diff options
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 3 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 21795-h.zip | bin | 0 -> 339503 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 21795-h/21795-h.htm | 3903 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 21795-h/images/masthead-waw1074.jpg | bin | 0 -> 29028 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 21795-h/images/title-waw1074.jpg | bin | 0 -> 246729 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 21795.txt | 3787 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 21795.zip | bin | 0 -> 61162 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 |
9 files changed, 7706 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/21795-h.zip b/21795-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..7930a7b --- /dev/null +++ b/21795-h.zip diff --git a/21795-h/21795-h.htm b/21795-h/21795-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..18c6ce7 --- /dev/null +++ b/21795-h/21795-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,3903 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Fred Fearnot's New Ranch, by Hal Standish</title> +<style type="text/css"> +.chapter {text-align: center; color: navy} +p {text-indent: 30px; text-align: justify} +h2 {text-align: center} +h3 {text-align: center} +hr {width: 50%; text-align: center} +body {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%} + hr.full { width: 100%; + margin-top: 3em; + margin-bottom: 0em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + height: 4px; + border-width: 4px 0 0 0; /* remove all borders except the top one */ + border-style: solid; + border-color: #000000; + clear: both; } + pre {font-size: 80%;} +</style> +</head> +<body> +<h1>The Project Gutenberg eBook, Fred Fearnot's New Ranch, by Hal Standish</h1> +<pre> +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at <a href = "http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre> +<p>Title: Fred Fearnot's New Ranch</p> +<p> and How He and Terry Managed It</p> +<p>Author: Hal Standish</p> +<p>Release Date: June 10, 2007 [eBook #21795]</p> +<p>Language: English</p> +<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p> +<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FRED FEARNOT'S NEW RANCH***</p> +<p> </p> +<h3>E-text prepared by Richard Halsey</h3> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p> </p> +<div style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center"> +<img src="images/title-waw1074.jpg" id="cover" height="825" width="575" alt="Cover" /> +<br /> +<br /> + +<hr style="width: 100%" /> +<br /> +<br /> + +<img src="images/masthead-waw1074.jpg" id="masthead" height="118" width="575" alt="Masthead" /> + +<br /> +<br /> +</div> + +<h2>FRED FEARNOT'S NEW RANCH<br /> +<span style="font-size: 50%">–AND–</span><br /> +HOW HE AND TERRY MANAGED IT</h2> + +<p></p> + +<hr /> +<h3>By HAL STANDISH</h3> + +<hr style="width: 100%" /> + +<p></p> + +<div class="chapter"> +CHAPTER I. +<br /> +<br /> +FEARNOT AND OLCOTT AT FREEDONIA.</div> + +<p> +Fearnot and Olcott remained in Wall Street after the great excitement +occasioned, by Fred's sudden change of front, when he turned from a bull +to a bear in the market, quietly waiting for another chance to make a +deal. +</p> <p> +All the brokers in the Street had nothing else to talk about for the +time being but that singular event, and it became well known that the +brokers who had been attempting to crush him the second time narrowly +escaped being themselves completely ruined. +</p> <p> +Although Fred and Terry didn't reap the benefit of the change as much as +they expected, they made a neat little sum, and Broker Bellamy, who had +been Fred's most persistent enemy, was so badly crippled that many +brokers thought he was completely ruined. +</p> <p> +His two nephews, thinking that Fred had been too harsh with their uncle, +hired a couple of thugs to give him a good beating, but the news of +their intention having reached Fred's ears, Terry kept inside the +typewriter's room an hour after the close of business for some time. +</p> <p> +One afternoon the thugs entered the room and the leader fell into Fred's +terrible grip, and he squeezed his ribs so fiercely that several of them +were broken. The wounded slugger's pal was roundly thrashed, too, by +Terry, who couldn't resist the temptation to take a hand in it, but he +was permitted to take his friend out to the hospital. +</p> <p> +The building was so nearly deserted at the time that the news did not +get out. +</p> <p> +The two young nephews of Broker Bellamy on learning of the