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Show THE GIRL AT THE HALFWAY HOUSE A V & K. T O K HIH'GII. Y O If AllTHUK H V CtijrifittJ. till, it JJ. THE PL AIN COWBOY S TIIK KTOKY OF TUB Alftitm 4 Ctmtamr. f CHAPTER VI. Continued, Hate tu lout you," said the Judge politely hate to lone you, of course, but then a young man's got to make W way; he's got to get kia start." rranklln rose and turned toward the elder man. If you please, Judge," said be, get the committee appointed fur if you can. I'll take the examination now." "Yes? You are in a hurry!" "Then Ill go over and to my sister; and the say good-by- e next day I think Ill follow the wagons West Ive not much to put in a wagon, so I can go by rail. The road's away west of the Missouri now, and my letter comes from the very last station, at the bead of the track." "SoT" said the Judge. "Well, that ou:'it to be far enough, sure, if you go clean to the Jumplng-of- f place." t CHAPTER VII. The New World. Franklin crossed the Missouri river, that dividing stream known to a generation of W'estern men simply as the River," and acknowledged as the boundary between the old and the new, the known and untried. When he from the rude train he needed no one to tell him he had come tq Elllsvllle. lie was at the limit, the edge, the boundary! "Well, friend," said the fireman, who was oiling the engine as he passed, and who grinned amiably as he a poke, "you're sure at the front now." Franklin had not advised his friend Batterslelgh of his intended arrival, but as he looked about him he saw that he had little need for any guide. Elllsvllle as an actual town did not yet exist. A rude shanty or two and a line of tents indicated the course of a coming street More than forty mw ponies stood in the Cottage corral or in tte street near by. Afar there swelled the sound of morning Ntw Ytrh looking about him at the strange, new iouutry, in which he folt the proprietorship of early discovery. As Franklin was walking on, busy with the impressions of his new world, he became conscious of rapid hoof-beat-s coming up behind him, and turned to see a horseman careering across the open la his direction, with no apparent object In view beyond that of making all the noise possible to be made by the freckled-facecowboy who had been up all night but atlll had some vitality which needed vent. ! yelled the cowboy, both spurring and reining hia upple, cringing ateed. "Eeeeeee-ylp-yeueee!-" Thus vociferating, he rode straight at the footman, w'llh apparently the deliberate wish to ride him down. Finding that he failed to create a panic, he pulled up with the pony's nose almost over Franklin's shoulder. .'Hello, stranger," cried the rld'r, cheerfully; where are you goln, this bright an happy mornin?" Franklin made no immediate reply, and the cowboy resumed. "Have a chaw? he said affably, and looked surprised when Franklin thanked him but did not accept. 'Say, said the cowboy, after a time say, I reckon I kin lick you." "I)o you think so? said Franklin calmly, pulling up hia shoulders and feeling no alarm. "Shorely I do," said the other; 1 reckon I kin lick you, er beat you Bbootin, er throw you down." Friend," said Franklin, get down off that horse, and I'll give you a little wrestle to see who rides. What's your name, anyhow?" When!" said the other. "Name's He was on the ground as he Curly. said this last, and throwing the bridle oVer the horso's neck. The animal stood as though anchored. Curly cast his hat upon the ground and trod upon it in a sort of ecstasy of combat He rushed at Franklin without argument or premeditation. "Eeeece-yow-heeeeee- How? said Frank, pnssled. "Why, yem won him. Oh, pshaw!" aaid Franklin. I wasn't wrestling for youf sensei horse, only for a ride. Besides. I didn't have any hone put up agalnit youn. I couldn't lose anything." Thats so," said Curly. I hadn't thought of that. Bay, yon BMm like I white sort o' feller. Tell you what I'D Just do with you. I think a heap o of saddle, an' longs you aint got H saddle yet that you have got used tft like. It don't make much difference to you if you get another saddle. But yoa just take this here hoss along. Nft (hats all right. I kin git me anothar back to the cuiral. Jest as good is this one. Jim Parsons, feller on the big hunch o' cows that come up from tM Ssn Marcos this spring, why, he got killed night before last. Ill Just taki one o his bosses, I reckon. I kin to it sost you kin git his saddle, tt yos take a notion to il" Franklin looked twice to aee If tho va affectation in tbla calm statement, tint waa forced, with a certain horror, to believe that his new acquaintance spoke of this as a matter of fact, aid as nothing startling. He had made ao comment, when he waa prevented frost doing so by the exclamation of Ue cowboy, who pointed out ahead. There's Battys place aaid he, si (here's Batty himself. Git up, quick; git up, au ride In like a gentlemu. It's bad luck to walk. Franklin laughed, and, taking tke reins, swung himself into the saddle with the ease of the cavalry mount, though with the grasp at the cantle, with the ends of the reiis i hia right hand. d funny wiy "Well, thats a d tlttln on top of a hoss, aaid Curly. "Are you 'fraid