the 
 bank, unmindful alike of whip and spur. He knew 
 that the threat which lurked in the voice of the flood 
 was no idle jest, while the oncoming horse was only 
 one of his comrades, and carried no menace for him 
 personally. His instincts warned him that his rider 
 was urged on by some desperate fear, and had need 
 of haste, but they also told him that he was one of 
 those unfortunates who never received voluntary love 
 or obedience from either man or beast They did 
 his will it is true, but only when they must, and it 
 was self-interest, fear or hatred that prompted them. 
 
 But the man had cunning, and apparently yielding 
 the point, turned and rode out across the prairie, his 
 pursuer hot on his trail, and when the horse had 
 warmed to the race, with infinite craft circled and 
 again rode toward the creek. This time when he 
 reached the edge the horse had too much impetus to 
 stop, and with a wide spring landed far out in the 
 swirling stream. 
 
 The water was almost to the top of the bank from 
 U7 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G" RANCH 
 
 which he jumped and close by the current was run- 
 ning swift and strong. Bravely he struggled, the 
 hoarse voice of his rider urging him on with curse and 
 shout, until the seething current caught and rolled 
 him over and over, in a mad race down stream. 
 
 Steve made ready his lariat as he galloped up, and 
 paused a moment before throwing it, closely scanning 
 the surface of the water, trying in the dim light to 
 distinguish the man from the floating driftwood. 
 Thinking he must have been carried farther down he 
 was about to ride along the bank when he saw a dark 
 object appear and a hand reach up and clutch at a 
 limb as it was swept past a tree. 
 
 Shouting to attract the drowning man's attention, 
 Steve threw his rope, and the loop settled over him, but 
 before he could tighten it up the undertow drew him 
 beneath the surface. 
 
 Quickly recoiling his rope he threw it again, and 
 caught him by the head and shoulders the next time 
 he was cast up by the churning water, and riding in- 
 land, dragged him to shore. 
 
 Seeing that he made no effort to rise, Steve dis- 
 mounted, pulled him a little farther upon the bank, 
 and then turned him over to see whom he had rescued. 
 But the moon hid behind a cloud for a moment as it 
 ashamed of the revelation it was about to make. 
 Slowly the clouds drifted onward, the moonlight fil- 
 tered through the leaves, and when the man's face 
 lay revealed, Steve sprang back with a cry of horror, 
 hardly able to believe the evidence of his eyes. 
 
 Choking and coughing, the half -drowned man 
 stumbled up and made Steve an ironic bow. 
 
 "Bon matin, mon frere" said he with a sardonic 
 grin. "It gives me great pleasure to see you." 
 
 "Well, it don't give me great pleasure to see you," 
 answered Steve. "If I'd known it was you I'd a let you 
 
 118 
 
CHASI]S^G THE CATTLE THIEVES 
 
 drown, for that would be a much better end than the 
 hangin' you'll get as soon as the other boys come up." 
 
 "You'll stand by and let them hang me, I suppose, 
 and glad of the chance. Maybe you'll pull the rope," 
 said Blackie with a sneer. **You are a great brother." 
 
 **No, I'll not pull the rope, but you would if it was 
 me. If they find you here they'll not ask me any 
 odds, but'll string you up to the nearest tree. For I'll 
 not take sides with a cattle thief, even if he is my 
 brother, which you are not, when it comes right down 
 to the point, although this is the first time anybody has 
 ever reminded you of it. We have been brought up as 
 brothers, and you've had the same chances as I've 
 had, but it seems to have done you little good. So 
 far I've always stood by you, but you've started on 
 a trail that I don't care to travel, an' you'll have to 
 go it alone." 
 
 At this, Blackie, who had considered himself safe 
 ever since he had recognized Steve's voice when he 
 shouted to him, lost some of his jauntiness, and a look 
 of fear crept into his face in spite of his attempt at 
 bravado. 
 
 "Well, let's not let them find me here, then. All 
 you have to do is to ride back and tell them that the 
 man you was chasin' tried to cross the creek and was 
 drowned. That won't be hard for them to believe the 
 way the creek is now, an' I'll make a get-a-w^ay. You 
 might give me one more chance, anyway," said he, and 
 with a searching glance at Steve he remarked sug- 
 gestively. "I've a neat little sum saved up, an' we'll 
 go halves." 
 
 "Shut up ! You damned thief. I don't want any of 
 your dirty money. If I help you to get away, and keep 
 still, it will be for the sake of our fathef and mother, 
 and the family that will be disgraced if they hang you, 
 as you deserve. But before I do anything, you've got 
 
 119 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G" RANCH 
 
 to promise right here to quit rustlin* for good, or 111 
 leave you to take your medicine." 
 
 "I'll promise, all right," said Blackie hurriedly. "I 
 always heard there was honor among thieves, but them 
 damned cowards never even told me they had a tun- 
 nel, or I wouldn't a been caught You get me out of 
 this, and 1*11 never mix with that bunch again." 
 
 While they had been talking the horse Blackie had 
 been riding was carried down stream, and coming to a 
 
 Elace where the creek made a bend and formed a sand- 
 ar, found the current less swift and swam out Then 
 like some person who has narrowly escaped death, and 
 thankful to be alive, seeks the society of his fellow- 
 men, he trotted up and began nosing Steve's horse in 
 friendly sympathy. 
 
 "By Gee, there's the horse I was ridin'," said 
 Blackie, and running to him, mounted and galloped 
 away, leaving Steve gazing after him with a look in 
 which relief and amazement mingled. 
 " "Well, if he ain't the lucky one," said Steve. "I 
 was just wonderin' how I was to get him away from 
 here." With that he mounted his horse, and rode back 
 to the ranch. 
 
 When he arrived he found the other boys just ready 
 to motmt and start on the trail of the rustlers, whom 
 they judged had ridden toward Denver, having made 
 their escape while the door to the tunnel was being 
 broken down. This took some time as it was made of 
 heavy boards, reinforced across the back by willow 
 poles about the size of a man's arm, and all held shut 
 by three iron bars. It took time to find the ax and hew 
 a way through this, and when they had done so and 
 cautiously entered, they found nothing but the empty 
 passage, which ended in an old dry well back of a 
 shed. A large bucket suspended from a pulley, dis- 
 closed their means of reaching the surface, while a 
 
 120 
 
CHASING THE CATTLE THIEVES 
 
 half-filled manger denoted the presence of horses that 
 had evidently enabled them to make good their escape. 
 
 Before leaving they went to the house, which during 
 all the excitement had shown no life, and getting no 
 response to their repeated knocking, they opened the 
 door and went in, only to find the place deserted. 
 From the disorder all over the house it looked like the 
 men had been keeping bachelor's camp for some time, 
 as Bradley's wife was known to be scrupulously neat 
 in her housekeeping. 
 
 While the rest were examining the house, Steve went 
 into the barn and finding Blackie's horse tied in one 
 of the stalls, unsaddled it, hid the saddle under some 
 hay in the loft, and turned the horse loose on the 
 range. 
 
 The moon went down, and the thick darkness that 
 precedes the dawn, settled over the earth just as the 
 cowboys started out to scour the country in search of 
 the fugitives. From the neighbors they learned that 
 Bradley and his wife were supposed to be on a visit 
 somewhere in the East, and it must have been some 
 other members of the gang whom they had surprised. 
 
 People along the road to Denver had been aroused 
 in the early morning by their dogs barking, and had 
 heard the sound of galloping horses, but further than 
 that nothing was learned as to who the rustlers were. 
 
 Bradley returned from the East in a few days, and 
 was arrested as he stepped off the train, but when his 
 trial came up he produced an alibi which secured his 
 release for the time, although every one was sure he 
 was the leader of the gang, even if he had not been 
 mixed up in that particular event. 
 
 Several of his cronies were suspected, but there 
 was not enough proof to warrant their arrest, so the 
 people very reluctantly dropped the case for the time. 
 
 The beeves that had been butchered were turned over 
 121 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G" RANCH 
 
 to their respective owners as indicated by the brands 
 wliich they bore, and Bradley very wisely returned to 
 the East for an indefinite visit 
 
 Blackie had the wisdom to ride straight home, and 
 turned the horse, on which he made his escape, loose 
 to stray home. It was the one Ira had ridden to the 
 dance, and Walter Milton found it a day or so later 
 with a bunch of range stock. Everybody supposed it 
 had swam the creek, and tliere was much speculation 
 as to what had become of the rider, but as no one 
 was missing in the neighborhood, and no dead body 
 had been found along the creek, it was decided that 
 whoever it was must have by some chance been saved 
 from drowning. No one thought of connecting 
 Blackie with the case, and Steve hoped that the scare 
 he had received would serve as a warning to him in 
 future, but knowing how untamable was his spirit, he 
 was much afraid that it would not be effective. 
 
 With nothing to feed upon the excitement soon died 
 down, and after a time Bradley judging rightly the 
 tolerent attitude of the Westerner, returned with his 
 wife and settled into the usual routine of life. But 
 it was noticed that not so many fat steers disappeared 
 off the range as before. 
 
 122 
 
^ vm 
 
 MISS PARKER MAKES A PIE "^ 
 
 One morning about the first of August, Ned and 
 Marcia determined to go after some of their beef steers 
 that had strayed off the range and which a cowboy 
 who passed the day before had told them were about 
 twenty miles east. 
 
 As it was a long ride Miss Parker decided to stay 
 at home and write some letters. That was the only 
 task she had set for herself while in the West, to write 
 long and interesting letters to her many friends, some 
 of whom she did not find time to write more than once 
 a year. 
 
 Collecting her writing materials and a couple of 
 cushions she soon had herself comfortably ensconced 
 in a hammock which swung between two enormous 
 Cottonwood trees south of the house, and commanded 
 a view of the gate. 
 
 She was interrupted in the midst of the first letter by 
 the clattering of hoofs on the dry, hard road, and 
 presently an opening in the trees disclosed to view a 
 short, stocky figure on a little roan pony, bouncing up 
 and down with every step of the horse, his tow-col- 
 ored hair flying in the breeze. He drew rein and 
 called out : 
 
 "Hello, leddy! Me bane Yon Yonson. Me little 
 123 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G'' RANCH 
 
 poy youst got a bane his nose oop. My vife youst 
 tell me — go get Mrs, Alton. You tell her — hein?" 
 
 Hardly able to restrain her laughter at his queer dia- 
 lect Miss Parker went to look for Mrs. Alton, who 
 came out and made inquiries as to what had now hap- 
 pened to the "Calamity Danes/' as Ned had long ago 
 dubbed them. She was used to such calls for some 
 one of their numerous brood of clumsy and awkward 
 children, in their efforts to overcome the handicap of 
 heredity and become cowpunchers and broncho- 
 busters, were always getting hurt, and then would send 
 post haste for Mrs. Alton. 
 
 The little Danish boys made yaliant efforts, but they 
 did not take kindly to the saddle, as they came from 
 a long line of peasant ancestry, who had been their own 
 beasts of burden for centuries. 
 
 The horse in the old countries is the dearly jwized 
 possession of the rich. Even now the father never' 
 thought of saddling a horse when he wished to drive in 
 the milk cows, or head a refractory animal about his 
 ranch. He would simply set out on foot and run so 
 fast that his feet could hardly be seen to touch the 
 ground, but seemed to be twinkling along in the air. 
 
 So the children had a hard time of trying to acquire 
 that oneness of horse and man that seemed to be the 
 natural inheritance of the other plains-bom children, i 
 As a result Mrs. Alton had become sort of an emerg-' 
 ency surgeon. Setting broken limbs, sewing up cuts, 
 and otherwise coming to the rescuce, when the little 
 two-year-old Mollie decided that a rattle snake was a 
 suitable toy, or the baby had a bane his nose oop as 
 in the present instance. 
 
 Telling the man to drive up Little Don, and saddle 
 him for her, she went off to put on her riding habit. 
 For, in spite of her age and white hair, she still rode 
 horseback wheai in a hurry, as in that way one could 
 
 124 
 
 ItT" 
 
MISS PARKER MAKES A PIE 
 
 frequently make short cuts across the country, where 
 a buggy would have to make long detours to find a safe 
 crossmg through the many gulches. 
 
 She was soon ready and they started off, leaving 
 Miss Parker at the ranch with now only the old 
 grandad for company. 
 
 Delighted at the prospect of a long quiet day at let- 
 ter writing, she made an energetic beginning, but, alas, 
 for good intentions. Perhaps she had not recovered 
 from the effects of the dance she had attended a few 
 nights before, or it may have been the unusual quiet 
 of the ranch coupled with the warmth of the day, 
 anyway, in a few minutes she was fast asleep. 
 
 And while she slept on undisturbed in the cool shade 
 of the trees, lulled by the gentle breeze which fanned 
 h^r cheeks, three dusty, tired cowboys cheerfully rode 
 four or five miles out of their way through the broil- 
 ling hot sun, just to pass the ranch and give her greet- 
 ing. 
 
 The Alton Ranch had always been a favorite stop- 
 ping place, but since Miss Parker's arrival it had be- 
 come more popular than ever. The cowboys seemed 
 to think that no matter where they were going the 
 nearest way was by the Alton Ranch, and Ned said 
 that "if all the stray cattle and horses that were 
 searched for in that vicinity had been there they would 
 have stampeded some night and tore down the whole 
 dang place." 
 
 It became such a joke that, after a time, they would 
 ask every cowboy that came along if he was hunting 
 strays. Most of them were too bashful to do more 
 than gaze from afar, and stammer "Yes, ma'am," and 
 "No ma'am," if addressed by Miss Parker, but this was 
 not true of Steve, who paid open court to the lady, 
 and made frequent tr^)s to the Alton Ranch, happening 
 along at anj time, 
 
 12S 
 
STEVE OP THE "— G'' RANCH 
 
 And so it was to-day. He rode up, accompanied by 
 Ira and Billie, and so deep were Miss Parker^s 
 slumbers that the noise made by the three horsemen 
 galloping up to the ranch did not awaken her. 
 
 They dismounted, threw the rein over their horses* 
 heads and entered the gate. Spying Miss Parker 
 lying in the hammock asleep they mischievously stole 
 up and quietly seated themselves tailor fashion on the 
 ground in front of her. 
 
 She made a beautiful picture as she reclined among 
 the cushions, her cheeks flushed by sleep, and whisps 
 of black hair blown about by the wind. One slender, 
 white arm, from off which the loose sleeve had fallen, 
 was bent up over her head, partially shielding her eyes 
 from the light. Behind her was a thick hedge of tame 
 current bushes, laden with scarlet fruit, and formed 
 a suitable background for the girl's rich coloring. 
 
 The whole made a scene in marked contrast to the 
 bare and treeless plains over which they had come, al- 
 ready being turned brown by the unusual heat and 
 drouth. So it is no wonder that the fixed gaze of 
 three pair of fascinated eyes soon aroused her, and 
 with a startled exclamation she sat up, scattering 
 papers and letters in every direction. 
 
 Steve, fearing that she might be offended at their 
 seeming familiarity, very respectfully apologized, say- 
 ing in extenuation : "You made such a pretty picture 
 that we did not like to wake you, for fear you might 
 be a vision and disappear." 
 
 "Well, if that is the case," answered she, "I sup- 
 pose I shall have to forgive you, but since I am really 
 flesh and blood as you see, will you please pick up my 
 letters, which the wind is trying to carry out on the 
 prairie to amuse the coyotes?" 
 
 They all began collecting the scattered letters, and 
 Steve after chasing one elusive missive about the yard, 
 
 126 
 
MISS PAEKER MAKES A PIE 
 
 was rewarded for his trouble by seeing at the bottom, 
 the closing salutation of, "Lovingly yours, Jack." 
 
 "Loving yours, Jack," mused he, as he returned 
 it to her. "Who is Jack, and what class is he in? Is 
 he one of the 'Also ran,' the 'Has beens' or "Go in' 
 to be'?" 
 
 "I don't know," answered Miss Parker, laughing. 
 "I have not classified him as yet. What one should 
 you suggest?" 
 
 "Well, I don't know what one he's in now, but I 
 know where he's goin' to be. I'm never goin' to stop 
 until him and all the rest are in the discard, and me 
 on the winnin' side, well past the judge's stand when 
 the rope falls." 
 
 "Indeed," mused Miss Parker. "Methinks I have 
 heard those words before, or something to that effect, 
 spoken quite as confidently as you have uttered them. 
 But as Utah only allows to men the privilege of more 
 than one spouse, I do not see how they are all going 
 to win do you? Unless I should found a new Sect 
 giving women the same prerogatives the Mormons 
 enjoy. 
 
 "I have often thought it might not be a bad plan, 
 as most of the married men I know are so engrossed in 
 making money that they have no time for companion- 
 ship with their wives, who are forced to sit alone of 
 evenings and amuse themselves during the day by 
 spending money, attending woman's clubs or going to 
 the matinee, with never a man on the horizon any- 
 where. 
 
 "So, instead of allowing a man more than one wife, 
 the women should be allowed two husbands. One to 
 support her, and the other to amuse her." 
 
 "Well, that might be necessary in the cities," ob- 
 jected Steve. "But out here the women amuse them- 
 selves by lookin' after the house and children, and 
 
 127 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G'' RANCH 
 
 whenever there is anything goin' on, they all go to- 
 getlier." 
 
 "That's so," agreed Billie. "But you have neglected 
 to mention one of the ways the women out here have 
 of amusin* themselves, and that is 'cookin'." 
 
 "Tryin' to follow all this lofty conversation between 
 you two is awful fatiguin' and I don't believe I'll be 
 able to stand much more of it without something to eat 
 anyway. Of course, I ain't hintin', but did any of you 
 ever eat a currant pie? I've looked at them currants 
 until I can just tell what a currant pie'd taste like." 
 
 "I'm bettin' that Miss Parker can make the best cur- 
 ront pie you ever eat," said Ira. 
 
 "You must have a good imagination, Ira, if you can 
 tell what a pie I made would taste like. The only 
 pies I ever made were composed of a judicious mixture 
 of clay and water and baked in the sun." 
 
 "I am like the man from Missouri," said Steve, "and 
 will have to be shown. Come on, boys, let's get some 
 buckets and pick some." 
 
 At this Miss Parker was in a quandary, and going 
 in the house appealed to the old man. 
 
 "Grandad, what must I do? Here are all these 
 hungry men clamoring for pie, and I don't know how 
 to make one." 
 
 "I don't know," answered Mr. Alton. "Maybe you 
 can find out from the cook book. There ought to be 
 one around somewhere. You surely will have to try, 
 as all the women out here can make pies, and these 
 boys naturally think you ought to make better pies than 
 anvbody else, judgin' by the way you do other things. 
 
 'They won't hardly understand you not bein' able to 
 make pies. I surely think every girl ought to number 
 pie makin' among her accomplishments, for when the 
 courtin* days is over, and the minister is done sayin' 
 his little speech, the hone)mioon lasts longer if the girl 
 
 X28 
 
MISS PARKER MAKES A PIE 
 
 knows how to make her home and husband comfort- 
 able. And that is true, be they rich or poor. I heard 
 what you said about foundin' a new sect for women. 
 Maybe them women you know wouldn't have to spend 
 so much time alone if they knew more about makin' 
 a home, and that don't mean that they all would need 
 to cook or wash dishes either. But a little knowledge 
 of that wouldn't hurt any of them,'' And with that 
 he tottered out to the kitchen behind Miss Parker 
 to see the fim, just as the boys came in with a bucket- 
 ful of berries. 
 
 '*Well, if you men will promise to eat what I make, 
 111 try and concoct a pie. It cannot taste very badly 
 made out of these lovely currants." 
 
 "Let me see," pondered she, "I am always reading 
 Mrs. Rose's Household Hints in the Woman's Home 
 Companion, but all I can remember about making pie 
 crust is that you put in lots of lard, a little water, and 
 do not knead it very much, and then roll it out on a 
 marble slab. That settles it. I can not make it as we 
 have no marble slab on which to roll it out" 
 
 "Oh, roll it out on the table, or on the floor. We 
 don't care," said Ira, 
 
 "Marble slab," said Steve, "Now where did I see 
 a marble slab ?" 
 
 "The only one I ever saw in this cotmtry," said 
 Billie, "is a flat stone at the head of a grave inside that 
 little picket fence at Johnnie Rice's place, where we 
 planted that fellow we foimd frozen to death in your 
 claim shack two or three years ago." 
 
 "You go ahead and mix the dough," chuckled 
 Steve, "and I'll furnish the slab." 
 
 "Now, where has he gone?" inquired Miss Parker. 
 "To get the headstone.**" 
 
 "I dont' know," said Billie. **Stevc is tssually equal 
 to any emergency." 
 
 129 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G" RANCH 
 
 "Well, I guess if you said you wanted it, some of 
 'em would get it for you," observed Grandad. "So far 
 you have a sample of about everything the plains pro- 
 duce. Rattlesnake skins, horn toads, magpies, Indian 
 arrows, an' I don't know what all. You only need a 
 tombstone to complete the Ust. The other day while 
 you was gone that crazy Flint rode up, half leadin' and 
 half draggin' a live coyote by his lariat, v/hich he said 
 he was bringin' to you, I told him to shoot the dumbed 
 thing. I ain't a goin' to have it around here eatin* 
 up sdl the chickens and snappin' at everybody. 
 
 "I don't mind tumin' the place into a museum as 
 long as they bring harmless sort of things, but I draw 
 the line at live coyotes and rattlesnakes." 
 
 There was a sotmd in the next room of somethuig 
 falling and a loud crash, but before they could go to 
 see what had happened, Steve came out carrying the 
 marble top of an old walnut dresser. 
 
 "Well, I'll be dumbed," exclaimed Grandad. "Did 
 you break that dresser? Fve had that for forty years." 
 
 "No, I just knocked the lamp off and broke the 
 chimney." 
 
 "Come on. Miss Parker," called Billie. **Here's your 
 marble slab, so you've no excuse now." 
 
 "Go ahead," encouraged Ira. "And well all help. 
 Here, Billie, you get some flour. I'll get the lard, and 
 Steve you get the sugar," 
 
 "All right," assented Steve, '*Where do they keep 
 the sugar. Grandad?" 
 
 "I don't know. They ought to be some up here, but 
 if they ain't, the/s a sack down cellar," answered the 
 old man. 
 
 Finally all the ingredients were collected and they all 
 sat around to watch Miss Parker make the pie, and 
 that was enough to embarrass even an experienced 
 
 130 
 
MISS PAEKER MAKES A PIE 
 
 cook. The old man seeing her confiision came to the 
 rescue by saying: 
 
 "Ain't you fellows goin' to have anything but pie for 
 dinner? While Miss Parker is makin* it, you had 
 better get some meat and peel some potatoes." 
 
 Miss Parker was naturally deft with her hands, and 
 the long slender fingers that wielded the brush and 
 pencil so cleverly were equally as deft as she kneaded 
 the dough, covered the pan, and at last daintily pinched 
 the edges together, the way she had seen Aunt Ma- 
 thilda, their old colored cook, finish oflF her pies. 
 
 When she had put in the berries she started to pour 
 in the whole cup of sugar, when Steve stopped her 
 with a laugh. 
 
 "What is the matter?" inquired she, 
 
 "Ain't you puttin' in too much sugar?** 
 
 "I do not know. It must take a lot I read once 
 that the way to make gooseberry pie was to put in 
 sugar as long as your conscience w^ould allow you, and 
 then shut your eyes and throw it in with both hands 
 as fast as you could. And I believe that currants have 
 even more acid than gooseberries." 
 
 "Well, just put in a little, and if it not sweet enough 
 we can put in more. It won't take so much if you make 
 the pie, you know,** suggested Billic. 
 
 At last the pie was ready. Billie had the potatoes 
 on cooking; Ira cut the meat, and Steve made the 
 coflFee. They all imited and set the table, and helped 
 take up the dinner. The pie was set out to cool, while 
 they ate, and when they were ready Miss Parker 
 hunted up some plates to put it on, and soon everybody 
 was served. 
 
 Steve put rather a generous piece in his mouth, and 
 then loolang around rather startled, swallowed it at one 
 gulp, and hastily took a drink of water. Then he quiz- 
 ically watched Ira and Billie while they ate some of 
 
 131 
 
STEVE OF THE "~ G" RANCH 
 
 theirs. They each took a bite, swallowed quickly, and 
 then looked at Steve, waiting until Miss Parker should 
 take a piece of hers, and when she had, there was a 
 general explosion. Steve had made a mistake when 
 he went after the sugar and dipped into the salt sack. 
 
 tm 
 
EX 
 
 COYOTE CHASE 
 
 After dinner was over, Ira and Billie reluctantly 
 took their departure, and Steve suggested to Miss 
 Parker that they take the dogs and go for a coyote 
 chase. To this she readily consented as so far they 
 had not been able to find a coyote on any of their trips. 
 At night their nervous yapping kept her awake, but by 
 day they kept out of sight through respect for the 
 pack of hounds, whom they had learned to fear. 
 
 While Steve was saddling a horse for her to ride, she 
 went in and put on her riding habit and boots, and 
 calling the dogs they were soon on their way. The 
 pack consisted of seven black and white-spotted gray 
 hounds. Only four of them came in answer to their 
 repeated calls, and these were old Nick and Bettie and 
 their two sprightly offsprings who were now old 
 enough to be initiated into the mysteries of the chase, 
 but were too yoimg to be of much assistance in killing 
 a coyote. 
 
 One or the other of them was constantly breaking 
 away from the pack to chase a prairie dog, which 
 wotdd entice them on by sitting on the edge of its den 
 and emitting its saucy little weau, weau, weau, each 
 time jerking down its flat, stubby tail like a toy dog. 
 When the pup was jtist upon it, with one tantalizing^ 
 squeak it would dude into the hole, 
 
 133 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G'* RANCH 
 
 Every now and then as they rode along they would 
 come across a clumsy, ungainly horn toad, which in- 
 creased its awkward gait as it hurried out of the way. 
 While the little sand lizards, trusting in their extra 
 swiftness, would scurry along ahead of the horses for 
 a space, and then as if giving up the race, would scram- 
 ble up the sides of the path, often just in time to avoid 
 being stepped upon. 
 
 "Mercy!'* exclaimed Miss Parker. **To look at the 
 plains, one would think them as barren of life as they 
 are of vegetation, but everywhere one finds creeping, 
 crawling things, all of the same yellow, brownish tint 
 of the grass and earth. My horse nearly stepped on 
 that little wiggly thing just now, and look there! 
 What is the matter with that bird i^' 
 
 "Well, I call that grit," said Steve, "See that rattler 
 slidin' off there. It's been after her nest, and she has i 
 been tryin' to drive it away." 
 
 "Hold your horse. I am goin' to shoot it," saying 
 which he whipped out his revolver, there was a quick 
 report, and a spat of dust which the bullet kicked up 
 as it went into the ground, after passing through the 
 snake about half way down its sinuous length. An- 
 other shot tore its head to pieces. 
 
 "How can you hit things like that.*^ You don't seem 
 to take any aim." 
 
 "Oh, I don't know," answered Steve, somewhat em- 
 barrassed. "I guess it is a good deal like playin' 
 ball. Your eye follows the ball, and your hands take 
 the right position to catch it" 
 
 "I believe the bird is hurt See how she flutters 
 along." 
 
 "I guess she is just playin' off, trying to draw our 
 attention away from her nest which ought to be some- 
 where near. 
 
 "Yes, there it is behind that littk weed, with four 
 XS4 
 
COYOTE CHASE 
 
 young ones in it Ain't they ugly little things with 
 their mouths spread open like that? They don't look 
 dike they was worth makin' such a fuss over, do they?" 
 
 "No," answered Miss Parker, laughing. "But I 
 have seen people who were just as foolish. 
 
 "I remember one time when I was a little girl going 
 with some other children to view a new baby. The 
 ' proud young mother was holding it on her lap, and we 
 all gathered around her. The other children with much 
 tact immediately began exclaiming about how pretty 
 and sweet it was. It had an unusually thick head of 
 dark hair for a young baby, and as it lay there wav- 
 ing its tiny hands and puckering up its little red face, 
 it reminded me of the monkey belonging to the old 
 organ grinder who used to pass our house every day. 
 
 "The baby's father was standing near, and seeing 
 that I did not seem as enthusiastic as the others, very 
 foolishly asked me if I didn't think it was pretty, and 
 I bluntly answered *No.' 
 
 "I never shall forget his snort of contempt, and his 
 remark that 'the little fool didn't know a pretty baby 
 when she saw one,' The other children looked at me 
 with horror. I resolved that I would never make that 
 mistake again. So the next time I happened to be 
 where there was a little baby, and was invited up to its 
 crib to see it, although it was screeching at the top 
 of its lungs, I mustered up what enthusiasm I could, 
 and said : Tt is very pretty.' 
 
 "Its parents seemed to have a sense of humor, and 
 shouted with laughter at my saying the baby was 
 pretty when it was crying." 
 
 "I should have thought you would have been rather 
 discouraged after that," said Steve, chuckling. 
 
 They had been riding up a gentle slope, and just 
 then reached the top, which was the highest point for 
 miles around and gave a commanding view of the 
 
 135 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G" RANCH 
 
 whole surrounding country. All about spread the 
 prairie, cut here and there by gulches, which converted 
 its surface into rolling undulating mounds or hills, 
 while to the west, as far as the eye could reach, 
 stretched the purple, snow-capped mountains, stand- 
 ing stiff against the sky. The tallest peaks piercing the 
 clouds and glistening in the sun above them. 
 
 Miss Parker stopped her horse, and turning slowly, 
 let her gaze travel from one far horizon to another, 
 and then back over the vastness that intervened. There 
 was nothing to mar the view. Here and there a gray 
 speck marked the site of some ranch, and tucked 
 away in the valleys where the creeks ran, were patches 
 of dark green meadow lands, but for the most part 
 there was nothing but the bare, brown prairie, sweep- 
 ing on and on, ever coaxing the eye to greater reaches 
 of vision. A light wind was blowing from the west, 
 coming fresh and resonant from the snow and pines 
 of the mountains. 
 
 ! Miss Parker drew a long breath of the pure, cool 
 air, and exclaimed : 
 
 **Oh ! I love this country. 
 
 *T do not believe that you people who have grown 
 up in the midst of these rolling prairies and in sight 
 of those majestic mountains can imagine what im- 
 pression they make on a person who has lived in a 
 crowded city like New York. 
 
 'T believe there are thousands of people who live 
 and die there, without ever seeing a sunrise or sunset. 
 For all they see of the sun or moon, their days and 
 nights, might be caused by turning on or off of the 
 electric lights. 
 
 "In the suburbs it is not so bad. There they have 
 nice shady streets and green lawns, but in the city 
 proper there are nothing but nanx)w, tunnel-like 
 
 136 
 
COYOTE CHASE 
 
 streets, walled on either side by hideous brownstone 
 houses. Each just like the other. 
 
 "The atmosphere is laden with moisture collected 
 from the sea and rivers, which in winter bites and 
 stings the hands and fao* like taking a plunge into 
 ice-cold water. But it is even worse in summer. Then 
 it becomes a suffocating blanket through which the 
 people gasp and struggle for breath. 
 
 "I am afraid this trip has spoiled me, and I will be 
 like a bird in a cage, pining for the freedom of which 
 I have had a glimpse," 
 
 "Well, I sure feel a heap encouraged since hearin' 
 that speech. With the country standin' ace high, I 
 ought to win in a walk, without your goin* to Utah and 
 foundin' that new Sect for females you was talkin* 
 about to-day." 
 
 "Dear me, have you been discouraged?" said she in 
 a mocking tone. "I hadn't observed it." 
 
 "Oh, there have been times when I have been a 
 little anxious, but I don't worry much since Reggie 
 went back. While he was here I used to lay awake 
 nights takin* inventories of myself and personal as- 
 sets, and stackin' them up against Reggie and his mil- 
 lions, and I couldn't help admittin' to myself that any 
 right-minded girl ought to take the millions, even if 
 Reggie was a heavy encumbrance, but I kept hopin* 
 all the time that you wouldn't." 
 
 "And now since he has gone, you have no more 
 anxiety, I suppose," said she a little nettled at his 
 assurance. 
 
 "I guess I have enough discomfort to please you if 
 you knew all about it. Most girls can cause a man 
 that, even 'if, there ain't much competition. They'll 
 keep 'em fiti the anxious seat just the same." 
 
 "And wise is the maiden who prolongs their agony 
 as long as possih)' , for when a man has won a for- 
 
 137 
 
STEA^E OP THE '^— G'' RANCH 
 
 tune, he spends much time and thought in an effort 
 to keep it, but when he has won a woman he considers 
 the matter settled for Ufe. To him courting is hke 
 reading an interesting book, both are all absorbing 
 until finished; while to a woman, loving words are 
 always the greatest treasures of her heart. Moral — A 
 girl should never marry while yet young enough to be 
 w^ooed." And with a laughing challenge at Steve she 
 set her horse into a gallop and rode at a breakneck 
 pace down the hill. The dogs with their long, easy 
 lope keeping alongside the horses, and as they looked 
 up at her their open mouths and lolling tongues gave 
 the impression that they were joining in her mirth. 
 
 Just as she was about to call Steve's attention to 
 it, Nick and Bettie pricked up their ears, and with a 
 significant look at the pups, quietly slipped around the 
 head of a little draw, and came full upon a mother 
 coyote and her five little cubs chasing each other in 
 a spirited game ot tag. 
 
 The mother upon seeing the dogs gave an imperative 
 yap of command, and the cubs without stopping to see 
 what had caused this sudden interruption in their play, 
 scuttled to safety in the den, at the other end of the 
 valley. All but one, who had in an attempt to elude 
 its playfellow, made a wider detour than usual, and 
 when the dogs appeared it was directly in their path. 
 