failure of +their hired assassins, immediately sailed from New York for parts +unknown, and all Wall Street became interested in the question of what +had become of them, where they had gone and why they had left the city +between sunset and sunrise. +</p> <p> +Fred and Terry believed that they knew just why they had gone away, but, +of course, had no idea where they had gone. +</p> <p> +Broker Bellamy, who was very fond of his two stalwart nephews, intimated +that he believed that Fred and Terry knew what had become of them, and, +from that, the gossips began saying that the old broker had charged Fred +and Terry with making way with his two nephews. At first Fred and Terry +laughed at it, and so did all Wall Street. Nobody believed it except +their enemies, who were willing to believe anything to their discredit. +</p> <p> +Terry finally called up Broker Bellamy and took him to task for starting +such a report that they had had some hand in making way with his +nephews, but the old man, of course, denied the charge, whereupon Terry +told him of the hired sluggers who had attacked Fred in his office, and +how their attack had proved an absolute failure. +</p> <p> +One of the sluggers had died from being shot by a crook after making +confession to one of the surgeons that he had been hired by the two +Bellamy boys, and that therefore he ought to understand why his nephews +had absconded from the city. +</p> <p> +The old fellow was dumfounded, and it was probably true when he denied +that he knew anything about the attack on Fearnot, and so he refused to +make any retraction whatever. +</p> <p> +Then Terry wrote an account of the whole incident and had it published +in one of the big dailies. This was a shock to the entire city. +</p> <p> +Terry obtained an affidavit from one of the surgeons who had treated the +wounded man in the hospital and one also from the other thug who had +witnessed and taken part in the attack corroborating the charge that +Terry had made. +</p> <p> +It came very near ruining the old broker, who already had many enemies +in the Street, and it gradually forced him to retire. +</p> <p> +After that Fred and Terry took part in several more little deals, some +of which panned out pretty well, while others profited them little or +nothing; but in the aggregate they had gathered in a pretty good sum +during the season, and they decided that they were pretty well paid for +their return to Wall Street; so they finally decided to go back down +into Texas to look after their new ranch and try to add another thousand +head of cattle to their herd. +</p> <p> +They wrote Jack that they were going to return south, and as soon as +Jack received their letter he promptly wired back to them to stay there +until he joined them, as he intended to come up after his mother and to +marry Katy Malone, who was still working in the office with Louise +Crane. +</p> <p> +"Great Scott, Terry!" said Fred. "Jack has finished his house by this +time, and now he is in a hurry to get his mother and sweetheart down +there with him." +</p> <p> +"Well, I don't blame him, Fred. Katy is a sweet girl and dead in love +with him, while his mother wants her along as a companion." +</p> <p> +"Very true; but, Terry, I fear that he is making a mistake." +</p> <p> +"Don't say anything about that, Fred," advised Terry, "for it would hurt +both his and her feelings, and probably his mother's. I don't see how it +is possible that his house can be finished ready for occupancy in such a +short time." +</p> <p> +"Neither do I, and I'm going to wire to him and ask him if the house is +finished, and if it isn't I'll just advise him to postpone his trip +North until it is." So he wired to Crabtree, and the dispatch was sent +down the road by the operator to him. +</p> <p> +Jack promptly answered the question by saying that the house was not yet +finished, and would not be for several months yet, but that his mother +and Katy could find comfortable quarters in one of the other houses. +</p> <p> +Fred immediately wired back: +</p> <p> +"Take my advice, Jack, and wait until the house is finished and +furnished." +</p> <p> +The next morning he received a reply from Jack, saying: +</p> <p> +"All right, sir, I'll wait." +</p> <p> +"Terry, that boy is no fool," Fred remarked, as he showed him the +dispatch. +</p> <p> +"Now, Terry," said Fred, "let's see if we can't persuade Evelyn and Mary +to go back with us down there. We can keep them at the hotel in +Crabtree, supply them with a carriage and a pair of horses, and you know +it is not absolutely necessary for us to live out