Going Some

t was too hot and dusty to ride, so she took refuge in the latest "best seller," and sought out a hammock on the vine- shaded gallery, whe

fort met with no response. Lulled by the somniferous droning of insects and lazy echoes from afar, Miss Chapin was on the verge of slumber, when she saw her guest rapidly turn the last pages of her novel, the

rry him?" q

blissfully. "It was infinite

see them ge

tage. But I think suicide is

Speaking of suicides, isn't

her choice. "Oh yes, you do, and you needn't be polite just because you're a guest." "Well, then, to be as truthful as a boarder, it is

a lot of bellowing calves get branded

s so fascinating?" observe

hed nervously at the gold medal on he

seems perfectly h

h he wer

nscription on her companion's medal. "Oh

on it. Why, at the finish of that race all the men but Culve

p. "They all make faces," said she. "Have

o afraid she'll think, now that mother has gone, that I asked her

ldn't give a cent for a

go in for that

t at the dance he used the most wonderful athletic language-we could scarcely under

rrowed her bro

n athlete. Have you and Mr. Speed settled things

lake f

her confusion, then leaned back complacently. "

one ear, a corn-husk cigarette drooping from his lips. Evidently his presence was inspired by some special motive, for he glanced sharply about, and failing to detect the two girls

aniard!" whispered Hel

call on Mariedetta,

twice a day, morn

lake, eagerly. "Isn't he graceful

There sh

g balanced upon her shoulders. She was clad in the straight-hanging native garment, b

straight black hair had ever retained its wooden stolidity, the velvety eyes had not laughed nor frowned nor sparkled. She seemed to be merely a part of this far southwestern picture; a bit of inanimate yet bre

astern girl, breathlessly. "I had no

olcano," Je

's like

es on all

ink he is charming. He is not at

e and lounged out of sight around the building, pausing at the farther corner to waft her a graceful kiss from the ends of his fingers, as with a farewell flash of his white teeth he disappeared. Mariedetta recovered her water-jug and glided onward into the cour

l'il g

tly exclaimed Miss B

d she smiled over her shoulder as she h

ra, who had circled the building, came into view from the opposite side, a fresh cigarette between his lips. His languor vanished at the first glimpse o

!" cried Miss Blake,

ra

es and soft Spanish imprecations; then, with one long-drawn wail, the pandemonium

er hand upon her bosom. He exhaled a lungful of cigarette s

him, and, seizing his arm,

a flung her from hi

!" said Miss Blake. "Why, she was a

id Jean, calmly, "but she doesn't mean any harm. Sh

e's eyes were round.

a Mexican, and he ha

into the hammock. "Ho

eavenly to love a ma

n instant. "Culver is almost like that when

faded flannel shirt lacked an inch of meeting at the throat, its sleeves were shrunken until his hairy hands hung down like tassels. He was loose and spineless, his movements tempered wit

s Jean. Is Mr.

own by the spring-house. C

vily, and got his frame g

well, Stover. Are yo

ap

which had not yet communicated itself the entire length

ecovered from

, so long as that ornery Cent

nse, S

Miss Blake, curiously. "I have

nother sigh, and a hopeless gesture

go as a horse-wrangler. The man said he was hung

ed foot and kicked his other calf.

Was he humpbacke

We called him Humpy Joe because when it came to

Centipede outfit hired a new cook. You know the Centipe

ir the injury that was gnawing him. "One day we hear that this grub-slinger over yonder thinks he can run, which same is as welcom

y?" said M

p a hundred yards in about nothing and three-fifths second

been a feud for years between

the loose gear we have, and in a burst of chil

onogr

Phonograph," s

and Paris,"

Centipede outfit at a bronco-b

er made the loc

eir defeat badly on Frontier

Joe defeated?

ly, and sighed for a third time. "It lo

as a wonderful race. I saw it," said Jean.

ered her brows

. "No, I don't thi

en hard to descry. He passed from view hurriedly, so to speak, headed toward the fo

led. "What made

nor the 'double-cross' that hurts: it's the fact that the mangiest outfit in the Territory has trimmed us out of the one thing that stands for honor and exc

y, and with some importance. "Miss Chapin has a college

ced up at J

right, Mi

he will," J

he

champion," declared that yo

'd run for us and the

f we framed a rac

lled her brother's caution of

You see, he is an amateur-h

I know who will!" She closed her lips firmly, and turned to the for

len

clared Miss Bla

cheer up the gang. Life 'round here is blacker 'n a spade flush. I

fair," explained Miss Chapin, as soon as they were alone. "

ook running, I know who will try. Mr. Speed will do anythi

eed isn't a

ow what I'm talking about. Naturally the two boys have never competed against each other, because they are fri

ill consent when he

Miss Blake, sweetly,