 The mother seeing its peril and heedless of her own 
 safety, with reckless devotion, rar between them and 
 the cub. Her ruse was successful, as she came so 
 idcse to old Nick's nose that he forgot all about the 
 little one, and making a quick turn, was right at her 
 heels , Bettie and the two pups strung out behind, and 
 away they went down the guch; up the hill, circling 
 over the prairie ; now out of sight in some gulley, only 
 to reappear in a few minutes on another hill. 
 
 It was a splendidly matched race, neither the doe 
 138 ^ 
 
COYOTE CHASE 
 
 nor the coyote seaning to gain on the other. Bcttie 
 and the pups by this time were far in the rear. 
 
 Ordinarily, old Nick would have made short work 
 of a coyote that had no more of a start, but this one 
 was in imusually good condition. 
 
 Long ago, she had acquired an appetite for young 
 and tender veal, which other seasons could only occa- 
 sionally be gratified, but this summer she had feasted 
 to satiation. Many a startled Jack and cottontail had 
 bounded off before her approach, only to stop in sur- 
 prised uncertainty at her non-pursuit. 
 
 There had been little rainfall that summer, so that 
 the cows with their lusty offspring making incessant 
 demands upon them were forced to stray far from 
 water, in order to find good grazing places. Too far 
 for the little calves to make the trip during the heat 
 of the day. 
 
 Now this wary old coyote knew this. When a cow 
 would carefully hide her little one in some hollow, or 
 between thick bunches of soap weeds, and hurry away 
 to quench her thirst, the sneaking old marauder, who 
 had watched her departure from some safe covert, 
 would steal upon the helpless, sprauling victim, make 
 a quick meal, and steal away before the mother's re- 
 turn. Well knowing that in her rage and grief she 
 would wreak a swift vengeance with her long sharp 
 horns. 
 
 But now retribution was fast approaching. In vain 
 did she strain her exhausted muscles in greater effort. 
 Old Nick with his long bounding leaps was gradually 
 lessening the distance between them, and at last 
 stretching himself in a mighty leap, he shot forward, 
 clutched her by the neck with his sharp fangs, and 
 with a dexterous twist, threw her over and over. 
 
 She was quickly up, and turned at bay, ears flat- 
 tened back and yellow eyes gleaming. Old Nick mak- 
 
 139 
 
STEVE OP THE "~ G" RANCH 
 
 ing feints of attack to keep her interested until Bettie 
 and the pups came up, as he well knew that if he gave 
 battle without their assistance, it would be very costly 
 to him, even though he should come off victorious. 
 
 When they arrived, he, deftly evading her snapping 
 fangs, made a grab for her throat and the pups get- 
 ting as far from the danger zone as possible, each took 
 hold of a hind leg and ground it between their crunch- 
 ing jaws. 
 
 The horses caught the enthusiasm of the chase and 
 Miss Parker and Steve were in at the death. All the 
 pleasure of the chase now gave place to pity for the 
 lifeless form which the dogs were wooling so savagely. 
 Asking Steve to call them, Miss Parker was glad 
 to start homeward, vowing never again to be a party 
 to such a slaughter. 
 
 When they arrived at the ranch, Steve after helping 
 Miss Parker to dismount, said : "I do not believe I will 
 go in as I am expecting some cattle buyers to be at 
 the ranch to-morrow morning, and if Marcia and Ned 
 urged me to stay, I don't believe I would be able to 
 tear myself away. It is hard enough as it is." 
 
 "But it is going to rain," objected Miss Parker. 
 
 "Well, it has been dry so long that it would almost 
 have to drown me before I'd complain. There's goin' 
 to be a dance at the hall on our ranch Saturday night, 
 and I'd like mighty well to take you if you'd care to 
 
 go-" 
 
 "I will go if Marcia and Ned are going also." 
 "Well, they are goin'. They told me the other day 
 that they would come. So I'll be after you." And 
 then laying his arm upon his horse's neck, he leant 
 his head upon it, concealing for an instant, the look 
 of love and yearning which was expressed so openly 
 in his eyes and face. Then mounting, he resolutely 
 
 UO 
 
COYOTE CHASE 
 
 turned his horse, and galloped away, jtist as the long 
 promised rain began to fall. 
 
 "What became of Steve?" inquired Ned, as Miss 
 Parker entered the house. 
 
 "Oh! He went up in a cloud, or at least it looked 
 that way. The mist shut off my view, just as he was 
 climbing that steep hill." 
 
 141 
 
STEVE SELLS SOME CATTLE 
 
 Among the buyers of cattle and horses that traveled 
 over the country were a number of Jews. It was an 
 occupation that appealed strongly to their ideas of 
 thrift and economy, as the isolated ranchers were not 
 able to keep up with the changes in the market, so there 
 was always the chance of buying the stock enough 
 below the price to make quite a profit. Then, too, 
 the hospitable Westerners would of course never think 
 of charging them for board or horse feed, so if they 
 did not make anything, it was costing them nothing to 
 live. 
 
 Some of them had been buying over the same terri- 
 tory for years, and had gradually overcome much of 
 the prejudice with which their race was held. Among 
 these was one called DeDeck, who as he prospered, 
 had answered the agonized appeal of his persecuted 
 relatives in Russia and had brought them to America, 
 singly or in pairs, until all his near relatives were here, 
 and after them came the deluge of uncles and cousins. 
 
 The last to arrive was an old weatherbeaten, scrag- 
 gly-whiskered Jew and his son Isaac. The latter, with 
 the passion for learning which all Jews seem to pos- 
 sess, started at once to night school, and when he had 
 somewhat mastered a working know^ledge of English 
 he began looking about for the quickest means of emas- 
 
 112 
 
BTEVE SELLS SOME CATTLE 
 
 sing the fortune of which he dreamed day and night. 
 When he had by incredible economy and self-denial 
 saved a hundred dollars he consulted DeDeck as to 
 how he should invest it. 
 
 "Vy don' you by catties?" inquired DeDeck. "You 
 debosits you moneys mit de Commission House by 
 vitch I do beesiness, und ven you py catties you gift 
 an order on dem, de same as by de bank. Ven dey 
 see you are a goot judge of catties and make moneys, 
 dey will let you draw on dem for a little more den you 
 haff on debosit. You ought to be a goot judge of 
 catties, you haff been raised by de countries in Russia." 
 
 So in pursuance of this plan Isaac and his father 
 hunted up an old second-hand wagon and an ancient 
 horse and started on their way. They had been buying 
 for sometime, and it was they whom Steve was ex- 
 pecting. 
 
 Early the next morning after he was at the Alton 
 Ranch, old Rosenbaum and Isaac drove up, and Steve 
 went out and rounded up some old cows and beef 
 steers, which he had previously driven down near the 
 ranch to have them handy in case some buyer should 
 come along. The old man stayed in the wagon as he 
 was bent and crippled with rheumatism, and sent his 
 son Isaac to do the dickering. 
 
 Isaac climbed down out of the wagon and ran around 
 among the cattle to look them over, and they, unused 
 to seeing a man on foot, watched him with round eyes, 
 and now and then one of them would shake its head. 
 
 "Vat you wants for dose catties, Shteve?" inquired 
 Isaac. 
 
 "I'll take $22 a head for the she stuff, and $32 a 
 head for the steers," answered Steve. 
 
 "Oy! oy! dot is too mooch. I giff you ninedeen 
 toUars for de she stoof, and eight imd twendy tollars 
 for de shteers." 
 
 143 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G" RANCH 
 
 "No, I can't do it," objected Steve. "The price I 
 made you is the best I can do." 
 
 "Oy! oy! But the cows, dey are old, und make 
 to die by de time dey go to de stock yards, un de 
 shteers, dey are youst so thin as never vas. 1 pay 
 you ninedeen tollars for de cows, und eight und 
 twendy for de shteers, und take dem right now," 
 coaxed Isaac. 
 
 "No, I won't do it. The price I made you is the 
 lowest I will take," said Steve, and galloped off to 
 bunch up the cattle again as they had begun to stray. 
 
 Isaac caught hold of his stirrup, and ran along 
 beside the horse, saying: "I giff you ninedeen-fifty 
 for de cows, and twendy-eight und fiefty for de 
 shteers." 
 
 "You will have to go a little higher than that," an- 
 swered Steve, chuckling as he rode a little faster, the 
 nimble Isaac still sprinting along at his stirrup. Just 
 then old Rosenbaum called Isaac, and after consulting 
 for awhile, the latter ran across to head Steve off, but 
 Steve saw him coming and turned his horse and gal- 
 loped in the other direction. Isaac darted about among 
 the cattle trying to catch him, but as soon as he would 
 get near, Steve would pretend to see a cow or steer 
 about to get away, and whirl his horse and ride off to 
 head it 
 
 The perspiration was streaming down Isaac's face, 
 and his breath was coming in gasps, but with the per- 
 sistance of his race in search of a bargain, he played 
 tag with Steve around among the cattle, and whenever 
 he was near enough, would shout some offer, such as : 
 
 "You cut out de old black und white cow, xmd de 
 brindle shteer und I giff you more." 
 
 At last some of the cows began to get restless, and 
 several times when Isaac had started in front of an 
 old cow, she had tossed her head rather threateningly. 
 
 144 
 
STEVE SELLS SOME CATTLE 
 
 Steve saw it, and called to him to be careful, but the 
 Jew was too intent on his trade. 
 
 Finally the old red cow began to paw the ground, 
 and the next time Isaac came near she made for him, 
 and at last awake to his danger, he sprinted toward 
 old Rosenbaum and the wagon, who shouted: 
 
 "Make yourself for to hurry, Isaac/' 
 
 But Isaac did not need any suggestions on speed. He 
 was doing the best he knew, and was giving the old 
 cow a good race. Steve was rocking in his saddle 
 with laughter, but at the same time getting his rope 
 ready to interfere in case he saw the cow was going 
 to overtake the Jew, who the farther he ran, the faster 
 he semed to go, with the cow right at his heels, neck 
 bowed, trying to gore the tails of his old, rusty frock 
 coat, which were sticking straight out behind him. 
 
 With a final burst of speed he w^as about to make 
 the wagon, when he stubbed his toe and fell; the old 
 cow made a dive for him, Steve whirled the rope, and 
 caught her round the horns. The trained cow pony 
 settled back on his haunches, and the cow's head came 
 up with a jerk, one horn thrust neatly through the seat 
 of Isaac's pants, and there he hung suspended. Steve 
 was laughing so that he could not do anything, but 
 Isaac's trousers had seen much service, and the fabric 
 was old and rotten. Gradually the rent made by the 
 cow's horn began to widen, and at last ripped clear 
 through; Isaac fell to the ground, and scrambled into 
 the wagon. 
 
 Old Rosenbaum whipped up his horse and drove to 
 the house, but by the time Steve arrived, Isaac had 
 recovered some of his assurance and when Steve dis- 
 mounted, he ran to him and falling upon his knees, 
 hugged Steve around the legs, saying: 
 
 "You goot poy ; you save my life ; I giff you twendy 
 tollars for de cows, und dirty tollarg for de shteers." 
 
 145 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G" RANCH 
 
 "Well, you are grateful," exclaimed Steve. "I did 
 not suppose anything would make a Sheeney loosen 
 up that much. But you'll have to do better than that." 
 
 The Jews stayed around all day, and at last late in 
 the afternoon they became discouraged and left. The 
 next morning Steve was out riding and passed the 
 Knox Ranch about ten miles east of " — G" Ranch. Ed 
 Knox came out and inquired : 
 
 "Have you seen old Rosenbaum this morning? He 
 just left here awhile ago, and the last I saw of him he 
 was hittin' the high places for your place. He came 
 over here last night and looked at our cattle, and hag- 
 gled around trying to jew us down. Finally I got tired 
 and gave him a good cussin', and told him I wouldn't 
 sell them to him at any price, as Broadhurst was com- 
 ing out in a few days to buy your cattle and mine too. 
 So he became excited and said he was goin' over to 
 buy your cattle before the other man arrived." 
 
 "Did they tell you about the cow chasin' Isaac?" 
 inquired Steve. 
 
 "No, did she get him ?" inquired Ed, delightedly. 
 
 "No, but she caught his pants. Didn't you see how 
 she tore them ?" 
 
 "Yes, I saw something was the matter. He bor- 
 rowed a needle and thread to sew them up. Said he 
 caught them on a fence." 
 
 At this Steve chuckled joyously, and said: 
 
 "I shore never saw anything to equal that Sheeney 
 for runnin*. I believe if he'd had a half mile to go, 
 that old cow wouldn't a been able to see him for dust. 
 And then when she lifted him up with one horn 
 through the seat of his pants, an' his arms and legs 
 wavin' in the breeze I thought I'd die laughin'. Them 
 pants was built for a man that weighed about two hun- 
 dred and had a big bay window, and when the old cow 
 caught up the slack in the seat, Isaac's legs shot out 
 
 146 
 
STEVE SELLS SOME CATTLE 
 
 at the bottom, lookin' like pipestems. It certainly was 
 funny." And laughing at the remembrance, Steve 
 turned his horse and remarked: 
 
 "Well, I guess Td better hit the trail, if I want to 
 catch Rosenbaum at the ranch. Think TU just raise 
 the price of them cattle one dollar a head. So long." 
 
 In the meantime the two Jews had returned to the 
 *' — G" and Blackie came out to see them. 
 
 "Where's Shteeve?" inquired Isaac. 
 
 "Oh, he's off ridin' somewhere," answered Blackie. 
 "What do you want?" 
 
 "Ve vants to get de cows und de shteers ve bought 
 yesterday." 
 
 "He didn't say anything to me about selling you any 
 cattle. How much did you pay for them ?" 
 
 "Twendy toUars a head for de she stoof, und dirty 
 tollars for de shteers." 
 
 "Are you sure you bought them for that?" asked 
 Blackie. "I heard him refuse to sell them for that 
 the other day." 
 
 "Oy ! oy ! sure. Ve puy dem for dot. Coom inside 
 de house and ve pay you de moneys und you giff us 
 a bill of sale, und ve vill shtart right avay." 
 
 "I guess you will have to w^ait until Steve comes." 
 
 "Oy ! ve puy dem all right. Ve vant to get to Den- 
 ver to-day. You let us haff dem. Shteeve he let us 
 haif dem for twendy tollars, but ve giff you twendy-one 
 for de cows, und dirty-one for de shteers, if you let us 
 haff dem right avay." 
 
 "Humph, raisin' your own price. Now I know you 
 never bought them, for if you had you would hang 
 around here for a week rather than pay any more." 
 
 Just then Steve rode up, and the Jews nothing 
 abashed at being caught, went up to him and tried to 
 bluff him into letting them have the cattle at that 
 price, 
 
 U7 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G" RANCH 
 
 "You sure have the nerve," angrily exclaimed Steve, 
 "But you might as well not waste your time. I didn't 
 sell you the cattle at that price, and what's more you 
 can't buy them to-day at the price I offered them to 
 you for yesterday. I want a dollar more per head, 
 and if you don't want them at that price, you do not 
 need to take them for I just received word that Broad- 
 hurst is coming out, and I would rather sell them to 
 him anyway." 
 
 At this the Jews became very anxious, and as Steve 
 acted more and more indifferent, they agreed to take 
 them, and wrote out an order on the Brockwell Com- 
 mission Company in Denver for the money. Steve 
 helped them drive the cattle to the station and load 
 them in the cars. The freight train was supposed to 
 leave at 4 P. M., but as usual it was late, and upon 
 inquiry Steve found that it would not be there until 
 2 A. M. next morning. He stayed around for awhile, 
 and then began to think that the long wait, packed in 
 the cars was liable to be pretty hard on the old cows. 
 If any of them should die the Commission Company 
 would not honor the order, so he decided to ride on 
 into Denver, which was twenty-five miles away. He 
 reached there about four o'clock and presented his 
 order for payment. 
 
 "Where are the stock?" inquired BrockwelL 
 
 "They are not in yet" 
 
 "Well you wait until they come in, and then bring 
 in the order and I will cash it." 
 
 "I don't know how soon the cattle will be in, and I 
 have to get back home to-night," objected Steve. "It 
 ain't nothing to me if they never get here. I sold them 
 to old Rosenbaum, and it's up to him. All I want is 
 my money. I don't care any more about the cattle, but 
 if you don't pay me, I'll go out and stop the cattle. 
 
 US 
 
STEVE SELLS SOME CATTLE 
 
 They paid mc enough down that I can afford to take 
 them back." 
 
 "How far out are they?" inquired Brockwell. 
 
 "Oh, they left our house early this morning, and 
 ought to be able to make it to-day," answered Steve. 
 Brockwell hesitatingly paid him, and when he had re- 
 ceived the money, his anxiety to leave town suddenly 
 vanished. The next morning he went down to the 
 stock yards to see in what condition the cattle arrived. 
 Something distracted his attention when they were un- 
 loaded and presently Isaac saw him and came running 
 up, wringing his hands, and weeping. 
 
 "You tam poy, you sheeted me. I shtop payment 
 of dot order. Von of dem tam shteers done make to 
 break his laig, und von of de cows make to die lareatty. 
 You iss von tam sheet." 
 
 "I didn't cheat you. I set my price and you paid 
 it. I was going to cut out some of the worst stock, 
 but when I found you trying to make Blackie let you 
 have them for less than I offered to sell them to you 
 for, I thought I would show you that I could play 
 Sheeney tricks too. 
 
 149 
 
3a 
 
 THE ACCIDENT 
 
 In a few days Ned and Marcia again went off on 
 one of their long rides and Miss Parker remained at 
 home. All day she wandered restlessly about the 
 house, unable to settle herself to anything, so at last 
 she decided she would go for a ride. So far she had 
 never gone out alone, but she thought she knew the 
 country well enough by this time to find her way with- 
 out any difficulty. 
 
 Calling Flint, she asked him to saddle a horse for 
 her. He looked rather doubtful for a moment, and 
 then said: 
 
 "The horse you usually ride is lame, and there's 
 nothin' here but Trixie that we keep to drive in the 
 saddle horses and milk cows. FU go out and get an- 
 other horse, but it will make you late gettin' started." 
 
 "Why can't I ride Trixie? I only want to go for 
 a short ride, and I will bring back the milk cows as I 
 come home." 
 
 "Trixie ain't more'n half broke, Miss Parker, an' 
 I am afraid to let you ride her. That tenderfoot that 
 was out here last summer ruined her. He came out 
 here from the East and struck Ned for a job. Said 
 he wanted to learn how to break horses, and he was 
 game all right, but he didn't know how to ride. 
 
 "When he came over from Elizabeth lookin' for 
 work, Ned asked him if he ever rode any, and he said 
 'No/ and Ned told him, 'Well, I've got a little mare 
 
 150 
 
THE ACCIDENT 
 
 tliat has never been rode, and I guess I'll just let you 
 and her learn to ride together. It never fazed him a 
 bit He didn't know enough about a horse to be afraid 
 of one. 
 
 "He brought a saddle and put it on her back, the 
 way he had just seen Marcia saddle her horse, and 
 Trixie just stood there, still as a mouse, lookin' at him 
 out of the tail of her eye. We was all too much sur- 
 prised to say anything even if we had wanted to. 
 When he had the saddle cinched tight he put on the 
 bridle and climbed on, and say, you'd ought to a seen 
 that little beast buck. What-you-may-call-it-in-there, it 
 looked like she would jump over the barn. The tender- 
 foot dropped the reins, in-there, and grabbed the horn 
 with both hands, but even at that he didn't last more'n 
 three jumps, when he sailed through the air like an 
 eagle. But he had pluck, and after Trixie had bucked 
 aroimd with the saddle until she was tired, he got up 
 and climbed on her again, and she stood still and let 
 him, an' then she went through the same performance 
 again. 
 
 "Every day he went out and tried her over again un- 
 til at last Trixie seemed to get tired of the fun and quit 
 buckin'. He used to take fine care of her. He even 
 roached her mane. But even now she'll play tricks. 
 You'll be ridin' along in a gallop and first thing you 
 know, she'll jump way off to one side, an' there won't 
 be a thing for her to skeer at, but she don't offer to 
 buck any more." 
 
 **Well, I do so want to go for a ride. Perhaps she 
 won't jump at anything to-day and if she does not buck 
 I will get along all right." 
 
 "Well, I don't know," said Flint, doubtfully. "Steve 
 told me not to let you ride anything that wasn't well 
 broke, an' if I let you have her an' anything happened 
 to you, he'd sure give me Hell, oh 1 excuse me ma'am. 
 
 151 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G" RANCH 
 
 I mean he'd be damn mad. What-you-may-call-it-in- 
 there, I don't believe I know what I do mean, ma'am, 
 but it's nothin' disrespectful." 
 
 "That is all right Flint, I know what you mean," 
 answered she, much amused at his confusion. "But I 
 want to go for a ride, and Steve let his sister ride 
 Trixie when she was over here." 
 
 "Well, that's all right. What-you-may-call-it-in- 
 there, them girls can ride as good as any cowboy. Be- 
 fore women took to ridin' men's saddles, and side-sad- 
 dles was scarce, they used to ride all over the country 
 bareback, with only a surcingle around the horse, like 
 women do in the circus, but if you are determined to 
 go ril saddle her for you, but I hope you won't go far." 
 
 "All right, I won't go far. But hurry up, it is get- 
 ting late." 
 
 Flint soon had Trixie saddle^, and Miss Parker 
 came out, called the dogs and started off. The rain 
 had freshened the earth and the grass and flowers 
 seemed to have taken on a new lease of life. As al- 
 ways, when in the saddle, all restlessness left her, and 
 Trixie, in seeming understanding of her mood, walked 
 slowly along, giving her ample time for quiet enjoy- 
 ment of the scene. She was completely lost to all 
 time or place, and paid no attention to the direction 
 she took, or anything except the peace and beauty of 
 the surrounding country. 
 
 She had ridden along in this way for some time, 
 when suddenly from behind a bunch of sage brush, 
 jumped a full-grown Jack rabbit, and bounded off 
 across the prairie. Long ears erect, fluffy white tail 
 bobbing up and down, as it bounded along like a rub- 
 ber ball; taking one long leap and then a short one, 
 bringing his powerful hind legs well up under him, 
 and shooting oflf again into space; turning his head 
 
 152 
 
THE ACCIDENT 
 
 from side to side, and staring with round eyes to see 
 if he was followed. 
 
 The dogs were hunting at a little distance, investi- 
 gating every clump of sage, or soap weed or little 
 depression, and did not see the rabbit until called ; then 
 they set off; the lighter ones in the lead at first, the 
 heavier ones bringing up in the rear to come in on a 
 long, steady run which called for endurance and power. 
 
 The rabbit, an old stager, and on to all the tricks of 
 the chase, with prodigious leaps, led straight to a gul- 
 ley, down one side and up the other, then circled 
 around and came back the way he went Leading the 
 dogs up and down the hill again, hoping to wind them 
 in the early part of the race. 
 
 But Old Nick who had seen that trick played before, 
 slowed up, letting the other dogs follow the rabbit's 
 trail up and down the hills, while he shot off to one 
 side, and fresh and unwinded, intercepted the rabbit as 
 he returned across the gulley. 
 
 Seeing this vmexpected adversary, the rabbit became 
 confused, turned and ran back towards the other dogs ; 
 then discovering them, whirled and launched straight 
 ahead, the whole pack at his heels; too close for him 
 even to dodge. Nick in the lead, jaws spread ready 
 to pick him up, when suddenly the Jack ducked into 
 a hole, and Nick's jaws closed on a mouthful of dirt 
 
 Laughing at their disappointment and chagrin, but 
 well pleased to see the rabbit escape, the girl called the 
 dogs to her and taking a biscuit from the pocket of 
 her coat, fed them as a token of her approval, and 
 again started on her way. 
 
 Soon she came to a wide sandy creek, fringed on 
 either side by a thick growth of trees. The shade 
 looked inviting after the hot glare of the plains, so she 
 decided to follow the course of the stream for awhile^ 
 and ride along in their cool shadows. 
 153 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G'^ RANCH 
 
 Numberless birds called to each other from the tree- 
 tops, while here and there in the gnarled and twisted 
 branches of the willows were anchored great bunches 
 of dry twigs, which puzzled Miss Parker for awhile, 
 until coming to an unusually low branch, she saw some 
 half-grown magpies peeping out. A little farther she 
 came to what she judged was a tragedy wrought by 
 the windstorm of the day before. An old dead willow 
 had been blown down, and scattered all about were 
 numberless dry twigs which had formed a nest, while 
 here and there among the ruins were little birds which 
 had been killed by the fall. The two parents circled 
 aloft, voicing their grief with loud lamentations. 
 
 Filled with pity at their very evident distress. Miss 
 Parker watched them for a moment, allowing Trixie 
 to find her own way around the fallen tree, when sud- 
 denly she stepped upon a dry twig, which snapped with 
 a loud report, and she, startled, reared and jumped 
 sideways from under Miss Parker, leaving her with 
 only one foot in the stirrup, and holding onto the 
 reins. 
 
 Letting loose with one hand, she grabbed the horn, 
 and struggled to get back in the saddle, but Trixie with 
 a wicked look in her eye, continued to jump sideways 
 up the hill, toward the low hanging branches of a 
 tree. 
 
 Seeing that it was impossible to get back into the 
 saddle, she loosened her foot, and stepped down, just 
 in time to avoid being dragged off by the drooping 
 limbs. Had she let go of the reins all would have been 
 well, but Trixie made a lunge forward and Miss 
 Parker fell backward, striking her head on a stone, 
 and slightly twisting her ankle. 
 
 Millions of stars danced before her eyes, as she lay 
 on the ground, stunned by the blow on her head, but 
 kept from sinking into unconsciousness by the pain in 
 
 154 
 
THE accide:nt? 
 
 her ankle. After awhile her brain cleared, and she at- 
 tempted to get up, but sank back, weak and faint, and 
 was aroused by old Nick sympathetically licking her 
 hands, while Bettie and the pups sat aroimd in puzzled 
 bewilderment 
 
 As the afternoon advanced, she made frequent ef- 
 forts to sit up, but each time would be overcome with 
 dizziness. As long as she lay quiet, her mind was 
 comparatively clear, and she began wondering how 
 she was to get home before nightfall. Already the chill 
 which always creeps into the air as the sun goes down 
 was stealing upon her, and making her long for the 
 jacket which was tied behind her saddle. 
 
 And to make matters worse, the dogs showed signs 
 of abandoning her in spite of all her coaxing and pet- 
 ting trying to keep them near. They would come up 
 and nose her hand, and not finding the expected tempt- 
 ing morsel, would stalk away, much disappointed, and 
 going to the top of a hill, would look off toward the 
 ranch. Each time returning more reluctantly in answer 
 to her call. Finally they disappeared one by one, and 
 forgetful of all the choice tidbits they had received at 
 her hands, hurried home to get their supper. When 
 the last one went out of sight over the hill, the girl 
 burst into tears. 
 
 After a time she ceased weeping and summoned what 
 courage she could muster, to enable her to endure the 
 long wait until some one should come from the ranch 
 to find her. This would not beAmtil far in the night 
 anyway, and perhaps not imtil morning, as they would 
 not miss her until sundown, and then they would not 
 know in which direction to begin their search. 
 
 To keep herself from thinking of the night and its 
 possible terrors, she began to listen to the birds, and 
 trijed to determine from their songs, how many rari- 
 eties she could name. 
 
 155 
 
STEVE OP THE "— G'^ RANCH 
 
 As evening approached, the Httle ones swallowed the 
 last bug that the sharp eyes of their parents could spy 
 through the gathering dusk. Soon they were nodding 
 in well-filled contentment and the mother tucked them 
 safely under wings for the night. Then each male of 
 his species, his labors ended for the day, perched 
 himself comfortably on some swaying bough, and 
 added his voice to the evening concert. 
 
 There were notes of love, and others denoting anger, 
 while others were twittering along in a conversational 
 tone. It reminded Miss Parker of attending grand 
 opera, and listening to the singers declaring love and 
 vowing vengeance, all in different keys. 
 
 The same day, for so fate arranges things, Steve re- 
 turned from delivering his cattle to Denver, surpris- 
 ing his family by making a much quicker trip than 
 usual. He sat around and rested for awhile after din- 
 ner; then stepping to the door, he looked off across 
 the prairie in seeming uncertainty. Then he went to 
 the barn, saddled his horse, and rode out in the pas- 
 ture; ostensibly to look after the stock. 
 
 As usual, when he rode toward the east, he found 
 himself looking off toward the Alton Ranch, and felt 
 the impulse to ride in that direction. He resisted the 
 temptation all afternoon, but as the shadows began to 
 lengthen, he stopped to look up at the sun, surveyed the 
 surrounding landscape, hesitated for a moment unde- 
 cided, and as if drawn by some invisible force left the 
 trail and set off across the untracked prairie. He gal- 
 loped along with unabated speed, until he came to a 
 high, bare ridge, mostly composed of smooth white 
 pebbles, called the Indian Mound, so named because 
 the Indians had used it for a lookout and signal station. 
 
 He paused here for awhile, his keen eyes searching 
 every point of the country, but if asked he could not 
 have told what he expected to find, 
 
 156 
 
THE ACCrDENT 
 
 As he sat there his wise old horse turned his head 
 and eyed him for a moment, and then as if divining 
 his master's indecision, started off slowly in the direc- 
 tion of the Alton Ranch. Then finding he was not 
 checked, quickened his pace into a trot, then into a fast 
 gallop, and kept it up steadily, up hill and down, only 
 slowing up as he came to a dry, sandy creek. 
 
 As he was picking his way across this, both horse 
 and rider were startled by a faint cry for help, which 
 seemingly came from close at hand. At first Steve 
 could discern nothing in the gloom. A second call 
 attracted his attention to a dark object, half concealed 
 by the trunk of a tree. 
 
 He dug in his spurs, and with two bounds was be- 
 side the huddled figure which toppled over as he rode 
 up, causing the horse to snort and plunge. In her 
 anxiety to see whether the horseman had heard her 
 or not. Miss Parker had sat up, and again overcome 
 by dizziness had reeled backward, just as Steve jumped 
 off his horse and bent over her. 
 
 All the brilliant coloring had been drained from her 
 face by pain and shock, and the sight of her pale face 
 and closed eyes made Steve tremble and grow weak 
 with the thought that she was dead. She had not 
 fainted, though her senses were reeling, and she had to 
 exert all her will-power to keep from becoming un- 
 conscious, and as Steve put his arm under her 
 shoulders and lifted her up, she opened her eyes. 
 
 At the sight love and relief found expression in en- 
 dearing terms, and in the same breath he inquired : 
 ''What has happened? Where are you hurt?" 
 
 " It is my head. It goes round and round like a top, 
 and I can't get up. I have lain here ages and ages, 
 and the dogs all left me. And I was afraid the coyotes 
 would eat me alive, and Fve sprained my ankle," said 
 
 157 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G" RANCH 
 
 she, all her woes coming out at once like a troubled 
 child, 
 
 "You poor little thing. But how did it happen? 
 Can you stand if I hold you ?" Saying which he helped 
 her up, but she staggered drunkenly and winced with 
 pain, so he laid her down, and untying his coat from 
 the back of the saddle, made her a pillow. As he was 
 putting it under her head, he discovered there was 
 a small scalp wound, much swollen, from which the 
 blood had run and matted in her hair. 
 
 Telling her he would be back in a moment, he 
 mounted his horse, and rode up and down the bed 
 of the sandy creek for quite a distance in search of 
 water with which to bathe her head, but not a drop 
 could be found, so he was forced to bind it up the 
 best he could with his scarf. 
 
 This done, he started to remove the boot from her 
 injured foot, but at her cry of pain, desisted, and tak- 
 ing out his knife ripped it open, and the foot released 
 from the pressure, puffed up to almost twice its former 
 size. 
 
 Tearing the lining out of his coat, he tenderly bound 
 it up, and then suggested going to the ranch for help. 
 
 "Oh ! Do not leave me out here alone for the coyotes 
 to chew on," exclaimed she. 
 
 "They wouldn't hurt you, but if you are afraid to 
 stay I guess I could take you on my horse. Jim is 
 gentle and can carry us both very easily, but I am 
 afraid it'll hurt you awful bad." 
 
 "Let's wait awhile. Perhaps some one will come 
 looking for me," suggested Miss Parker. 
 
 "No, we had better start right away. The sun has 
 been down quite a little while, and it will soon be dark. 
 Unless Trixie went right home they will not look 
 for you tmtil night and then they won't be able to tell 
 which way you wait" 
 
 158 
 
THE ACCIDENT 
 
 With that he led his horse up close and startdd to 
 lift her up when, with a diffident look, she said : 
 
 "Wait! I believe I can stand." And she did for a 
 moment as the pain in her ankle cleared her brain, but 
 soon she clutched Steve by the arm, and with a gasp, 
 said: 
 
 "All right. Get me home as quickly as possible. I 
 do not believe I can endure this pain much longer." 
 
 He lifted her up m front of the saddle, and steady- 
 ing her with one hand, swung himself up, the horse 
 turned his head, and observed this unusual proceed- 
 ing. Then he walked slowly along, stepping carefully, 
 as though he knew any sudden motion or jar was not 
 desired. 
 
 They went along for a Httle way, and Steve could 
 see that the motion caused excruciating pain in her 
 dangling foot, but with tightly clenched hands and 
 teeth she bore it for a while without a sound. Then 
 all at once her head sank limply back over Steve's arm, 
 and she became unconscious. 
 
 "Gee! What must I do?" said Steve, "li I go 
 on the pain may kill her, and if I don't we may have 
 to stay out here all night, and she ought to have care 
 at once." 
 
 But as there was nothing else to do, he dismounted 
 and gently lifted her to the ground. Pillowing her 
 head on his knees, he began chafing her ice-cold hands 
 and wrists in an effort at restoration. 
 
 How he longed for some water to bathe her face and 
 hands, or a drop of brandy to quicken her sluggish 
 pulse. At last in despair he began bringing her arms 
 up over her head and down at her sides to produce 
 artificial respiration, and was soon rewarded by a low 
 moan, and a large tear slipped from beneath her closed 
 eyelids and rolled down her cheek. 
 
