Heart's Desire

rendered to the Softening Seducti

ext shot. Hurry up," said

here croquet is a new style of shootin', and with two

ire ain't any good for croquet arches; and as for these here balls and ma

were certain features of the contest in question which were perhaps not usual. Indeed, I do not recall ever to have seen any other game of croquet in which two of the high contracting parties wore "chaps" and spurs and the other

ts of counsel. Curly, you are a disgrace. You and McKinney ought to skin Doc an

nderfoot game you-all have sprung on me. If it wasn't for that there spur, I'd have sent Doc's ball

nney. "A cow puncher ain't got no sense except

skin Doc and you to a finish. Bet you three pesos. Of course, I can't play this thing first jump like a borned tenderf

n' everything he saw in an adv

p to it," retorted

s, and I'm afraid to see you try any further with your guns on. Here, all of you, come over here. The umpire decides that you've got to check your guns

cides that you've got to check

r limb of the fence. "For shame! Curly," said he. "Talk about tenderfeet! Here you are, wearin' a pearl handle on your

rl-the little woman-that's my wife-she done that l

in't that awful! All this comes of takin' a daily newspaper once a month and readin' the adv

nds me, I ordered a new suit of clothes by mail from Philadelphy, and they oug

omlinson. "He's got a littl

rson. "Didn't you order two pounds of alum the last tr

" said Curly. "

That's Tom comin' now," said he. "He's a heap more regular than

ck on music,"

icle coming down the ca?on; and presently there was borne to o

ed a fo-o-o-o-nd

aimed th

him near the corral fence. As he approached and observed our occupation

said he, at length, "wh

mperament. Wherever the Saxon goes he sets up his own peculiar institutions. What! Shall New Mexico be behind New York,

, fellers," said he. "That there looks too frisky for me. I got

like he wasn't feelin' right cheerful, some way.

we wandered over toward Whiteman's commercial emporium, where Tom Osby was now proceeding to discharge the cargo of his freight wagon. This done, he did not pause for a pipe and a parley, but, climbing up

his mind," sai

ng my clothes,

gs," said D

"he kep' one box in the wagon. Couldn't

a committee of one to follow the accused down

icket ropes and halters. He then began to search for the oats bag, but while so engaged his attention was attracted by something whose nature we, at a distance, could not determine. With a swift glance into the back of the wagon, and

got a baby in there, and he's squeezin' the life out of it. Listen! Come on now

uavering, distant, weird. As it rose upon the hot afternoon air it seemed a

intained his self-possession. He smiled gently. "Now," said he, "we

ter with you?"

r one transfer system? Who built the courthouse and the red brick schoolhouse, with nine school-teachers fresh from Connecticut? Who planned the new depot? Who got a new leather lounge for the managin' editor of our daily newspaper? Who built the three new smelters? Who filled our busy streets each evenin' with throngs of happy-faced laborers pacin' home at night after four hours' pleasant wor

it almost seemed to us that we could indeed see all these things that he had named. The spell

nd havin' builded well the structure of an endurin', permanent society, there remained for us no need sa

t you're listenin' to. I told Tom Osby myself to look into the phonograph business some time if he got a chance. Gentlemen, I now bid you follow me, to

ahua by moonlight?" cried McKinney, as a swinging band march came squealing out through the door. "That's a piece by a

," threatened Curly. "I've done danced to them things at more'n a thousan

, "let us go in and watch Tom Osby

upon the table. Dan Anderson, with great gravity, took up a collection of four pins from each of the newcomers and handed them to Tom. "No bent ones," said he. "It's a

ry night from Vegas down for five nights-Pecos Crossin', Salt Wells, Maxwell's, Hocradle Ca?on, Jack's Peak-all the way. After I'd get my horses hobbled out and get my bed made down, I'd

rson, "must have been

'em. Some of the stylishest singers in the business are in her

'Ah, non Giunge.' Yes, it's Dago, but not

r," said Tom;

at one," s

's 'La Donna e Mobile.' This, bein' translated, means that any lady c

" said Curly. "On

'Donna' into the machine, Tom, and

ere in the adobe by the arroyo; played all his records, or nearly all; pl

hite tie is slipping around under your ear again." And as we walked, I was sure that I saw an opera hat un

gled up in my hair." He removed his hat and ran a questioning hand through the matted tangle on his curly fro

icient came trooping upon him to cause him to forget