the saddle's goln to it away from you? Better be 'fraid 'bout the hoss. Git up. Bronchi He slapped the horse on the hip with his hat, and gave the latter a whirl in the air with a shrill which was all that re"Whoooop-eee- ! mained needful to set the horse off on d a series of wild, plunges the bucking of which Franklin hid heart) so much; a maneuver peculiar to the half-wilWestern horses, aid one which la at the first experience a desperately difficult one for even a skilful horseman to overcome. It perhaps did not occur to Curly that ke waa inflicting any hardship upon tke newcomer, and perhaps he did not really anticipate what followed on tke part either of the horae or Its rider. Had Franklin not been a good rider, and accustomed to keeping his held while sitting mounts, ke must have suffered almost instantaneous defeat In this sudden encounter. The horse threw his head down far between his fore tegs at the start, and then went angling and algzaggiig away over the hard ground in a wild career of humpbacked antlca, which Jarred Franklin to the marrow of bla bones. The air became aclntlllant sad His head aeemfj luminously red. filled with loose liquid. kU" spite turned into a column of mere gelatine. The thudding of the hoofs was so rapid and so punishing to his senses that for a moment he did not realise where he actually was. Yet with the sheer Instinct of horsemanship he clung to the saddle In some fashion, until finally he was fairly forced to relax the muscular atrain, and so by accident fell Into the secret of the seat loose, yielding, sot tense and strung. ! " cried Go It, go it whooop-e-e-- e In world. a out dark somewhere Curly, Set him fair, pard-ner- ! Set him fair, now! Let go that leather! Ride him straight up! That's stiff-legge- d THE FATAL REQUEST OR FOUND OUT By A. L. Harris Author of Mine Own Familiar friend. etc. m CantU Pu lUikimi C'smpae. ffsprrfpAI,j, till, Krill Smith. OiptrlfAI. v y CHAPTER X Continued. Long before the service waa over there were sounds of lamentation and walling from many of those present, and several were compelled to quit the church from the violence of their emotion. At last It was over and the numerous and variously compounded congrer gstlon broke up. After partaking of a frugal meal, Ted sat down to await the arrival of Dr. Cartwright. He hoped that nothing unforeseen would occur to cause him to put off his visit, for he was beginning to rely a good deal upon the energetic little man, who had hown himself at once shrewd and kindly In hia dealings with him. He oould scarcely believe he had met him yesterday for the first time and here be became aware of a brisk and familiar voice below. How do you find yourself today, Mrs. Jlnman, and how's your lodger? Hope you're looking after him well; giving him plenty of new laid eggs and cream and that sort of thing? There's nothing like good living to often the effect of a bereavement. Ted heard the voice gradually mounting the stairs and the next moe ment the doctors head waa put the door. Hullo! was his greeting, there you are. Well, how are you getting A right to do a certain thing, I always do It first and inquire afterwards. There waa a nose of something metallic falling. Hullo! cried the doctor. What's that? And, regardless of the consequences to his clothes, he began to grope among the shattered remains of the flooring. In a few seconds he looked up again, flushed and grimp, hut triumphant. He held In Ail hand a conical shaped piece of lead. I thought aa much," he said, as he handed It to the other "a ball from a revolver! CHAPTER XI. Dr. Jeremiah at Home. The inquest, which took place at noon on Monday, waa held in the school house. The Jury, having been sworn In, proceeded to view the bodies and on their return from this melancholy duty the coroner made' an which announcement, unexpected caused a great sensation among the closely packed audience. It having been brought to as notice that one of the supposed victims of the late disastrous affair, instead of losing his life, as was concluded it tho time, through the accident id which so many have, unfortunately, our perished, has come by his death Ted said that he felt pretty well. through foul play. It la my Intention t) Glad to hoar it, was the next hold a separate Inquiry upon the body I shall remark, aa the maker of it allowed at the same hour the rest of his body to follow his now proceed with my inquiry aa to head. By the by, saw you in church the manner in fvhlch the other pas'Jiia morning. Sad spectacle very! sengers met their death. Call the first witness." 