 This was too much for Steve, and he lifted her ttp 
 159 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G" RANCH 
 
 higher, turned his back to the wind, drew the coat 
 closer about her, and kissed away the tears. 
 
 Night had come on and one by one the stars blinked 
 out of the thickening dusk. The sky from horizon to 
 horizon was void of clouds. The moon a silver cres- 
 cent, hung poised in the west, and shed a soft, white 
 light, revealing the man, the girl and the horse as the 
 only living things in all that vast wilderness. Not a 
 tree or shrub was in sight, while far out on the lonely 
 prairie a single coyote sent up its plaintive wail. 
 
 A feeling of primitiveness and familiarity with the 
 scene stole over Steve and he spoke aloud. 
 
 "We might be Adam and Eve in the Garden of 
 Eden." 
 
 Trixie did not go straight home after throwing Miss 
 Parker, but overjoyed at once again finding herself 
 free, galloped gaily across the country, kicking up her 
 heels and neighing with delight. 
 
 Finally having worked off some of her exuberance, 
 she settled down to grazing, and cropped greedily at 
 the new grass which had sprung up after the rain. 
 As she ate, her gradually filling stomach made the 
 cinches tighter and tighter, until along about sunset 
 their pressure became decidedly uncomfortable, so she 
 hunted up a nice sandy place and rolled. 
 
 Finding this did not serve she suddenly remembered 
 how she had once bucked a saddle loose and threw it 
 after her rider in contempt. Acting upon the 
 thought at once, she humped her back and went after 
 it, and bucked as only a tough little buckskin bronc 
 can. 
 
 She seemed to throw herself into it with all the 
 abandon of an accomplished toe dancer, balancing and 
 whirling over the stage with an appreciative bald- 
 ISO 
 
THE ACCIDENT 
 
 headed row for an audience. At last when she was 
 approaching the climax, and was madly turning pin 
 wheels, and the saddle was hanging by one half-broken 
 cinch, Ned and Marcia appeared in view. 
 
 "What the devil?" exclaimed Ned. 
 
 "It's Trixie, and I guess she's bucked Flint oflF," ob- 
 served Marcia. 
 
 "No ! she has thrown Miss Parker. See, there's her 
 red jacket tied behind the saddle. I wonder where 
 jhe is. I don't see her anywhere." 
 
 "Oh! I am sure she is killed, and it's getting dark 
 md we can't find her." 
 
 "No," objected Ned, examining the ground. "Here 
 are Trixie's tracks where she began to buck, and there 
 is where she rolled. She must have thrown her before. 
 You ride down that gulch and I'll go around this hill 
 and meet you. If you find her fire your revolver, and 
 if I find her I'll do the same." 
 
 With that agreement they set off, each vainly listen- 
 ing for the report of the other's gun. After that they 
 rode on together, searching and calling, until finally 
 Ned halted, and started firing his pistol at intervals, 
 listening intently between times, but for what he did 
 not know as he did not think Miss Parker had a re- 
 volver with her. 
 
 But almost instantly out of the stillness, came an 
 answering report, and deciding that some one from the 
 ranch was out searching also, they rode toward the 
 sound, shooting now and then to keep the right direc- 
 tion. Presently they came in sight of a fire which 
 Steve had built, having ridden back to the creek and 
 carried up some wood. 
 
 After learning the extent of Miss Parker's injuries 
 Ned rode back to the ranch for a wagon, and when 
 this was ready hurried back after her, but before leav* 
 
 161 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G^ RANCH 
 
 ing, dispatched Flint for the nearest doctor, which was 
 at Elizabeth, eight miles away. 
 
 Mrs. Alton returned with Ned bringing a supply of 
 linament and bandages, and soon had Miss Parker's 
 head and ankle bound up. Then lifting her into the 
 wagon they carried her to the house. 
 
 Steve had to repeat so many times how he found 
 Miss Parker and cared for her that he became tired 
 of speech. 
 
 When the physician arrived he pronounced Miss 
 Parker not seriously injured, but suffering from a 
 slight concussion of the brain and a wrenched ankle, 
 which though painful at the time, was not likely to give 
 her much trouble if she kept quiet for awhile. 
 
 Hearing this everybody went to their different 
 quarters for the night. All excepting Mrs. Alton, who 
 was going to sleep on a couch in Miss Parker's room 
 so as to be ready to get her anything she might need. 
 
 Steve lay with wide-open eyes until far toward morn- 
 ing, gazing at the stars through his open window, and 
 living over again this most wonderful event of his life. 
 He had held the girl he loved in his arms, and his 
 pulses thrilled at the memory of the stolen kisses. 
 Surely, he thought, she could not be indifferent to him 
 now, since he had cared for her in her helplessness. 
 The thought added new fuel to the flame which seemed 
 already about to constmie him. 
 
 And then he fell to wondering whether she would 
 be able to go on the camping trip to the mountains 
 that Ned and Marcia had been planning, and on which 
 he had been counting so much to help him in his suit 
 for her hand. 
 
 The next morning Miss Parker was well enough to 
 put a decided veto on the suggestion of wiring her 
 mother. In a few days the dizziness left her and the 
 wound healed. The only difficulty was her ankle, 
 
 162 
 
THE ACCIDENT 
 
 which was badly swollen, and very sore, althotigh the 
 physician thought it was not broken nor dislocated. 
 
 He was positive in regard to the treatment, however, 
 and ordered her not to attempt to use it for a couple 
 of weeks, and with a sly look at Steve, suggested that 
 there ought to be some one around all the time to see 
 that his mandate was obeyed. 
 
 In a day or two Miss Parker said that she thought 
 she could get up if she only had some crutches, so 
 Steve made a hurried trip home after a pair of crutches 
 which he had used one time when he had been hurt 
 by a horse falling with him. After these were cut 
 off a little she took the rest by surprise by hobbling out 
 while they were eating dinner. 
 
 After that Steve hovered about like her shadow, and 
 willingly forsook all out-door life for one of compan- 
 ion. It was lucky that there was nothing of importance 
 to be done on his father's ranch at that time, as it 
 would have been sadly neglected if there had been. 
 
 Along about the end of the second week the swell- 
 ing commenced to go down, and they began to hope 
 that they would be able to take the camping trip after 
 all. 
 
 The doctor was called and examined Miss Parker's 
 foot, and gave his reluctant consent, but growled out 
 many words of warning and caution as he took his 
 leave, - 
 
 IfiS 
 
xn 
 
 CAMPING IN THE MOUNTAINS 
 
 The first day of September was the time set for 
 starting on their much-talked-of camping trip, and 
 when Steve arrived at the Alton Ranch about noon the 
 day before, bringing his bed and what clothing he 
 would need on the trip, he found Ned and Marcia 
 quite enthusiastic over this trip, on which they were 
 going to use their new camp wagon, which had only 
 arrived that morning. 
 
 "That is quite a fancy outfit^" remarked he, look- 
 ing it over. 
 
 **Yes, it is," answered Marcia. "But every time we 
 went camping there were so many things that we could 
 not carry in the old chuck wagon we use on the round- 
 up that we decided to have one made to order, and this 
 is the result. 
 
 "Here is the chuck box at the back, and underneath 
 it is another box, in which we carry our cooking 
 utensils." 
 
 "Where are your bows for the wagon sheet?" in- 
 quired Steve. 
 
 "We are not going to have any, as they make the 
 wagon harder to puU when the wind blows, and also 
 obstruct the view. We have a tarpaulin to spread 
 over it^ and when it storms we will wear our slickers," 
 
CAMPESG m THE MOUNTAINS 
 
 About an hour after sun-up next morning they were 
 ready to start. Miss Parker, who was to ride with 
 Ned in the wagon, climbed up into the seat, before 
 they hitched up the four mules, as the two leaders, 
 Chakawana and Jaunita, were only partially broke; 
 Mary Jane and Maud, the two wheelers, were old 
 timers, and looked with tolerent eyes upon the antics 
 of these skittish youngsters. 
 
 Steve kept hold of their bridles until Ned took his 
 seat and had a good grip on the lines, then he let 
 go and sprang aside. Chakawana and Jaunita lunged 
 forward, galloping and bucking, and swept Mary Jane 
 and Maud along with them toward the creek. 
 
 Miss Parker clutched the seat with both hands, and 
 held her breath. Ned set the brake as they approached 
 the stream, and left it on as they went down and 
 up its steep banks. This served to check their mad 
 flight. 
 
 Marcia and Steve followed on horseback, driving be- 
 fore them the two extra saddle horses, which they 
 were taking along for Ned and Miss Parker to ride 
 when they wished. * 
 
 Early risers in Kiowa waved them an envious good- 
 bye as they clattered through, and Uncle Ben Mordant, 
 who was on his way to Denver, climbed out of the 
 stage coach and disappeared inside the nearest saloon, 
 only to reappear in a few minutes with two bottles 
 which he handed to Ned with a wink, saying : 
 
 "You folks might get a touch of mountain fever, and 
 this medicine is a sure cure." 
 
 "Gee! I believe I feel a little feverish now," said 
 Steve. 
 
 "Well, come along inside then," said Uncle Ben. 
 "For if the fever is startin' so soon, you'll need all 
 that is in them bottles to cure you. Where can I put 
 them, Ncdr 
 
 165 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G" RANCH 
 
 "Put them down in this oat bin, underneath the seat. 
 Here, Miss Parker, hold the mules. I believe I need 
 a dose of that medicine too." And thrusting the Hnes 
 in her hands, he followed Uncle Ben and Steve inside 
 the saloon, and Marcia laughed at the shocked look on 
 Miss Parker's face. 
 
 They soon returned. Uncle Ben climbed into the 
 stage. The driver cracked his whip, and swung out in 
 the lead, and Ned followed close behind. When they 
 had descended the next hill and Kiowa disappeared 
 they considered themselves well started on their way. 
 After a time the mules settled down to a steady pace, 
 and jogged along in a leisurely fashion. 
 
 When noon came they made camp along the road 
 near a gulch where there was a little spring trickling 
 out of the bank, Ned was cook, and soon the appetizing 
 odor of boiling coffee and ham broiling over the coals 
 filled the air. 
 
 The coffee bubbled up in an incredibly short time, 
 and Ned who was on the lookout for just such a 
 contingency, picked up a hook and quickly lifted up 
 the pot before the contents ran over and put out the 
 fire. They had brought bread with them, and so din- 
 ner was soon ready. Getting a plate and cup, and 
 helping herself. Miss Parker sat down in the shade 
 of the wagon and ate her first meal in the open. 
 
 After a short rest they started onward, and along 
 in the afternoon came to a large tract of land cov- 
 ered with stately pines, called the Big Trust Timber. 
 Through the shadows cast by their spreading branches 
 they wended their way along the narrow trail, which 
 wound among the trees, and when evening came, made 
 camp in a little sun-mottled glade, so as to avoid set- 
 ting the forest on fire. 
 
 While Ned was getting supper, Steve and Marcia fed 
 and watered the horses and mules, and then erected for 
 
 166 
 
CAMPING IN THE MOUNTAINS 
 
 Miss Parker's use the same little tent which Ned and 
 Marcia used on the round-up. When this was done, 
 Steve stripped some of the smaller boughs from the 
 trees, and laid them on the ground, making a springy 
 mattress, over which she spread her blankets. They 
 were through just as Ned sent out a ringing call of: 
 "Chuck is ready," which was echoed back from hilltop 
 to hilltop. 
 
 Getting their cups and plates out of the drawer, 
 they seated themselves on the dry, crisp grass just 
 as the sun, a gleaming, copper ball, hung poised in the 
 west, seemingly waiting a moment to greet her sister 
 orb, the moon, which at the same time rose round and 
 luminous in the east, above the dark shadows of the 
 pines. 
 
 "What a strange phenomenon," remarked Miss 
 Parker. "I never before saw the sim and moon hang- 
 ing above the horizon like that. It looks like two 
 suns." 
 
 "Maybe that coffee is too strong for you, and you 
 are seein' things. Fve often thought I saw two 
 moons," laughed Ned, winking at Steve. 
 
 "Sure," agreed Steve. "So have I, but I don't sec 
 anything that looks like two suns now do you ?" And 
 then turning to Miss Parker, as he put away his cup 
 and plate, he suggested: "Let's walk to the top of 
 the hill and get a better view. Maybe it will clear 
 your vision." 
 
 "Oh ! all right," agreed she smiling. ''When Trixie 
 threw me and I bumped my head I thought I saw mil- 
 lions of stars before my eyes, and perhaps they have 
 grown into moons by now." 
 
 As the moon i ounted steadily higher, the sun sank 
 behind the trees, sending back a faint, rosy reflection 
 that deepened into a gowing crimson, streaked richly 
 with purple. The two young people had by this time 
 
 167 
 
STEVE OP THE "— G'* RANCH 
 
 reached the top of the hiU, and stood with their figures 
 sharply outlined against the evening sky. 
 
 While the girl silently enjoyed tiie spectacle, Steve 
 stood looking at her with a tender, dreamy expres- 
 sion in his eyes, and there stole over him a feeling 
 of ineffable peace and content. He came back to the 
 present with a start at a remark from her, but his 
 absorption had been so great that he had to ask her 
 to repeat it, and then he answered promptly: 
 
 "Yes, I think it is the finest sunset I ever saw.*' 
 
 "Well, why don't you look at it then ?*' inquired she 
 mischievously. 
 
 "I am looking at the only part that makes it unusual 
 for me. I've seen that same combination of sun and 
 sky lots of times, but always there was something 
 lackin'. To-night, it is perfect. I understand what 
 Adam meant when he said that it is not good for man 
 to live alone." 
 
 "It was not Adam who said that," laughed she. "It 
 was God." 
 
 "Well, I was wonderin' how Adam happened to 
 cipher that out for himself, when he had always been 
 alone," chuckled he, and then with a power of analysis 
 and depth of expression that surprised her, he con- 
 tinued : "I suppose he was like I have been, and would 
 sit and gaze at the sunset, and feel his heart swxll 
 and ache with an unaccountable loneliness, and puzzle 
 over what was the matter, until God took pity on him." 
 
 Then coming down from his lofty heights, he added 
 with his characteristic dry humor: 
 
 "I'll bet he didn't need an interpreter when he awoke 
 from that deep sleep he was in, while God was per- 
 formin* the delicate operation of removin' a rib and 
 tumin' it into a woman. When he found Eve sittin' 
 beside him he must have known at once what had been 
 spoilin' the views, and makin' even the Garden of Eden 
 
 168 
 
CAMPma IN THE MOUNTAINS 
 
 as barren of joy as a desert waste. I can see where Tm 
 goin' to enjoy this campin' trip as I never enjoyed any- 
 thing before." 
 
 She was about to make some pertinent reply, to 
 cover the confusion caused by his words and ardent 
 glances, when Ned called to them through the gather- 
 ing dusk. 
 
 "Hey, you two. It's time to go to bed. We ain't 
 goin' to sit up all night chaperoninM" You've looked 
 that moon plumb out of countenance, and it's hidin' be- 
 hind a cloud. I'll order it up about noon to-morrow 
 so that you can get an early start." 
 
 The camp fire had burned down to a few glowing 
 coals, and these Ned and Steve put out for fear that 
 the wind might come and start a conflagration. When 
 they were through, they all repaired to their different 
 quarters for the night. 
 
 Ned and Marcia made their bed alongside the tent, 
 but Steve being more luxuriously inclined, went up 
 among the trees, and finding one with low hanging 
 boughs, heaped up some pine needles and spread his 
 blankets over them. He pulled off his coat and 
 wrapped his boots in it, then put them under his head 
 for a pillow, and slid between the blankets. With a 
 few sinuous wriggles he made a place to fit his body, 
 and was soon lost in a deep and dreamless sleep, which 
 many a man tossing on his bed of eiderdown might 
 envy. 
 
 Through the open flaps of her tent Miss Parker lay 
 and studied the heavens and listened to the pines over- 
 head sighing out their mournful wail of tragedy and 
 sadness. 
 
 The next day they reached Colorado Springs, and 
 driving over to Manitou, made camp at the foot of 
 Pike's Peak, and from its protecting shelter, visited 
 the many places of interest around that romantic spot. 
 
 169 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G" RANCH 
 
 Then began the tortuous climb to the summit of the 
 mountains, which was their destination. They struck 
 boldly off up Ute Pass, following a narrow shelf-like 
 road, hewed out of the granite cliffs, winding ever up- 
 ward along the mountain side. While deep in the 
 trough of the gorge, hundreds of feet below, was a 
 racing riot of water, churned into soft, white foam, 
 where it tumbled madly over the rocks. 
 
 The two led mules shrank nervously away from the 
 edge of the precipice, and crowding and shoving, kept 
 as close to the side of the mountains as their harness 
 would permit, making it difficult to drive them and 
 leaving all the load for the rear mules to pulL 
 
 These were accustomed to traveling along dizzy 
 heights, as they had been used by Ned and Marcia 
 every year on their camping trips. However, Miss 
 Parker had a fellow feeling for Chakawana and Jaim- 
 ita, as she was equally terrified, and finally as they 
 rounded a short curve, and the wagon swung out, she 
 looked straight down to the bottom of the gorge with 
 a thrill of terror. As she felt the insistent tug of the 
 force of gravity, reaching out like the tenticles of 
 some hideous monster, to drag her downward, she shut 
 her eyes, and clutched a rope that was tied over the 
 wagon to hold the many bundles in place. 
 
 She held onto this until noon came to her relief, 
 when they ate their lujich on a little plateau. Then un- 
 mindful of all advice about using her foot too soon, 
 she persuaded Steve to saddle her horse, hoping in 
 this way to overcome the dizziness and terror, which 
 attacks so many people in high places. 
 
 As the afternoon advanced, and either Steve or 
 Marcia rode between her and the gorge, her nervous- 
 ness gave place to a feeling of security, and for the 
 first time since starting, the grandeur and beauty of 
 the scenery made itself felt. Sbe thrilled with the reali- 
 
 170 
 
CAMPING IN THE MOUNT^AINS 
 
 zation that she was at last in the heart of the Rockies, 
 and would soon climb to the top of those lofty peaks, 
 and from their summit look off into space illimitable. 
 
 Like ants upon a highway they followed the trail, the 
 peaks looming grand and forbidding above them, and 
 she pondered upon the littleness of humanity and its 
 petty striving. The others seemed to feel the spell, and 
 as they rode along the hush of the mountains set its 
 seal upon their spirits, and no one spoke for some time. 
 
 The mules, too, seemed to be impressed by the soli- 
 tude, and were moving along half asleep, when sud- 
 denly they came to a down grade, and Ned attempted 
 to set the brake, but it did not catch. The heavy wagon 
 crowded upon them, and they, startled from their nap, 
 instead of trying to hold back, broke into a wild run 
 down the road. 
 
 Ned shouted to the riders in front, and upon look- 
 ing back and and discovering the trouble, they in- 
 stantly set their horses into a run. This would have 
 quickly put them out of danger, but Miss Parker's 
 horse, which had been ridden but little since they 
 started, became obstinate and commenced to buck. 
 She clutched wildly for the honi, and not finding it, 
 her hand waved impotently in the air for a few 
 minutes. 
 
 Steve reined his horse alongside, and holding him 
 there, settled himself in the saddle and reached out 
 and caught her as she fell. He checked his horse for 
 an instant, w^hile she clambered on behind. Then 
 telling her to slip into the saddle, jumped off and ran 
 swiftly toward the granite cliff, and flattened himself 
 against its side, the wagon and mules clattering toward 
 him. 
 
 Fearing that the wagon would strike him as it 
 lurched by, he crouched a moment, and tightening his 
 clastic muscles, shot upward like a spring released, and 
 
 171 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G^' RANCH 
 
 caught hold of a wild currant bush which grew out 
 of the rocks above his head. He felt it give as the 
 roots broke loose from their shallow moorings, and let- 
 ting go with one hand, caught at a rock which jutted 
 out a little beyond its fellows. The roots broke one 
 by one, slowly his fingers slipped off the rock, and all 
 holds giving way at once, he dropped with a thud, 
 just as the wagon swayed under him. 
 
 Instantly upon alighting he crawleld onto the seat 
 with Ned, set the brake and held it. This served to 
 check them somewhat, and coming to an up-grade 
 they soon settled down to a walk. 
 
 Miss Parker, puzzled as to which of the two evils 
 was the lesser, finally decided to continue riding, as 
 Steve's horse seemed amenable to reason. 
 
 That evening they reached a lofty meadow, between 
 jutting peaks. Close against one, with a sheer, straight 
 wail for a bank, lay a tiny lake fed by a little mountain 
 brook, which flowed fresh from the snows above. 
 
 This meadow and lake had been their objective 
 point, and they at once set about making a permanent 
 camp, as from here they could hunt and fish, and 
 later make their way to the summit on horseback, car- 
 rying their camp outfit on the mules. 
 
 Putting a bell on Mary Jane, they turned the horses 
 and mules loose to graze about They were pretty 
 well camp-broke by tliis time, and only occasionally 
 wandered so far away that the tinkle of the bell could 
 not be heard. They were left to shift for themselves, 
 which was not a difficult matter, as the valley was cov- 
 ered with tender green grass, and soon their sides were 
 bulging comfortably. 
 
 While Ned and Steve settled camp and erected the 
 tent, Marcia and Miss Parker took out the rods and 
 whipped the lake for trout, which rose to the fly so 
 
 172 
 
CAMPING IN THE MOtnifTAINS 
 
 qtiickly that there was little sport in catching them, and 
 presently they desisted Huntii^ up a flat stone they 
 helped Ned dress what they needed for supper, and 
 then broiled them in the dutch ovou 
 
 173 
 
XIII 
 
 THE EAGLE 
 
 Along about sunset, while they were eating supper, 
 there appeared in the blue arc of sky above them an 
 immense Golden Eagle, his bronze wings wide-spread 
 and motionless, slowly circling overhead, as if inspect- 
 ing this new feature of his well-known landscape. 
 
 They sat with faces uplifted, watching him, when 
 suddenly he paused a moment, as if weighing the 
 chances, and then with incredible swiftness, swooped 
 down upon them. They dodged and threw up their 
 hands, but he went straight on over their heads to the 
 rock where they had left the rest of the fish. He picked 
 up a large trout in his talons, then with powerful down- 
 ward beats of his giant wings, flew almost straight 
 upward imtil out of range, and with a long graceful 
 curve, swept up toward the high snow-crested peak 
 opposite, and came to rest on a tall, pointed rock which 
 rose straight and high like a church spire above the 
 cliff. 
 
 They stood looking after him in amazement for 
 awhile, and then turned to finish their supper, which 
 had been interrupted so simmiarily, only to find every- 
 tliing full of ashes from the camp fire, which the beat- 
 ing of his giant wings had puffed up. 
 
 As they saw him many times each day, winging his 
 silent flight to or from the mountain, or seated on his 
 lofty perch, they began to speculate upon the w^here- 
 
 174 
 
THE EAGLE 
 
 abouts of his nest, and one morning as with wide- 
 spread wings, he launched himself off across the moim- 
 tain tops, Ned, who was stretched out on the ground, 
 looked up and said : 
 
 ''I wonder what an eagle's nest looks like?" 
 
 "I don't know," answered Steve. "I'd sure like to 
 see one. Supposin' we go and visit him. He'll think 
 we ain't polite, if we don't return his call pretty soon." 
 
 "All right, I'll go you," agreed Ned, and getting up 
 they set out on their difficult and dangerous enterprise, 
 as heedlessly as two small boys daring each other to 
 climb a tree and destroy the nest of a bluejay. 
 
 After going around the lake they came to a gradual 
 slope, which was so easy of ascent, and they made 
 such good headway, that they began to think they were 
 going on a fool's errand, as no eagle would build its 
 nest in a place that was apparently so accessible. 
 
 However, upon topping a sudden rise, they came to 
 a sheer, straight wall of dark red sandstone, which at 
 first appeared to be absolutely impassable. They 
 dreaded the chaffing they would receive should they re- 
 turn to camp without having found the nest, so they 
 determined to see if they could not find a way up. 
 
 Upon looking closer they found that it was marked 
 here and there by narrow ledges, the lowest of which 
 seemed to be near enough for one of them to reach 
 and swing himself onto by mounting to the shoulders 
 of the other. This Ned, who was the lighter, quickly 
 did, and once up, began looking about for means to 
 hoist up his companion. 
 
 Had they been seasoned mountain climbers they 
 would have taken the precaution before starting to 
 coil their lariats about their waists, and then the mat- 
 ter would have been very simple. 
 
 However, above the ledge, the face of the clifF had 
 been rent apart, and in this large crevice the dust of 
 
 175 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G'* RANCH 
 
 ages had been drifted by the wind, and held there by 
 the water from a tiny spring which trickled out 
 of the cliff above, and supplied abundant moisture for 
 a few shrubs, and a wild grape vine, which clambered 
 over the rocks above. 
 
 Quickly tearing it loose from the rocks, Ned let down 
 the end, but kept a firm hold just above the roots, lest 
 they pull out as Steve started to climb up it, and let 
 him fall backward. 
 
 The ledge upon which they lound themselves, while 
 about five feet wide where they stood, gradually nar- 
 rowed as it wound across the cliff, until there was 
 just room for them to go sideways by clinging to the 
 rocks with their hands. It ended abruptly in a slide, 
 composed of small pebbles. Down this the hoary old 
 peak was wont to send sliding and crashing its sur- 
 plus snow to the valley, when the warm suns of spring 
 had loosened it from its moorings on the mountain 
 side. 
 
 Up this they climbed, or crawled with infinite care. 
 Now and then they could steady themselves by clutch- 
 ing the boulders along the edge. At such times they 
 would hold on tightly for a few moments, and lay flat 
 on their stomachs for a much-needed breathing spell, 
 while the merciless rays of the noonday sun beat 
 down upon them. 
 
 They had climbed what seemed to them many miles, 
 but was in reality a few hundred feet, when they came 
 to another narrow ledge like the one from which they 
 started. They decided to see if this was not on a 
 level with the eagle's nest, and sure enough as they 
 worked their way along, they saw ahead of them the 
 tall rock, and a little below was the eagle's nest. A 
 heterogeneous mass of dry twigs, with no soft down 
 to make it cozy for their 3roung. 
 
 17§ 
 
THE EAGLE 
 
 Oft tke nest were two young eagles about half grown, 
 which uttered shrill cries of alarm at sight of these 
 Strang* beings invading their domain. 
 
 Evidently both parents must have bc«n somewhere 
 near, as they soon came swooping down upon the 
 intruders, and before they could draw their revolvers, 
 began tearing at them with beak and claws, and buffet- 
 ing them with their rigid wings. 
 
 Steve drew his revolver and fired at the mother bird, 
 who seemed bent upon pecking out his eyes. In 
 doing so made a misstep, and went tumbling over the 
 edge of the cliff, crashing and rolling, falling so swiftly 
 that he had no time to grab at whatever shrubs there 
 were. All at once, his progress was halted with a 
 suddenness that almost jerked out what little breath he 
 had left. His cartridge belt had caught on a rough, 
 jagged stone, and had thus arrested his fall. 
 
 It took him some minutes to recover his wits suffi- 
 ciently to discover what was holding him, and then he 
 was afraid to move for fear of slipping the belt off 
 the jagged rock, so there he hung suspended. 
 
 Just then Ned, who had shot the other eagle, looked 
 over the edge, expecting to see a bruised and mangled 
 heap of himianity at the bottom, and great was his 
 amazement to see his friend clinging like a fly to the 
 face of the cliff. He could not see what was holding 
 him, and waited breathless for a moment, expecting to 
 see his hold loosen, and him go sliding on down the 
 mountain. 
 
 But as he still held on, after a few moments, NeJ 
 ventured to call down, and ask what was holding him. 
 Then he looked around a little more, and saw that 
 there was another narrow ledge two or three feet 
 below, where Steve was clinging, and told this wel- 
 come news to him, for with his face to the cliff he 
 could see nothing above or below. 
 
 177 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G" RANCH 
 
 To this ledge he carefully lowered himself, and then 
 began to try and find the extent of his injuries. Find- 
 ing himself all intact, with the exception of a few 
 bruises, and notifying Ned to that effect, they then 
 began planning a way of getting him up or down. 
 
 The shelf on which he found himself, gradually nar- 
 rowed into the cliff a few feet on either side of where 
 he was sitting, and as they decided that it was impos- 
 sible for him to climb either up or down with safety, 
 Ned called to him that he would go and get their 
 lariats. 
 
 Marcia and Miss Parker had decided not to accom- 
 pany them on the trip, but promised to watch them 
 through field glasses. This they did and were horri- 
 fied and helpless witnesses of the frightful battle be- 
 tween the men and the eagles. The powerful field 
 glasses seemingly brought the combatants within" 
 stone's throw of their eyes, and when Steve fell over 
 the cliff, both women shrieked and dropped the glasses. 
 They soon picked them up again, however, and focused 
 them on a dark-looking object which appeared to be 
 sticking to the side of the mountain. 
 
 When they discovered this to be Steve, and saw him 
 lower himself to the ledge and Ned start away, Marcia 
 divining their purpose, untied the ropes from their 
 saddles and started to meet Ned. 
 
 She reached the rocky slide all out of breath, about 
 the time Ned had worked himself along the ledge and 
 climbed down. Again he essayed the hazardous climb, 
 greatly hampered by the ropes, and finally arrived at 
 the nest again. 
 
 Upon tying the ropes together, he found they were 
 just long enough to reach Steve and leave enough to 
 fasten around the base of the tree, so as to make a 
 safe anchorage. Up this Steve climbed hand over 
 hand, bracing his feet against the rocks, until at last 
 
 178 
 
He saw a young grizzly bear about half way up the tree digging 
 honey out of a hole with one clumsy forepaw. 
 
THE EAGLE 
 
 he reached the top, and sat down for a much-needed 
 rest. 
 
 After awhile they started the descent of the moun- 
 tain, and reached the valley without further mishap, 
 where Marcia and Miss Parker had a steaming repast 
 ready for them. 
 
 They went over and over their adventure, and during 
 a lull in the conversation Miss Parker inquired : 
 
 "What became of the eaglets?" 
 
 "By Gee !" exclaimed Ned. "We forgot to kill them, 
 and they'll have to starve," 
 
 This worried Marcia and Miss Parker so much that 
 Ned decided to go back the next day and get them, but 
 waited until after noon when the sun was on the other 
 side of the mountain. He returned about simdown, 
 much scratched and clawed, but triumphant, with the 
 two eaglets tied up in a bag. 
 
 They attached a cord to the leg of each, and picketed 
 them to a tree, feeding them with scraps of game that 
 fell to their rifles, and an occasional fish. The eaglets 
 soon became used to their strange parents who came 
 on legs instead of wide-spread wings and croaked 
 eagerly for food every time they approached. 
 
 179 
 
XIV 
 
 THEY GO BERRYING AND FIND A BEAR 
 
 They were now in the midst of Indian summer 
 There had been a little cold weather, with a flurry of 
 snow and frost, and then there came stealing back, 
 warm, balmy days, which were fast converting the for- 
 est into a riot of color. Rich golds, dark browns and 
 brilliant scarlets, were all softened and harmonized by 
 the green foliage of hemlock and pines. 
 
 The place where they had their camp was a hunter's 
 paradise. Game of all kinds roamed through the 
 woods, and they hunted, fished, bathed or did nothing 
 as their fancy dictated. Only now and then did Steve 
 and Ned go off on an expedition by themselves. 
 Marcia could endure as well as they, any hardship that 
 was to be encountered, and Miss Parker pluckily fol- 
 lowed, although at first, it taxed their strength to the 
 utmost. Gradually her muscles strengthened, and sun 
 and wind converted her into a veritable wood nymph. 
 
 With her for his constant companion, the days flew 
 by on golden wings, and Steve lived in an Elysian 
 dream, from which he hoped not to be awakened. As 
 he became more deeply enamored, he ceased making 
 the half-serious, half -jesting declarations of love, with 
 
 180 
 
THEY GO BEEEYING AND FIND A BEAR 
 
 which he had been wont to staaiie Miss Paxloar in th« 
 early part of their acquaintance. 
 
 Often as he reached up to help her over soomi wind- 
 fall or boulder that obstructed their path, there would 
 sweep over him like a wave, an impulse to gather her 
 in his arms, and put his fate to the test 
 
 With an avowal trembhng on his lips, he would 
 search her face for some sign of self-consciousness or 
 confusion. She met each glance with an air of cool 
 unconcern, and that sixth sense which had guided him 
 safely through so many vital moments, bade him 
 "Wait" With Spartan courage, he restrained the 
 impulse, and turned away his expressive eyes, which 
 glowed with love and self-revelation. 
 
 As usual, one morning while they were eating break- 
 fast, the question came up as to what they should do 
 that day, and first one thing and then another was sug- 
 gested until Steve, with a chuckle, remarked : 
 
 "Weil, the board of health has sent me the last 
 notice, and Fve got to wash." 
 
 "Wash! Didn't you wash before you set down to 
 breakfast? Don't get reckless, man, you might take 
 cold," exclaimed Ned. 
 
 "I mean, wash my clothes. You brought a wash- 
 board along, didn't you.'^" 
 
 "Sure, and that's a right good idea. Guess well 
 aU wash," 
 
 "What will you do for a tub ?" inquired Miss Parker. 
 
 ''Tub!" answered Ned with much scorn. "Don't 
 you suppose there was any washin' done before tubs 
 was invented? Come on, Steve, let's make her a tub." 
 Selecting some large rocks, they rolled them into the 
 lake on the shallow beach, and stacked them up to 
 about a foot below the surface of the water. 
 
 "There's your tub," said Ned, "Put on your bathin 
 90it and wade in," And this they did. Each doing his 
 
 181 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G" RANCH 
 
 or her own washing to the accompaniment of much 
 jesting and laughter. Soon various articles of wear- 
 ing apparel were spread on the grass to dry. 
 
