Show I. I A LUCKY uc Y I IBY BY BT G. G V. V STUART Tho rho interior of oC tho the Circle Circe It H ranch was wa typical of oC the hou housekeeping housekeep kep- kep ing Ine arrangements of ot tho ho college graduate grad grad- gad gad- unto uto who with wih light hearted hearted Ignorance ance anea onro and boyish boyll enthusiasm lam has hos embarked em- em barked on that dubious pleasure termed roughing I lt It Tho hn bungalow built bui of ot rough boards boarde without was wa wa Innocent of ot pJ plaster within with with- wih- wih t. t in and th the tho jol Joists ts and scantlings which I formed the tho framework of ot tim tho house houf furnished tho the mural decorations also convenient places for or driving nails nis on which to hang the laI la las las- I fOPS sombreros spurs rifles etc dc which formed the th personal possessions of ot the occupants But rough as It all aJ looked thet there were ample evidences that It was wa not the abode of ot native catti cattlemen em en rho Tho board walls wal were covered hero and there with colored pictures from Crom anc wih Christmas numbers number of or magazines Photo Photographs raph of 0 prot pretty women In ball baJ gowns were shied or nr hung on the theUne theline line Une according to their temporary ItA standing n el nl In tho the hearts of ot tho the hanging corn committee m I Only one photograph was framed and that picture taken by hy the best photographer In New York an 1 edition I do framed In massive o silver cr 1 was wa I given rn cl tho the entire entro mantel shelf for a 0 I kingdom Perhaps an as 31 there was waR a candle on either cither side bide tlde It U was meant to tolu lp he lu a 0 shrine The photograph and the were such tuch as 88 a 0 loving Jo woman I who Is 18 rich gives ces to on only one ono man It I waH wa a H sweet steadfast t face aco that looked out of ot tho the silver 1111 frame tho the picture of ot a a. a girl with wih all an her hor emotions unspent and an Infinite Infinito capacity for love Jove and suffering In tho the spending o of oC them But Dut while them thorn was as only ono one girl girlon Irl Irlon on tho the mant mantel l. l there them wern two men meni i un In the room Dik rom DIck Dick and Hugh luch Trafford Joint owners of 0 ranch None Nona of oC tho the men who rode rodo from theother tho the other ranches had er e over been ablo able to satisfy their curo curiosity UY as to which of ot tho twain that elaborate photo photograph raph belonged L to There are aro arn some women men Know KHOW jn I i that the they must refrain from saying That's a a. Jolly joly girl who ho Is she Helone O was wa one ono of ot them Dick CarstaIrs and Hugh Trafford had finished their midday meal meal though th the thA remains of ot It i were In full tul evidence Ion on on trio ti-jo tto d deal table In tho middle of ot tho the room When men do their own cooking they become excessively economical In thc Ithe matter mater of at crockery and tho the transfer trans- trans fer of ot food tood from saucepan to dish a meaningless function when you have hoo to V wash h the tho to dish At tt tho the Circle 1 11 It ranche the they had had adopted tho simpler and more direct method of ot placing tho saucepans on tho the table Also tho the bl big coffee coree boiler which helps men In their fight against tho the brazos river malaria afford Ti-afford the older of ot the two was wa cleaning a rifle Ho was WI one of ot those men who share sharo with wih women omen tho ne- ne of or always doing doinG something with wit his hands In every other respect ho was as Inton Intensely ety masculine sun burnt burnt sn-burnt and bearded bearded though the latter later was neatly nety trimmed to lo a point point As ho he worked lawa away with Jh the tho to oil 01 rag he sang In a pleasant voice slightly out of ot tune tunc the refrain of ot a A w worn well worn l-worn song Oh no no It wasn't wont won't human sound Bound I heard head Who's that a calling a loved ones' ones voices fr from m dear old home 0 That That wore were calling so The younger man who would have been unusually looking good good If It his Ids dark shaven clean shaven cean-shaven faco had not been ravaged by an attack atack of ot fever cr ac accentuating accentuating ac- ac a a certain certin spoiled petulance In ln its It expression expresion looked Irritably at athil athis athis his hil companion as though tho the cheerfulness cheerfulness cheerful cheerful- ness of ot his singing Interrupted his own gloomier mood Then he ho gazed straight j In front of oC him drawing dejectedly at ata ata ata a a pipe As S Trafford seemed emed Inclined to sing the refrain retrain oyer over and over tho the younger man burst bUtt out Impatiently I know your singing Is all al right right Hugh but but but- Dont go well wen with wih chills chis and rover fever rh h Interrupted his companion amt ami ably Not to mention mention- menton- menton Oh dont don't harp on my love lovo affairs afar again broke broko In Irritably as ashe ashe he throw threw his pipe violently on the tho I table causing cusing bowl and mouthpiece to part company compan Beastly Bety thing thing tobacco tobacco to- to bacco cant can't think ho how I ever thought I I 1 liked It IU The ThA silence which violence always causes cause fell fel between the two men mer The