Plain Mary Smith

proposition when they were boys. I carried on my back most of the trouble in that part of the country-they were a careless people. Jim give

y temper, learn what a day's work meant, learn to handle a team, get the boys to pull

of getting along with him taught me that the boss's job isn't one long, sugar-coated dream, neither. If the hired m

when he first snagged on my bookkeeping. "What the devil is this item?" he'd say. "'Francis Lopez borrowed a dollar on his pay; says his mother's sick.

. He was a Mexican who talked English, so he was useful that way, anyhow. But Man! What the stuff cost was marked in letters-"Washington" was our cost-mark word. If the thing cost a dollar fifty, it was marked WIN, then you tacked on the profit. Well, poor Pedro used to forget all about the father of his country, if there came a rush, and as he didn't have any natural common sense, you could expect him to sell a barrel of kerosene for two bits and charge eight dollars for a paper of needles. Whenever I heard wild cries of astonishment and saw the arms a-flying, I could be sur

, or American horse, that didn't seem like an amateur 'longside of him. He'd pitch for a half hour in a space no bigger than a dining-room table; then he'd run and buck for another half hour. If you stuck so much out, he'd kick your feet out of the stirrups, stick his ears in the ground, and throw a somersault. No man livin

. The hair itself had grown well down to my neck, and she's never been cut from that day, except to trim the ends. In my sash I stuck a horse-pistol and a machete. Contact with the Spaniard had already corrupted me into being proud of my small feet, so I spent one hour getting my boots on, and oh, Lord! the misery of those boots! I tell you what it is, if one man or woman should do to another what that victi

t trip complete, and about ten mile out of Panama I filled. Out of a side draw pops a blackavised road-agent, and informs me that he wants my money. I drew horse-pistol and machete and charged with a loud holler. That brigand shed his gun and threw his knees higher than his shoulders getting out of that. I paused and overtook him. He explained sadly and untruthfully that nothing but a starvi

garden around it. A bully old house, with sweet-smelling vines and creepers and flowers, and statues and a fountain in the garden. The fountain only squirted in the rainy season, but

by mistake. So I sat on my horse and stared at it, glad I came, till a soft rush of feet on the grass and a voice I

utstretched hands all saying she was glad to see me-I just naturally hopped off my horse, over the wall, and gathered her in both arms. She kis

ious looking a person. But perhaps it's too late, so tell me everything-how do you get on with Mr. Holton? What are you doing? Why ha

e you really?" I couldn't get

g shake. "Do you suppose I've forgotten all our walks and talks on the Matilda? And all yo

in the innocence of my hea

he answers, cooling so I felt the need

d selfish to spoil my own greeting. I plunged into the history of Mr. William Saunders, from the time of leavin

y and me at a little table, drinking lime-juice lemonade, me in my fine clothes out for a

n. Somehow, from the first look I got of him I didn't like him. Somethin

d Mr. Saunders shook hands. His closed upon mine firmly and coldly, like a machine. He announced that he was glad to meet me in a tone of voice that would leave a jury doubtful. We stood around, me e

He made you want to please

g these poor people," explained Mary to me. There was something

hed you for daring to talk of him so careless. I wished that Mr. Belknap would

se who credit others with the excelle

pe upon the girl. I didn't see much meaning to it, except a compliment, but I felt something behind it, and suddenly I understood her frown. It was the way you look when s

so I just sat, wishful to go, in spite of Mary, and unable to start. It seemed lik

nowledge. I'd have hit him in the eye for two cents, and at the same time if he told me to run away like a good li

ange from our first being together, to this, was working in her. "It is hard," she said,

cher-air he wore of his own will. He put his head out and looked at her. I watched him close, and I saw a crafty, hard light in his eyes as if

h while hiding from a gawky kid-I was my own man again, hating him and ready for war with him, in a blaze. Too young to understand much about

y hand on hers as I spoke. Funny that I did that and spoke as I did. It came to me at

y company. She put her other hand on mine and sai

m, bigger than a wolf. All he changed was a quick tightening of the lips. We looked at each other steady. He ought to have showed uneasiness,

pulsive nature, Mr.

and that I'd like to chase two rascals the s

wn it-particularly wh

ing his eyebrows, "

ry. "That seems cold-we're

r the young to hav

your face led me to expect," says I. "I

for Mary's benefit, and while perhaps she didn't like my being quite so frivolo

you among my fr

," I answered. He took. "Then that is ass

ll w

ried years! Rejoice in your youth and strength, my young friend!-as for me-" he stopped and looked so grave he near fooled me again. "I am worn down so I barely

that? With your great work-how can you call it dull? I'm s

o old man, not a day over forty, and powerful as a bull, by the look of him, yet the tone of his voice, the air he

his foolishnesses to be foolish, and swearing at 'em; he should have sadly regretted them as accidents. A woman has to learn a heap before she can appreciate a thoroughly honest man. There is a poetry in being honest, but like some kinds of music, it takes a highly educated person to enjoy it. Sing to the girls in a sweet and

y-actor, but he would insist on stripping things to the bones, and the sig

t she looked at Brother Belk

t go,"

stay to supper? I thou

iend here it's time to remember-I'

gain, learning all he could from our faces. And in a twinkle I knew that he was the cau

nt to the to

knap," I says, "w

so," says he, bowing

the rest of 'em, and it sure will happen," says I. I turned and l

Belknap. "No," says she, short, "

urs." With that I turned and stalked off. She

me, Will? I'm all a

at would play into Belknap's hand, whatever scheme he was working, for Mary wouldn't st

t jarred, to see you

ve been unfriendly to Mr. Saxton, it is he who has put it out of m

you this?"

she

I'd as soon believe

d you know-why, what

a little bit," said I most unwisel

and you are very unreasonab

over at the thought of any one chea

y at you, for I can't," she said. "'You do not love me-no? So kiss me good-by,

d say yo

ith Arth-with any one that would make me ashamed to treat you as I do? Will you keep yours

omised to sit quietly on a ton of dynamite

se, Mary

in that honest red head of yours to misunderstand me. I want to be your dear si

f the crooked side, but, of course, I had a glimmer, and it struck me that if he h

," I asked her

r own eyes. And here's a kiss for your promise-which will

new steeple hat, the sash with a gun and machete in it, the spurs jingling, the memory of having chased a fierce road-agent to a finish, and the kiss of the most beautiful woman in the wo