 When they had all finished, Ned looked at his watch 
 and finding that it was only ten o'clock, proposed : 
 
 "111 tell you what let's do. Let's go and pick some 
 wild raspberries?" 
 
 "Raspberries," chorused the rest. "Where will you 
 find raspberries this time of year?" 
 
 "I found some bushes the other day while I was 
 lookin' for the horses. They are on a little knoll in 
 the center of a swamp on the other side of the moun- 
 tain, and sheltered so by bushes and shrubs that the 
 berries were only just beginning to turn. They ought 
 to be ripe by now." 
 
 Getting a bucket they eagerly started, and as the 
 valley was on a level with their camp, they went 
 around the base of the mountain, and in an hour or 
 so arrived at the edge of the marsh. Miss Parker 
 and Steve were in the lead, and when they came out on 
 the edge of tlie marsh they could see nothing but a 
 thick growth of shrubs and slender saplings through 
 which they could not make their way. 
 
 "How are we going to reach the Island?" inquired 
 she. 
 
 "There must be a path, somewhere," said Steve, 
 looking about. 
 
 "Yes, here it is. Let's follow it and see where it 
 leads." 
 
 Miss Parker walked ahead, her feet making no sound 
 as she stepped lightly over the soft, feathery moss that 
 carpeted the marsh and concealed the water, which 
 filled each depression made in the moss as they lifted 
 their feet. Presently they reached the island, and Miss 
 Parker stepped out upon it, then with a low exclama- 
 tion, shrank back in the bushes. 
 
 182 
 
THEY GO BERRYIIfQ AND FIND A BEAE 
 
 Steve, who was a little behind, shouldered forward, 
 and looked about, but could see nothing to cause alarm, 
 
 "What was it?" he whispered. 
 
 "Look up at that tree," said the girL "What 
 is it?" 
 
 Steve looked up and saw what appeared to be a big 
 hairy arm and hand reaching around the tree. He took 
 a step to one side for a better view and saw a young 
 grizzly about half way up the tree, digging honey out 
 of a hole with one clumsy forepaw, while he held on 
 with the other three. 
 
 Bees swarmed all about him, and buried themselves 
 in his thick fur, making such a noise tliat bruin had not 
 heard their approach. Steve drew his revolver, took 
 careful aim, and fired, hitting him just back of the 
 ear. 
 
 Instantly the bear came sliding down, scratching and 
 clawing. Tearing off great pieces of dried bark in his 
 descent, and lumbered off, shaking his head. Soon he 
 disappeared down another path a little to the right. He 
 evidently attributed his discomfiture to the bees, as he 
 never looked in their direction. 
 
 Then Steve remembered Ned and Marcia, who were 
 a little behind, and shouted to them. 
 
 "Look out ! There is a bear comin' down the path. 
 Run around and head him off." 
 
 "All right," shouted Ned, and jimiped behind a tree, 
 just as the bear stuck his head out through the bushes. 
 He had heard them shouting, and paused for a moment 
 to reconnoiter before venturing forth. This gave Ned 
 plenty of time to aim, and at his shot the bear shrank 
 backward as if stimned, and the bushes closed over 
 him. 
 
 There were a few convulsive movements of the 
 shrubs, then all was quiet, and they were in doubt as to 
 whether he was dead or just sulling, waiting for an 
 
 183 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G'^ RANCH 
 
 attack. They sent several more shots into the place 
 where they saw hitn disappear, and then cautiously 
 approached and parting tli^ bushes found him stretched 
 out in the last death struggle. 
 
 Then Ned and Steve danced about, venting their joy 
 in true cowboy abandon. That was the first bear that 
 had fallen to their hands, although they had gone out 
 many times in search of them. 
 
 Dragging it back across the marsh they drew out 
 their long-bladed hunting knives, and started skinning 
 it, while Marcia and Miss Parker returned to get the 
 saddle horses to carry it back to camp. 
 
 When they had the bear skinned, and the hind 
 quarters swung across a horse. Miss Parker looked 
 up at the tree and observed : 
 
 *T[ wish we had some of that honey. It must be 
 very good as the bear was so absorbed that he did not 
 hear us. 
 
 "Well, we'll just get some,'* said Ned. "Where is 
 the bucket we brought for the berries ? We will have 
 bear, biscuits and honey for supper." Taking off his 
 muffler he tied it over his face and hat, and with a 
 boost from Steve was soon up the tree. While he was 
 getting the honey the others filled Steve's hat with 
 berries. 
 
 When they reached camp about sundown, all were 
 ravenously hungry, as they had had nothing to eat, 
 excepting a light limch which Marcia had brought back 
 when she went after the horses, 
 
 Ned set the dutch oven over the fire to heat while 
 he was making biscuits. Marcia broiled thick slices 
 of steak, while Miss Parker made the coffee. Supper 
 was ready by the time Steve returned from looking 
 after the horses, and with appetites that would do it 
 full justice, they all gathered around the camp fire 
 aad helped themselves. 
 
rv 
 
 ^ THE PROPOSAL ON THE SUMMIT 
 
 A few days later they decided to break camp and 
 push farther up into the mountains, with a pack train, 
 leaving the wagon behind. They shoved it back among 
 the bushes, and packed it with things they did not wish 
 to take along, feeling no compunction at leaving it, 
 as they had found no signs of that part of the motm- 
 tains ever having been traversed by human foot other 
 than their own. 
 
 Ned started to pack the camp outfit, while Steve 
 hunted up the horses. When they came he looked 
 puzzled for a moment, and then jocosely inquired: 
 
 "Say! Which would you all rather do, starve or 
 freeze?" 
 
 "I don't know," answered Miss Parker. 'Tlave we 
 a choice, and are we in eminent danger of doing 
 either?" 
 
 "I don't know," said Ned dubiously. **Chackawana 
 and Jaunita have never been used as pack animals 
 before, and the way they acted on the trip up they 
 might go over a cliff." 
 
 "I didn't think there was any danger of them going 
 over. It looked to me like they were just as afraid 
 of doing that as I was," laughed she. 
 
 "Well, that is just the point. They may refuse to 
 cross some place and attempt to turn aroimd and then 
 go over." 
 
 I8S 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G" RANCH 
 
 "If that is the case, put the cooking utensils and 
 food on them, for if forced to do it, we could live 
 on game and fish, but if there should come a storm we 
 would freeze pretty quickly without any bedding or 
 warm clothes." said Marcia. 
 
 And this they decided to do. Miss Parker brought 
 out all the pots and pans, and soon there was quite a 
 varied assortment spread around Ned, who started to 
 pack them in a little box. 
 
 Noting Miss Parker's amazement at the size of the 
 box he sent her off to help Marcia for a moment, and 
 then dexterously fitted the kettles together, one in- 
 side the other, and put them in the box. The other 
 utensils were wedged in around these, each having 
 its own particular nitch, and every inch of space being 
 utilized. Next came the dishes, which were of white 
 enamel, unbreakable and very light. Soon all were 
 disposed of, and when Miss Parker returned Ned 
 could not make her believe but that he had hidden 
 part of them. 
 
 However, with all his skill there was a little tea- 
 pot which Marcia insisted upon taking along, that 
 could not be fitted in the box, so Ned laid it on top, 
 thinking he would tie it down. When the pack was 
 strapped on Chackawana, she stood sullenly quiet until 
 the rest were ready and started off. 
 
 At the first step the pot which Ned had forgotten 
 to tie rattled, and she commenced to buck. The pack 
 became loosened up, and other articles fell out one 
 by one. As each one hit the ground it seemed to 
 encourage the mule to greater effort. Soon cooking 
 utensils were scattered in every direction, and looking 
 them over ruefully, Ned called to Miss Parker: 
 "Say, do you still think 1 hid any of 'em?" 
 
 This meant an hour or two delay, while they changed 
 the packs, as they decided to tie their three beds and 
 
 186 
 
THE PROPOSAL 0:N' THE SUMMIT 
 
 extra clothing on Chackawana and Jaunita, as they 
 were done up compactly and would not rattle. Staid 
 old Mary Jane and Maud carried the tent and camp 
 outfit, 
 
 Marcia and Miss Parker took the lead, while Steve 
 and Ned rode behind to drive the mules along. Single 
 file they wound around the mountain sides. At times 
 following well-marked game trails, and when these 
 dwindled away, or went in a different direction from 
 which they wished to go, Ned or Steve rode ahead to 
 pick the way. 
 
 As they were making the trip simply to see the 
 coimtry, they only hunted or fished when necessary to 
 replenish their larder. This was not difficult, as the 
 game having been so little hunted, if ever, was very 
 tame. 
 
 Often as the pack train followed the tortuous trail, 
 a buck or a doe, would stand temptingly out on some 
 high point, within easy range, and watch them out 
 of curious eyes. Tucked away behind boulders along 
 the edge of the stream, and protected from the swift 
 current, beautiful speckled trout rested lazily on the 
 white sands of the bottom. 
 
 Day after d'ty slipped by in swift procession as they 
 made their way through gloomy forests, camped by 
 placid lakes or followed the course of some stream. 
 All about the sombreness was relieved by the splendor 
 of the autumn colors. Here and there great splotches 
 of woodbine, its leaves dyed a dark crimson by the 
 frost, glowed in the slanting rays of the sun, giving 
 the mountains the appearance of having been stabbed 
 by some giant hand. They crossed small torrents 
 which dashed swiftly down some steep incline for a 
 pace, only to disappear under ground, and burst joy- 
 ously forth farther down the mountain side. 
 
 Miss Parker awoke each morning with a thrill of 
 187 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G" RANCH 
 
 romantic anticipation, and lay awake long hours each 
 night listening to the sounds of the wilderness. The 
 wind surged through the tree-tops, rising and falling 
 like the waves of the ocean, often wafting to her the 
 faint murmur of some distant cataract. Then it would 
 die away, and for seconds not a leaf stirred, when sud- 
 denly the breathing silence would be broken. A pine 
 cone dropped from overhead, a rock crashed down the 
 side of a cliff, or some savage beast would send out 
 a ringing call to its mate. 
 
 The mountains rose stem and commanding on all 
 sides, and after a time it seemed to Miss Parker 
 that they were rebuking their lack of purpose, and 
 turning to her companions, she inquired: 
 
 "Where are we going? We should have some goal 
 in this vast wilderness. That tall peak opposite seems 
 to beckon me. Why not have it for our objective 
 point?" 
 
 The others assented, and it seemed to her as they 
 slowly climbed upward, that before her spread the 
 parable of life. 
 
 First came the meadows, with their sparkling lakes 
 and bright green grass, representing youth, with its 
 careless flaunting of colors; then came the staid and 
 stately pines of middle life, which diminished and grew 
 smaller and smaller until they disappeared entirely at 
 that magic place which marks the timber line. Heaven 
 now being close at hand the peaks, ever looking up- 
 ward, are dressed in sober tones, with at last only a 
 snowy shroud between them and the shining skies. 
 
 To the left, from out of the side of the opposite 
 mountain, rose sheer, straight, some tall spires of dark 
 red sandstone, upon which the bright rays of the sun 
 played, illuminating some points and throwing others 
 in shadow, causing it to glow like a mighty ruby. 
 
 ''Seel" exclaimed she to Steve, who was just be- 
 188 
 
THE PROPOSAL ON THE SUMMIT 
 
 hind her. "That mass of rock looks like some old 
 Feudal castle. I should not be at all surprised if 
 some half -savage horde should swoop down upon us- 
 and take us captive." 
 
 Just then her horse shrank back, and with a terrified 
 snort stood still. Miss Parker looked ahead, and then 
 hastily dismounted, , 
 
 "What's the matter?" inquired Steve, who could not 
 see the path in front on account of her horse. 
 
 "There is a deep gorge just ahead, with no way 
 across, except over a narrow ledge of rock, and my 
 horse refuses to go over it. What are we going to do ?" 
 
 "I'll get off and see," said Steve. Calling to Ned tu 
 halt the pack train, he crept around Miss Parker's 
 horse to the edge of the precipice, and peered down 
 into the dark cavern. Far below, but lost in shadow, • 
 a violently rushing stream, imprisoned in the rocky 
 channel, sent a faint gurgle to their ears. 
 
 Just then Ned came up, and Steve inquired : 
 
 "Do you suppose we can get the horses across on 
 that little bridge?" 
 
 "Well, well have to try, as we can't turn aroimd 
 on this trail, and the mountain is too steep to take 
 them up or down. It is goin' to be a ticklish job, 
 for if they get on there and start to backin' or cuttin' 
 up they'll go over sure. Get Miss Parker over first, 
 and then we'll try and lead her horse across." 
 
 At this remark Miss Parker's heart sank, and she 
 turned pale, but with a look of resolution took hold 
 of Steve's outstretched hand and made a few steps ^ 
 forward. 
 
 '"Look straight ahead. Don't look down," com- 
 manded Ned, but the advice came too late. Holding 
 tightly to Steve's hand she stood swaying drunkenly 
 like a reed blown about by the wind. Ned hurriedly 
 stqpped up behind and steadied her while they helped 
 
 189 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G" RANCH 
 
 her back to the bank. Her nerve all gone she sank 
 limply on the the path and sobbed out : 
 
 "I know you think I am an awful fool, but I can't 
 go over. I never could keep my balance in high places. 
 I always want to cast myself over." 
 
 "Well, rest awhile and Til carry you," said Steve, 
 reassuringly. "And if you'll look up instead of down 
 we'll get over all right." 
 
 After a few minutes he picked her up and started 
 across, and when Miss Parker felt him step on the 
 ledge, with a convulsive movement, she clutched him 
 tightly around the neck and shut her eyes. 
 
 Now, a healthy young woman is no light load, but 
 looking straight ahead, and stepping carefully, Steve 
 walked across the ledge, his calmness and steadiness 
 belied by his throbbing heart, and the blood which 
 mounted slowly to his face and neck, at the touch of 
 her clinging arms. Reluctant to put her down, he 
 stood holding her for a moment, until she opened her 
 eyes to see why he had stopped, and realizing that they 
 were again on terra ferma, released her arms from 
 around his n^ck and sat down. 
 
 He looked down at her, but she would not meet his 
 glance, and a deep flush slowly mantled cheek and 
 brow. At this sign of confusion his daring returned, 
 and with a low chuckle he bent over swiftly and 
 planted a kiss on her red lips, and whispered : 
 
 "That is to pay for your passage over." Then turn- 
 ing quickly he went back on the other side to hdp 
 Ned get the horses across. 
 
 Miss Parker's horse absolutely refused to make a 
 step until they blindfolded it, and then Steve went 
 ahead and led it. When it reached the ledge it walked 
 steadily, but trembled at the hollow sound made when 
 his feet struck the rock bridge, 
 
 Mary Jaae and Maud followed oae behind the other, 
 190 
 

 ■r ,.. ^ 
 
 1 
 
 
 ■■''. " N- 
 
 
 The mountains rose bare and rugged, the light snow having been 
 swept into the hollows by the chill north winds. 
 
THE PEOPOSAL ON THE SUMMIT 
 
 stepping gingerly and rolling their eyes, but when 
 Chackawana saw what was before her, she attempted 
 to turn around. Ned and Marcia shouted to her, and 
 tried to head her the other way, but with a quick jump 
 she whirled, missed her footing and went tumbling 
 headlong down the mountain side. Over and over she 
 rolled, bounding from one rock to another, until fin- 
 ally she landed plump against a tree and lodged. 
 
 Ned looked at her for a moment, started to say 
 something, choked it back, and turning around, said : 
 
 "Say, Marcia 1 You and Miss Parker go around on 
 the other side of the mountain, so I can tell this mule 
 what I think of her." 
 
 After that they took no more chances, and blind- 
 folded the two horses and Jaunita before attempting 
 to get them over. Then began the difficult task of getting 
 Chackawana back to the trail. They hrst untied her 
 pack, and then fastening their lariats around her neck 
 and wrapping the other end around a tree a little 
 higher up, took up the slack in the rope as she 
 scrambled up the almost perpendicular sides until she 
 was safe on the path again. Then they blindfolded and 
 led her across, and then carried over the beds and 
 strapped them on her back again. 
 
 After that they traveled on without mishap, but after 
 passing the timber line the way became so rough that 
 they decided to stop where they were, and not attempt 
 to make camp on the top as they had first intended. 
 As soon as they had the tent erected and had gathered 
 wood and made a fire, Steve suggested that they 
 climb to the top in order to get a view from the 
 summit. 
 
 "All right," agreed Ned. "Come on, Marcia.*' But 
 at a knowing flash from her, he stopped, looked at 
 Miss Parker quizzically, scratched his head, and then 
 turned back to camp, saying: 
 
 191 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G" RANCH 
 
 *'You two go ovL Marcia is too tirecL Well go up 
 in the morning and see the sunrise/' 
 
 The way was rough, and as they toiled upward the 
 air grew lighter, and surprisingly pure. Their chests 
 rose and fell with their labored breath, and a feeling 
 of lightness and aloofness came over them. When they 
 paused for a moment to rest and get their breath, she 
 remarked : 
 
 "I have the queerest sensation. I have a mysterious 
 feeling of leaving all things behind, and that it is our 
 will alone that holds us to earth. I believe if we let 
 ourselves go, we would float off into space like a cloud. 
 Do you feel that way ?" 
 
 "I feel a little dizzy. It is the high altitude." And 
 reaching out he took her hand, which was resting on 
 the rock between them, saying: 
 
 "I guess ril keep hold of you after this. That 
 suggestion of yours about disappearing frightens me." 
 "I don't think there is any danger," laughed she, but 
 not removing her hand. "If I had a long trailing robe 
 I might try it. But an angel in a short skirt and high 
 boots would look rather grotesque." 
 
 As he held her hand, Steve's heart began to pound, 
 and the voice that had hitherto urged him to wait, 
 whispered "Now ! Now ! Now !" He lent toward her, 
 but she divining what was coming, arose hastily, say- 
 ing: 
 
 "Come on, we must reach the top. I shall never be 
 content until I have seen what is beyond. There seems 
 to be a voice calling, which retreats as I advance, and 
 will only deliver its message from the topmost peak." 
 
 After a stiff climb they reached the summit, and 
 hand in hand stood perfectly still, spellbound at the 
 marvelous view spread out so startingly before them. 
 Straight down from the narrow plateau on which 
 192 
 
THE PEOPOSAL ON THE SUMMIT 
 
 they stood dropped the steep sides of the mountain to 
 a cup-like basin of varying shades of green. A little 
 lake gleamed like a mirror in the center of the emerald- 
 green bottom, and reflected the snow-capped peaks 
 which surrounded it, looking like the scalloped edges 
 of a cup. On all sides rose numberless peaks, white 
 and uneven, like the jagged teeth of a shark. 
 
 The girl drew a deep breath that was almost a sob, 
 and unconsciously stepped perilously near the edge to 
 get a better view. Steve noted it, and slipped his arm 
 around her to steady her. 
 
 A light wind came up and grew more chill as it 
 gradually increased in intensity, but so absorbed were 
 they both; the girl with the scene and he with her, 
 that they did not know it. 
 
 As she looked it seemed to her that the voice that 
 had urged her onward was stilled. She had a sense 
 of waiting and expectancy, as if she was on the verge 
 of some great experience, and one unguarded word or 
 look would plunge her into it. 
 
 "Am I becoming a fatalist?" thought she. "Or have 
 I always been one.^* Was that restless longing which 
 has always possessed me but the call of fate, luring 
 me on to fulfill my destiny?" She felt the stirring of 
 some unknown forces within her; a new voice which 
 pulsed in her heart and sought an answer. 
 
 Then suddenly she became conscious of Steve's arm 
 holding her in a tender clasp, and her heart whispered 
 with each quickened beat : "The answer is near. The 
 answer is near." 
 
 Slowly her head turned as if drawn by some invis- 
 ible force. Her eyes raised and met Steve's glowing 
 in the bright light with an ecstacy of love. Her heart 
 leapt in answer, and her brown eyes flashed back its 
 message. He stepped back away from the edge, and 
 reached out his arms, and she swayed toward than, 
 
 193 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G" RANCH 
 
 but paused midway and looked past him, her eyes wid- 
 ening with terror. 
 
 "Look behind you," she breathed. He turned 
 quickly and saw bearing down upon them a heavy, 
 black cloud. Looking about for a place of refuge he 
 saw a large boulder to their left, and quick as thought 
 caught her in his arms and half carried her to its 
 shelter, just in time to avoid being blown over the 
 chff. 
 
 The wind howled, and the cloud settled round them, 
 depositing fine particles of snow as it came, until they 
 were thickly covered. They shook it off, only to be 
 covered again. It did not seem to fall, but had more 
 the appearance of growing. 
 
 They crouched behind the boulder shivering. Steve 
 clasped her tighter in his arms, their lips met, and 
 the storm was forgotten. 
 
 Presently the clouds drifted lower, shutting out the 
 world below; the sun warmed them, and they awoke 
 as from a trance and looked about and at each other 
 with a startled, puzzled expression of one who has 
 seen a vision, but still doubts. 
 
 The mountain on which they had been seated when 
 the storm commenced had disappeared, and in its stead 
 was a glistening island, surrounded by a billowy sea 
 of gray clouds. Slowly other islands appeared, around 
 which the clouds surged and rolled, sometimes entirely 
 submerging them. 
 
 Then gradually the mountains emerged, seeming to 
 grow upward to meet the sun. All their ruggedness 
 and barrenness had vanished, concealed by a carpet 
 of snow, which caught the rays of the evening sun, 
 and reflected lights and colors in startling variety, like 
 some mighty prism. 
 
 Q)ld blues, steel grays, bright orange and crimson, 
 but all were devoid of warmth. The opposite peak 
 
 194 
 
TKE PEOPOSAL ON THE SUMMIT 
 
 rose higher and higher toward the sun, and at last 
 they seemed to leap toward each other like two lovers 
 long separated, saluted with a lingering kiss, and the 
 sun disappeared behind the peak, throwing it in strik- 
 ing relief against the sky. Dark shadows appeared, 
 and turning they could see the camp fire glowing 
 against the snow. 
 
 At last the girl found her voice, and murmured : 
 
 "We have been above the clouds, and I always 
 thought that was where Heaven was." 
 
 "Well, it is," said Steve, with conviction. "At least 
 I have captured an angel and found Heaven in her 
 caress<'s, and bending over he caught her in a long 
 embrace, and so they sealed their betrothal. 
 
 Coming from behind the boulder they climbed down 
 from the top and passed at once into twilight, which 
 deepened into night as they made their v ay toward the 
 camp. 
 
 Steve with all the tender care of a man in the first 
 flush of love helped her over each obstruction, almost 
 carrying her in places where the snow made the foot- 
 ing insecure. 
 
 As they neared camp Miss Parker cautioned : 
 
 "Don't say anything to Ned and Marcia. We must 
 not tell any one until my mother knows." 
 
 But one glance at their radiant faces told the story, 
 and Ned and Marcia expressed their satisfaction in 
 pantomime behind their backs. 
 
 The next morning all four toiled up the mountains 
 to see the sunrise, and when they reached the sum- 
 mit stood looking off over a sea of dark-gray mist. 
 Far beyond could be seen the first rays of the sun, 
 painting the sky a rosy hue as it slowly peeped over 
 the mountains, and out of the mist rose here and there 
 the tops of the peaks, chill and desolate, like islands 
 out of a winter sea, 
 
 195 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G" RANCH 
 
 The sun mounted higher, the mist dissolved, and 
 through the crisp air the mountains rose bare and 
 rugged. The Hght snow had been swept into the 
 hollows by the chill nortli wind, which had whistled 
 and moaned through their tops all night Ned looked 
 a moment and then remarked : 
 
 "Say, but wouldn't that valley be a great place for 
 a bunch of rustlers to make a camp. It is entirely 
 surrounded by mountains and has plenty of water and 
 feed, and no place to enter but that low pass at the 
 south," Then seeing that Steve and Miss Parker were 
 so absorbed that they did not heed him, he turned to 
 Marcia and observed "I'm afraid winter is upon us. 
 We had better break camp and hit the trail for 
 home. That snow yesterday was but the forerunner 
 of more to come/^ And motioning for her to follow, 
 they returned to camp. 
 
 Steve saw them go, and reaching out, took Miss 
 Parker's hand and drew her nearer, and side by side 
 they stood entranced. Deep purple shadows hid the 
 valleys, and these shaded to a pale violet as they neared 
 the top until they were blended and lost in the prim- 
 rose glow of the sun reflected on the snowy crests. 
 
 "How wonderful," exclaimed Miss Parker, breaking 
 the silence. "It makes my heart ache to think of leav- 
 ing. Must we really go down soon?" 
 
 "Yes, I am afraid we must. We might get caught 
 in a storm and not be able to get out." Then look- 
 ing at her with a half shy, half tender glance, he sug- 
 gested: "But we could come back on our honey- 
 moon." 
 
 "How splendid. Surely such roseate surrounding 
 should cast a glow over all our after-life, and we could 
 never sink to the sordid bickering in which I have 
 heard so many people indulge. I am so glad you 
 thought of it, for now I can leave without regret" 
 
 196 
 
THE PROPOSAL ON THE SUMMIT 
 
 "Well, that is settled/' said Steve, with a happy look. 
 "Well come up here and camp all next summer." 
 With that he could contain himself no longer, and boy- 
 ishly vented his joy by dancing a jig on the mountain 
 top. 
 
 Then he stood still and opened his arms, waiting 
 with a pleading look in his eyes. It seemed to be his 
 whim to make her come to him. Slowly she ap- 
 proached, he strained her to him in a quick embrace, 
 and was about to press a kiss upon her lips when she 
 whispered : 
 
 "Wait! We must bid good-bye to the mountains 
 first'; 
 
 With his arms still about her they looked off at the 
 innumerable peaks, which stretched back on all sides 
 from where they stood one behind the other until they 
 were lost beyond the horizon. 
 
 Her eyes widened, and she looked long, drinking 
 in the view as a thirsty traveler, setting out upon a 
 trip across the desert, would drink of the last spring of 
 fresh water. After a time she whispered : 
 
 "Farewell, until our honeymoon." 
 
 Steve's heart gave a bound, he pressed his lips to 
 hers, murmuring: "Until our honeymoon." 
 
 When they reached camp they found Ned and 
 Marcia bustling about, and had almost everything 
 ready. Soon they tied the packs on the mules and 
 started down, pausing at every bend in the trail to 
 look back at the peak, which reminded them of the 
 glory that had come to them on its summit 
 
 As they descended the snow disappeared, and so they 
 paused a day or so to give the horses and mules a 
 rest, and then started homeward. 
 
 Now and then Miss Parker would have a feeling of 
 uneasiness when she thought of her mother, and what 
 she was apt to think of her engagement, but she reso- 
 
 197 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G" RANCH 
 
 lutely shut her mind to anything beyond the present, 
 determined to live to the full this romance which had 
 so fortimate a setting. 
 
 As they journeyed downward she and Steve rode 
 ahead, now lost in silence or engrossed with each other, 
 and Marcia who was unwilling to be an unwelcome 
 third, took to riding with Ned in the wagon, but they 
 were oblivious to the change. 
 
 However, they came out of the clouds very sud- 
 denly when they arrived at the Alton Ranch, for there 
 they found a telegram awaiting them, telling her that 
 her mother was very ill and to come home immediately. 
 
 Packing up left her little time to think and the next 
 morning accompanied by Ned, Marcia and Steve she 
 went to Denver and that night took a train for the 
 East. Out in the vestibule of the Pullman she said 
 adieu to Steve while Ned and Marcia discreetly looked 
 the other way. With her heart torn between love and 
 anxiety, she started homeward. 
 
 The voice that had beckoned her eagerly onward 
 was stilled and, searching her heart, she wondered, 
 "Was it the West that called me or love?'* 
 
 198 
 
XVI 
 
 SCHOOL OPENS AND MISS LITTLE 
 RETURNS 
 
 It was Saturday morning when Steve arrived at the 
 Bar Gee Ranch, after returning from Denver, and he 
 found that Blackie was away on the beef round-up 
 which had started a week before. He went out at 
 once in search of horses from which to select his 
 string of saddle horses, and was up early next morn- 
 ing, making preparation to start. 
 
 He had his horse saddled when one of the Colwell 
 children rode up and delivered a message from his 
 mother. 
 
 ^'1 came over to tell you that Miss Little is coming 
 out to-day, and wants somebody to meet her. Papa 
 is on the round-up and mamma wants to know if you 
 won't go after her." 
 
 "Well, I was just goin' to start on the round-up 
 myself. Can't you get somebody else to go?" 
 
 At this request the boy looked rather surprised, and 
 he gave his uncle a searching glance. 
 
 "Well, I don't know who it would be, besides, what's 
 the matter with you ? Last year you used to be hunting 
 chances to take her places, and now you are tryin' to 
 miss one." And then with an impudent wink, he 
 asked: "Say, how far is it to New York?" 
 
 199 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G'^ RANCH 
 
 •*! don't know," answered Steve. "Youll have to 
 ask your teacher." 
 
 "Well, get her out here then and 111 ask her." 
 
 "All right, then," agreed Steve with a chuckle. "Ill 
 go after her. But I won't promise I'll bring her. She 
 may refuse to ride home with me." 
 
 "Ah! go'wan. She used to like to travel with you 
 well enough last year. And besides you are safe. 
 She'll either have to ride with you or walk." 
 
 While he was tying his horse at Watkins, several 
 cow-punchers came galloping up, among whom were 
 Blackie and Fred Knox. They dismounted in front 
 of the saloon, threw the reins over their horses' heads 
 and letting them trail, descended in a body into Mike's 
 saloon for refreshments. Fred Knox, seeing Steve, 
 stopped to speak to him, but Blackie, whom he had 
 not seen since his return, went on into the door, pre- 
 tending not to notice him, and stopped at the bar close 
 by so that any conversation between Fred and Steve 
 was readily heard by him. 
 
 "Hello, old-timer. Where did you come from? 
 Thought you was off on a campin' trip with Ned and 
 Marcia and a certain lady from New York," said 
 Fred. 
 
 "Well, I was, but we got back Wednesday, and I 
 was goin' out on the round-up, but had to come up to 
 meet Miss Little, v/ho is comin' back to-day. Where 
 are you all workin'?" And Fred noting Blackie's 
 tense listening attitude through the open door, an- 
 swered : "We are cutting out over at Mohoney's cor- 
 rals." And then for Blackie's benefit, added: "I 
 thought that deal was off since Miss Parker arrived." 
 
 "Well, she went home Thursday," said Steve, with 
 a grin. 
 
 "Humph! Nothin' like havin' them comin' and 
 a-goin' at the same time. You sure are the sport" 
 
 200 
 
BCnOOL OPENS— MISS LITTLE EETUEKS 
 
 "Well, it looks like it. But you can take it from me. 
 There's only one, and she's goin'." 
 
 "You think so now, I guess," drawled Fred, "But 
 you are liable to change your mind by spring. You 
 know 'absence makes the heart grow fonder — of some- 
 body else.' And New York's a long way oif. Come 
 on in and have a drink." 
 
 "All right, but we'll have to hurry, as I see the 
 train comin'." 
 
 He hurried to the depot as the train pulled in, fol- 
 lowed by Blackie and Fred. Miss Little looking out 
 of the window of the coach was surprised to see them 
 all three on the platform, and was puzzled to determine 
 which one had come to meet her, but seeing that all 
 the rest but Steve wore chaps, she decided that he 
 must be the one. Now all summer she had been work- 
 ing over some plan whereby she could bridge the gulf 
 between them without any loss of dignity herself. 
 In all her planning she had not counted upon his be- 
 ing at the station to meet her, but like a good general 
 who comes suddenly upon the enemy, she immediately 
 readjusted her campaign. 
 
 She had kept posted upon how matters were progress- 
 ing between him and Miss Parker. She judged that 
 the latter's departure for New York would end that 
 affair, and during the long winter months, she would 
 have the field all to herself. She loved intrigue, and 
 planned by adroit manoeuvering to bring him to her 
 feet again, but now she was a little at loss as to what 
 manner she should adopt toward him. Slowly she 
 picked up her bundles and went out, trying to deter- 
 mine whether she should act as though s^he had a 
 grievance or ignore it and treat him with friendly in- 
 difference. She finally decided on the latter course. 
 
 Now, Watkins is a mere speck on the landscape, 
 being composed of one store, one hotel, one saloon and 
 
 201 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G" RANCH 
 
 the depot and section house. It is not possible to 
 miss seeing any one who happens to be in town, but 
 when Miss Little stepped off the train, she stood look- 
 ing off toward the hotel for a moment so as to allow 
 Steve time to approach and make the first advance. 
 Then with well-feigned look of surprise she acknowl- 
 edged his presence with a light : 
 
 "Oh, here you are," giving Fred and Blackie the 
 impression that she knew who was to meet her. 
 
 Steve took her grip and walked with her 
 to the hotel. While he was getting his team, 
 Blackie approached her and after talking a moment, 
 asked her to go with him to the next dance, and she 
 assented just as Steve drove up. As they went along 
 she chatted in a gay impersonal manner, inquiring 
 about every one, with friendly interest, even asking 
 with unconcern about his camping trip, until Steve 
 said to himself: 
 
 "I guess I overshot the mark when I thought she 
 cared about my not taking her to the dance the 
 Fourth." And he left her at the Colwell Ranch with 
 the exhilaration a man always feels when he had been 
 pleasantly entertained by a pretty woman. 
 
 Miss Little congratulated herself upon her success, 
 and felt no misgivings because Steve had said nothing 
 about a future meeting. She knew she would be sure 
 to see him at a dance in the near future, as Blackie 
 would take her to any that came along. She went to 
 sleep that night chuckling to herself, and saying: 
 
 "The same old game is oa," 
 
 202 
 
xvn 
 
 THE BEEF ROUND-UP 
 
 One day about a week after Steve joined the rotind- 
 tip, Pere Gardeau drove up, and with him was Mr. 
 Robinson, the stranger whom the cowboys had met 
 in Denver while delivering horses in the spring. 
 