on the ranch entirely +yet. Then, too, we are well enough supplied with money now to entertain +them in good style, as well as to add another thousand head of cattle to +our herd." +</p> <p> +"Fred, that would suit you all right, for I have no doubt but that +Evelyn would be glad to go, but I am afraid that Mrs. Hamilton will +refuse to give her consent to Mary's going out there, and I am sure, +too, that she will never consent to our marriage if I intend to bring +her down here to live. She seems to have a holy horror of Texas; for +that state has the name, you know, all over this part of the country as +being a place for which all law-breakers leave when the sheriff gets +after them. We had that idea, too, until we stayed down there among +them for a few months; but there are no better people in the world, on +an average, than we have found the citizens of Texas to be." +</p> <p> +"Well, Terry, let's take a run up to Fredonia and have a talk with the +girls and their mothers. We may be able to persuade Mrs. Hamilton to our +way of thinking." So a few days later they took the train up to +Fredonia, without having notified the girls of their intention of doing +so. +</p> <p> +It so happened that on that very day Evelyn and Mary took a ride over on +Main street, and when they had finished their little shopping Evelyn +suggested that they drive up to the depot and see the train pass. +</p> <p> +They did so, and were never more surprised in their lives than when they +saw Fred and Terry emerge from the cars. +</p> <p> +"Oh, Mary!" exclaimed Evelyn, "there are Fred and brother!" +</p> <p> +"Where? Where?" Mary questioned. +</p> <p> +"Why, don't you see them coming there with their valises in their +hands?" and the two girls threw their arms around each other's necks and +kissed each other in their great joy at seeing their sweethearts. +</p> <p> +Fred and Terry saw the carriage and at once left the station platform +and started toward it. +</p> <p> +Evelyn sprang out of the carriage, ran to Terry, threw her arms around +his neck and kissed him only as a loving sister can. +</p> <p> +Fred dropped his valise, and, catching her in his arms, kissed her on +both cheeks, while probably a score of spectators stood looking on; but +then neither of them cared for that, for every man, woman and child in +Fredonia knew of their engagement. +</p> <p> +"Dear," said Fred, "how did you know that we were coming up?" +</p> <p> +"Fred, I really can't say. Mary and I were down on Main street shopping. +Suddenly the thought of you and brother came into my head and my heart +suggested that we come up here, although both of us were ignorant that +you boys were coming up on that train." +</p> <p> +"Well, bless that dear heart," said Fred, as he assisted her into the +carriage. +</p> <p> +Of course, the Olcott and Hamilton families were greatly surprised. +</p> <p> +Fred explained to Evelyn that he and Terry had succeeded in their deals +down in Wall Street and had almost recovered from their losses caused by +failure of the Texas bank, and that they were thinking of going back +down to Texas to look after their new ranch and to try to add another +thousand head of cattle to their herd. +</p> <p> +"And you came up to tell us good-by, eh?" +</p> <p> +"Well, we came up to see you girls, but about that I'll tell you later." +</p> <p> +Neither of the boys went over into town during that day. They were +satisfied to remain with their sweethearts, and their sweethearts were +more than pleased to have them do so. Both the girls were highly pleased +with the report they made as to their financial success in Wall Street. +</p> <p> +"Fred," said Evelyn, "why not defer your return to Texas until cold +weather, when I would be glad to go down with you and brother and spend +the winter there, for I enjoyed myself splendidly last winter. The +people were kind and sociable." +</p> <p> +"Yes, indeed, we have found them so. When we left there, as I told you +when we first came up, we were loaded down with loving messages for you +from the best society people there at Crabtree, but I never saw Wall +Street so dull in my life. I've had my revenge over the worst enemy I +ever had there; but you know all about that, for you were down at the +office at the time I changed front and got the best of Broker Bellamy +and his syndicate." +</p> <p> +"Yes, and I actually felt sorry for the old rascal. I don't enjoy other +people's distress, Fred." +</p> <p> +"No I know that; but I tell you that sometimes revenge is sweet. We +didn't make as much out of that deal as we expected to, but still we +have no right to complain. We have not only saved ourselves from +financial embarrassment, but have money enough left to add another +thousand head of cattle to the ranch and to build any kind of a house +that would suit you." +</p> <p> +"Suit me!" said she. "Are you expecting to make that your future home, +Fred?" +</p> <p> +"I'll leave that with you, dear. If you insist upon it we can live +elsewhere and do as we did on the Colorado ranch, leaving faithful men +to manage it for us." +</p> <p> +"Fred, I could live contentedly anywhere in the world where you are +satisfied and can make money. +</p> <p> +"Mrs. Hamilton, however," she continued, "is horrified at the idea of +Mary living so far from her. She has a great fear of the climate of +Texas, and she thinks the people, too, down there are nearly half +savages." +</p> <p> +"Well, can't you tell her better than that?" +</p> <p> +"I have told her all about how I found the people down there at +Crabtree, but she says I was there at a hotel where only people of +refinement live, and that I know nothing about the people out in the +country. I laughed at her and asked her if she knew anything about them +herself, and she retorted that everybody who read newspapers knew what +sort of people lived down there." +</p> <p> +"Well, dear, Terry and I have come up to see if we could persuade you +and Mary to go down there with us and spend the fall and winter." +</p> <p> +"Fred, I am perfectly willing to go anywhere that brother goes along +with us, and I will do my best to get Mrs. Hamilton's consent for Mary +to go, for she has never been down in that section of the country." +</p> <p> +"Well, you go, anyhow," suggested Fred. "I want you to see the new +ranch. I wouldn't think of making a home at the ranch we looked at when +we went down to Crabtree. The one that we afterwards bought as an +investment is the one I mean. I believe that we can, eventually, build +up a little place of resort about that big, bold mineral spring just a +mile from the railroad track, and I intend to have the water analyzed. +The physicians claim down there that it has been partially analyzed and +is said to be the finest water in the South, but I am going to send a +bottle of the water to a chemist in New York or Philadelphia who has an +established reputation and have him analyze it. +</p> <p> +"I do hope, though," he added, "that you will plead with Mrs. Hamilton +for her consent to let Mary go down and see the country." +</p> <p> +That evening the two boys spent with their sweethearts at their +respective homes. +</p> <p> +Terry then told Mary what he wanted her to do, saying that Evelyn was +going down with him and Fred to see their Texas ranch, and he wanted her +to go, too. +</p> <p> +"Mary," said he, "it is the richest ranch I ever saw in my life. We +thought the one in Colorado was a grand one, and so it was, but the +grass there was never so abundant or so nutritious as at our new ranch. +It grows much taller, keeps fresh and green longer, and the soil itself +is several degrees richer than the Colorado ranch. You never so many +quail in your life as you can see there every day in the week all the +year round. There are prairie chickens, and there are ten jack-rabbits +there to one in Colorado." +</p> <p> +"But, Terry, last winter you wrote me about some bad Mexican and +American cowboys who had made trouble for you." +</p> <p> +"Yes, but didn't we have the same trouble out in Colorado? Didn't I +point out to you several times in Colorado the graves of horse thieves +and cattle thieves whom our cowboys had shot to prevent them from +plundering our ranch? Are not murders committed right here in New York +City often, and don't you read of them in the papers? Why, there is no +place in the country where bad men don't live, and bad women, too, for +that matter; and by this time those cowboys have found out that Fred and +I, as well as Jack, are deadshots and not afraid to pull a trigger on a +bad character, so you can't say anything against that locality any more +than you can any other in the West." +</p> <p> +"Terry, is Evelyn going back with you?" she asked. +</p> <p> +"Yes she has said that she would, but she wants you to go, too." +</p> <p> +"Terry, I'm afraid that mother will never consent." +</p> <p> +"By George, Mary, she must consent," said Terry. "I'm not going to let +her destroy my happiness." +</p> <p> +"Well, Terry, you will have to talk with her yourself." +</p> <p> +"That's just what Fred and I came up to do, dear. Of course, we couldn't +take you against her consent until after you and I are married, and