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Show sssse I s " I AT KAPPER'S SPUR 1 & i" !: By IZOLA FORRESTER. : X ''' ;.v.v.v.v.v.v.v.v.v.v.v.v.v.v.v.v.v.vX Tho Waltors' ranch was tho largest on tho mountain, and thoy had n good house in tho Uttlo town besides. 13ut Rita Henty had been at school for four years down nt Laramie, and Lon Waltors Wal-tors had novor gone beyond tho courso ho had right thoro at Kappor's Spur. It had been part of the fun of coming homo summers to teatio him and show him tho decided difference between n porson who has studied at Laramlo and ono who has spent tho host years of his 'teens herding cattlo. Miss Ilaxter, the now schoolteacher, was to arrlvo on a Saturday, and Just for nonsenso Rltn went to tho station to meet her, Len was thero, too. Thcro'had been somo correspondence and It was settled tho teacher was to llvo at tho Walters' houso. ISut IUta was mighty sweet to tho stranger when sho stopped from tho westbound train, clad in brown, with a white felt hat on tier soft blotulo hair. And sho took her away from Lcn with a laugh. Rita's father, the chairman of tho commtttco, should meet hor tlrst. Sho would tako her home to Bupper, and tako her to Mrs. Waltors' later. Len stood and watched thorn pass down the street from tho station. Just for a minute ho had looked Into Sidney's Sid-ney's eyes and thoy had been diverting. divert-ing. In tho weeks that followed thoy nover lost that first charm for him. Twice a week ho rodo In from tho ranch, and Sidney grew to look for tho visits. "My father was a rangor," Sldnoy told him. "I'm named for htm. I was born in tho forest, so I guess it's natural nat-ural for mo to feel at homo thoro and love It best. That's why I wanted to como up hero and teach school." "Would you llko to stay?" Ho blurted It out clumsily, but sho did not seem to understand what lay behind be-hind his words. How could sho know that he pictured her living out at tho ranch, his wlfo, and all tho world turned golden. Sldnoy shook hor head doubtfully. Perhaps If sho could go back East sometimes. Rita had told ihor how ttresomo Kappcr's Spur bo-'Camo. bo-'Camo. If her brother could como out and tako up ranching, then sho would llko It. " "Send for him. I'll tako him on with mo," promised Len. And the next few weeks Kapper's Spur thrilled at tho small drama on-acted on-acted under Its very nose. Big Al Baxter, fresh from college, with a halfback record behind him, a sense of humor and plenty of good Intentions, Inten-tions, not only camo on and went after ranching ns if It had been trout Ashing, Ash-ing, but also after Rita Henty. "Tho troublo with you western girls Is that you'ro trying to bo like eastern east-ern girls," ho told her flatly. "Why don't you drop these latest stylo flubdubs flub-dubs and get into a short skirt and flannel waist and ride over to seo us with Sid? After we're married, somo day I'm going to teach you how to enjoy llfo." "I wouldn't marry you for anything, Mr. Baxtor," Rita told him teaslngly. "Well, maybe not," said Al easily. "Did you know Len and Sid aro engaged?" en-gaged?" "Really?" "Cortaln sure," ho nodded his head solemnly. "Last night. This big gold moon of yours docs wonders. I saw how things wero going as soon as I camo West, so I rather hurried them up. Told Sid ahe'd havo to go back with mo; that I didn't llko the placo, or Len, or tho ranch. If you want a girl to go a certain way, you pull the bridle opposite." Rita's brown eyes flashed at tho big, complacent fellow. Ho was so serono-ly serono-ly sure of himself and his power to win. It was fearfully slow at tho Spur. Somohow Miss Henty began to And intorest in teaching tho Easternor western ways. She was hospitable to him and comradely. Tho captain Hkc'd him, and Rita invited him to tho houso often. Sidney would not bo married until spring. "Then I'll be going back East," said At. "When?" Sho almost whlsporod it. Her back was turned from him. Not for worlds would she have lot him seo her oyos, filled with tears, after sho had laughed at him and been so self-sufficient. "Any day aftor tho first wind of spring blows this way. Still, it's somo tlmo to wait till spring. I can't holp looking forward, though. I'm going to bo marrlod in April, long about tho 10th; that's my birthday." "Perhaps sho would rather bo mar rlod on hor birthday." "When is it, Rita?" She turned on him passionately. "I think you aro tho most " "No, you don't," ho caught her up. "You'vo Just boon spoiled, that's all. Every able-bodied man in twonty miles wishes he had a fighting chanco to win you, and I havon't wished. Tho flrst tlmo I saw you I made up my mind to marry you. If you don't liko April 10, mako it your own birthday. I'll let you. I asked tho captain and ho told me to go ahoad and win with his blessing. So I havo." Captain Henty camo strolling leisurely leis-urely up from the corral, "I Just heard about Len getting the schoolma'am," ho callod up. "You can teach if you want to, Rita." "She's engaged, Cap," Baxter answered an-swered genially. He put out his hand as Rita tried to rise. "You'll havo to advertise." (Copyright, 1115. by the UcClure Nawi-osoer Nawi-osoer fiyndlcau.) |