 They arrived about noon, and to the Easterner the 
 scene was fraught with intense interest In order to be 
 protected against the wind which was sweeping across 
 the prairie with tremendous force, they had made 
 their camp for the day in the bend of the creek, which 
 with its fringe of cotton woods in their auttrnm foliage, 
 made an immense golden horseshoe. 
 
 Well back near the center stood the mess wagon, 
 with its open chuck box at the end, and nearby over 
 a smoking camp fire dinner was in process of cook- 
 ing. Soon the horsemen began to arrive, suddenly ap- 
 pearing on top of the opposite hill or through the 
 trees. Each one brought in a bunch of cattle which 
 they drove over to the general herd, and left them in 
 charge of two or three cowboys. 
 
 Then the hungry men, each took a tin plate from 
 the mess wagon and helped himself to a generous sup- 
 ply of beef, potatoes and beans, and selecting one of the 
 many rolls of bedding which were scattered about, 
 seated himself upon it. 
 
 When they were through eating, and the horse- 
 203 
 
STEVE OF THE "~ G'' RANCH 
 
 wrangler had driven in the herd of saddle horses, each 
 Qian roped and saddled a fresh mount for the aiter- 
 noon. As they were getting ready to go to work, Steve 
 noting the wir^Jul look in Robinson's eyes, asked him 
 if he w^ouid li!ve to ride out with them, and he gladly 
 assented. 
 
 This was too good an opportunity to lose. Billie 
 Johnson, his round and jovial face aglow with mis- 
 chief, overheard Steve's inquiry, and he and Fred 
 Knox roped a horse and quickly putting a saddle on it, 
 led it up to Robinson and blandly offered it to him for 
 the afternoon. 
 
 Steve suspected what they were up to, but said noth- 
 ing, for while Robinson was free from many of the 
 offensive mannerisms and the air of superiority which 
 most Easterners tactlessly adopt toward the cowboys, 
 and his disregard of his clothing matched their own, 
 still he would have to take his share of the baiting and 
 chaffing which falls to the lot of the tenderfoot. 
 
 Robinson gave one look at the saddle which was the 
 ordinary cowboy style, weighing from thirty to forty 
 pounds, and covering the horse almost to his hips, and 
 exclaimed : 
 
 "What! Me ride that thing!" And going to the 
 buggy in which he had come, he pulled from tmder- 
 neath the seat a small flat saddle^ which he had brought 
 along from the East Then cautiously approaching the 
 horse, he started to remove the saddle and replace it 
 with his own. 
 
 Pere Gardeau approached and said: "Unless you 
 are a pretty good rider you had better leave that saddle 
 on. You may need all the leather there is on it before 
 you are through." Robinson took the hint and desisted 
 
 The rest waited expectantly, and the horse as if di- 
 vining that he was the center of interest, bowed hia 
 back, and bucked loyally. But much to everybody's 
 
 204 
 
THE BEEF UOUND-UP 
 
 surprise, Robinson did not fall off, but stuck faith- 
 fully to his saddle, through all the twisting and turn- 
 ing. When at last the broncho gave up and settled 
 down, Pere Gardeau who had stayed to see the fim, 
 asked : 
 
 "Well, Robinson, how do you like that horse?" 
 "Oh, he's all right," answered Robinson, seriously. 
 "But don't he lope awful dahmed high?" 
 
 At that the cowboys whooped and howled, and Ned, 
 seeing Robinson's puzzled expression, said : 
 
 "Don't mind them. You've won your spurs and 
 from now on you are one of us." 
 
 As they started off Pere Gardeau called after them : 
 
 "Here, Steve, is a letter for you. I almost forgot it." 
 
 "Is it from New York?" asked Marcia, coming up. 
 
 "Did Miss Parker get home all right, and how is her 
 
 mother? We have not received any mail since we 
 
 came on the round-up." 
 
 But Steve was deeply engrossed in this first letter 
 from his lady, and did not answer. At that Ira gal- 
 loped up, and made a grab for the letter, saying : 
 "Here, wake up. Marcia asked you a question." 
 "Oh! He can't hear you," observed Ned. "He 
 thinks he is up in them clouds again." Then one after 
 another dashed up trying to get the letter. Steve's 
 horse seemingly enjoying this game of tag darted about 
 like a flash, turning this way and that and doubling 
 back, miraculously avoiding the treacherous prairie 
 dog holes, and kicking up a cloud of dust, through 
 which came their shouting and laughter. 
 
 They kept it up until all at once Steve found the 
 way clear ahead of him, and dashed off at full speed 
 for the herd of cattle. When the rest came up, Robin- 
 son remarked : 
 
 "That gray horse seems to be unusually handy and 
 quick." 
 
 205 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G" RANCH 
 
 "Yes, he is/' agreed Steve* "And he is intelligent, 
 too. He will go in a bunch of cattle and cut out one 
 and run it off without my ever touching the reins." 
 
 "Well, you'll have to show me," said Ned, who over- 
 heard the remark. I'll just bet you even money that 
 he can't do it." 
 
 "All right, ril take you. Robinson will hold stakes, 
 and see fair play." 
 
 The other cowboys formed in a circle around the 
 bunch of restless cattle, and Steve tying his reins 
 together, let them hang loosely over his horse's neck, 
 and with only a slight pressure of his knees on either 
 side guided him toward the herd. Then he rode 
 among the cattle until he found one bearing the " — G" 
 brand, and the horse in some occult way divining 
 which one was wanted, singled it out from the rest, 
 and gradually worked it toward the edge. When it 
 was once outside the horse knew well enough what to 
 do with it, but he had made an unfortunate selection. 
 He had cut out a long-legged, rangy heiffer, that 
 bounded off like an antelope and went in every direc- 
 tion but the one wanted, dodging and doubling back 
 like a jack rabbit whenever the horse came too near. 
 Finally he had it headed the right way, and ran it off 
 to a bunch of beef cattle which the day herder held 
 a short distance away. 
 
 Turning he trotted back toward the others and going 
 up in front of Robinson, stopped still and struck the 
 ground a few impatient taps with his front feet 
 
 "You win," agreed Ned. "I can understand his 
 knowin' what to do with the cow and where to take 
 it to, but how did he know which one to take?" 
 
 "He read the brand," answered Steve, with a grin. 
 "I told you he was intelligent" 
 
 That night as Steve was making down his bed, Rob- 
 206 
 
THE BEEP EOUND-UP 
 
 Inson who was going to share it with him, approached 
 and asked: 
 
 "Say, how much is a horse like that one you rode 
 to-day worth out here ?" 
 
 "Well, as cheap as horses are now, you can get all 
 you want of them for about tliirty-five dollars apiece." 
 
 "Well, if that is the case, I see where I recoup the 
 family fortunes," said Robinson. 
 
 "How is that?" 
 
 "Why, these cow ponies would make good polo 
 ponies, and they bring all the way from one hundred 
 to a thousand dollars apiece, and some extra-fine ones 
 even more. The horse must be quick and handy, and 
 level-headed, so that he will not lose his head when 
 in a close place. That gray horse you rode to-day 
 would make a splendid polo pony. If you want to go 
 in with me w^e can buy up a few head and train them 
 this winter, having them ready to ship East in time for 
 the spring games. We might make a good thing out 
 of it, if we can get the horses as cheap as you say." 
 
 The word "East" settled the matter for Steve. "All 
 right, ril go you," agreed he. "As soon as the round- 
 up is over we can start picking them up here and 
 there. It won't take long to get several car-loads of 
 pretty well-bred horses." 
 
 At last the round-up wsts about over. They had 
 worked their way almost to the Kansas line, and the 
 day herd, which comprised the beef steers and any cat- 
 tle which had strayed off their natural range, had been 
 daily increased until now it numbered between one 
 and two thousand head. 
 
 These w^ere trailed slowly along during the day, like 
 a lot of soldiers on a leisurely march, straggling across 
 the country. Three or four cowboys, whooping and 
 shouting, directed their course, preventing them from 
 
 207 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G" RANCH 
 
 straying, or being joined by cattle off the range, which 
 did not belong in the herd. 
 
 The rest of the cowboys worked the country through 
 which they were passing, cutting out beef cattle or 
 strays and branding the season's crop of calves. All 
 took turns night herding, working in four shifts, three 
 at a time. Steve, Robinson and Billie had the last 
 guard, which commenced about half past two and con- 
 tinued until they were relieved by the day herders. 
 
 It was always the darkest part of the night when 
 they held guard, and one morning as they went on 
 duty, the earth as usual was shrouded in the thick dusk 
 which precedes the dawn. It was unusually warm for 
 the time of year, and they rode round and round the 
 sleeping herd, which were placidly chewing their cuds 
 and sighing in well-filled content. 
 
 Steve and Billie were cheerily whistling or singing 
 to assure them that friends were guarding their 
 slumbers, while Robinson was jogging along half 
 asleep with loose rein, trusting to the well-trained cow 
 pony to keep the proper distance from the herd. 
 
 Suddenly the horse put both front feet in a prairie 
 dog hole and fell over ©n his side, pitching Robinson 
 headlong toward the cattle. Instantly a cow jumped 
 up, and with a startled bellow attempted to vault over 
 the one next to it, which jumped up at the same time. 
 In the scramble that followed, the whole herd be- 
 came frightened and rushed away in the opposite di- 
 rection from camp, sweeping Steve and Billie along 
 with it. 
 
 Robinson, much dismayed, got up and finding 
 neither his horse or himself were injured, mounted and 
 started in pursuit, followed by the rest of the cowboys 
 who had been startled from their morning nap by the 
 stampede. 
 
 From the pounding of thousands of feet on the hard 
 308 
 
THE BEEF ROUND-UP 
 
 earth, there arose a rumbling as of distant thunder, and 
 drowned all other sounds, but two quick flashes told 
 that Steve and Billic were unhurt and in the lead. The 
 others drew their revolvers and fired an answering 
 salute, and putting their horses into a run, passed the 
 herd and joined the two in front. 
 
 For awhile they did not attempt to turn them, but 
 riding to the right or left, pointed in the leaders so as 
 to keep the herd from splitting or scattering. It was 
 mostly composed of beef steers and cows with calves 
 following, and they soon began to slow down, and the 
 horsemen had no difficulty in keeping in the lead. 
 
 As dawn approached they could see that the 
 cattle were showing signs of fatigue. The cowboys 
 spread out along one side and quirting the leaders and 
 shooting into the ground close to their ears, gradually 
 worked them around to the left, but the rest refused 
 to follow, and ran straight ahead, leaving some of the 
 men on each side, with Robinson and Steve galloping 
 along in the lead. 
 
 Suddenly they came to a deep gully. Steve's horse 
 took it at a flying leap, but Robinson's mount missed 
 his footing and fell, and for the second time that 
 night, pitched his rider over his head. This time he 
 fell with an arm crumpled under him. It snapped like 
 a twig, and he lay in the path of the oncoming herd, 
 groaning with pain. The pounding of their feet roused 
 him to his peril, and jumping up, found that his horse 
 had bolted. He looked wildly about for a moment, and 
 seeing no other hope, gathered himself together, and 
 sprinted along in front, shouting to Steve, who was 
 some distance ahead. 
 
 The excited cattle seeing a man on foot, began to 
 toss their heads and quickened their pace. Steve saw 
 the danger, whirled his horse, and returned straight in 
 the face of the bellowing herd, {le swung his horse 
 
 209 
 
STEVE OF THE '^~ G" RANCH 
 
 around Robinson, and reaching down, caught hold 
 of the sound arm, and helped him to swing himself on 
 behind. 
 
 The leaders of the herd were now close upon them, 
 Steve dug in his spurs and urged his horse onward, 
 but hampered by the double burden he could not out- 
 strip the maddened cattle. Soon horse and riders were 
 wedged between their heaving sides, and were raked 
 and pricked by the tossing horns. 
 
 Seeing that one misstep of the horse would plunge 
 them beneath the trampling feet, Steve caught hold 
 of the horns a of steer that was puffing alongside, and 
 swung himself onto its back, then turning to his 
 startled companion, said: 
 
 'You get over into the saddle and let the horse work 
 his way to the front. When you get out ride like the 
 devil until you get out of the way.'' 
 
 "And leave you here? I guess not," objected Rob- 
 inson. 
 
 "Oh, I'm in no danger now. The boys will get 
 the cattle to milling pretty soon, and then 111 get out. 
 But you are hurt and all this jolting and crowding 
 ain't doin' you any good." 
 
 Robinson worked his way out as Steve advised. 
 When Ira saw him and found out where Steve was, 
 he took Robinson's horse, which one of the boys had 
 caught, and rode out in front of the herd opposite. 
 Slowing up, he let the cattle crowd around him and 
 Steve made his way to him by swinging himself from 
 the back of one steer to another. When he was in 
 the saddle they took advantage of an opening in the 
 ranks nearest them, and made their way to the front. 
 
 By this time the other cowboys had gradually swung 
 the cattle round until they had them rimning in a 
 circle, or milling, as it is called. 
 
 As soon as they had the cattle quieted down, they 
 210 
 
THE BEEF ROUND- UP 
 
 bound up Robinson's arm as best they could, and the 
 first ranch they came to Steve borrowed a buggy and 
 took him to the nearest doctor. When the arm was 
 set then they started for the " — G" Ranch, 
 
 211 
 
xvni 
 
 STEVE GETS A LETT£;R 
 
 When Miss Parker reached New York she did not 
 at once tell her mother of her engagement, as she was 
 too ill to hear anything that would be likely to disturb 
 her, but as she talked of her trip and the name "Steve" 
 appeared with more or less frequency in the conversa- 
 tion, the shrewd old lady by judicious questioning soon 
 found out how matters stood. She said never a word 
 of objection at first, but asked for time to think it over 
 before expressing an opinion. 
 
 Day after day, while confined to her bed, she led 
 the girl to talk of her trip to the West, and particu- 
 larly of her lover and his people. At last she was 
 able to be tucked in her wheel chair, and when it 
 was drawn up before the open grate, she asked her 
 daughter to come and sit on the stool at her feet. They 
 sat thus for a long time, and at > last with a sigh the 
 old lady broke the silence and speaking in a weak, 
 reluctant voice, said : 
 
 "Listen to me, my child. You know I love you 
 better than life itself, and if it was in my power to 
 make this beautiful dream of yours come true, I would 
 gladly do so. But should I give my consent to your 
 marrying this man, I fear it would only serve as a key 
 to unlock for you the gate to untold misery. 
 
 "It is not the man I am objecting to, but what goes 
 21? 
 
STEVE GETS A LETTES 
 
 with him. I know you would not love him if he was 
 not all that a man should be, and if he had been bom 
 and brought up in the same enviroment as yourself, 
 I would not say a word, as then you would stand a 
 chance of being happy together." 
 
 She paused and gazed long into the flames, waiting 
 for her daughter to speak, and then as she did not 
 do so, continued: 
 
 "Matrimony is not as easy as courting, and love can 
 not take the place of everything in a woman's life. 
 It serves for a time, but the daily grind of poverty, 
 coupled with hard work and uncongenial surroundings, 
 puts a great strain upon it. 
 
 "When the hardship falls equally upon both, then it 
 often brings them closer together, but it so seldem 
 does. If you marry and go out there to live, you will 
 be giving up everything that has gone to make your 
 life happy heretofore. 
 
 "He would be living in the same place where he 
 was born and brought up, with all his friends and 
 relatives around him, and would not understand that 
 it might be hard for you to adapt yourself to your 
 now environment. 
 
 "Adversity and hardship often chastens people and 
 some it converts into saints, but I do not believe you 
 are one of those people. You cannot easily adjust 
 yourself to circumstances, but are always trying to 
 fit your surroundings to yourself, and if you could 
 not do it, then you would be utterly wretched and 
 everybody around would be made to feel it. 
 
 "You talk about being poor, my child, you do not 
 know what poverty means. Your idea of poverty is 
 to have all the money you want to spend. 
 
 "My dear, give up this idea. You are young and 
 have been carried away by the romantic wooing. Take 
 tim^ to think it over before you bind yourself irre- 
 
 213 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G" RANCH 
 
 vocably, I will never give my consent as long as 
 I live, and perhaps by the time I die you will think 
 differently, or circumstances may have changed." 
 
 By the time she had ceased speaking, the girl had 
 pillowed her head on her mother's lap and was weep- 
 ing stormily. Each heartbroken sob was an agony to 
 the sorrowing old lady, who stroked the soft black 
 hair with trembling hand. Gradually the girl grew 
 more calm, and as the fire died down in the grate, leav- 
 ing the room in darkness, she arose and wheeled the 
 mother's chair into her room. Then when she had 
 her safely tucked in her bed, she stooped and kissed 
 her, saying : 
 
 "Mother, dear, do not worry. I will take time as 
 you say. I know that as you sit, day after day, tied 
 helplessly to your chair, you are given a clearer insight 
 into himian affairs, than people who have not so much 
 time to think. I will try and abide by your decision. 
 At least I will do nothing hurriedly. 
 
 When Steve and Mr. Robinson reached the " — G" 
 Ranch, Steve at once inquired about letters, and found 
 several from New York. These he read and finding 
 that it was mail-day and no one had been to the post 
 -office, he saddled a horse and went after the mail, as 
 he judged from the number of letters he had received 
 that there would be one there for him. 
 
 Instead of one, he received two bearing the New 
 York post-marlc One in the now familiar writing 
 of his sweetheart, and the other in a faltering, shaky 
 hand. Much puzzled he put the latter aside, and 
 hastily opened the other, and went closer to the dim 
 smoky lamp to read it. 
 
 My lover: You know I wrote you that when 1 
 
 told my mother of our love, she asked for time in which 
 
 to consider it before she gave her decision. 
 
 214 
 
STEVE GETS A LETTER 
 
 Well, last night she told me, and oh, my dear, she 
 does not consent. She is writing you herself, stating 
 her reasons, so I need not go into the heart-breaking 
 details. 
 
 Whether her ideas are right or not, they will serve 
 as long as she holds them and, I fear, keep us apart, 
 for as I told you long ago, I am all she has and I 
 could not desert her in her old age and helplessness. 
 I should have known better than to bid you hope, but, 
 as she says, "I was carried away by the romantic woo- 
 ing and surroundings," and forgot all about the barrier 
 that stood between us, for even if she was willing, I 
 well know that a ranch is no place for the old or 
 infirm. 
 
 The life is strenuous, and calls for men and women 
 of splendid untried youth and courage. So, between 
 love and duty our dream ends. It was foredoomed 
 from the start, and as I look ahead I see no hope, un- 
 less you can find a ray with your clearer vision. 
 
 And now no more for this time. It is needless to 
 say that I shall continue to write to you, and your 
 letters will be my dearest consolation. 
 Yours, as ever, 
 
 ELOISE. 
 As Steve read the letter a tense, drawn look came 
 into his face, and as one resolved to learn the worst 
 and get it over with, he tore open the mother's letter, 
 which was more or less a repetition of :he talk she had 
 with her daughter a few evenings before. 
 
 When he had read it he walked out to his horse like 
 one in a daze, forgetting to say good-night to the 
 .others who had come for their mail, one of whom 
 remarked as he went out: 
 "Old Steve looks like he's had a knockout blow." 
 He rode swiftly homeward, little heeding where he 
 went. Darkness hid the familiar scene, and his soul 
 
 215 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G" RANCH 
 
 was wrapped in an oblivion no less profound. Once 
 he straightened himself in the saddle, bared his head 
 to the cool breeze, and gazed up at the stars as if 
 in mute appeal. 
 
 His heart was filled with love and longing and in his 
 extremity, the twinkling stars seemed to mock him. 
 While he looked up at them the cloud that obscured 
 the moon shifted slightly, so changing its appearance 
 and accentuating its shadows until there seemed to be 
 a round and jovial face grinning down at him. 
 
 "I don't blame you for laughin*, old boy," said Steve. 
 "You and them stars have seen some mighty curious 
 things, while you have been watchin' this old earth, but 
 I guess the queerest of all is the way a man nowadays 
 lets some slip of a girl deal him miser}^ 
 
 "Now, that cave man I read about the other day 
 could give us cards and spades. He simply cut 
 a likely lookin' fillie out of the herd, and if she was 
 skittish and not halter broke, he would walk up to 
 her kind of casual like, all the time talkin', soothin', 
 holdin' in one hand a necklace made of bear's claws, 
 or a bright feather, or something to attract her atten- 
 tion, from the club he was holdin' behind his back in 
 the other hand. 
 
 "When he got close enough he swung the club 
 around quick and tapped her on> the head, and when 
 she had quit kickin' tucked her under his arm, and 
 carried her off to his cave. 
 
 "But, me, I can't do that Us cow-punchers are 
 supposed to be half way civilized anyhow. So Til 
 have to take my medicine and grin as though I liked 
 it. But I'll tell you, old pal, I'd like to be a cave man 
 for a day. He sure was the wise old guy." 
 
 That night for the first time in his life, Steve knew 
 what it was to suffer from insomnia. He tossed about, 
 216 
 
STEVE GETS A LETTEE 
 
 going over again and again the different passages of 
 her letter, which were stamped upon his brain as 
 though they had been written with fire. Against the 
 slender hope of her continued letters, he balanced the 
 suggestion that she had been carried away by the ro- 
 mantic wooing and surroundings, which he supposed 
 referred to their betrothal on the simimit, and groaned 
 aloud as he recalled her clinging arms and sweet 
 kisses. 
 
 If it was only some man that had come between 
 them, he thought, fiercly, how he would delight to 
 punch his head. But how could he urge her to op- 
 pose the wishes of her mother, who had the double 
 appeal of being old and a helpless invalid, for whom 
 it was her manifest duty to care. 
 
 Then through his despair, came the remembrance 
 of Robinson and his remark about buying polo ponies, 
 and the probable financial gains therefrom. This re- 
 called a clause in the old lady's letter, and jumping out 
 of bed, he lit the lamp and searched through its pages 
 until he found the one he wanted. 
 
 "I have told my daughter that I should never give 
 my consent while I lived, and by that time you both 
 might have changed your minds, or your circumstances 
 might have changed." 
 
 "What does she mean by that?" mused he to him- 
 self, as he climbed back into bed. "Does she mean 
 she might give her consent if I was working at some- 
 thing else. If that is the case, 1*11 see that I do." 
 And with that slight consolation he went to sleep. 
 
 Immediately upon awaking the next morning, he 
 sought out Robinson and sounded him on the subject 
 of buying polo ponies, and finding him still enthus- 
 iastic, went out and rounded-up all the " — G" horses 
 he could find, and tried them out, while Robinson sat 
 upon a wagon and watched. 
 
 217 
 
^ XIX 
 
 MISS LITTLE PROPOSES 
 
 **Men have died and worms have eaten them, but 
 not from love." Robinson with his plan for buying 
 and training cow-horses into polo ponies was a wel- 
 come diversion for Steve. As they drove about from 
 one neighbor to another, his inward discontent vented 
 itself and found surcease in driving sharp bargains, 
 and for the time, at least, he was almost happy. But 
 now and then as they drove along, he would lapse into 
 silence almost saturnine and, Robinson, wondering, re- 
 spected his mood. 
 
 However, when at the ranch, he had no chance to 
 be melancholy. Thanksgiving was to be a family re- 
 union, and a few days before his sisters who were in 
 Denver going to school, came home, bringing with 
 them several girl friends. With their arrival, the 
 program of the evening was changed. The boys, in- 
 stead of trooping out to the bunk house as soon as 
 supper was over, to play poker and tell stories, now 
 joined the fun in the house, in all of which Pere and 
 Mere Gardeau, heartily co-operated. The day before 
 Thanksgiving the married daughter, who lived at a 
 distance, arrived with her husband and children, and 
 Robinson, used to the circumscribed hospitality of the 
 Cities, marveled at the Western liberality, and the 
 
 218 
 
MISS LITTLE PROPOSES 
 
 seemingly unlimited capacity of the Gardeau home. 
 Like the fabled omnibus 'there was always room for 
 one more/ 
 
 Through all the bustle and confusion, the prepara- 
 tions for the feast the following day went steadily on- 
 ward. Each new arrival as soon as the greetings were 
 over, donned a big gingham apron, and joined the 
 others in the roomy kitchen, where they stirred and 
 mixed with unabated precision, while they exchanged 
 family reminiscences. 
 
 Thanksgiving morning dawned with an ominous 
 prophesy of storm. Thick fog shrouded the hills, and 
 enveloped the countenances of the young people in a 
 gloom no less profound. They had planned a dance 
 for the evening, as a wind-up to the day's festivities, 
 and loud were their lamentations over the prospect 
 of being disappointed. 
 
 However, as the morning advanced, it began to look 
 as though they would have a crowd no matter what the 
 weather. One by one dim shapes began to appear 
 through the mist, and took the form of galloping 
 horsemen as they drew nearer. They came singly, 
 or in groups of twos or threes. Lithe, sinewy fellows. 
 Their tanned faces glistening from the recent applica- 
 tion of razor and soap. 
 
 Each man as he awoke that morning, had sized up 
 the prospects of the weather with the eye of a prophet 
 who doubts, but who does not intend to take any 
 chances, and after bolting a hasty breakfast, saddled 
 up his horse and set forth on his journey toward the 
 " — G" Ranch. They lost no time on the way, lest the 
 blizzard of which the fog was a forerunner, start, and 
 prevent their reaching their destination. 
 
 Flint expressed the sentiment of the rest, when he 
 called to Steve : 
 
 "What-you-may-call-it-in-there, lend me your razor. 
 219 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G'^ RANCH 
 
 I was so afarid it'd storm so I couldn't get here, that 
 I didn't take time to shave." 
 
 "Pshaw!" exclaimed Ira, who was standing near. 
 "It'd shore have to be a pretty hard blizzard that 
 would keep me away, with all these girls here, and the 
 chance of gettin* one of Mere Gardeau's famous din- 
 ners thrown in, but it won't have to storm very hard to 
 keep me from goin' home." 
 
 Presently the sun, as if unwilling to share the op- 
 probrium of spoiling the day, struggled through and 
 dispelled the mist, revealing dark, overhanging clouds 
 mantling the sky to the north. 
 
 The Col wells drove up just in time for dinner, 
 and with them was Miss Little, who for reasons of 
 her own wished to spend the vacation in the country, 
 but with characteristic plausibility and disregard for 
 truth, had excused herself to her mother with the 
 statement that the school board had decided not to 
 give any holiday. 
 
 The dining table was opened out to the fullest ex- 
 tent and more leaves added and, that not sufficing, was 
 supplemented by a smaller one from the kitchen. The 
 whole, covered with a snowy cloth, stood groaning 
 under the weight of the Thanksgiving dinner. An im- 
 mense turkey graced either end, as it was not com- 
 patible with the Gardeau courtesy to make the hungry 
 guests wait tmtil one person could carve enough for 
 them all. 
 
 They were all standing behind their chairs waiting 
 to be seated when Robinson appeared with a bottle of 
 champagne. He had learned that the Gardeau's fol- 
 lowed the French custom of serving wine at meals, 
 and wishing to make some return for the care and 
 many kindnesses Mere Gardeau had showered upon 
 him, had sent to Denver and ordered a case of the 
 sparkling beverage, which had only just arrived 
 
 220 
 
MISS LITTLE PROPOSES 
 
 While they were pouring it, Miss Little watched 
 them with a puzzled, intent expression on her face, 
 as if searching for an idea which all the time eluded 
 her. Robinson, who happened to glance at her, won- 
 dered at the sudden flash of relief and cunning that 
 spread over her face for an instant, as the last glass 
 was llled. 
 
 Miss Little had more brains than she let appear to 
 the casual observer. This cleverness, coupled with 
 the subtle allure of sex which she possessed in a re- 
 markable degree and her undoubted prettiness had 
 enabled her to make easy conquests of the boyish 
 hearts in her crowd at high school. From this she 
 evolved the philosophy 'that no man was hard to get. 
 If a clever woman wanted him.' 
 
 She reasoned that it was her tactlessness alone that 
 had kept Steve from proposing when they were snow- 
 bound at the sheep camp the spring before, and now 
 with propinquity to help her, she anticipated little 
 difficulty in spite of the fact that she had heard rumors 
 of an engagement between him and Miss Parker. 
 
 No one knew better than she how delicate were the 
 gossamer threads that bound two loving hearts to- 
 gether, and how easy they were to break. She had 
 thought long and hard, trying to evolve some ingeni-. 
 ous ruse to entrap Steve, but until the flash of inspira- 
 tion at sight of the champagne, the only result had 
 been a few puckers between her eyes, and the loss of 
 several hours of beauty sleep. 
 
 The champagne stood by her plate bubbling and 
 eflPervescing, and save to twirl the slender stem of the 
 glass between her fingers once or twice, she never 
 touched it. However, this served to attract the at- 
 tention of Pere Gardeau to her abstinence, and through 
 him the rest of the table, which was what she desired. 
 He inquired: 
 
 221 
 
STEVE OF THE ''— G'' RANCH 
 
 "Why don't you drink your champagne, it is get- 
 tin' stale?" 
 
 "I do not care for it," answered she demurely. 
 
 "Perhaps you would rather have some of the 
 punch?" suggested Mere Gardeau. And calling one 
 of her daughters, she requested her to replace the 
 champagne with a glass of punch, but to this Miss 
 Little objected also, although they assured her it was 
 only composed of the juices of fruits. 
 
 Presently tiny particles of snow began drifting 
 slowly past the window, each one glistening in the sun- 
 light like a beautiful crystal. Before dinner was 
 over the wind came sweeping down from the north 
 with a roar, and the threatened blizzard was in 
 progress. Everybody hovered around the stoves, as 
 they could not go out to the corrals and have a buck- 
 ing contest as was the usual case when a lot of cow- 
 boys got together. 
 
 However, nobody was dull. All kinds of games 
 were soon in progress, and now and then somebody 
 would pass refreshments in the way of champagne, 
 cake, candy and nuts, while the bowl of punch sat on a 
 nearby table where all could help themselves. Pres- 
 ently one of the boys hunted up a mouth harp. 
 Shoving the tables back out of the way, and taking 
 up the rug, they soon had a dapce in progress in the 
 large dining room. 
 
 Throughout it all Miss Little had steadfastly re- 
 fused to partake of the punch, and with young folks 
 in a merry mood, anything will do for a joke, so they 
 dubbed her the "Teetotler." 
 
 Along about six o'clock the wind died down, and 
 the snow stopped. The clouds drifted away, leaving 
 the sky clear, and as the moon rose, vehicles began 
 to arrive, their tires squeeking musically through th^ 
 dry snow. 
 
 222 
 
MISS LITTLE PROPOSES 
 
 Long ago, with each ranch overrun with young 
 people, they had felt the need of a place to hold their 
 weekly dances, so a number of the neighbors contrib- 
 uted enough money to erect a hall. Fere Gardeau 
 generously gave them a site down in the trees near the 
 creek, and it was there that the dance was to be held 
 that night. 
 
 Miss Little having learned wisdom from her former 
 experiences the winter before, had brought along a 
 dress of soft, white, non-crushable material, which 
 clung to her figure bringing out every alluring curve, 
 and when she reached the dance was easily the pret- 
 tiest and best-dressed girl there. 
 
 Steve had not thought of her after leaving her at 
 the Colwell Ranch at the opening of school. He had 
 been engrossed with the occasional letters he had re- 
 ceived from Miss Parker while on the round-up, and 
 his allegiance never wavered. Since he had returned 
 he had been too hurt and grieved over the toppling of 
 his bright castle of dreams to think of anything else, 
 when he allowed himself to think at all. That was 
 what he strove to do to keep from thinking, and 
 toward that end, with the champagne handy, he had 
 been doing what a great many people call "drowning 
 their sorrows." However, he possessed one trait 
 which many people consider the first requisite of a 
 gentleman. He could drink without showing any ill 
 effects, and save for a little unusual hilarity, there 
 was nothing in his behavior that would indicate that 
 there was anything amiss. 
 
 All afternoon he had not been especially conscious 
 of Miss Little's presence, but now as she slipped out 
 of her long thick coat, like a bright moth emerging 
 from its cocoon, Steve, who was assisting her, felt steal 
 over him like a wave the subtle attraction, which she 
 
 223 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G" RANCH 
 
 seemed to radiate. He stepped forward involuntarily, 
 and she noting it, blushed warmly. 
 
 During the evening she was eagerly claimed by one 
 partner after another, and toward all but Steve she 
 maintained an air of mischievous coquetry. To him 
 alone, she showed a softening of manner which was 
 the most delicate flattery, and he left her after each 
 dance with a quickened pulse and a delicious ex- 
 pectancy, which hastened his return to ask her for 
 another. 
 
 He claimed her for the midnight supper, and when 
 the punch was passed and she still refused, they all 
 began rallying her on her teetotalism again. This was 
 the opening for which she was looking, and in an 
 undertone she began explaining to Steve the reason 
 for her eccentricity. 
 
 "I hope you will not think me a prude," said she, 
 with an appealing inflection in her voice. "But the 
 last year in high school each girl as she graduated 
 made a vow to accomplish some good. As one of the 
 g^irls had a brother who was a drunkard, through her 
 influence we all vowed to discourage all use of intox- 
 icating liquors, and by all means never to touch it our- 
 selves. So that is why I refused to taste the cham- 
 pagne to-day, and as I saw one of your brothers pour 
 some brandy in the punch when he thought no one was 
 looking I could not take any of that either. 
 