3hall we be off? Later in the day hundreds of people They left the Mttage and made their way In the direction of the sta- gathered In the churchyard to witness tion. the interments. When they came in sight of the line The body of Silas Burritt had been they saw that there were still parties taken back to the vestry, where it of men at work, searching among the would remain until his son fulfilled heaps of rubbish for money or Jewelry the promise he had made and brought or anything else that might have sur- it home. Earth to earth, ashes to vived the general ruin. ashes, dust to dust, came the words in-Id- y x new-foun- d W-1- d y- He seems to know you," said Ted. (To be continued.) thought aa muchl A The station master was watching their operations from the platform, and to him Dr. Cartwright addressed I himself. Look here, Mullins, 1 want to know (To be Mntlnued.) what you've done with that carriage the fourth from the engine that MAKING A PUMPKIN PIE. we managed to save from being quite destroyed with the others. The one, Here's a Description of How Grand- you know, (n which we found mother Did It. He whispered the rest in his ear. Does any one remember tke pumpThe station master replied, with a kin plea which grandmother used to glance of curiosity and sympathy comGrandmother make? opened the bined at the young man, who was the pumpkin and took out Its works and doctors compannlon, that the carriage peeled and sliced It and put It In the or the remains of it had been left at kettle, where It waa boiled until It was the aide of the line, about oue hundred soft and mushy, but not too mushy. yarda farther down. They soon found Later she pressed the result through it the holes in a colander, and when ahe Ah, yes, said the doctor, this la had dished out a portion for Immediate the very carriage. You aee, It Is a use, ahe was ready to begin the good deal damaged; but I think, for A all construction of the pumpkin pie. that, we may be able to find what was iron bake sheet and square we are looking for. The first combig lined with flour crust, which covered partment la the one that concerns us. the bottom of the pan and reached up One door of this had been smashed along the four edges until the pastry and beaten in by the force of the concould look over the rim. Then she cussion; the seat had been splintered, put an egg and a sufficient amount of and showed that ihe fire had caught sweet milk In among the pumpkin and it in places, and the flooring was torn added a whole lot of black molasses up. The other end of the compartand a pinch of salt, and a big lot of ment, though less wrecked, had reginger, and a pinch and a half of ceived more damage from the fire, the grated nutmeg to the concoction, and cushions had entirely disappeared, the when these had been stirred in among WMdwork was black and charred, and the milk and the pumpkin, the man what remained of the door hung from of ingredients was poured Into the a tingle binge. bake pan and the pan waa closed np Now, said the doctor, taking off inside of the oven to be cremated, hia coat before clambering in. "you while the children waited outside with had better stop outside; there Isn't the water oozing from our mGotha room for two of us in here at once. until the wonderful experiment was It was In this corner" Indicating that completed. end of the carriage which had reAnd nobody except some few of us ceived least damage from the fire turky old chaps ever tasted anything He was lying that we found him. like one of those pumpkin pies. It there, with his head against the back was deep and spicy and sweet and of the compartment, and the lower satisfying. It was more like a pump- part of his bmly Jammed between the kin pudding, so thick it was, and broken door and the aeat. Hia head, wholly like unto ambrosia steeped In as you might say, rested here," pointand ing out a particular part of the padnectar, so toothsome It was; w hen we think of those great square The bulding which yet remained. of pumpkin pie which found their way let, which passed through It. must down our ravenous gullet, we wonder have lodged somewhere about there. how It Is that modern boys manage If so, we are sure to find It." to live at all without pumpkin pie. Cutting what was left of the cloth Bangor News. In strips with his knife, he began to I pull out the stuffing In handfulls. don't know whether the railway comCholera Decimates Army. pany would have anything to say to The increase 1 the death rate In this, he remarked, aa he carefully the army to 15.4'J per 1.000 during tbs passed tho material through hia finfiscal year is chargeable to cholera, gers, before passing it on to his comwhich carried off three and a mea panion outside, who did the same, to the 1,000. but whenever Im In doubt about my right!" ff "Surely" y, half-broke- n Rubbed hie htad and made sundry exclamationa of surprise. The latter had not attended coun-tiAfter breakfast Franklin paused for school for nothing. Stepping lighta moment at the hotel office, almost as large and empty as the dining room. ly aside, he caught hia ready opponent Different men now and then came and as be passed, and, with one arm about passed him by, each seeming to have hia neck, gave him a specimen of the some business of his own. The clerk hlplock which sent him In the air at the hotel asked him if he wanted over hia own shoulder. The cowboy to locate some land. Still another caine down much In a heap, but pressomewhat stranger, a florid and loosely clad ently sat up, hia hair young man with a mild bine eye. ap- rumpled and sandy. He rubbed his proached him and held some converse. head and made sundry exclamations Huh! said he. Well. Mornin, friend, said the young of surprise. I'm d d 1 Now, how you a'pose that man. aaid Franklin. Good morning, happened. You kain't do that again "I allow