Tho Insect chorus from a nearby swamp drifted In at the door like an 1 I Trafford looked up at tho the photograph photograph photo photo- o graph graph In fri the silver eiver frame then thon put the tho rifle In tho the rack and coming over overto overto to to his friend put his hand almost tenderlY tenderly ten ten- derly on his shoulder gone cone Ione back on you OU now now ho asked with Ith assumed cheerfulness hat bad ven ver et bad Well Wel look I hee here old man youre you're half dead with fever youve you've got tot so thin you hardly throw a a. shadow right rub right rub rub it i In exclaimed d Carstairs Castara morosely Youre cra crazy with wih love for a girl rl our youre too proud to propose to just to-just Just because she fhe ii IB I rich went on the te oUt oth ot- ot or er Cr Ignoring the Interruption Hang HanG It I all nI man she Pho cant can't propose propos to youl She wouldn't o If It Bh M she could replied Carstairs fiddling with wih the tho bowl of ot i I 1 thA pipe on tho the table She hasn't hant written for tor three months months oter- oter for me 8 of ot hell hem Plucky lot she cares cC You must have hac written n her a a brute of or a 8 letter old man to brIng brine about such puch a R silence ob observed red Trafford with th conviction v Suppose a a. a man does doea write things which he well Ito well regrets A girl If It who she ho really cared would understand how hoW this beastly climate ee sets acts a 0 mans man's nerves on cd edge e. e I used r to think she sho I car cared doesn't d now I know darned dared well cJ she sheI Iho Dont 0 say that Dick urged the theother theother te other restraining the Impatience In his voice volt Heleno loves love a you she sho IheI I would marry mar you oU tomorrow You I o la won her heart and you have o hn no right to let your our obstinate pride break lit 11 The Tho other r man driven by his nerves neres kros roS to his 1118 feet teet and began ben tossing the bowl of oC the th pipe and catching It I as thou though h to give vent to his feeling before bo- bo fore torA ho answered d. d Break It It Women Women's heat hearts dont don't br break brak no so tu easily I b. b Besides Beside I never spoke to Helene Heleno of ot love not In so IO man many words words Of or course coune he added I with wih a n pathetic attempt at cynicism I t If Jt Id I'd made mado tho the fortune I promised to make shod shed be glad enough to I mae I know women woren The They have havo i no use uS for Zor a n man when hen hes he's down dow i Trafford glanced again at n tho the photograph pho- pho in the silver frame and hi his hi look ook was the tho look of ot a before a 0 Madonna Helene Heleno is not that that kind he said Mid gently nU Its Is Just because youre you're down that that U Oh Im I'm Im down right enough In Interrupted interrupted In- In tho the other hf Th Thi ctt cattle cattis that 1 tho the blizzard didn't kilt kill ki lost last ll winter aro dying like te files flics In this cu cursed d drought Th Theres res re's not enough h of ot the poor POOl brutes left let sighed I Trafford to start a Q dairy dalo farm tarm In a New Nev York suburb Youre beten beaten Give It I up tip man go o home hor and mar marry mari Helen Hlen And live Jive o J happily v on 01 h her r money montY ever cv r after What hat 1 answered the youth flinging down Int Into the chair calr again No Im I'm not through I yet 01 Theres There's always al mining Klon KIon Klondyke Klon- Klon dyke and ane that sort of ot thing thinS I 1 tell tel you Ill I'll Il make mako 1 my pile pHe before I ask Ak Helene Heleno to marry marr ne me Do you hear har Trafford shrugged his hi shoulders as ashe ashe a he turned away aWa Nothing more moro to be said eald then Is I there 1 Suppose said Id Carstairs with curious curl curi cur cur- ou Otis ous Insistence suppose you ou love lov Helene Heleno I loved loed Helene repeated the tho to other dreamily looking again at atthe atthe the photo photograph aph In the sliver silver frame know dont don't Of Ot course you ou you but but but- butY Y Yes S of at course you ou know I dont dont But Dut for the sako of argument In Insisted insisted In- In Isted Carstairs would you OU go home homo beaten beten 1 Trafford turned on his hi friend almost In anger anJer Look Lok here hero Dick If It I loved a n woman woman wo wo- wo- wo man mn Id I'd Id love lovo o Jo her well vell wel enough h to put her happiness b before Coro everything silly everything silly pride masquerading as a self respect obstinacy disguised ed as tenacity my mylove mylove I love Inv for her before my Iov lovo for tor myself i inny any day at I least I 1 so Oo Well el I cant can't ct sta stay hero to preach I promised I Ito to rido over pr to tho the Tenderfoot rancho I and lend a hand with the marl marking ng and I dark branding I wont won't bo be back till tl after aCer I Car Carstairs watch watched cd his friend I In silence AS l ho tightened his spurs tool down a a stock whip from tho the wall wan and strolled out onto the veranda II lie le didn't like Iko having havinG tho the marks mark and brands of ot tho the qualities which went t to tomake maJ make e up his self esteem altered and That useful possession swelled and smarted under the tho to sting of at th the tho truth Trafford put his heM heed back through h the