 "I am afraid I offended your mother by not drink- 
 ing it, but I could not break my vow. And then speak- 
 ing a little louder as the music started up, and they 
 arose to take their places on the floor, she continued : 
 "There was to be only one instance in which we could 
 partake of wine, and that was when we became en- 
 gaged." And then looking up at him with a mis- 
 chievous twinkle in her eyes, and dropping her voice 
 so that he had to stoop to hear what she said as his 
 
 224: 
 
KISS LITTLE PROPOSES 
 
 arm enciicled her waist for the waltz, she munnxired: 
 
 "I did want some of that champagne. It looked 
 so delicious. Won't you be engaged to me for the 
 evening so as to absolve me from my vow, and I can 
 taste it" 
 
 "Sure," answered Steve, with a laugh. "Here, stop 
 the music and bring on that champagne," he called to 
 Ira. "Miss Little and I are going to celebrate our 
 engagement" 
 
 And amid much laughter, and the popping of cham- 
 pagne corks they jestingly pledged each other over 
 their brimming glasses. At least Steve was jesting, 
 and Miss Little claimed she was. 
 
 Fere Gardeau, hearing of the engagement, and not 
 of the jest, approached Mere Gardeau and said: 
 
 "You had better go and greet your new daughter, 
 that is, to be. They say Miss Little and Steve are 
 engaged, and they might feel hurt if you wait any 
 longer." And so with the best intentions in the world. 
 Mere Gardeau approached to kiss and welcome Miss 
 Little into the family. 
 
 ; The girl gave Steve a searching glance, and he sol> 
 ered, whispered reassuringly: 
 
 "Go on with it We can tell them different later." 
 
 Then as his sisters approached one by one, he saved 
 the situation by saying: 
 
 "Here you folks keep back. I haven't kissed her 
 myself yet, and you can get yours after I get my share 
 — ^if there's any left," and calling to the musicians to 
 start up, he put an end to the scene. 
 
 There was one member of the family who did not 
 come up to congratulate them, and that was Blackie, 
 When he learned the cause of the music being stopped 
 he shoved his clenched hands deep into his pockets and 
 stood by the door glowering. When Mere Gardeau 
 went up to Idas Miss Little, he wheeled and went out 
 
 225 
 
STEVE OF THE ''— G" RANCH 
 
 into the darkness, and sttimbled hurriedly toward the 
 ranch. 
 
 Going into the bam he saddled the first horse he 
 came to, a half-broken colt, which when he led it 
 out into the cold and mounted went off rearing and 
 plunging. But in temper, at least, the man and beast 
 were in harmony, and for a time it was doubtful which 
 would be the master? Finally Blackie triumphed, and 
 in doing so, some of his anger cooled, leaving room 
 for an aching disappointment. He rode blindly, pay- 
 ing no attention to the direction his horse took, and 
 the next morning no one knew what had become of 
 him, but as they supposed he had gone home with some 
 one from the dance, Steve and Robinson went off on a 
 trip to Wyoming to buy horses, as they had previously 
 planned. 
 
 Kiowa boasted a weekly paper, called the "Divide 
 Review," and that paper had an enterprising editor, 
 who was always on the lookout for news, and hap- 
 pening to be at the Thanksgiving dance, the next issue 
 which came out on the following Saturday, had a full 
 account of the engagement and the way it was an- 
 nounced. 
 
 The next Monday noon, one of the Colwell boys 
 rode up to the post-office and got the mail, and in 
 looking over the paper. Miss Little saw the article, 
 and read it over and over with increasing satisfaction. 
 
 "Here,'' thought she, "is a means of ending the affair 
 between Miss Farker and Steve." And then after 
 hesitating a moment she observed: 
 
 '*Why not. 'All is fair in love and war,' " and 
 putting all scruples aside, she did the paper into a neat 
 little roll, and so as to make the news more effective, 
 carefully imitated Steve's handwriting, and addressed 
 it to Miss Parker. That evening after school she 
 
 226 
 
MISS LITTLE PROPOSES 
 
 called one of the boys who went up past the post-ofEce 
 and asked him to mail it for her, saying : 
 
 "Here is a bundle which the folks at the ranch 
 wanted me to have one of you take up for them." 
 
 ^22T 
 
XX 
 
 MISS PARKER AND REGGIE BECOME 
 ENGAGED 
 
 "Wlien Miss Parker watched Reggie take his de- 
 parture from the Alton Ranch she had made the re- 
 mark that she supposed that was her last chance of 
 becoming a millionairess, but Reggie was at the sta- 
 tion to meet her when she arrived, and at once renewed 
 his suit. Perhaps that might have been one of the 
 reasons for her mother refusing to countenance an 
 engagement between her daughter and Steve, but if 
 so, she was too shrewd to let it appear. 
 
 Miss Parker had received but one letter from Steve 
 in the week that had elapsed since she had written 
 him of her mother's decision. When she at last 
 heard the postman's whistle, for the sound of which 
 she had been nervously listening all morning, she 
 picked up the key to the mail box, and hurried down 
 stairs. But there were no letters, only a paper, which 
 being too large to slip through the opening, was stuffed 
 in at the top. 
 
 "No letter," said she ruefully, carelessly turning the 
 paper over and then catching sight of the writing, some 
 of her disappointment vanished, and she exclaimed : 
 
 "Oh, I see, he has sent me a paper. Ned used to say 
 that a cow-puncher would rather ride twenty miles an^ 
 day than write a letter, and perhaps Steve dislikes it 
 03 much as the rest, and has sent nie a paper instead, to 
 
 228 
 
MISS PARKER AlO) REGGIE ENGAGED 
 
 give me the news. But it is not news, printed in dead, 
 lifeless type that I want. It is the personal note, writ- 
 ten by hand, with the love pulsing behind each word, 
 but where is the man who ever understood that," ex- 
 claimed the girl, sighing as she hastily slipped off the 
 wrapper. 
 
 Finding no article specially marked she waited imtil 
 she was in her sitting-room before looking it over. 
 The paper was composed of only one double sheet, 
 and stepping by the window for a better light she 
 glanced, through it, and soon found the article. When 
 she had read it she sank weakly down on the couch 
 with a gasp. 
 
 *'Well, of all things. Steve and Miss Little are en- 
 gaged, and he has had the audacity to send me a paper 
 announcing it, instead of' writing himself. Well, I 
 suppose he knows there is an answer to that He 
 shall soon find that I will not wear the willow for 
 any man, and going to the telephone she called up 
 Reggie's number, and when he was on the phone, said : 
 
 "Hello! That you, Reggie? I just called up to 
 tell you that I would marry you, and you can announce 
 the engagement at once." 
 
 "What!" exclaimed Reggie, staggered by the news. 
 "What did you say?" and when she had repeated the 
 message, Reggie without stopping to inquire what had 
 caused this sudden change of mind, answered: 
 
 "All right, I will announce it at once. Have it in 
 all the evening papers to-night But, say, what date 
 shall I set for the wedding?" 
 
 At this Miss Parker, who had only been thinking of 
 getting even with Steve, and not of the outcome of an 
 engagement to Reggie, faltered for a moment, and then 
 plucking up courage, laughed lightly into the phone, 
 saying : 
 
 "Greedy. Haven't you heard enough good news foi 
 229 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G" RANCH 
 
 one day. Go ahead and announce the engagement, and 
 we can talk about the rest later." And as Reggie was 
 for hurrying right over, she objected: 
 
 ''No, don't come, I am going out. No, don't come 
 this ev^ejaing, either. I have an appointment. Don't 
 come until to-morrow morning/' 
 
 Reggie much puzzled, finally consented to postpone 
 his visit until next day, and Miss Parker after hang- 
 ing up the receiver, went to her room, threw herself 
 on the bed and buried her head in its pillows. Al- 
 though she wept, she did not waver in her resolution, 
 and when tlie evening papers came, selected one, and 
 when she had blue-penciled the annoimcement, folded 
 it so that would be the first thing seen when the paper 
 was opened, and addressed it to Steve. Then in order 
 to make sure of its being sent, she put on her hat and 
 coat and went out and dropped it in the mail box 
 herself. 
 
 Seeing the paper which had caused all the trouble 
 laying on the stand, she snatched it up, and was about 
 to destroy it when she hesitated, thought better of it, 
 and slipping on the wrapper put it with the package 
 of letters which she had received from him. 
 
 After spending a sleepless night, she was in little 
 mood to grant Reggie the privileges of an accepted 
 lover when he called the next morning, and presented 
 a cold cheek for his ardent salutation, and with this 
 he had to be content. 
 
 Steve, off with Robinson buying horses, did not at- 
 tempt to have his mail forwarded, as he was moving 
 about from place to place, but contented himself with 
 writing Miss Parker regularly as before, and these 
 Miss Parker as regularly returned with the seals im- 
 broken. With the receipt of each one she became 
 more furiously angry with him, but now and then she 
 felt a temptation to steam one open and see what ex- 
 
 230 
 
MISS PARKEE AND REGGIE ENGAGED 
 
 cuse he had to offer for his perfidy, but dismissed the 
 suggestion as dishonorable, and an act beneath the 
 dignity of a lady. 
 
 Had she only yielded to her curiosity she would 
 have been puzzled at the tone of Steve's letters, which 
 were in the same loving strain as formerly, and her 
 acute mind might have divined that there was some- 
 thing amiss. However, pride forbade, so she de- 
 manded no explanation, acting just as Miss Little 
 thought she would, and so much misery was in store 
 for all concerned. 
 
 When Steve reached home a couple of weeks later, 
 as usual the first thing he did was to inquire for mail, 
 and finding several letters from New York, and a roll 
 of papers, gathered them all together and started out 
 to the bunk house to read them. As he was going out 
 of the kitchen door, he encountered his mother, who 
 true to her French training could not reconcile her- 
 self to the lightness with which American youths re- 
 garded affairs of the heart. She had noted with frown- 
 ing disapproval the arrival of each letter from New 
 York since the public announcement of Steve's engage- 
 ment to Miss Little, and seeing the eagerness with 
 which ^e hurried out to read them, stopped him with 
 the remark : 
 
 "My son, do you think it honorable to correspond 
 with one girl while engaged to another?" 
 
 "Correspond with one girl while engaged to an- 
 other?" repeated Steve in a puzzled tone. And then 
 all at once it burst upon him that people accepted his 
 engagement to Miss Little as a fact, and he was 
 stopped with the thought that since Miss Little had 
 not denied it, he could hardly do so without putting 
 her in a bad light, so answering nothing he went on 
 out. 
 
 Hastily tearing open one of the envelopes on the 
 231 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G'^ RANCH 
 
 way, he drew out the contents and was surprised to 
 find only one of his own letters to Miss Parker? He 
 turned it over and over in bewilderment for awhile, 
 and then looked into the envelope to see if there was 
 any message to explain the matter, but finding noth- 
 ing, opened another envelope with the same result 
 One after another yielded only the various letters 
 which he had written while away buying horses, and 
 at last he tore open the bimdle of papers to see if there 
 was anything in them to enlighten him. The blue- 
 penciled article caught his eye and he read it, crushed 
 the paper in his hand with an oath, and then jerk- 
 ing open the stove door, he shoved both paper and let- 
 ters into the fire and watched it bum, while he mut- 
 tered imprecations against Reggie and the fickleness of 
 women. 
 
 The next day being mail-day, some one asked him 
 if he was not going to the post-office, and he growled 
 out : "Hell, no. I never want to see that post-office 
 again." 
 
 The family noting his mood, did not venture to tease 
 him about Hs engagement to Miss Little, but noticed 
 with no little surprise that he did not seem to be mak- 
 ing any preparation toward going to the dance which 
 was to be held at the hall that nigth. At last some 
 one inquired: 
 
 "Aren't you going after Miss Little?" 
 
 "I don't know as I am," answered Steve. "Why?" 
 
 '*Well, if you don't some of the other fellows will," 
 
 replied his brother, "and I shouldn't think you'd want 
 
 her go in' with anyone else, when you've announced 
 
 your engagement." 
 
 "That's so. I believe I am engaged. I had for- 
 gotten all about it," said Steve, with a chuckle, "Guess 
 I had better go and get her." And laughing still more 
 at the bewildered look on the faces of his mother and 
 
 232 
 
MISS PAEKER AND BEGGIE ENGAGED 
 
 father, he went out and hitched up a horse to the 
 buggy and started over to Colwell's. 
 
 Miss Little had heard indirectly that he was back 
 from his trip, and like a gambler who has taken long 
 chances, realized the crucial moment had come. If he 
 came for her she would know that he had not discov- 
 ered the trick she had played. She went to her room 
 directly after supper, and proceeded to get ready for 
 the dance, so that if he came the Colwells would think 
 it was a prearranged plan, and her position would be 
 that much more strengthened. But should he not, 
 then she would simply undress and go to bed, and they 
 would not know that she had expected him. She had 
 almost given up hope of his coming and had been 
 waiting in a fever of impatience, when she heard the 
 sound of wheels approaching on the hard gravelly road, 
 and presently Steve's voice in the kitchen asking for 
 her. When Mrs. Colwell knocked on her door, she 
 had on her cloak and was standing before the mirror 
 busily draping a soft filmy scarf about her head. 
 
 She gave Steve a quick, searching glance as she 
 greeted him, and noting his look of deep dejection, 
 quacked inwardly. But as he did not seem to connect 
 her with his trouble, she became more assured in her 
 mind, and as they drove toward the hall, chatted mer- 
 rily. Gradually she beguilded him from his taciturn 
 mood, and as they neared the " — G" Ranch and he had 
 not mentioned the engagement, she broached the sub- 
 ject herself, saying: 
 
 ''We must tell the people to-night that our announce- 
 ment Thanksgiving day was a joke. It will not do 
 to let it go any farther. I should have done so at 
 once only I was afraid it would offend your people. 
 Make them think I was trifling with you." 
 
 And so with these few sentences she put herself back 
 into the position of the pursued. And showed herself 
 
 233 
 
STEVE OP THE "— G" RANCH 
 
 mistress of the world-old tactics of her sex, who make 
 the first advance and then retreat, until the man be- 
 comes so lost in the excitement of the chase that he 
 forgets that he was ever anything but the pursuer. 
 Steve remembering the unaccountable action of Miss 
 Parker, and thinking this a chance to get even, rose 
 to the bait like a hungry trout, and said : 
 
 "Why not let it stand? I have no objection if you 
 haven't." 
 
 "But I have," she had the wisdom to r^ly. "My 
 husband shall never say that I proposed to him, even 
 in jest." 
 
 She could not have said anything more calculated 
 to stimulate his interest. If she had expressed herself 
 as willing to let the engagement stand, he would have 
 felt the tolerent contempt which his sex feels for a 
 woman who honestly expresses a preference in regard 
 to themselves. But Miss Little was clever enough to 
 know this, and while her heart beat joyously at his 
 assertion, she still maintained that it was all a joke, and 
 that they should tell the people at the dance that it 
 was." 
 
 Presently Fred Knox came up to Steve, and ob- 
 served : 
 
 "Miss Little says you folks was jestin' the other 
 flight." 
 
 "Sure," answered Steve. 'TKdn't you know that 
 matrimony was a joke, and that anybody that takes it 
 seriously is soon a fit subject for the insane asylum. 
 Whenever a girl tells you that she will marry you, you 
 want to laugh, because that is what it is 'a joke'." And 
 Fred detecting the note of bitterness in his voice, said : 
 
 "Yes, I see it's a joke. But who played it. The 
 one that was comin' or a gom'." 
 
 "Both," answered Steve, as he turned away, his re- 
 ply more true than he knew. 
 
 234 
 
MISS PARKER AND REGGIE ENGAGED 
 
 All during the evening different ones would chaff 
 them about their engagement, but Steve according to 
 his ideas of chivalry, could do nothing but turn it off 
 in some way, while Miss Little lost no opportunity to 
 tell every one that it was a joke, leading people to 
 think that Steve was the anxious one, while she was 
 indifferent. 
 
 On the way to the Colwell Ranch, after the dance, 
 she, having heard Steve several times during the night 
 inquiring of the different ones if they had seen any- 
 thmg of Blackie, asked: 
 
 "Where is Blackie? Has he disappeared?" 
 
 "Yes. He disappeared Thanksgiving night, and wc 
 haven't seen him since." 
 
 "Thanksgiving night! At what time?" 
 
 "Sometime after supper," and then as a sudden 
 thought struck him, he looked at her intently, and 
 said : "By Gee, I never thought of that" 
 
 "Never thought of what?" 
 
 "That he might have gone away on account of us 
 sayin' we was engaged." 
 
 "Well, if he has, it*s his own fault. He is a man 
 and if he chose to delude himself no one is to blame but 
 him." 
 
 "Are you right sure no one is to blame? Don't you 
 think you helped along the deludin' a little?" 
 
 "And supposing I did?" flared she, in a sudden 
 burst of anger. "Isn't a man a living temptation to 
 a girl of spirit. There won't one of you look at a girl 
 unless you think a dozen other fellows want her. Let 
 a girl play square, arid discourage all attention from 
 every fellow except the one she chances to like, and 
 that one immediately takes alarm and shies off. But 
 if she is clever and encourages them all, and has the 
 strength of character to treat the one she likes with 
 
 235 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G'* RANCH 
 
 the same indifference as she treats the one she does 
 not like, she is sure to win, 
 
 **A man likes to see his judgment verified, and what 
 no one else wants, neither does he. I have often had 
 some handsome fellow, as a favor to me, pay devoted 
 attention to some homely wall-flower for an evening, 
 just to watch how the other fellows followed his lead, 
 and sought her afterward. Men deserve no pity, in 
 my estimation. And if a girl did right she would 
 accept every one who proposes, until she gets the right 
 one." 
 
 "Well, why don't you do that then? Accept every 
 man who proposes." 
 
 /'How do you know that I have not?** 
 
 "Well, you haven't accepted me." 
 
 "Neither have you proposed," laughed she. "As I 
 remember it, I was the one who proposed." 
 
 "All right then, I propose," said Steve with an 
 answering chuckle. "Do you accept?" 
 
 "No, not imtil you are more abject about it than 
 now," 
 
 "Well, I can't be very abject There ain't room in 
 this buggy for me to get down on my knees. You 
 might as well accept, you can bring about the abject- 
 ness later." 
 
 "No, I will not accept, but we will just continue the 
 joke, since you find it amusing," 
 
 "AH right," agreed Steve. "But seems to me you 
 you don't play the game quite fair. As I take it, you 
 was absolved from your vow, and drank the cham- 
 pagne, but where do I come in. So far all I have got 
 out of it is in the report of being engaged to you, 
 which you take the trouble to tell every one is a joke." 
 
 "Well, what do you want?" asked she in a softened 
 voice. Dropping at once her tone of gay banter, and 
 leaning back against the seat, toward his shoulder, so 
 
 23a 
 
MISS PAKKEE AOT) KEGGIE ENGAGED 
 
 that tlie moonlight streamed over her face and revealed 
 her pouting lips tantalizingly near. 
 
 "What do I want?" echoed Steve. "I want what 
 any engaged man is entitled to. My pay in kisses, and 
 I'm goin' to get them right now." 
 
 Uttering a low laugh, which was blending of assent 
 and challenge, she struggled to elude him. At last he 
 had her face turned toward him, and was bending to 
 press his lips on hers, when suddenly there flashed 
 across his mind remembrance of that other betrothal 
 on the mountain tops, and his heart chilled. Stifling 
 a sigh, he kissed her, but without passion, and as he 
 did so, it seemed he could see Miss Parker's face be- 
 fore him, filled with reproach. 
 
 Miss Little felt his sudden lack of ardor, and was 
 furious with herself for yielding. 
 
 "Have I played the game so long," thought she, "to 
 give my lips to one who kisses them half-heartedly?" 
 
 On the way home Steve marveled at himself, think- 
 ing: 
 
 "If any one had told me that I could kiss a pretty 
 girl with as little enthusiasm I'd have told him he was 
 a liar. Funny that I should see Miss Parker's face 
 that a-way. She sure can't have any kick com in' for 
 she set me the example." And then he went over for 
 the thousandth time, her unaccoimtable action. "I sure 
 never thought she would deal m-i a hand like that If 
 it had been Miss Little, now, I wouldn't a-been at all 
 surprised. It must have been her mother that got 
 around her in some way." 
 
 For some time it was in this channel his mind ran, 
 whenever he had an opportunity to think. But after 
 awhile the poignancy of his regret began to wear off. 
 Love is a fire that will in time bum itself out, if no 
 fresh fuel is supplied. Especially if the one concerned 
 
 23T 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G" RANCH 
 
 has other distractions in the way of companionship 
 and work, and Steve had both. ^ 
 
 When Miss Parker wrote him of her mother's deci- 
 sion, she held out the hope of her continued letters, 
 and these would have furnished the necessary fuel to 
 keep alive his love for an indefinite time. But on the 
 heels of her letter came the paper containing the ac- 
 count of her engagement to Reggie. Thus with all 
 hope dead Steve began to try to put her out of his 
 mind and welcomed anything that would distract his 
 thoughts from their gloomy channel. 
 
 Finding that Miss Little with her merry chatter 
 helped to beguile him from melancholy he sought her 
 society at every opportunity, and gradually began to 
 fall under the spell of her magnetic personality. He 
 basked in the sunlight of her smile, and no more vi- 
 sions of Miss Parker came to lessen the fervor of his 
 kisses. 
 
 In this way he lost all enthusiasm over the trip to 
 New York. He was interested in the monetary part 
 of course, but all the zest was gone. Nevertheless, 
 he went about training the cow-ponies, and getting 
 them used to having the polo clubs swung over and 
 around them. In order to give them some actual work 
 he organized a couple of polo teams among the cow- 
 boys, and Robinson, who was unable to use his arm 
 enough to play, coached them in the rules of the game. 
 As he did so he thought he never knew what polo was 
 until he saw it played by those reckless cow-punchers. 
 
 To him, also, fell the task of exercising the various 
 horses every day, so as to keep them worked down a 
 little, and in order to make it more interesting he was 
 in the habit of taking along the pack of hounds and 
 hunting coyotes on the way. There were seven or 
 eight dogs in the pack, and the leaders were two mas- 
 sive, shaggy-haired, bushy-tailed stag hounds. One 
 
 238 
 
MISS PARKER AND REGGIE ENGAGED 
 
 beautifully marked with large, tawny spots over his 
 back and head, and the other was of a very light tan 
 color. 
 
 The spotted one called "Prince" was very good- 
 natured, while the other was surly and cross, ready 
 to snap or growl on the slightest provocation. Like 
 some people his soul was attuned to sadness. When 
 the sun had set, and the active life around the ranch 
 had settled down for the night "The Duke*' as he was 
 called, would hunt some likely spot, preferably under 
 somebody's window, and pointing his nose toward the 
 moon, commence his lone and dismal lament. 
 
 This he would keep up with all sorts of variations. 
 Sometimes swelling to a loud crescendo on the last 
 note, and sometimes ending it in a plaintive whine, 
 until the nerves of the one he was serenading could 
 stand it no longer, and they would end it by throwing 
 a boot or shoe at him. 
 
 Mere Gardeau was very superstitious, and would 
 always say when she heard him howling that it was 
 a sign of a death. One morning on hearing her make 
 that remark, Steve said, with his characteristic dry 
 chuckle. 
 
 "Yes, I think that is a fact. For if he howls like 
 that again under my window there'll sure be a death. 
 If it's the spirits of his ancestors he's grievin* over, 
 as some claim, he certainly feels awful bad about them, 
 and I don't think it's right to keep him away from 
 them any longer." 
 
 Perhaps it was the spirit of his ancestors calling him 
 as a short time afterwards he was found one morn- 
 ing walking around in a circle, and in a day or two, 
 in spite of all Robinson's doctoring, or perhaps because 
 of it, he died. 
 
 289 
 
THEY START EAST WITH THE POLO 
 PONIES 
 
 XXI 
 
 They had planned to start East with their horses 
 some time the latter part of March, as that would 
 bring them there in time to get them in shape before 
 the polo season opened. They only intended to take 
 enough to fill one car on the first trip, until they saw 
 how they sold ,although they had bought enough to 
 make several cars. Boston, being Robinson's home, 
 was the ultimate destination, and as he belonged to all 
 the riding and polo clubs, they did not anticipate an)? 
 trouble in disposing of their first load to good ad- 
 vantage. 
 
 School still lacked a few days of being out, and 
 Miss Little bade Steve good-by with many inward 
 misgivings. Of late he had fallen into the roll of an 
 accepted lover, but before doing so he had with char- 
 acteristic honesty, told her the ins and outs of his 
 affair with Miss Parker, and as far as he knew, the 
 manner of its ending. Miss Little at once surmised 
 that Miss Parker's action was but the outcome of her 
 own little ruse, but stifling all twinges of conscience, 
 had set about winning him from any thought of her 
 rival 
 
 She exerted every charm to please, and throwing ofl 
 all restraint of manner let him see the depth of her 
 love, thus showering him with the sweetest flattery. 
 She listened with sympathetic admiration to all his sto- 
 
 240 
 
THEY STAET EAST WITH THE PONIES 
 
 ries of adventure, and in a thousand winsome ways 
 made him feel he was her hero. And when you take 
 into consideration his isolation from any others girU 
 that any way near compared with her in looks manner 
 or dress, can you wonder that Steve succumbed, nor 
 counted himself anything but lucky in so doine. After 
 all, Miss Little was simply a pretty girl who had been 
 spoiled and made selfish by a doting mother, and much 
 flattery, who was using every means, legitimate and 
 otherwise, which she possessed, to win the man she 
 loved. 
 
 Now just as she felt she had succeeded, came this 
 trip to the East with the horses. True he was going 
 to Boston, and Miss Parker lived in New York, but 
 the situation was fraught with possibilities. But all 
 she could do was to take the chances, and trust to her 
 luck which had not failed her so far. 
 
 Only one man was needed to look after the horses 
 on the way, but Robinson to whom it was all novel, 
 decided to accompany Steve as far as Chicago, and 
 the latter was very grateful for his society, as it was 
 a long, wearisome trip. 
 
 The long, unwiedly freight train to which their car 
 was attached was constantly being backed onto a sid- 
 ing to await the coming of some passenger train, which 
 would rush upon them out of the void, and go hurt- 
 ling past. Even when they were side-tracked in some 
 small City or village, the monotony was just as great, 
 or even worse, for there is nothing more unlovely than 
 the railroad section of a City. No matter how long 
 the wait, the time of departure was always uncertain, 
 so they were compelled to stay close by, lest the train 
 suddenly depart without them. 
 
 But whatever hardship they encountered, Robinson, 
 who was of a philosophic turn of mind, seemed to take 
 it as one more event of his trip, and found it pro- 
 
 241 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G" RANCH 
 
 portionately interesting. He was fond of discussing 
 all ethical questions, and was always on the lookout 
 for material. Spying some men stealing a ride under- 
 neath a car one day, he invited them to ride in the 
 caboose, and gave the conductor a tip not to molest 
 them. 
 
 He drew an interesting trio. One was a boy evi- 
 dently on his first trip away from home ; another was 
 a college graduate seeking adventure, while the third 
 was a hardened old bum of the worst type. He boasted 
 that he had never worked in his life, and never ex- 
 pected to, and the color of his nose attested to the suc- 
 cess of whatever method he adopted to procure the 
 wherewithal to sustain life. For, like a meerschaum 
 pipe, the nose does not reach such mellow tone with- 
 out much patient endeavor, and liquor can not always 
 be had without money. 
 
 Cards are the great leveler of mankind. Men of 
 all classes and nationalities can meet and find enter- 
 tainment in matching their wits, skill or luck, one 
 against the other. So when they were all gathered in 
 the slowly moving caboose, Robinson produced a pack, 
 and in lieu of a table, they sat down in the middle of 
 the floor and played poker. 
 
 The boy professesd himself without money, so Rob- 
 inson staked him, while the college man and the tramp 
 from some inner recesses of their clothing, produced 
 a dollar each, and laid it on the floor. As they played, 
 strangely enough luck was with the boy, who claimed 
 to be a novice at the game, and he won steadily. Fin- 
 ally as they stopped at the station, Steve went out to 
 look after the stock, and the rest tired of such a 
 one-sided game, followed one by one, to stretch their 
 limbs which were cramped from so long sitting on the 
 floor. 
 
 When the train started and they returned to the ca- 
 242 
 
THEY START EAST WITH THE PONIES 
 
 boose the ice now having been broken, Robinson be- 
 gan trying to draw them out. He and the college man 
 soon found many ideas in common, and everything was 
 touched upon. Science, religion, politics, and last of 
 all, love. 
 
 Steve listened for awhile, and then asked if they 
 thought a man could love more than once. 
 
 The college man was of the decided opinion that 
 a person could only once experience the grand passion. 
 Robinson, being a little older was doubtful, while the 
 boy thought it was all a myth, a specie of insanity that 
 people indulged in as they grew up, and at last Rob- 
 inson turned to the tramp and asked : 
 
 "What is your opinion?" 
 
 "Well, ye can take it from me, bo," said he ad- 
 dressing Steve. "Ye kin luv jist as many times as ye 
 gits de chanst. Can ye eat enough to onct to last ye 
 a life time?" asked he contemptuously. "No, de sup- 
 ply must be constant and regular, if ye w^ants to keep 
 healthy and happy. Supposin' ye do like peaches an* 
 some udder man has cornered de supply, an' only 
 apples is handy. Yell have to cultivate an appetite fur 
 apples dats all, or go hungry. An* if de apple is a 
 good brand, even if it is a little rusty coated, after 
 awhile ye furgits dat ye ever thot peaches was de 
 only fruit wort eatin,' but if de supply of peaches 
 keeps up, eat away. Each one may have a little dif- 
 ferent flavor, but dey is peaches jist de same." 
 
 Night came on and with it sleep. Everyone but 
 the tramp removed his shoes, before stretching him- 
 self out on the hard benches of the caboose. He prob- 
 ably deemed such an operation as superfluous, as from 
 each of his shoes protruded one great toe, like the head 
 of a turtle sticking out of his shell. This waved back 
 and forth rythmically in time to his snores and Rob- 
 inson much amused lay and watched it for a time 
 
 243 
 
STEVE OF THE «— G" RANCH 
 
 Soon he too was lost in the land of dreams, and ricpt 
 on undisturbed by the rocking and bumping of the 
 caboose, as it whipped along b«hind the swiftly mov- 
 ing train. 
 
 Robinson and Steve had their own beds, but these 
 they did not offer to share with their companions, for 
 reasons which they thought sufficient, and the others 
 did not seem to notice the omission. 
 
 They were all aroused suddenly the next morning at 
 an exclamation of rage from Robinson, and looking 
 up they burst into a shout of laughter. The tramp 
 was missing, and so were Robinson's shoes, but he had 
 considerately left his old ones in place of the shiny 
 patent leathers he had purloined. The boy turning out 
 his pockets disclosed the fact that his winnings had 
 vanished also, so one of the tramp's methods of ex- 
 istance was explained. 
 
 When they reached Chicago, Robinson left Steve to 
 make the rest of the journey alone, while he went 
 ahead to arrange for a place to keep the horses until 
 they were soli 
 
 244 
 
XXII 
 STEVE PLAYS A GAME OF POLO 
 
 We will now return to Miss Parker. After the first 
 heat of her anger had worn itself off, she began to 
 regret that she had consented to marry Reggie, for in 
 spite of the fact that she thought Steve was engaged to 
 Miss Little and did not care for her, she could not put 
 him out of her heart, and felt more distaste than ever 
 to marrying Reggie. 
 
 But her mother and aunt were delighted over the 
 engagement and urged her to let it stand, bringing 
 every argument they could think of to bear upon her. 
 In vain she pleaded that she did not love him, and 
 never could. 
 
 "Tut, tut!" objected her aunt. "Love is all very 
 well, but one can't have everything. You have demon- 
 strated to yourself that being in love does not bring 
 happiness for very long, and now that you have had 
 your dream, why not wake up and grasp some of the 
 material things of life." 
 
 "Be satisfied in being adored, and contrast Reggie'i 
 devotion to Steve's fickleness. See how he has loved 
 you through all these years, while you have steadily 
 refused him. Don't you think such fidelity should be 
 rewarded ?" 
 
 And the girl, whose life from childhood up, had been 
 one which tended to develop all the generosity of her 
 nature, and unselfishness, now yielded to the importu- 
 nities of the two she loved best. 
 
 And again, no woman can be indifferent to being 
 245 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G" RANCH 
 
 loved and cared for, and there is an undoubted 
 glamour about being the fiancee of a milUonaire. Her 
 friends looked at her with admiration and envy, and 
 Reggie showed by every act that he had her constantly 
 in his mind. He was always in attendance and never 
 called empty handed, showering her with costly gifts 
 in the way of rare flowers and precious jewels. He 
 would have gone farther had she permitted, and bought 
 her the latest Paris creations, as he longed to see her 
 beauty have the proper setting, but such gifts Miss 
 Parker would not accept. He would have to be con- 
 tent with her as she was, she told him. Time enough 
 for Parisian gowns when they were married, but nev- 
 ertheless she was dazzled by his munificence, and felt 
 more inclined to yield when he pleaded for a hasty 
 marriage. 
 
 Had he had the wisdom to absent himself now and 
 then and have given the girl a chance to miss him, he 
 would have helped his cause, but Reggie did not have 
 sufficient strength of character to do that. And, as 
 often happens, his ardor was the cause of his own 
 undoing, or, perhaps, after all he was but the instru- 
 ment in the hands of fate. 
 
 While at the Alton Ranch, he had realized that his 
 inability to ride had placed him to great disadvantage 
 with Miss Parker, and immediately upon reaching New 
 York he had at once hunted up^ an expensive riding 
 master and started taking lessons. However, like a 
 great many people who would be cultured, he would 
 have possessed the wisdom of Solomon if it could 
 have been bought, but he was not willing to put forth 
 the necessary effort to acquire it. 
 
 Nine o'clock in the morning was the time set for the 
 lessons, but, as it was his boast that he never went to 
 bed the same day as he arose, the hour usually passed 
 with Reggie sound asleep, but the pay went on just 
 
 246 
 
STEVE PLAYS A GAME OF POLO 
 
 the same. Finally, from the amount of money he had 
 expended, he thought he ought to be an expert, so, 
 chancing to visit his mother at the time, he joined one 
 of the polo and riding clubs. 
 