youre Just In on the front," he said to Franklin, finally. Shouldn't wonder If I could," said aid the other. "Yes said Franklin, "1 came on Franklin, laughing. Look out fer me I'm Minin' ! the last train." cried Curly. "Stay long? They met more fairly this time, and "Well, as to that, said Franklin. I hardly know, but I shall look around Franklin found that he had an antagonist of little skill in the game of a bit" I didnt know but maybe you'd like wrestling, but of a surprising wiry, to go aouth o here, to Plum Center. bodily strength. Time and again the I run the stage line down there, about Mwboy writhed away from the bold, forty-similes, twlct a week. That's and came back again with the light of It was only after my livery barn over there second battle in his eye. wooden building in the town. Sam's several momenta that he succumbed, If you want this time to the insidious grapevine. my name; Sam Poston. to go down there, come over and I'll He fell so sharply that Franklin had fix you up. difficulty In breaking tree in order not Franklin replied that he would he to fall upon him. The cowboy lay glad to do so In case he had the need, prone for a moment, then got up and and was about to turn away. He was dusted off hia hat. Interrupted by the other, who stopped Mount, friend, said he, throwing him with an explosive Ssyl" the bridle back over the horse's neck without other word. Yes, said Franklin. "You done It Did you notice that girl in the din- fair! like, slick, black-haire"I'll tell you what we'U do," said ing room, pony-buil- t dark eyes wears glasses? Say Franklin, extending his hand. We'll that's the smoothest girl west of the just lioth walk along together a way. 1'U get me a river. Shes waitin, In the hotel here, if yon don't mind. she taught horse pretty soon. You see. I'm a new but say (confidentially), school onct yes. sir. You know. I'm ninn here Just got In this morning, gone on that girl the worst way. If and I haven't had time to look around I thought I'd go out and you get a clianct to put in a word for much yet. meet my friend, and perhaps then we me, you do It, won't you? Franklin was somewhat Impressed could talk over such things together." with the swiftness of acquaintanceShore. said Curly. "Why didn't ships in this new land, but he retained you tell mo? Say. ole Uatty, he's bis own tactfulness and made polite crazy to ketch a whole lot o' bosses assurance of aid should it become pos- out'n a hand o' wild bosses down to sible. the Beaver Creek. H always "I'd he mighty obliged, said his me to help him ketch them hosses." friend. "Seems like I lose "Battersleigh Is tond of horses. said my nerve every time I try to say a Franklin, and he's a rider, too. Do you want a word to that girl. That's .so," admitted Curly. "He team? kin ride. You orter see him when Iip Thank you, said Franklin, but I gits his full outfit on. sword an' pistol ! hardly think so. I went to find my liy his side, He has a horse, then?" friend Colonel Ratterslokh. and I unHas a boss? Has a hoss has ry far away." derstand he llvev not Oh. you mesn old Ratty. Yes. he wliat? Why o' course he has a hoss. Is there anybody that ain't got a lives Just out south a little way hn i?" Section No. 9, southeast quarter." I haven't. said Franklin. Franklin passed on In the direction "You got this one." said Curly. which and been pointed out to him, emerged from his sanctum, and greet' od him with great cordiality. So you've come thought you would. Glad to see you. And what do you think of my little place?" waa the next Inquiry, accompinied by a sweep of the hand. comprehensive "Pretty snug, eh? Not bad quarters for a bachelor? Hia visitor expressed approval of hia surroundings, which certainly were well worthy of the appellation mug bestowed upon them by their owner. At the same time there was an air of compactness, of severe attention to detail, which was suggestive of the fact that the present occupant bad, at one time or other, been restricted in the matter of elbow room. Yes, I'm pretty comfortable," the I've got a very doctor went on. gooa housekeeper, on the whole. Her chief fault Is that she's so confoundedly suspicious ! reechoed the other. "Suspicious! "Well, I thought she looked at me rather strangely when ahe let me In. The little doctor chuckled, and showed symptoms of great inward enAh! you thought so, did joyment. you? The fact Is, she's in mortal terror of my getting married! Well, but that wouldnt make her auspicious of me!" My dear fellow, ahe'a suspicious of Shes Jealous of every everybody. woman, single or married, because the singly ones, being single, are open to offers, while the married ones are liable to lose their husbands at a moment! notice, and, aa widows, would be more to be feared than the others. But I belong to neither category! aid the young man. My dear boy, cut In the other, as a young man you are likely to possess female relatives a sister or a cousin or an aunt, either of whom Might eventually prove dangerous to 8iy peace of mind. Ted Burritt actually laughed, to the little man's great satisfaction, as the idea presented Itself to him of his sister May aa a possible aspirant to the position of Mrs. Jeremiah Cartwright In