if +she won't consent to your accompanying Evelyn down there, why I'll hurry +back as soon as I can get the home ready for you, marry you and away +we'll go to just where we darn please!" +</p> <p> +The next day Fred and Terry made a combined attack on Mrs. Hamilton +trying to gain her consent for Mary to go down and spend the fall and +winter in Texas with Evelyn, but she was firm in her refusal, saying +that Mary had spent "nearly half her time for several years away from +home, and that she was opposed to her going so far south, anyway." +</p> <p> +Both Fred and Terry had to finally give it up in despair. Evelyn said +that she would go down with them, as she had never enjoyed herself more, +even up at New Era, than she had at Crabtree. +</p> <p> +She said, too, that she had never met up with more refined people than +she had there. Mary, of course, cried herself sick and begged piteously +for permission to accompany Evelyn. Mrs. Hamilton, though, put up all +sorts of excuses. When she mentioned the matter of expense Evelyn said +that Mary could go as her guest, and that she need not spend one nickel +for anything. +</p> <p> +"Besides, mother," pleaded Mary, "I have money of my own, you know, and +surely, as I am of age, I should be permitted to spend some of it just +as I please." +</p> + +<hr /> +<p></p> + +<div class="chapter"> +CHAPTER II. +<br /> +<br /> +TERRY OLCOTT ON DECK.</div> + +<p> +Finding all their pleadings with Mrs. Hamilton in vain, Fred and Terry +began making preparations for the long trip down to Texas, accompanied +only by Evelyn. +</p> <p> +While regretting to see her leave, her mother never objected to her +going anywhere with her brother; so, after a few days' preparations, +they were all ready to start. +</p> <p> +Mary accompanied them down to New York City, where she was to spend a +week with Mrs. Middleton. +</p> <p> +They finally decided to take a steamer from New York to New Orleans, and +quite a party of friends accompanied them down to the wharf. The very +best staterooms in the steamer had been reserved for them. Evelyn's +cabin was a bank of flowers, which loving friends and admirers had sent +down for her. +</p> <p> +Evelyn was a pretty good sailor, and had once crossed the Atlantic +without the least bit of seasickness. Among the passengers was a family +of New Orleans people, a father and mother and two beautiful daughters. +The father was a rich New Orleans merchant whom Fred and Terry knew well +by reputation, and, of course, the merchant and his family knew them in +the same way Evelyn made their acquaintance before the vessel had +actually passed through the Narrows. The two sisters fell in love with +her at once. The elder sister was about twenty years of age and of +exquisite Creole beauty. She was very much surprised when she found out +that Evelyn could speak French as fluently as she could. +</p> <p> +"Oh," said Evelyn, "I spent a most agreeable time in Paris once. My +brother and Mr. Fearnot are both quite good linguists, Mr. Fearnot +particularly. He can learn a foreign language more easily and rapidly +than any one I ever knew. Brother can learn it easily, too; but not as +much so as Mr. Fearnot." +</p> <p> +Just as the steamer was passing out of the Narrows both Fred and Terry +came up to where Evelyn was talking with the two French girls, and she +introduced them to the boys. +</p> <p> +Both the New Orleans girls looked at them as though somewhat surprised. +"Why, Mr. Fearnot," said one of them, "I've heard a great deal about +you, but you are much younger than I expected to find you." +</p> <p> +"Oh, I'm a kid yet," he laughed, and Terry proceeded to amuse them with +some funny stories. +</p> <p> +The elder of the two Creoles remarked that she was very fond of the sea. +</p> <p> +"Do you ever get seasick?" Terry asked. +</p> <p> +"No; do you?" +</p> <p> +"Yes, every time I get out on blue water I have to pay tribute to old +King Neptune. I've done my best to make friends with him, but I always +fail. He will have his joke with me." +</p> <p> +"Ladies," remarked Fred, "if you want something to laugh at until you +reach New Orleans just manage to see Olcott when he is seasick." +</p> <p> +"Why, what is funny about it?" +</p> <p> +"I can't tell you. He makes funny remarks and queer noises." +</p> <p> +Evelyn laughed and said: +</p> <p> +"Yes, he expresses opinions about old Father Neptune that I think he +really ought to be ashamed of." +</p> <p> +"Don't you get seasick?" +</p> <p> +"Not unless the water is rough and the waves come rolling high, and then +I have to retire to my stateroom