 With the arrival of Robinson and his horses, interest 
 in polo waxed to fever heat. There had always been 
 a rivalry between the two teams, and as each man had 
 bought one or more horses, they were anxious to try 
 them out. Every member thought he could give points 
 to David Harum when it came to judging horses, and 
 there was heavy betting as to the outcome of the 
 game. 
 
 Reggie was in a quandary. There was only one 
 short month intervening between the date of the game 
 and his wedding day, and, while he wanted to play in 
 the game, he did not wish to leave Miss Parker for 
 so long a time. Hour after hour, he sat dully before 
 the window of an uptown club, pondering the ques- 
 tion, and, as an aid to thought, chewed the head of 
 his cane. Unusual agitation of mind was indicated 
 by the fact that its polished gold knob was soon all 
 scratched and dented. It is doubtful whether he 
 would ever have hit upon a solution, but a friend, 
 chancing to notice his perturbation, stopped to in- 
 quire : 
 
 "Why these deep meditations, Reggie ? What great 
 Wall Street coup are you planning now ?" 
 
 "The mattah is fah more sewious than that, don- 
 cher-know, old chap," answered Reggie, glad of a 
 chance to unburden his mind. "I belong to one of the 
 polo teams at Boston, and they are going to have a big 
 game next Saturday, and I can't tear myself away 
 from New York. Fm going to be married the first 
 of June, don-cher-know," added Reggie, as if that was 
 sufficient excuse to account for any eccentricity. 
 
 247 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G" RANCH 
 
 "Oh, I see. Can't leave the fair charmer. Well, 
 why don't you take her along? Your mother will put 
 her up, I should think." 
 
 "Bah jove, old boy!" said Reggie, a look of intelli- 
 gence breaking over his face. "I nevah thought of 
 that Evah so much obliged for the suggestion. TU 
 just do that." And, getting up, he left the club in a 
 flurry. 
 
 At last the day of the game arrived, and all was in 
 readiness. Miss Parker and her aunt were seated with 
 Reggie's mother in a box, and Reggie, as proud as a 
 peacock, dashed out into the field at full speed, and 
 then, without checking his horse, wheeled in a narrow 
 circle and rode up alongside the barrier opposite them 
 and lifted his helmet in salute. His mother clapped 
 her hands in applause at this piece of horsemanship, 
 and Miss Parker, half mocking, half serious, called to 
 him: 
 
 "Why, Reggie, you have become quite a Rough 
 Rider." Reggie, stopping only a moment, wheeled his 
 horse and galloped off with a great air of importance to 
 where tlie other members of his team were gathered. 
 They wore blue shirts and blue helmets, while Robin- 
 son's club wore white shirts and white helmets. 
 
 The umpire blew a shrill whistle and tossed a white 
 ball into the center of the ring, and the eight horse- 
 men, swinging their long-handled clubs, dashed after 
 it. Soon they were so closely huddled together that 
 no one could reach the ball. Finally they opened up 
 a bit, and a member of the Blues, with a dexterous 
 twist of his wrist, sent the ball rolling toward their 
 goal, but this the White Caps tried to prevent: then 
 ensued a scramble. The ball rolled from first one end 
 of the ring to another, pursued closely by the horsemen. 
 
 The first quarter and part of the second passed, and 
 248 
 
STEVE PLAYS A GAME OF POLO 
 
 neither side had scored. At last Robinson had the ball 
 down to their end of the field, and was about to make 
 a goal, when Reggie in a desperate effort to prevent 
 it, swung his club aloft, and brought it down, just as 
 Robinson lifted his arm for the final stroke. He caught 
 the full force of the blow, and his arm, which had re- 
 cently healed, snapped and himg limp and useless by 
 his side. 
 
 Robinson reeled in the saddle. Another of the Blues 
 Btarted the ball back toward their end, when the whis- 
 tle blew for the intermission. 
 
 The White Caps were in despair. Robinson could 
 not play, and they could not find a substitute. At last, 
 in desperation, they sent a man out to look among the 
 audience to see if they could not find some other mem- 
 ber of the club. When he returned unsuccessful, 
 Steve, who had been getting Robinson's horse, came 
 up just then, and Robinson suggested: 
 
 "Steve, here, is a good player, why not put him ki 
 the game?" u^^ 
 
 "But he isn't a member of the club, and only mem- 
 bers can play," objected one. 
 
 "Well, make him a member, then. Til vouch for 
 him," said Robinson. And as the time was almost up, 
 they proceeded to swear him into the club. 
 
 The eight men, each on a fresh mount, rode back 
 into the field, and, as the White Caps galloped across 
 to take their position at the other end. Miss Parker ut- 
 tered a slight exclamation, and, turning to Mrs. Van 
 Rennsler, inquired: 
 
 "Who is the new man who took the place of the one 
 Reggie hurt?" 
 
 "I don't know," answered Mrs. Van Rennsler, lev- 
 cling her glasses. "He rides well, anyway." And 
 then, handing the glasses to the girl, she said: 
 
 "Sec if you can recognize him." 
 249 
 
STEVE OP THE "— G" RANCH 
 
 Miss Parker took the glasses, but before she could 
 level them the whistle sounded and the game com» 
 menced. In the confusion which followed, she could 
 not get the range, so she put them aside, thinking to 
 wait until the rider should pass nearer. 
 
 "But it can not be Steve," thought she. "What 
 would he be doing here in Boston, and a member of 
 one of the most exclusive clubs? But whoever it is 
 bears a striking resemblance to him." Her eyes fol- 
 lowed him about, while her cheeks alternately paled 
 and flushed at the memories that the resemblance in- 
 voked. 
 
 Steve had seen Reggie outside before the game 
 started, and more than half expected Miss Parker to 
 be present. Then, watching Reggie as he dashed up 
 to the box, he at once decided that she was there, as 
 Reggie was most likely making the grandstand play 
 for her benefit. 
 
 When he entered the field he decided to avoid that 
 side as much as possible, but presently in the excite- 
 ment of the game he forgot all about it. Several times 
 he sent the ball toward goal, but each time the other 
 riders were bunched up, and failed to follow up his 
 play. Becoming disgusted, he resolved that the 
 next time he had the ball he would stay with it. 
 
 Presently he saw an opening, and with it an oppor- 
 tunity to humiliate Reggie as well. The ball rolled off 
 to one side and stopped right in front of the box where 
 Miss Parker was sitting, and he and Reggie started 
 toward it at the same time. 
 
 Reggie tried to ride foul of Steve and shut him away 
 from the ball, but Steve did not swerve aside. His 
 horse, which was the same little pony which had first 
 attracted Robinson's attention on the round-up, laid 
 back his ears, and rushed upon Reggie^s horse at a full 
 gallop. The horses struck each other with such force 
 
 250 
 
STEVE PLAYS A GAME OF POLO 
 
 that it threw Reggie from his precarious seat, and 
 pitched him over the barrier. He fell at Miss Parker's 
 feet, and the audience roared. 
 
 Miss Parker saw the furious approach and caught 
 the vengeful gleam of eye, and, without understanding 
 the how or why of his being there, knew instantly that 
 it was Steve. 
 
 He heard her exclamation of surprise, and for an 
 instant their eyes met, and then, without speaking, he 
 bent over, struck the ball, and, riding so as to shut off 
 the approach of the others, coaxed it on to goal. 
 
 Reggie's horse galloped down toward the entrance, 
 and, finding the gate unguarded, ran out, where an at- 
 tendant caught him just as the whistle blew for the last 
 intermission. 
 
 The next quarter was hotly contested. Steve played 
 as only a man can who has the incentive of humiliat- 
 ing a successful rival, and as the game progressed he 
 saw what Robinson meant when he said that he never 
 knew what polo was until he saw it played by the cow- 
 boys. Only a few of the men could ride very well, 
 and had not the size or build to enable them to strike 
 a good blow. Then instead of spreading out so as to be 
 able to follow up the ball, they kept bunched together, 
 so Steve could have played the game about as well if 
 there had not been any of the other members of his 
 side on the field. 
 
 His well-trained cow-pony darted about, and Steve 
 seemed to be everywhere at once. At last Robinson's 
 sister, who was in the box next to Miss Parker, be- 
 came so excited that, as Steve came past again fol- 
 lowing up the ball, she jumped up and waved her hand- 
 kerchief, shouting: 
 
 "Stay with it, you dear old cowboy." And only 
 subsided when Mrs. Van Rennsler raised her lor- 
 gnette and stared at her. When the game was ended 
 
 251 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G" RANCH 
 
 the score was four to one in favor of the White Caps. 
 
 Miss Parker Hngered as long as possible, half hoping 
 that Steve would come and speak to her, but presently 
 Mrs. Van Rennsler, who thought she was waiting for 
 Reggie, said: 
 
 *'I suppose Reggie will meet us at the side entrance," 
 and sure enough Reggie was there. They were soon 
 stowed comfortably in his waiting automobile, and on 
 the way home. Reggie insisted upon Miss Parker and 
 her aunt going home with them for dinner, but to this 
 the girl demurred, and so Reggie left them at their 
 door, with a promise to return a little later and take 
 them to the theater. He had said nothing about Steve, 
 and Miss Parker did not question him, although she 
 was puzzled to account for his presence in Boston. 
 
 The members of the winning team agreed to meet 
 and have dinner together, and Robinson, in spite of 
 the pain in his arm, which was not broken, as they 
 had at first thought, accompanied them. When they 
 were all seated in the cafe, they began talking over the 
 points of the game, and all united in according to Steve 
 the honor of having saved the day, and won the game ; 
 so they called for a bottle of champagne to celebrate 
 the victory and drink his health. 
 
 After they were through eating, they decided to go 
 to the theater, and, as luck would have it, selected the 
 play which Miss Parker and Reggie had decided upon. 
 They arrived late, but the confusion of their entrance 
 was covered by the music of the orchestra, which 
 stopped as the curtain went up on the first act, just 
 as they were being seated. Steve at once gave his at- 
 tention to the stage, and did not look about him until 
 the curtain went down and the lights flasned out, light- 
 ing up the theater. 
 
 His attention was attracted to the opposite box by 
 252 
 
STEVE PLAYS A GAME OF POLO 
 
 seeing that a number of people were leveling their 
 opera glasses in that direction. He stared for a mo- 
 ment, and, with a start recognized Miss Parker, who, 
 with Mrs. Van Rennsler, was sitting well forward in 
 their box, with her aunt and Reggie behind them. It 
 was the first time he had ever seen her in evening dress, 
 and he gazed as if spellbound. 
 
 "Well, I knew she was beautiful," said he; "but I 
 did not know she was as lovely as that. What a fool I 
 was to think that a girl like that would ever be content 
 to live on a ranch and wear ginghams and calicoes. I 
 don't wonder that Reggie, with his millions, looked 
 g^ood to her." 
 
 Presently she, feeling his gaze, turned and saw him 
 in the opposite box. She blushed in confusion and 
 then inclined her head in a stiff little bow, which he 
 returned just as stiffly. And it was thus that these 
 two, who a few short months before thought they had 
 found heaven on the mountain top, greeted each other 
 across a sea of heads. 
 
 Mrs. Van Rennsler, whose sharp eyes nothing es- 
 caped, noting the blush and bow, turned her opera 
 glasses in that direction and drawled : 
 
 "Oh, I see. The man who substituted in the game 
 this afternoon. Who did you say he was?" 
 
 "I did not say," answered Miss Parker. "But it is 
 a man I met in the West last summer." 
 
 "Well, he is an uncommonly good rider," observed 
 Mrs. Van Reinnsler. "What is his name? I should 
 like to meet him. I thought I knew all the members of 
 the polo and riding clubs. Reggie, you must bring him 
 round and present him." 
 
 "Oh, I say," exclaimed Reggie, fidgeting uncomfort- 
 ably. "I do not think he is going to be here very long. 
 He lives in the West, don't-cher-know, and besides, you 
 can't expect me to be very keen about a fellow that 
 
 253 
 
STEVE OP THE "— G'' RANCH 
 
 caused me to come such a cropper this afternoon;" 
 
 "Humph!" grumbled his mother, to whom opposi- 
 tion was like a red flag waved in the face of a bull; 
 "Why don't you learn to ride, then, and you wouldn't 
 fall off your horse every time any one bumped into 
 you. But never mind. If he is not going to be here 
 long, perhaps it isn't worth while." And, much to Miss 
 Parker's relief, the matter was dropped. 
 
 Reggie hovered over Miss Parker like a moth about 
 a flame, and as Steve noted it, suddenly, for the first 
 time in his life, he knew what it was to hate, and with 
 its coming there surged through him again the spell 
 of his old love, which Miss Little had lulled to sleep, 
 but not killed. And as the contest raged in his heart, 
 he clenched his teeth and almost groaned aloud. 
 
 He knew now that there was no hope, and that he 
 would never love any girl but this one who sat before 
 him, and with that knowledge came the fierce desire of 
 the primitive man — to kill this puny weakling who was 
 trying to rob him of his rightful mate. 
 
 Shoving his chair back so that he was partially 
 shielded by the curtains of the box, his hand instinct- 
 ively sought the place where his revolver ought to be, 
 and, not finding it, reason reasserted itself. However, 
 as Reggie again bent over Miss Parker's chair, unable 
 to stand the sight any longer, Steve excused himself to 
 the others in the box, and left the theater. 
 
 He wandered around the city for a while, and then 
 going to the stable where he put the horse he was rid- 
 ing the last part of the game, he started homeward. 
 
 The liveryman, seeing how the horse shied as Steve 
 tried to lead him out of the bam, remarked : 
 
 "You had better leave him here all night. He acts 
 like he isn't used to the city and may cause you 
 trouble." 
 
 "I would leave him, only a party is comin' out to 
 look at him in the morning, and I wouldn't have time 
 
 254 
 
STEVE PLAYS A GAME OF POLO 
 
 to come in after him before he gets there. That is 
 why I rode him, but the party could not try him out 
 here in town, and wanted to see him on the field. 
 Guess we can make it, all right. So long." 
 
 As he went along, the horse started and pranced at 
 every sound or shadow. Each hydrant or waste-paper 
 can was in his estimation some fearful monster that 
 was ready to spring out and get him, but Steve held a 
 steady rein and talked soothingly, and soon he quieted 
 down somewhat. At that Steve relaxed some of his 
 caution and fell to brooding over seeing Miss Parker 
 at the theater, and was completely lost to time or place 
 when suddenly, out of a side street, came a motorcycle, 
 and shot, puffing and snapping, just behind the horse's 
 heels. He jumped, and, taking the bit between his 
 teeth, bolted. 
 
 The theater was out, and Reggie had left his mother 
 at their home, and, with Miss Parker by his side, was 
 going slowly along, in no hurry to reach his destina- 
 tion. The girl was making no effort to talk or be en- 
 tertaining, and Reggie, left to himself, was thinking 
 blissfully that in a short while he would have this girl 
 for his own, and there would be no more parting. 
 
 They were just about to cross the street when, all at 
 once, they heard a clatter of iron-shod hoofs approach- 
 ing along the street to their right. Quick as a flash, 
 Reggie threw on more speed in an attempt to make 
 the crossing before the runaway arrived, but just as 
 they dashed under the arc light the horse and rider 
 loomed above them for an instant, and Miss Parker 
 and the rider exchanged a flash of recognition, and she 
 exclaimed : 
 
 "It is Steve r 
 
 Steve pulled the horse back on his haunches and 
 swimg him round in an effort to avoid the car, but the 
 
 255 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G" RANCH 
 
 horse, unused to pavements, slipped in making the 
 short turn, and both he and his rider fell with a thud. 
 
 Reggie stopped the automobile, and both he and Miss 
 Parker started to run to Steve's assistance, but before 
 they could get out of the car, the horse was up and 
 away, and Steve, with one foot wedged in the slender 
 steel stirrup, and one hand holding the reins, was car- 
 ried along with him, while the three stood still in the 
 car spellbound with horror. 
 
 Suddenly Steve twisted himself over and caught the 
 reins with the other hand, and slowly, surely, he was 
 pulling himself toward the saddle, when another auto- 
 mobile dashed around the corner just ahead, and the 
 horse, probably thinking that neighborhood had too 
 many fearful monsters, abandoned the street and cut 
 across lots, brushing Steve off as he ran under the low 
 branches of an ancient pine. 
 
 The other auto stopped and they all started in pur- 
 suit of the fleeing horse, and found Steve lying where 
 he had fallen, almost hidden by the shadows of the 
 trees. Finding that he was unconscious, they carried 
 him to the waiting automobiles. Putting him in the 
 tonneau with the aunt, who held him steady, they hur- 
 ried home. After they had carried him in the house 
 and put him on a couch, Reggie went in search of a 
 physician. 
 
 He had hardly gone when Steve sat up, and, looking 
 dazed for a moment, said in answer to Miss Parker's 
 protest : 
 
 "Oh, Fm all right. It takes more than a little bump 
 on the head to kill a cowpuncher. I thought you knew 
 that," said he, with a laugh, for the moment all remem- 
 brance of their differences jolted out of him by his 
 fall; and then, as memory came back, the smile left 
 his face, and, getting up and looking round for his hat, 
 he said gravely ; 
 
 m 
 
BTEVE PLAYS A GAME OF POLO 
 
 "I guess I had better be goin*. I've troubled you 
 too much already." But, seeing that he limped as he 
 tried to walk, both the aunt and the girl protested so 
 vehemently that he finally sat down again. 
 
 Silence fell upon them, and the aunt, seeing their 
 constraint, made some excuse and left them alone. 
 
 The girl was the first to recover her composure, and 
 broke the silence with the remark : 
 
 "I have been consumed with curiosity ever since I 
 saw you this afternoon. How do you happen to be in 
 Boston, and a member of its most exclusive club?" 
 
 Steve gave her a brief outline of his reason for mak- 
 ing the trip, and added in conclusion : 
 
 "We have abo<.tt sold all the horses we brought 
 along, so I guess I will be leavin' in a day or two." 
 
 "Oh, that was the reason for your coming," an- 
 swered she. "When I saw you to-day, I thought per- 
 haps you were on your honeymoon. It is not too late 
 to offer you congratulations on your engagement, 
 is it?" 
 
 At that Steve's face darkened angrily, and he re- 
 plied : 
 
 "No, nor I hope too late for me to offer you mine. I 
 must say it didn't take you long to change your mind, 
 one® you got back East. Not that I blame you much, 
 when you consider all he has to offer you, but it might 
 have been a little easier if you'd thought of that be- 
 fore — ^say before we took that campin' trip." 
 
 As he spoke, Miss Parker had become more and 
 more amazed and angry, and, as he paused, blurted 
 out: 
 
 "Well, I should like to know who changed their 
 mind first? It is true I wrote you of my mother's ob- 
 jection, but I thought that at least I was worth waiting 
 for, until something turned up, or mother might have 
 changed her mind ; but instead of that you come back 
 
 257 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G^' RANCH 
 
 at me the very next week with a paper announcing 
 your engagement to Miss Little/' 
 
 "I came back at you with an announcement of my 
 engagement ? I never sent you a paper. I never knew 
 it was published." 
 
 "Well, you at least admit that you were engaged, 
 and the paper was addressed in your handwriting," an- 
 swered she. 
 
 "Now, hold on a minute," said Steve, upon whom 
 light was beginning to break. "Let's get this thing 
 straight. You say you received a paper telling about 
 my engagement to Miss Little, the next week after 
 you wrote me. Was you engaged to Reggie then ?" 
 
 "No, I was not," answered she indignantly. "But I 
 was immediately afterward." 
 
 "Oh, I see," said Steve, finding a reason for what 
 had puzzled him before. "I never could understand 
 why you dealt me such a hand as that." And then, 
 after thinking a moment, he continued : 
 
 "Now, I don't expect you to believe me, but all I 
 can do is to tell you the truth. That article was all a 
 joke, or what led up to it was, and whoever sent you 
 the paper must have done so to cause trouble. There's 
 only one person that I know of who had any interest 
 in sendin' it, but we'll let that go. They ain't done 
 so much harm but what it can be undone, if we both 
 keep cool, and listen to reason. You know, don't you ? 
 that I'd wait for you forever if I thought there was 
 any chance, but it wouldn't need to be forever. I'd 'a' 
 found some way round before long, and will yet, if 
 you'll just tell me whether it was receiving that paper 
 that made you send me the one sayin' you was goin' 
 to marry Reggie," said he, looking at her eagerly and 
 advancing a step. 
 
 But she, unable to answer, bent her head in assent, 
 and he, unmindful of the cause of his limping a few 
 
 258 
 
STEVE PLAYS A GAME OF POLO 
 
 minutes before, cleared the space between them in two 
 long strides, and clasped her tightly in his arms, and, 
 more in thankfulness than in passion, pressed a kiss 
 upon her lips. 
 
 Just then they heard the approach of an automobile 
 and soon Reggie stepped in, followed by a stranger. 
 
 From their confusion, Reggie at once realized there 
 was something amiss, and the physician's practiced eye 
 told him what it was, and he observed : 
 
 *'I see my patient has already recovered. He looks 
 as if he had received a liberal dose of that best of all 
 medicine, 'Happiness,' and if he has not further need 
 of my services, I will withdraw." 
 
 '*No, I don't need you," answered Steve, grinning 
 happily. "Much obliged just the same." 
 
 When the physician went out, the three stood awk- 
 wardly looking at each other, until at last the girl 
 started to explain, and, becotning confused and tan- 
 gled at Reggie's blank look of dismay, Steve came to 
 her rescue, saying: 
 
 "You see, it was this way : Miss Parker and I were 
 engaged, and she, thinking I'd thrown her over, ac- 
 cepted you to get even, and now, finding out her mis- 
 take, she wants you to release her." 
 
 "I'll be hanged if I will," answered Reggie, recov- 
 ering his speech. "Why, man, the invitations are all 
 out and everything. It'll make me the bloomin* laugh- 
 in'-stock of the town. I will not stand for it." 
 
 "Well, you can sit to it, then," answered Steve. 
 "You can't marry a girl against her will." And then, 
 as Reggie began to get abusive, he took him by the 
 collar and put him out of doors. 
 
 "Now that's settled, we can talk." But then the 
 aunt, who had heard the commotion, appeared and 
 they had to explain the situation to her, and she re- 
 plied : 
 
 259 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G" RANCH 
 
 "Yes, that's all very well. But you know how your 
 mother feels about your marrying this man, and she is 
 not likely to be any more agreeable now. So what are 
 you going to do? You can not marry against her 
 wishes. The shock would kill her, and you would 
 never be happy from thinking about it. Your con- 
 science would always reproach you. If you do not 
 want to marry Reggie, then you do not have to, but 
 your mother will be greatly disappointed." 
 
 "Well, I can not help it,'' answered the girl. "If she 
 will not consent to Steve and I marrying, then we 
 can wait. As soon as Steve gets through here we can 
 go to New York and perhaps when-mother meets him 
 she will change her mind." To this the old lady shook 
 her head in discouragement, but, seeing that there was 
 no use arguing further, she left the room. 
 
 The next day Steve insisted upon replacing the ring 
 Reggie had given her with one he had purchased, and, 
 as Miss Parker protested at its size, which, while of 
 more modest proportions than the one Reggie had 
 given her, was yet of purer brilliancy, Steve justified 
 himself for the extravagance by saying : 
 
 "Well, you see, you are rather valuable property, 
 and I won't take any more chances by turnin* you loose 
 on the range without my brand on you. I thought Td 
 get a good-sized one while I was about it, so that as 
 soon as any one saw you they'd spot the ring right 
 away. I don't want any other fellow thinkin' you are 
 a maverick and slappin' his brand on you." 
 
 Their horses were well advertised through the polo 
 game, so in a few days they disposed of the best of 
 them, and, leaving the rest for Robinson to sell, Steve 
 and Miss Parker started to New York accompanied by 
 the aunt, who thought it best to go along, for fear the 
 young people might take a notion to elope on the way. 
 
 26Q 
 
STEVE PLAYS A GAME OF POLO 
 
 After they reached New York, and the first excite- 
 ment of their reconciliation began to wear off, woman- 
 like, Miss Parker began to dwell upon Steve's being 
 engaged to Miss Little, and kept Steve busy explaining 
 how it happened and trying to allay all jealousy. At 
 last in desperation he observed: 
 
 "I guess it must have been the champagne." 
 
 "Well, you know champagne and pretty girls are not 
 an unusual combination, and together they are very 
 distracting. How do I know but what you may suc- 
 cumb again?" 
 
 "Oh, I'll swear off both, and, like Miss Little, only 
 make an exception when you and I celebrate our mar- 
 riage," agreed he with a laugh. 
 
 Miss Parker's mother still remained firm in her ob- 
 jection to her daughter marrying and going to live in 
 the West, so, with many vows of constancy and prom- 
 ises to investigate matters in future before they jumped 
 to conclusions, Steve and Miss Parker parted. Any 
 way, they had the hope of seeing each other at least 
 once a year, for Steve and Robinson had found their 
 venture so profitable that they intended to repeat it 
 every year. Then, too. Miss Parker might steal away 
 for a few weeks' vacation later in the simimer, and, 
 with this hope to buoy him up, Steve started on his 
 homeward journey, well satisfied with his trip to the 
 East 
 
 ?61 
 
XXIII 
 THEY CAPTURE THE HORSE THIEVES 
 
 When Steve readied home from the East, he found 
 the country in an uproar over the depreda- 
 tions of a band of horse thieves. Horses had been 
 so cheap for a number of years that no one had thought 
 them worth stealing, but since the round-up, and so 
 many had been sold, the price had come up a little. 
 Then, too, the thieves were not without some system 
 in their stealing, and they evidently knew what they 
 were about, for invariably it was a well broke cow- 
 pony, or a young horse of good breed that was taken. 
 
 The first thing Steve did was to go out and round 
 up his and Robinson's bunch, and found that three or 
 four of the best ones were missing, but whether they 
 had been stolen or had strayed off the range he could 
 not tell. And that was the keynote of the success of 
 the robbers. The horses ran on the open range to a 
 large extent, and even when they were missed their 
 owners were not sure but that they had simply wan- 
 dered off their part of the range, or had been driven 
 off by some one who w^as gathering his own horses. 
 
 However, the same day Steve arrived some strangers 
 had appeared driving some horses through Kiowa, and 
 had stopped at the saloon for a drink, and bv their very 
 boldness disarming suspicion. But late tnat evening 
 the owner had ridden into town hot on their trail, and 
 the ranchers, at last aroused, commenced to organize 
 a posse to go hunt them. 
 
 Hearing that Steve was home, they sent him word, 
 262 
 
THEY CAPTURE THE HOESE THIEVES 
 
 the messenger riding up just at daylight, having left 
 Kiowa some time after midnight 
 
 Steve was in a quandary. Upon inquiry he had 
 found that Blackie had been home on a flying visit, 
 and he more than half suspected that he was con- 
 nected with the band of horse thieves, and for that 
 reason did not like to join in the search, for fear he 
 would be instrumental in hunting him down. 
 
 Then, too, he wanted to see if he could discover who 
 sent the paper to Miss Parker. He felt guilty about 
 being engaged to two girls at the same time, but if he 
 could find out that Miss Little really had sent it, then 
 that would put a different color on the matter. 
 
 He had not written her since he had become recon- 
 ciled to Miss Parker, and he came home by a route 
 that did not take him through Denver, so as to avoid 
 seeing her until he had looked up the matter. 
 
 Now, ever since Steve had left for the East, Miss 
 Little had been suffering from remorse. Not the re- 
 morse of the person who is guilty merely, but the re- 
 morse of a person who is guilty and is about to be 
 found out. Her intuitions told her that Steve and Miss 
 Parker would meet in some way, and if that happened 
 she was sure an explanation and reconciliation would 
 follow. But there was one thing, thought she, "they 
 will not know who sent the paper, as I disguised my 
 handwriting perfectly." 
 
 However, there is one chance of detection which 
 criminals do not take into consideration, and that is 
 that no matter how well they may cover up all evi- 
 dences of their crime, their minds, by dwelling on it, 
 send out waves of thought, which, finding lodgment in 
 some other mind, arouses a suspicion of their guilt. 
 
 In olden times people believed in dreams and visions 
 and, regardless of any proof to substantiate them, acted 
 upon information they received in that manner. But in 
 
 263 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G" RANCH 
 
 this day of materialism we do not trust our own in- 
 stinct or intuitions to any great extent. 
 
 So, when Miss Parker told Steve about receiving a 
 paper announcing his engagement to Miss Little, im- 
 mediately the thought flashed in his mind that Miss 
 Little had sent it, but as time went on, and he saw 
 how difficult it would be to prove it, he began to have 
 doubts. These he wished to clear up as soon as pos- 
 sible, for if she was innocent, then he felt he had done 
 (her a great wrong by allowing himself to drift into 
 an engagement with her, when he really loved another 
 girl. 
 
 However, the good of the country demanded that 
 the thieves be hunted down, and if he was sure that 
 Blackie was not with them, he would be only too glad 
 to help capture them. He pondered the situation for 
 a moment, and seeing that the messenger was sur- 
 prised at his lack of enthusiasm, went into the house 
 to find his mother, and inquired : 
 
 "Did Blackie say whejre he was goin' when he left ?*' 
 
 "Yes, he said he was going up into Wyoming," an- 
 swered his mother. "Why?'* 
 
 "Oh, I just wondered if he was going to come home 
 pretty soon. They are gettin' up a posse to go after 
 them horse thieves, and want me to join, but there 
 ought to be some one here to look after the hay," an- 
 swered he, giving that as an excuse for his inquiry, so 
 as not to make his mother suspicious. 
 
 "Well, he didn't say anything about when he would 
 be back, but never mind the hay. I guess the other 
 boys can manage. It is time somebody went after 
 them, I hate to see you go, but if it is your duty, why, 
 go ahead. I am not one to keep my boys from doing 
 their duty, even if my heart does ache while they are 
 away." And, kissing him good-by, she bade him God- 
 speed as he started on his dangerous errard, 
 
 264 
 
THEY CAPTURE THE HOESE THIEVES 
 
 When he reached Kiowa, he wrote Miss Parker a 
 brief letter telling her he was going up into the moun- 
 tains on business, and might not be able to write her 
 regularly, and, as a result of his doubts as to Miss 
 Little's guilt, he sent her a short note telling her that 
 he had returned from the East but could not come 
 to see her for a week or so, and would explain the 
 reason when he saw her. 
 
 Three detachments of men, all sworn in as deputies, 
 left Kiowa that morning and started scouring the 
 country in search of the rustlers. There was much 
 conjecture as to who the members of the band were. 
 Many thought that it was the same band that had 
 been stealing cattle, and, having found that occupation 
 too dangerous after having been raided the summer be- 
 fore, had established headquarters elsewhere, probably 
 in the mountains, as horses are not as hard to handle 
 as cattle, being able to get over the ground faster. 
 
 Ned Alton, who, from his many camping trips, was 
 familiar with the mountains to the south, accompanied 
 the posse headed for that direction, and Steve joined 
 this party also. 
 
 As they rode along, they inquired at every ranch and 
 of each person they met, whether they had seen any 
 one driving a bunch of horses, but all day they had re- 
 ceived the same discouraging reply. They began to 
 think they were on the wrong trail, when, hailing an 
 old man who lived in a little tumbled-down shack near 
 the road, they put their query to him. 
 
 **No, I ain't seen anybody," answered he. "But last 
 night, or this mornin', rather — anyway it was after 
 midnight, my dog barked and run out to the road like 
 he was chasin' something, an' then I heard some one 
 cussin' and they took a shot at the dog — ^got him, too. 
 Guess he'll die. I got my gun and looked out of the 
 
 265 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G'' RANCH 
 
 door, when I heard him yelpin'. It was so dark I 
 couldn't see anything, but I could hear horses runnin' 
 down the road. They was a lot of tracks along here 
 this mornin', but a feller drove some cows past a while 
 ago, an' ye can't see anythin' but their tracks now," 
 added he garrulously. 
 
 "Humph !" said Ned. "Wonder where they struck 
 the road? We didn't find any tracks the way we 
 came." 
 
 "Well, they might 'a' come out o' that road that runs 
 right on north from here. It ain't much used, and they 
 might 'a' figured it would be safer as they wouldn't be 
 apt to meet anybody comin' along there." 
 
 "They sure must be headin' for the mountains," con- 
 tinued Ned as they started onward. "They probably 
 travel at night, as there are roads all the way to Colo- 
 rado Sprmgs, and so they would be in no danger of 
 losin' any of their horses." 
 
 "I wouldn't be at all surprised if they hid in the 
 Big Trust Timber to-day. Too bad we won't get there 
 in time to ride through it," observed Steve. 
 
 "Yes, but I don't think we will get there before sun- 
 down now," replied Ned, and this supposition proved 
 to be correct. They made camp in the same little 
 glade where they spent the first night when on their 
 trip the fall before. 
 
 It was a soft balmy evening in early June, and as 
 the sun set, the mountains were clothed in changing, 
 exquisite colors, which deepened as day grew dim, un- 
 til the sky was bathed in a glowing roseate splendor. 
 
 This gradually diminished and was finally lost in 
 the inky blackness of a moonless night. 
 
 The tired cowboys, as soon as they had eaten, untied 
 their slickers from behind their saddles, spread them 
 down on the ground, and rolled themselves up in their 
 blankets to snatch a few brief hours of sleep before the 
 
 2G6 
 
THEY CAPTURE THE HORSE THIEVES 
 
 moon rose, which was due about midnight, and soon 
 they were snoring audibly. All but Steve, It was long 
 before he could lose himself in slumber. 
 