door I r brewed some more moro of ot that ague mixture Dick In case your our chills chis come comA on while Im I'm Im awa away you'll find tho bottle up tip on that shelf shel Thanks growled Car Carstairs I ax- ax e- e fleet Ill I'll need iced It Il I. I Trafford came camo back Into the room And nd De Dick Well el 7 Think it ov over r. r old chap Write to her tell her tell her herThe her her- Tho The young man rose roe to his feet dolie de do- younS lie Ill tell teJ Helene Holene I love Jove her when Ive I've Ive made my fortune fortune or or when Im I'm Im d dy dy- dy ing Well then thon wash up tho the dishes rejoined his friend Impatiently as he left the room Its Is your da day to do that retorted Carstairs querulously Your da day Oh nil all al right came the answer anser from the veranda When I get back tonight There are arc times when humanity In any shape shapo or form torm gets cot on our nerves nerves The Tho sUlk sulky overwrought o expression died out of or the young oung mans man's taco face as ashe ashe ashe he heard tho the thud of ot his friends friend's horse hore loping across the tho prairie Good God old Hugh he thought a better beter loser Joser than I am Somehow I cant can't help making faces over my nied medicine let ne He lie went over o er to the mantel manteJ and gazed Into the face faco In the silver siver frame Helene he whispered I wonder aro arc you ou the sort of ot girl Airl who loves a aman aman aman man when hen hes he's down 4 A A. violent shiver went ent through him and his teeth chattered like tho the fall fan of ot dice Those beastly chills again aln he lie mut mut- toted Ninety five e In the shade shado he pointed a n wobbly nn finger cr at the thermometer thermometer ther ther- which hung near the mantel and and shaking like a lemon Jelly What Vhal a country countr Tho The shelf to which had pointed when ho he told his hi friend fiend the whereabouts of ot tho the ague mixture was above e abo the tho mantel reached up and took down the bottle bottlo Without even a a glance clance at It he poured some of or ortho tho the contents content Into a tumbler on the ta ta- ta ble In spite spie of at tho the ravages of ot malaria malaria mal mal- aria arJa he pr presented a graceful gallant figure as he stood there thero In his polo polo- boots and breeches a white silk shirt revealing the perfectly modeled outline of ot an athletic American He lIe le hold held up tho the glass with a a whimsical look on his drawn face tace Nothing like medicine for r drinking a health In he ho muttered To the themen men who have l lost st st. and the women who haven't gone sono back on them He nodded to the photograph In the silver frame and drank down tho contents content of at the glass Bitter brew that but warming he thought as a ho Idly turned tho the bottle bottlo botte around His hand darted away from It I as quickly as If t It I had hod touched a rattlesnake rattle rattle- ratte- ratte snake Ho passed both hands acro across s his ey eyes as ns though trying to erase crae some horrid vision Strange tricks a R mans man's eyes ces pIl play on him when ho h hasn't nt slept for tor a 0 week Of OC course he spoke In a a hoarse whisper whis whis- per It couldn't It couldn't-It It couldn't real really be laudanum laudanum He reached out his hand fearfully towards the bottle and te botte then snatched again It I would be sl silly to look Ho tried to think and stood toad there I mocked by tho the furious beating of ot his hi heart and tho the derisive o derfl Insect chorus from the swamp Slowly ho he pulled himself together Inch by Inch he dragged himself out of ot the of ot fear Are you going to funk It I. I Dick 7 II Ho didn't know whether It was WR as ho himself or the insects In tho the swamp who ho o said sid It i. i but ho made a R quick snatch at tho the bottle boUle and held It before his ee eyes u n u n He Ho spelled It Il out letter leter by letter leter like Iko a 0 child and ad replaced tho bottle on the to table The Tho room swam before him for tor a a. 0 moment and tho the Insect chorus seemed to chango change to the Dead March Marh In Saul ho 10 had heard hear tho the regimental band pla play over a dead ded comrade Ho He 10 listened beating time Ume with Ith his foot toot while hlo he ho waited for tho the numbness which tho the approach of oC death had brought to pass pas away At last Jast h ho hI laughed very ver loud In hopes of oC drowning the tho te dreadful chorus from tho swamp ant and began to speak sea to himself in broken sentences the te teter fear ter of ot death deot driving him to self self-ex e preson Well Yel Dick DIc ho said wd youre dono done for now Brace up and take your our medicine like a S man I Iwonder Iwonder Iwonder wonder what a n chap ought to do when ho hc has ha only a R few v minutes loft left Jel to live lve Its It's funny he funny he laughed a again again again- n- n when a 0 man Is b confronted with Uh death deth he ho knows as a little what to do with wih It ItI as I he Its did with lh his life He Ho went wont over overto overto overto to tho the photograph in the tho silver frame and devoured it with his liis hl eyes What hat was WI it I I said Rid When hel 1 I make mao my fortun fortune fortune for for- tune tun or wh n Im I'm Im dle dying Well rm Im dying now helene Helene |