for at least twenty-four hours; then +I'm all right for the rest of the voyage, even if it extends all around +the world." +</p> <p> +As they were rounding Sandy Hook a great many of the passengers sought +the seclusion of their staterooms and cabins, for the waves were rolling +very actively. +</p> <p> +Evelyn and the two Creole girls, whose name was Elon, remained on deck +longer than any of the lady passengers on board. +</p> <p> +By and by Evelyn and the younger of the two Elon sisters retired to +their rooms. +</p> <p> +The elder one laughed and said to Fred: +</p> <p> +"Mr. Fearnot, we two seem to be on quite good terms with the old man of +the sea." +</p> <p> +"Yes," returned Fred. "When I made up my mind to go South by water I +began to make preparations to remain on good terms with Father Neptune. +</p> <p> +"Why, how in the world did you manage to do that?" +</p> <p> +"Why, don't you know a remedy for seasickness, or a pallative, at +least?" +</p> <p> +"Why, no, indeed. What is it? I have never heard of any except lemons." +</p> <p> +"Well, lemons are very good, and will be effective if you tackle them +twenty-four hours or more before beginning the voyage. I have a bottle +of acid phosphate in my room, and a teaspoonful in half a glass of water +soon equips one in such a manner that he can resist the effects of the +motion of the ship." +</p> <p> +"Oh, my! will you give me a drink of it? I'm not at all seasick, but if +the water gets any rougher I will be." +</p> <p> +"Certainly," and Fred went to his room and soon returned with a glass +with about two teaspoonfuls of acid phosphate in it. He went to the +water cooler, filled the glass with cold water and presented it to the +young lady. +</p> <p> +"Drink about half of it," said he, "and in twenty or thirty minutes +drink the other half." +</p> <p> +She took the glass, tipped it up and drained every drop of its contents. +</p> <p> +"By George," said he, "you took a good dose." +</p> <p> +"Oh, I'm used to drinking phosphates; but never heard of it as an +antidote for seasickness before. Have you had a drink of it?" +</p> <p> +"Oh, yes; I've had two drinks since I left the wharf." +</p> <p> +He took the glass to his room, and when he came out he tendered his arms +to the girl and went promenading up and down the deck. +</p> <p> +Her father went to her and asked her if she felt any seasickness. +</p> <p> +"No, father," said she, "not the least bit. This gentleman is Mr. +Fearnot, the famous athlete." +</p> <p> +"Well, well, well! I'm glad to meet you, Mr. Fearnot. I heard of you +several times when you were in New Orleans. What's become of your friend +Olcott?" +</p> <p> +"Oh, he's on board, and so is his sister Evelyn." +</p> <p> +"Well, I'd like to meet him and his sister," said the old gentleman. +</p> <p> +"Father," said his daughter, "she is just the sweetest and prettiest +girl you ever saw in your life. I met her when we first came on board, +but as the sea was a little too rough for her she had to retire to her +room, and I hardly think that we will have the pleasure of seeing her +again before tomorrow. Mr. Olcott, her brother, Mr. Fearnot tells me, is +an awful victim to seasickness, and that he says and does funny things +while old Neptune has a grip on him." +</p> <p> +Then she suddenly asked her father how her mother was. +</p> <p> +"Oh, she is in her room actually groaning and making believe that she is +going to die." +</p> <p> +"Oh, she does that every time she sails," and the girl laughed merrily. +</p> <p> +Mr. Elon remained with her and Fred for at least a half hour. Then he +drew a package of cigars from his pocket said tendered one to Fred. +</p> <p> +"Thank you, sir; but I never smoke." +</p> <p> +"Well you will excuse me, then, if I indulge." +</p> <p> +"Certainly, sir; certainly." So he retired to the further side of the +deck and lit a cigar by using a match made in Sweden which the fiercest +wind cannot extinguish. +</p> <p> +Then he began puffing furiously. +</p> <p> +The girl squeezed Fred's arm and said: +</p> <p> +"Just watch him. You'll see him slipping back to his room pretty soon. +He's no sailor." +</p> <p> +"Well," said Fred, "you seem to be a pretty good mariner." +</p> <p> +"Yes; if you have any suspicions that I will retreat, just stick to me." +</p> <p> +"All right, I'll keep an eye on you, for you are beautiful to look at, +if you will pardon the liberty of expression." +</p> <p> +"Mr. Fearnot, did you ever see a girl who didn't like such expressions?" +</p> <p> +"Yes, I saw one once when she was struggling with an attack of mal de +mer, and