less that a moment, however, the laugh had died away, and a corresponding expression of despondency settled down upon his features. He thinking of that inquest thought the doctor, and his fathers body lying in the vestry. I must get him out of that groove again. come Here" starting to his feet and have a walk round my premises before it gets dark!" He took him out through the sur-gerand showed him a neat little domain, which waa divided into portions, Jn which grew, respectively, flowers, fruit and vegetables. At the bottom was a fowl run and a very small circular pond, about the size of an ordinary wash-hanbasin, in which paddled a solitary duck, who, as soon as he caught sight of the doctor, forsook his favorite element, and came waddling towards him, quacking loudl- ball from a revolver!" of the burial service, aa one by one the coffins were lowered, and the first spadeful of earth cast upon them. Ted Burritt stood bareheaded beside his new friend, the doctor. Suddenly there was a commotion among the crowd at a little distance and he heard a sharp cry. Then the crowd opened, as though to make way for some one, and he saw a young man leading a figure in black, whom he recognized as the widow, whose hopeless grief he had before been a wit-- , ness of, but who now was clinging to the arm of the youth who supported her, and seemed aa though her sudden Joy were almost more than ahe could bear. I was never In the train at all," he was assuring her over and over It waa quite a mistake! again. What made you think you recognized me?" There was a bit of cloth Just like your coat but oh, my boy, to think I've got you again!" And the Muple passed on, followed by the sympathetic murmrua of the crowd. "Well, now, what d'you think of that for a sentimental episode? Sort of thing ne reads of but doesn't believe In, eh? Dear me. and the doctor took off his spectacles for no apparent reason, and polished them carefully on his silk handkerchief. You didn't see the meeting between them, did you? The women were crying all round me, and they've made my spectacles quite dull. Then, passing his arm through the other's, Come along," he said, you've had quite enough of this. Come and You spend the evening with me. know where I live? No? Well, anyI one can tell you that. Good-bye- . must bo off gut a lot of sick people to look after." Ted had no difficulty In finding out the house. The door was opened to him by an elderly woman servant, who, as Ted thought, seemed to regard him with a certain amount of Howbelt, she bade him suspicion. enter. From an inner room a voice hailed him. Hullo! that you? That's right be with you In a minute. Just wait until I've finished poisoning off the parish." And, through the half open door came the clink of glass and the sound of liquids being poured from one receptacle to another. The next moment Dr. Cartwright 8imple Explanation. An old man wandered into one of the hospitals of an Eastern city. His eyesight was rather bad, and be had come in the hope of securing relief. He was turned over to a young doctor, who adjusted a large frame In front of the patient's eyes and placed In It a couple of strong magnifying glasses. He then held a printed card some distance away. Can you read that? he asked. No, air, replied the old man. The doctor then put in stronger glasses and brought the card nearer. Well, he Inquired, can you read It now? The old fellow shook his head, saying, No, not a word. After repeating this performance several times the doctor wqs about to turn him over in despair to his more experienced superior, when . the old man quietly explained: You aee, doctor, I never learned to read. Not the Queen of Sheba. The teacher was going over the good old story of King Solomon ana his wisdom. Now, dean, who was the great qncen who traveled so many miles and miles to see the king?" Silence prevailed in the class. "Why, you do know, all of you. The queen who came to aee the king?" The name had been forgotten by the class. In order to help them, the kind, but misguided teacher began to offer a little assistance. You do know. I am sure. The name begins with S. and Bhe was a very great queen." Just then up shot a little hand, and out spoke the triumphant voice of the little, auburn-hairegirl. She transfixed the listening schoolroom with the following brief sthatement: I know; it was the Queen of d Slides!" The Open Door. don't know exactly how It happened," Reggie was telling his best friend over a game of hllllars. I never meant to propose, you know that la. not Just yet. I wanted to knock about a little more. But after we got home from the theater and sat In the parlor discussing the plot of the play. I ventured out on thin tee and broke through before I knew where 1 was. It came as a deuce of a shock. Just as I should imagine breaking through real ice would be. "But Jessie was all ready for me. She was expecting it. First thing I knew she had me by the Sollar and landed me on safe ground again but I was engaged. No doubt about that. Anyhow, I'm glad I've got her. Might have lost her through some slip if f'd waited. But I dont want to read any more staff about bashful fellows stammering out proposals. It'a all too easy." I |