 He lay and gazed at the stars and listened to the 
 horses cropping the short grass near by. As the 
 campfire died down, and his eyes became accustomed 
 to the gloom, he could discern their dark bulk against 
 the horizon. The little glade brought back vividly the 
 other time he camped there, and with the swiftness of 
 the wind, one scene after another passed before his 
 mind's eye, until the final triumph on the mountain 
 top. Like a true optimist he refused to let his mind 
 dwell on the troublesome time which followed, and the 
 still imsolved problem of his engagement to Miss Lit- 
 tle, and so he fell asleep. 
 
 At midnight they arose and saddled their horses, 
 and, still half asleep, mounted and rode onward. The 
 authorities at Colorado Springs had been notified, but 
 when the posse arrived, had nothing to report. How- 
 ever, upon scouting around, they found a party who 
 had seen a bunch of horses similar to the ones they de- 
 scribed being driven toward the mountains, just about 
 daylight, and now convinced that their search lay in 
 that direction, they started after them. 
 
 All afternoon they traveled along the edge of a 
 mighty cavern. From far below came the roar of 
 the torrent which, through countless ages, had worn 
 the granite bed to its present depth. Along about sun- 
 set, coming across a trail which wound down the steep 
 sides and ended in a little valley, they halted and made 
 camp for the night, or until the moon rose, as they 
 still had a good trail ahead over which they could 
 travel by moonlight. About noon they came out upon 
 a large valley, and here they found the ashes of a re- 
 cent campfire, and many tracks around the lake where 
 the horses had drtuik. 
 
 267 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G" RANCH 
 
 From the distance to the next camp, they judged that 
 the outlaws were pushing ahead and, allowing their 
 horses scant time to eat or rest. The posse was 
 forced to stop more frequently, as their plains-bred 
 horses, unused to mountain climbing, and scrambling 
 over fallen timber and loose rocks, were beginning to 
 show fatigue. 
 
 They were surprised when they came to the trail 
 leading up over the divide to find that the outlaws had 
 not taken it, but had kept to the South. This puzzled 
 them for a time, and then Ned remarked : 
 
 "Looks like they was goin' the same way we did 
 when we went on our campin' trip. Wonder if there 
 could be any one in that gang that heard us tell about 
 this part of the country." 
 
 "Might be," said Steve. "It was talked over pretty 
 generally. Looks like they had laid out their route 
 by our old camps." 
 
 It was summer when they left the prairie, but as they 
 went upward it seemed as if the seasons were re- 
 versed. Abruptly they passed from summer into 
 spring. Birds flitted about among the trees, as they, 
 built their nests, voicing their full-noted mating songs, 
 while the mountain verdure still had a fresh green tint. 
 They rode through thick woods or around mountain 
 spurs; crossing now and then a lofty meadow, thickly 
 sprinkled with wild flowers of every hue, among which 
 the beautiful purple columbines predominated. 
 
 Often they skirted the edge of a turquoise lake, or 
 gingerly crossed a clear rushing stream, and as they 
 mounted higher, flowers and leaves gave place to buds 
 just opening. 
 
 Being free from all cynicism, and living close to na- 
 ture, these simple cowboys love and hate with greater 
 intensity than people leading a more complex life, and 
 as he passed each familiar scene, the call of spring 
 
 268 
 
THEY CAPTURE THE HORSE THIEVES 
 
 found an answering echo in Steve's heart. When at 
 last they came to a high, cold region at the foot of the 
 topmost peaks, and crossed the trail that led to the top 
 of the mountain on which he and Miss Parker had 
 plighted their troth, he could not resist the temptation 
 to visit it again. 
 
 Telling the rest that he was going to do a little scout- 
 ing on his own account, he struck off through the tim- 
 ber in the direction of their former camp, and upon 
 reaching it, tied his horse to a tree and started on the 
 rough climb to the summit. He reached it all out of 
 breath and stood for a moment surveying the scene be- 
 fore his gaze came back to the valley at his feet. In- 
 stantly he dropped like a stone to the ground, and 
 crawling to the edge peered into the depth below. Mov- 
 ing around in the bottom of the cup-like basin were 
 four or five men and a number of horses. In the center 
 near the lake was a rough cabin built of pine logs and 
 other signs of a permanent camp, 
 
 "Hell, it's the camp of the rustlers!" exclaimed 
 Steve. "If I had a pair of field glasses I could tell 
 who they are. I don't believe they even suspect they've 
 been followed. I wonder where they get over the 
 mountains ?" 
 
 After watching their movements for a while, he 
 hurried back to camp to tell the rest of the posse, and 
 the next morning with the first chill breath that her- 
 alded the dawn they arose, and eating a hasty breakfast 
 started up the mountain. Pausing at timber line, they 
 tied their horses and climbed to the simimit to recon- 
 noiter, arriving just at sunrise. 
 
 The valley was still in shadow, but while they 
 watched, the sun moimted higher, and as the light 
 pierced the gloom, one by one the outlaws appeared in 
 the door of the cabin, and went about their occupa- 
 tions. One carried water farom the lake, another built 
 
 269 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G'^ RANCH 
 
 a j5rc in front of the house and started breakfast, while 
 others walked among the horses as if looking them over 
 and appraising them. 
 
 "Quite a happy family, ain't they ?" observed Steve. 
 
 "Gee, I wish I had a pair of field glasses," said Ned. 
 "But we'll just have to wait until we find a way 
 in, and then make their acquaintance, or renew it. 
 Wouldn't be at all surprised if we knew every one of 
 them. There's five altogether and quite a bunch of 
 horses. They must be doing a thrivin' business. Sup- 
 pose they take 'em in from this side somewhere and 
 then take 'em out on the other side and sell 'em." 
 
 "I wonder where they get in at?" asked Steve, 
 
 "I don't know. Maybe over that low place at the 
 south, but that is a long way round. They sure couldn't 
 take any horses in round here," 
 
 Presently the posse made their way back to their 
 horses, and then commenced the tortuous climb around 
 the mountains, searching for a way into the basin. 
 Coming to a place that was absolutely impassable for 
 the horses, they stopped to rest and talk over a plan. 
 
 "Let's leave the horses in this meadow here and go 
 in on foot," suggested Steve. "We couldn't take 'em 
 in even if we found the trail, for we'd have to go by 
 daylight, then, and they'd be sure to see us. Anyhow 
 they might take a notion to leave while we was hunt- 
 ing for it. Maybe we can find a place where we can 
 climb down by moonlight and take 'em by surprise." 
 
 "I don't know where it would be," said Ned. "Them 
 mountains around that basin look like they'd been split 
 in two in the middle, and the inner half been sucked 
 down through a hole. They are almost straight up 
 and down where timber line starts. But we can try," 
 
 "Supposin' our horses take a sudden notion to stray 
 away while we're gone?" suggested Ira. 
 
 **Well, we'll just have to borrow one apiece from 
 270 
 
THEY CAPTUEE THE HORSE THIEVES 
 
 the thieves," answered Steve. "Gucii we'll find some 
 of ours down there." 
 
 Distributing the camp outfit between them, and un- 
 saddling their tired horses, and turning them loose, 
 they all started again toward the summit. Then spread- 
 ing out they cautiously approached the tdgt and peered 
 over, searching for a safe place to make the descent. 
 At last they found a place where the cliff went straight 
 down for twenty-five or thirty feet, and below that was 
 a slanting wall of uneven boulders. 
 
 They decided that by tying their ropes around a 
 large rock a little back from the top, they could let 
 themselves down, hand over hand, to the rough place. 
 But they had left their ropes tied on their saddles, and 
 so one of the men hurried back to camp after them. 
 While he was gone the rest ate a hearty lunch from 
 the meat and beans they had taken precaution to cook 
 up before abandoning the horses, and then amused 
 themselves for a time by watching the rustlers who 
 went about their various affairs unsuspectingly. 
 
 Presently, when night hid the valley and they caught 
 the gleam of lamplight through the cabin window and 
 door, the cowboys rolled themselves in their blankets 
 and huddled close together for warmth, as they did not 
 dare risk building a camp fire, although the rarefied air 
 was very chill. Some dozed off to sleep before the 
 moon rose bright and luminous, making it impossible to 
 attempt the descent of the mountain. 
 
 Tying the ropes together they swung themselves over 
 the side of the cliff which was too sheer near the top 
 for snow to stick to it, but farther down it was packed 
 in the rifts and made the descent very dangerous, as 
 there was no knowing how deep they might be. How- 
 ever, the ropes helped somewhat, and the work was 
 50 strenuous it left no time to think of the dangers that 
 lay before them. 
 
 271 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G" RANCH 
 
 At last they reached timber line, and fortunately 
 for their purpose the mountain at that point was only 
 sparsely wooded, there being only a few stunted pines 
 scattered about These hampered their progress but 
 little. 
 
 At the edge of the valley they paused to examine 
 their revolvers, seeing that every chamber was loaded, 
 and then commenced the stealthy approach toward the 
 cabin. Suddenly the shadows began to lift, and, look- 
 ing back over their shoulders they saw the sun peep- 
 ing over the mountain. 
 
 "Looks like he was spyin' upon us," whispered Ned, 
 who could not forbear to joke even in the face of dan- 
 ger. 
 
 "Two of you guard the window," suggested the 
 sheriff, while the rest of us will go round to the door." 
 
 The men were all in position and Steve was about 
 to lift the latch, when a dog put his nose out from 
 under the house, and seeing the strangers, jtunped out 
 and began to growl and bark. 
 
 Instantly the sheriff thrust open the door and stood 
 in it, a revolver in each hand, shouting as the startled 
 outlaws tumbled out of their bunks : 
 
 "Hands up, boys ! We have you covered.** And the 
 rustlers, half-dazed with sleep, stood up in the dimly 
 lighted room, looking longingly a[t their weapons which 
 were lying beside their boots or half protruding from 
 their bunks, 
 
 "Step over to the wall and line up, commanded the 
 sheriff, and as they obeyed, one of them crossed the 
 room and stopped near the window. As the light struck 
 his face, Steve half groaned out : 
 
 "Blackie," 
 
 At this the outlaw started and the reason for his 
 moving over to that side lay revealed Quick as a 
 
 272 
 
THEY CAPTURE THE HORSE THIE\TES 
 
 flash he jerked a revolver from the bunk behind him, 
 and, leveling it at Steve, fired, saying : 
 
 "Take that, damn ye!" and plunged headlong 
 through the narrow window, carrying sash and ail 
 along with him. The sheriff fired as he jumped, and 
 running out they found him lying limp and helpless 
 beside the house, while Steve had cnunpled down 
 where he stood. 
 
 273 
 
XXIV 
 FLINT SENDS A TELEGRAM 
 
 In the surgical ward of St. Mary^s Hospital at Colo- 
 rado Springs, lay the outlaw and his victim ; each rav- 
 ing in delirium, while back and forth between the cots 
 paced a sad-faced mother, with clasped hands, and lips 
 ever moving in prayer. Armed officers of the law- 
 guarded the bed which held the tossing, black head, but 
 other than that the visitor would have noticed no dif 
 ference in the care the two receivd. The white-cappe(' 
 nurse tended both impartially, but if they recovered 
 one would be welcomed back to health by loving rela 
 tives and friends, while a dreary cell in the city prison 
 awaited the other. 
 
 For the most part, the talk of the two ran parallel 
 in tlieir wanderings. The same scenes and same 
 friends stalked alternately through the minds of each, 
 and were mentioned in their rambling, one-sided con- 
 versation, which .sometimes sank to muttered inco- 
 herence, and then was startlingly clear, and through it 
 the different natures of the two lay revealed. Steve 
 mentioned with good-natured tolerance the shortcom- 
 ings and weaknesses of his friends, while Blackie 
 would now and then break out in imprecations against 
 Steve and the world in general, which showed the poi- 
 son that had long been working in his soul. 
 
 At such times, Mere Gardeau would clasp her hands 
 anew, and murmur heart-brokenly : "My poor boys ! 
 Whatever came between them." 
 
 And then, as if in answer to her question, each be- 
 gan babbling of their loves. With Steve it was Miss 
 Parker's name which was spoken in loving accents, 
 
 274 
 
FLINT SEWDS A TELEGRAM 
 
 while Blackie was alternately breathing curses against 
 Miss Little for not preferring himself, and vowing ven- 
 geance upon Steve for coming between them. Then 
 at last, as if accepting his lot, he exclaimed : 
 
 "Well, let her have him, damn him. He has every- 
 thing else, and now he has a scheme for sellin' polo 
 ponies and gettin' rich." Then, with a look of cun- 
 ning, he exclaimed : 
 
 "Well, I guess two can play at that game. I know a 
 scheme or two myself. Just a few good pals get together 
 and each work on the side of the range where he ain't 
 known, and the trick is done. We can soon have as 
 pretty a bunch of polo ponies as a man could want, 
 and not cost anything but a nimble use of our wits.'* 
 
 Each day some messenger would ride in from Kiowa 
 or Running Creek and inquire after the boys, and late 
 the following Saturday Ira and Flint came to the hos- 
 pital on the same errand. They followed nervously 
 after the low-voiced sister of mercy who guided them 
 through the long corridors of suffering humanity un- 
 til they came to the room where their friends lay toss- 
 ing on their beds of pain. After listening to their un- 
 conscious ravings for a while, and hearing Steve men- 
 tion the name of Miss Parker frequently, Flint mo- 
 tioned for Ira to come outside and then, lowering his 
 voice, he asked : 
 
 "What-you-may-call-it-in-there, I wonder if they 
 have telegraphed her that Steve's been shot and is 
 about to die?" 
 
 "I don't know," answered Ira, much puzzled. "I 
 don't know what to make of it, I thought Miss Little 
 and him was engaged." 
 
 "Well, they was, in-there," stammered Flint "But 
 it all started in a joke. He told me all about it at the 
 time, and he just let it go on because he thought Miss 
 Parker had thrown him over. Maybe they made it up 
 
 275 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G" RANCH 
 
 when he was in New York. Anyway he don't seem 
 
 to be callin' for Miss Little any. I believe we ought 
 
 to telegraph her." 
 
 "Well, go ahead, then. You do it if you want to.'* 
 "Well, you come along. I don't want to take all the 
 
 'sponsibility, in-there/' answered Flint 
 
 Such is the magic that lies in a slender wire which 
 crosses the continent, that, about an hour later, Miss 
 Parker, upon returning from delivering some of her 
 drawings to the magazine office, was told by her mother 
 that there was a telegram waiting for her. 
 
 "A telegram !'* exclaimed she. "I wonder what has 
 happened now? Somehow, I do not like to receive 
 anything but letters since I received that paper last 
 year and thought Steve had sent it Where is the 
 telegram, mother?" 
 
 "It is on the table, somewhere, Anna signed for it, 
 and put it there." 
 
 "Oh, here it is," answered the girl, picking it up 
 and quickly tearing it open. Instantly it seemed to the 
 listening mother, she uttered a shriek and fell prostrate 
 on the floor. 
 
 "My child, what is it?" called the old lady, who was 
 sitting so she could not see what had happened, and 
 as she received no answer, she turned her chair round 
 so she could see in the next roorti. When she saw 
 her daughter lying white on the floor, suddenly, with- 
 out thinking of herself or her helpless state, she arose 
 and tottered on shaking limbs to her assistance. 
 
 Just then the daughter, who had only fainted, opened 
 her eyes and stared up at the mother, who was bending 
 over her, and then arose almost in fear. 
 
 "But, mother, how did you get here alone?" And 
 then, as realization burst upon her, she cried : 
 
 "But, mother, you have walked !" 
 276 
 
FLINT SEm)S A TELEGEAM 
 
 And the mother, just awakened to thought of her- 
 self, sank back into a near-by chair, and gasped : 
 
 "God bless me, so I have." And she looked about 
 as if calling all the world to witness the miracle. 
 
 For a moment they forgot the telegram in wonder 
 over this thing that had befallen them, and then the 
 mother, in explaining how she happened to do it, said : 
 
 "Well, my child, I saw you lying on the floor appar- 
 ently dead, and I wanted to go to you and couldn't, 
 so I guess God performed another miracle. But what 
 caused you to faint?" 
 
 "Oh, mother. It's Steve, and he's been shot, and is 
 dying, and I must go to him," said the girl, beginning ' 
 to weep. 
 
 "Well, then, you will not go alone. I shall go with 
 you." 
 
 "You, mother? But how can you, helpless as you 
 are?" asked the girl through her tears. 
 
 "As I was, you must say. Have I not walked.'^" 
 
 "But can you do it again ?" 
 
 "Of course. Does God perform a miracle to endure 
 only for a day? I now see my way clear; I shall go 
 along. Wire them at once that you are coming, and 
 find out when the next train leaves." And as her 
 daughter, fearing that she would overdo, summoned 
 the family physician, who, like many of his profession, 
 have reduced everything to a scientific basis and leaves 
 nothing to chance or God. He explained the seeming 
 miracle by saying that paralysis was often caused by 
 a shock and was as frequently cured by the same 
 means. When the daughter objected to her mother 
 helping pack, she exclaimed : 
 
 "My child, if you had sat still for fifteen years and 
 suddenly acquired use of your legs, don't you think you 
 would want to use them for a while? I shall stand all 
 the way to G>lorado." And with that the determined 
 
 277 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G'* RANCH 
 
 old lady went out of the room, and began collecting 
 different articles they would need on their trip. 
 
 At ten o'clock that night, mother and daughter start- 
 ed on the long journey to the West. The mother 
 seemed to enjoy every minute of the trip, and would 
 go out on the platform of the observation car and 
 stand by the railing while she watched the country 
 flit by. Now and then some one who happened to be 
 out there at the time would politely offer her a chair, 
 but it was as politely refused. 
 
 To her daughter, the train seemed to be moving at 
 a snail-like pace, but at last they reached their desti- 
 nation, and found Steve's father and mother waiting 
 for them, and to the anxious girl their presence at the 
 station meant that there was hope. 
 
 From the first it had been noticed that the two 
 wounded men did not have an equal chance of recov- 
 ery, and strangely enough, it was Steve, who was the 
 more severely woimded of the two, who seemed to be 
 improving more rapidly. This might be accounted 
 for by the difference in the life the two had led of 
 late, as Blackie had been drinking and dissipating 
 steadily since he left home. To the uneasy mother 
 his slow recovery seemed a direct answer to her 
 prayers, as she thought death for him would be a sim- 
 ple solution of all his troubles, and save him further 
 disgrace and suffering. 
 
 But with Steve it was different. Perhaps his mind 
 being free from all worry helped. Anyway, there is 
 nothing more conducive to health than happiness and 
 hope, and after Miss Parker arrived his recovery pro- 
 gressed by leaps and bounds, and the physicians pro- 
 nounced him able to be moved home while Blackie was 
 still raving in delirium. 
 
 278 
 
XXV 
 
 BLACKIE ESCAPES 
 
 Blackie recovered consciousness a few days later, 
 and lay sullenly gazing at the ceiling. The nurse, 
 seeing he was in his right mind, approached his bed 
 and said: 
 
 "There has been a young lady inquiring for you 
 every day since your people left. I think she is down- 
 stairs now, and if she is, shall I send her up ?" 
 
 "What's she like? Is it one of my sisters? If it is, 
 tell 'em to stay away. I don't want any of them sniv- 
 elin' over me." 
 
 "I don't think it is a sister. I think they all went 
 away when they took your brother home. This girl 
 is very pretty and has dark hair." 
 
 "Well, then, I don't know who it is, but show her 
 up. It's some sentimental fool that goes around car- 
 ryin' bouquets to criminals, I suppose." 
 
 The nurse disappeared and presently Miss Little 
 timidly stepped into the door: 
 
 "Well, what are you doin' here ?" inquired Blackie, 
 never thinking it was she who wished to see him. 
 "They took Steve away several days ago." 
 
 "I know they did," answered she. "I came to see 
 you." 
 
 "Came to gloat over me, I suppose. Well, it is large- 
 ly your work — playin' with a man until you drive him 
 to the devil. But you have your just deserts. I hear 
 Steve and Miss Parker are goin' to marry, and you got 
 left in spite of all your schemin'." 
 
 279 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G'' RANCH 
 
 "I kn€w that long ago," answered she shortly, her 
 temper beginning to rise. "But that isn't what I came 
 to see you about. I've been nearly crazy ever since I 
 heard about you and Steve being all shot up, and about 
 to die. And now you'll be sent to jail, and mother 
 says it is all my work," replied the girl, beginning to 
 weep. "I feel so sorry. I wish I could do something 
 to prevent it." 
 
 **Well, I don't know what you can do," observed 
 Blackie gloomily, **While there's generally a woman 
 back of most of the devilment that a man does, it is 
 always the man who has to take the medicine, and the 
 woman weeps a few tears, and then consoles herself 
 with some other fellow, while he swallows the dose." 
 
 "Well, maybe that's so, but if they all worried as 
 much as I have they would never do it again. I have 
 thought and thought, trying to find some way to get 
 you out, but so far I have not found a plan." 
 
 "Well, if you don't then there's no hope," answered 
 Blackie. "For I don't know anybody tiiat can come 
 up to you for schemin'." 
 
 "Well, I will keep on trying, and will come and see 
 you every day, if you wish. I should like to make 
 amends in some way. I have been so sorry ever since 
 you went away. If you had only stayed a little longer 
 you would have found out that Steve and I were only 
 joking that Thanksgiving night." 
 
 "Oh, come off!" answered Blackie roughly. "Steve 
 may have been jokin', but you meant it, all right, even 
 if you were too clever to let on. I know you like a 
 book." 
 
 "Well, if you know me so well, I don't see how you 
 can pretend it is love for me that drove you to the 
 bad," snapped she. 
 
 "That is all right. You and me are two of a kind, 
 and it's that spice of the devil in you that makes me 
 
 280 
 
BLACIOE ESCAPES 
 
 love you. I always liked a horse that was hard to 
 manage. Kept me interested. But it was your playin' 
 with me that made me desperate, although I don't pre- 
 tend I was any saint. In spite of the fact that you 
 had eyes only for Steve, you couldn't let me alone, and 
 every time you saw me sheerin' off in self-preservation 
 you'd coax me back again. You only feel sorry now 
 because I'm about to go to jail, and you sort of feel 
 responsible. But if I was free you wouldn't marry me 
 even now, for all your remorse." And, as the thought 
 took possession of him, he exclaimed : 
 
 "If you'd say you would, I'd get free. All hell 
 couldn't hold me." 
 
 *'Well, I won't say it, because if I did, then you'd 
 do something desperate. You wait, perhaps I can find 
 some way, and then, if I can, we will talk about matri- 
 mony, and now I mustn't stay any longer, as that offi- 
 cer may be coming back." 
 
 "How did he happen to stay away so long, I wonder? 
 He usually sticks to me like a leach." 
 
 "Well, the nurse is a friend of mine, and he is in 
 love with her, see?" 
 
 "Yes, I see. What is it a woman can't do, anyhow? 
 From gettin' a man shot to corruptin' the police. Go on 
 with your plannin', I guess I am as good as out now." 
 
 "Well, you must not get well too fast. You'll have 
 to play sick until you are strong enough to travel so 
 you will not get a backset, if I do get you out." And 
 with that she blew him a kiss and left the room. 
 
 "The little devil," said Blackie admiringly. "The 
 next time she comes, I'll make her make that kiss 
 good." And then the nurse came in and, noting his ex- 
 citement, gave him a sedative and soon he was fast 
 asleep. 
 
 Days merged into weeks, and the weeks into a 
 month, with Blackie still in bed, feigning a weakness 
 
 281 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G" RANCH 
 
 he did not feel; waiting to gain strength to carr}^ out 
 a plan that Miss Little had at last concocted. 
 
 At last, as the time approached, he began to get rest- 
 less, and Miss Little, noticing his moody looks, in- 
 quired what was the matter. For reply, Blackie caught 
 hold of her hand and drew her to him with more en- 
 ergy than a sick man was expected to display and said : 
 
 'Xook here, I don't trust you. Once I am out of 
 here, if I ever get out, you'll lose all your remorse, 
 and never come to me as you promise. I know you. It 
 is the thing you can't get that interests you. That's 
 why you always wanted Steve, and wouldn't look at 
 me. You knew he didn't care for you and I did. Try- 
 in' to get me out keeps you scheming now, but when 
 that is over you will soon forget. And now I am com- 
 in' to the point : I will not take a step unless you marry 
 me beforehand. 
 
 "If that plan of yours will work at all, it'll work for 
 two as well as one, in fact, better. To-morrow, when 
 the priest comes, you and I get married, or if not I'll 
 get up and let them see that I am well, and they can 
 take me to jail. I am goin' to ask that officer to get 
 me a license when he goes off duty." 
 
 And Miss Little, liking his masterfulness, consented, 
 and, true to her promise, appeared the next morning, 
 and she and Blackie were married by the priest, while 
 the sisters and nurses gathered round. The officer, as 
 if unwilling to intrude an unpleasant feature, kept well 
 in the background. 
 
 Blackie, the blood leaping In his veins, with 
 difficulty played the part of a half-dying man, which 
 was supposed to be his role. Restraining himself 
 with a mighty effort he sank back on the bed when the 
 ceremony was over, as if exhausted, while the nurse 
 who was in the plot hurried all spectators away, and 
 she and the officer discreetly withdrew for a few mo- 
 
 2S2 
 
BLACKIE ESCAPES 
 
 ments, leaving the newly wedded pair alone. As soon 
 as the door closed behind them, Blackie raised up in 
 bed, and straining her to him in a passionate embrace, 
 exclaimed : 
 
 "So the black sheep has won you at last" And 
 then, as if he had been softened by his recent expe- 
 riences, he said: 
 
 "But 111 try and do the square thing from now on, 
 and if we get out of this, I will be the whitest 'black 
 sheep' that ever lived/' 
 
 That night the officer began to feel tmaccountably 
 drowsy, and, telling the nurse that he must have drunk 
 too much wine celebrating Blackie's marriage, he 
 started to walk up and down the hall. She followed 
 him, and sitting down on the long bench, suggested: 
 
 "Oh, you are not sleepy, you just imagine it Come 
 and sit down beside me and perhaps I might give you 
 that kiss you have been teasing me for so long." 
 
 "All right ; I guess that will wake me up if anything 
 wilt" And for the time it did, but the nurse knew 
 her business. The opiate she had put in his wine 
 was no mild one, and soon he was sleeping soundly. 
 
 From Blackie's room there could be heard a smoth- 
 ered conversation. Miss Little, already dressed in the 
 costume of a sister of mercy, which the nurse had 
 procured for her, was helping Blackie put on a similar 
 costume, belonging to one of the nurses who was un- 
 usually tall and robust. 
 
 "Gee, I feel like a fool in all these rags, and must I 
 keep that thing over my face? Ill smother. Loosen 
 up that choker a little. Sister Qeote must be pretty 
 sizable, all right, if she wears these togs, but this busi- 
 ness about the face is too tight for me. I am awful 
 glad nuns dont' wear corsets or I would balk." 
 
 Presently they were ready and started down the 
 dimly lighted corridor. Miss Little longed to ptiU the 
 
 283 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G" RANCH 
 
 tlxidk veils across their faces at once, but did not dare, 
 for fear of arousing suspicion. They glided to the 
 stairway and were starting down, when the nurse on 
 night duty in the otiier corridor, noticing the large 
 sister, exclaimed: 
 
 "There goes Sister Qeote, I must speak to her," and 
 started to hurry after, but Miss Little with great pres- 
 ence of mind, motioned her back, whispering : 
 
 "Don't interrupt us. We are in a hurry." And the 
 nurse used to obeying, went back to her duty, un- 
 suspectingly. 
 
 At last they were on the street, and Blackie straight- 
 ened himself, drawing a deep breath of fresh air, 
 muttering : 
 
 "That was a close shave. You are a clever littie 
 gm, 
 
 "Hush, you must not speak, your voice will give 
 us away. You must remember we are under the ban 
 of silence. Sisters are often punished that way, and 
 when we come to the light we will pull these thick 
 veils over our faces, and no one will be at all sur- 
 prised, or suspicious. All we have to do is to keep 
 still, and hide our faces. Steve is just arotmd the 
 comer with a cab, waiting for us," 
 
 "Steve!" exclaimed Blackie holding back. ''How 
 did he come to be there .'^ He may give us away." 
 
 "How can you be so ungenerous. You know Steve 
 would not do any such thing. You must know that 
 it takes money to travel, especially when one is run- 
 ning away from justice, and as I did not have suffi- 
 cient, and could not get any without telling what I 
 wanted to do with it, I went to him, as he was the 
 only one I cotdd trust He offered to come and help 
 us off, and it is lucky he did as he is impersonating 
 the cabby, and so we can get to the station without 
 any one seeing us," 
 
 284 
 
BLACEIE ESCAPES 
 
 A plain-clothes man sauntered past just as Acy 
 reached the cab, but seeing it was waiting for the 
 two sisters of mercy, walked on as Steve jumped down 
 off the box and respectfully held open the door for 
 them to enter. 
 
 When they reached the depot Steve thrust an en- 
 velope containing two tickets and a roll of bills into 
 Blackie's hand, and as he did so, Blackie took his hand 
 and said: 
 
 "It is sure mighty white of you to do this, and I 
 will never forget it" 
 
 "Nor will I," echoed Miss Little, 
 
 "That is all right," said Steve, "We will forget 
 and forgive, but you folks had better hurry, or you 
 will miss your train. I reserved a whole section in 
 the sleeper, so as to be sure no one will bother you* 
 You had better keep right on until you get across the 
 border into Mexico, as then you will be safe," 
 
 And that is the last of Blackie and Miss Little, 
 Now and then as they traveled onward, some one 
 noticing the two sisters of mercy, who sat so quietly 
 in the Pullman, and in spite of the heat, kept the 
 thick, black veils of their order pulled over their faces, 
 would approach and speak to them, but the smaller 
 would always hand them a little slip on which was 
 written : 
 
 "We are under the ban of silence," and the curious 
 stranger would leave them alone, marveling at such 
 faithfulness and devotion to duty. 
 
 The next evening as Steve and Miss Parker sat out 
 on the porch loolang off at the mountains and talk- 
 ing of tibe camping trip, and subsequenet events that 
 had indelibly impressed that part of the range on 
 their minds and hearts, Steve said : 
 
 "I am afraid we will have to change the plan for 
 oar honeymoon, and go somewhere else, as I do not 
 
 285 
 
STEVE OF THE "— G" RANCH 
 
 believe I ever want to see that basin or mountain 
 again. And by the way, when is that honeymoon goin' 
 to come off. I have been afraid to mention it before 
 for fear your mother might get scared and take you 
 away." 
 
 "I do not know. We will have to see what she 
 says. I do not believe she will oppose it much, as 
 she seems to like the West." 
 
 "Well, if you can take me along, you can have your 
 honeymoon right away," answered the old lady, who 
 had come out on the porch without them hearing her. 
 "I am just crazy to go up in those mountains. I 
 have sat in a chair and looked up for so long that I 
 would like to build me a house on the top of the high- 
 est peak, and look down for the rest of my life. As 
 you will not need a trouseau for a camping trip, you 
 can get married right away. The cool mountain air 
 will do Steve good. And now kiss me both of you 
 and say that mother is not as unreasonable as you 
 thought I was. I am so happy since I can walk that 
 I want to see every one else happy." 
 
 Just as she finished speaking Flint came galloping 
 up, and hastily dismounting asked : 
 
 "Have you folks heard the news ?" and without wait- 
 ing for their reply, he blurted out : 
 
 "What-you-may-call-it-in-there, Blackie has escaped 
 and they are huntin' high and low for him. The nurse 
 drugged the policeman that was guardin* him, and 
 while he was asleep, Blackie hiked out. Don't know 
 where he is gone. They can't find Miss Little either, 
 or rather Blackie's wife, in-there. They was married 
 last Sunday, and I guess they've gone away together." 
 
 When he started to speak Steve and Miss Parker 
 exchanged a knowing look, but both endeavored to 
 act as surprised as the rest at the news. 
 
 "Well, if that is the case they'll never catch hira," 
 286 
 
BLACK3E ESCAPES 
 
 stated Steve with conviction. "For you can bet she's 
 fixed up some plan that will get them through all 
 right." 
 
 "Well, I hope so," exclaimed Mere Gardeau, ferv- 
 ently. "I hope they'll never catch him." 
 
 "Well, I guess they will not try very hard, in-there," 
 said Flint, "now that Steve is gettin' well. If he had 
 died, tlien it would a-been more serious, but they've 
 still got Bradley and them three other fellows, and 
 that satisfies them. So I guess they will let Blackie 
 ^o. They ain't put up any reward for his capture, 
 ft seems that they are goin' to prosecute Bradley here, 
 and send the others back across the divide. They 
 are wanted on that side for some crime, and the author- 
 ities here are only too glad to let 'em have 'em, and 
 save the County the expense of prosecutin' them." 
 
 A few days later the Altons, Steve, Miss Parker and 
 her mother all went to Colorado Springs, where the 
 young couple were married, and they all started on 
 another camping trip. Rather a long procession for 
 a honeymoon, the reader will think, but evidently the 
 lovers did not find it any hindrance, for Ned was heard 
 to remark when he returned, that: 
 
 "If the Lord would forgive him this time, he would 
 never take another couple on their honeymoon.** 
 
 END 
 
 287 
 

 RETURN CIRCULATION DEPARTMENT 
 TO»-^ 202 Main Library 
 
 LOAN PERIOD 1 
 - HOME USE 
 
 2 : 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 5 ( 
 
 3 
 
 ALL BOOKS AAAY BE RECALLED AFTER 7 DAYS 
 
 !'^')ff^-'„^A^.° RECHAR'^rs MAY Bh- MAD- ? DAYS PRIOR TO DUE DATE 
 flENEWALS: CALL (415) 642-34CS 
 
 DUE AS STAMPED BELOW 
 
 
 
 
 INTERLIBRAR 
 
 fLOAN 
 
 
 FFR 061 
 
 990 
 
 
 UNIV. Of CAUI 
 
 „ PFRK. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY 
 FORM NO. DD6, 60m, 1/83 BERKELEY, CA 94720 
 
ID 07b70