she had to yield to its effect in the presence of all the +crowd, for there was no place for retreat for her. We were returning +from Coney Island. The young man who was acting as her escort thought +that he would compliment her by mentioning that she was the most +beautiful girl on the ship. She thought it was spoken sarcastically, for +she couldn't conceive how a seasick girl could be beautiful, and then +just at that time she was disgorging the dinner which she had eaten an +hour or two before, so she turned on him and gave him a pretty sharp +rebuke." +</p> <p> +Miss Elon laughed heartily at the story, and said: +</p> <p> +"Well, I don't blame her, for a girl thinks at such a time as that she +looks as ugly as she feels, even if she don't. Now, Mr. Fearnot," she +continued, "will you please go back and bring me another dose of that +acid phosphate?" +</p> <p> +"Certainly, certainly!" and he hurried back to his cabin and returned +with the glass with the phosphate in it. Filling the glass with water, +he presented it to her and suggested that she take only half the dose. +</p> <p> +"All or nothing," she laughed, and swallowed the contents of the glass. +</p> <p> +She returned the glass to Fred with thanks, and he took it back to his +cabin and took a dose himself. +</p> <p> +To his astonishment the girl kept her feet admirably, and even when +supper was announced she looked up at him and said: +</p> <p> +"Mr. Fearnot, father and mother and sister have all retired. Will you +take me down to supper?" +</p> <p> +"With the greatest of pleasure," he replied, with a smile. "You are a +strong, brave girl, and you must pardon me if I give utterance to my +admiration." +</p> <p> +"Thank you. Thank you very much, Mr. Fearnot," and, taking his arm, she +accompanied him down into the dining-room, where she was the only lady +passenger present. +</p> <p> +She ate rather a light supper, and so did Fred. The meal over, they went +back up on deck, for all people when seasick want to be out in the fresh +air, and if the wind blows strong and cold they are all the better for +it. +</p> <p> +Of course, the air wasn't cold at that season of the year, but the wind +blew fresh and strong from over the sea. +</p> <p> +They walked about on the deck until ten o'clock, and then she said: +</p> <p> +"Mr. Fearnot, you will excuse me if I retire." +</p> <p> +"All right," said he, "but tell me, do you feel the least bit seasick?" +</p> <p> +"No, indeed. I did expect to be, but that acid phosphate seemed to have +been the very thing for me, and I thank you heartily for suggesting it +to me." +</p> <p> +"Perhaps you had better take another dose before retiring. You may need +some, too, through the night; so you may take the bottle to the cabin +with you," and he got it and placed it in her hand. +</p> <p> +The next morning the passengers came straggling into the breakfast-room, +some looking very pale and wearied; but the elder Miss Elon came +tripping down the stairs like a sparrow. +</p> <p> +While she and Fred were at the table her sister and Evelyn came in +together. +</p> <p> +Fred sprang up to accompany them to seats. +</p> <p> +"How are you feeling, dear?" Fred inquired. +</p> <p> +"Fred, I confess I haven't gotten over old Neptune's slap yet. Did he +worry you any?" +</p> <p> +"Not the least," and then he told her about Miss Elon's sister. +</p> <p> +The younger Miss Elon was sitting alongside of Evelyn and remarked: +</p> <p> +"Oh, Josephine never gets seasick." +</p> <p> +"So I found out last night," replied Fred, "for we promenaded the deck +until ten o'clock. She drank pretty freely of acid phosphate, and that +removed the feeling entirely." +</p> <p> +"Oh, my, Fred! Why didn't you offer me some of it?" +</p> <p> +"I did for two days before we came aboard, but you refused to take it." +</p> <p> +"Yes, but I didn't need it then." +</p> <p> +"Well, that is the time when you should have taken it. I see you are +looking a little pale yet, and it isn't too late to brace up with a dose +of it now, but Miss Josephine has the bottle in her cabin." +</p> <p> +"Yes," said her sister; "she gave me a dose of it, too, and, Mr. +Fearnot, I wish you could have heard the many kind things she said about +you. It's a wonder your ears didn't tingle." +</p> <p> +"Well, well, well! Now I know why my ears did tingle so last night. I am +glad I know what caused it." +</p> <p> +Evelyn laughed with Miss Elon and remarked: +</p> <p> +"He is good at that sort of thing." +</p> <p> +The breakfast set the girls all right, and they went up on deck and +promenaded until many other ladies appeared, some of them still showing +the effects of seasickness, but by noon they were all out, for the sea +was by no means very rough, and the further south the ship plowed the +more quiet the waters became. +</p> <p> +Terry didn't eat any breakfast that morning at all, unless sucking two +or three whole lemons might be called by that name. +</p> <p> +He came out on deck about ten o'clock, still entertaining very bad +opinions of old Father Neptune. +</p> <p> +He could have abused the old fellow better without indulging in +profanity than any man living, but along in the middle of the afternoon +he recovered entirely. +</p> <p> +He took charge of Grace Elon, the younger of the two Elon sisters, and +kept her laughing heartily as they walked to and fro upon the deck. +</p> <p> +When they struck Cape Hatteras, where the water is always rough, it was +quite late in the night, and some of the passengers felt the effect of +it, which spoiled the pleasure of the evening. +</p> <p> +The water is nearly always rough at that point on the Atlantic coast. +</p> <p> +The next morning, though, the bosom of the ocean seemed to be like a +vast mirror, so smooth was it. Seagulls were flying around, following +the ship to pick up such bits of food as the cooks and waiters cast +overboard. Some four or five gentlemen got out on the stern deck and +with revolvers were shooting at the birds. +</p> <p> +Nearly a dozen shots were fired without a single seagull being hit. +</p> <p> +All sailors object to passengers shooting at Mother Carey's chickens, as +they call the seagull, but the average passenger has no such +superstition. +</p> <p> +"It's a pity," said Josie Elon, "to kill such beautiful birds. How white +and clean they seem to be, and what beautiful white wings they have. +Every feather seems to have been made of snow." +</p> <p> +"They are very hard to hit," remarked Terry, "and only a good marksman +can hit one of them on the wing." +</p> <p> +"Mr. Olcott, I have read in the papers about you and Mr. Fearnot being +the best marksmen in the country. Couldn't you kill one of them?" +</p> <p> +"Yes, easily, and if you want a wing to place in your hat I will procure +it for you." +</p> <p> +"I would like to have one so that I could examine the feathers." +</p> <p> +"Wait, then, until I can get my revolver and I'll bring one down on deck +here so that you can examine it to your satisfaction." So he went to his +room and soon returned with his revolver. +</p> <p> +"Now, let's get out on the middle of the deck and wait until one of the +gulls flies over us, then he will drop down on the deck and he can be +your prize." +</p> <p> +He waited for about fifteen minutes before a gull flew directly +overhead, and then he quickly raised his revolver and fired. The bullet +actually cut the bird's head off and it fell fluttering to the deck. +</p> <p> +Of course, the marksmanship created quite a sensation among the +passengers every one of whom exclaimed that it was an accident, and that +the gentleman might fire one hundred times again without bringing down +another bird, but not one of them thought to ask the name of the +gentleman who had fired the shot, for the ladies gathered around to +examine the beautiful plumage of the gull. +</p> <p> +There were two or three ladies on board who had wing feathers of the +same kind in their hats, and some of them insisted on comparing the +wings of the dead gull with some found on the hats of the ladies. +</p> <p> +Naturally a dispute arose among them as to whether or not those on the +hat were the same kind as those of the dead bird. Some, of course, were +larger than others. +</p> <p> +Terry suggested that he bring down another one that the comparison might +be made as to the size and exact color to settle the question as to +whether they were all of the same kind. +</p> <p> +"See here, my friend," said one of the gentlemen on the deck, "I'll lay +fifty dollars down here which says that you can't bring down another one +in fifty shots." +</p> <p> +"What!" Terry exclaimed, "do you mean to say that I can't bring down +another with fifty shots?" +</p> <p> +"That's just what I do, sir." +</p> <p> +"Well, you are a very foolish man, if you will excuse the expression." +</p> <p> +"Oh, I'll excuse that," said the man, "but I mean just what I say. If +you had a shotgun I wouldn't make the bet, but with your revolver you +couldn't hit another bird on the wing in fifty shots, and if you want to +cover the bet I'll double it with pleasure." +</p> <p> +"Do you mind my asking you another question?" Terry inquired. +</p> <p> +"No; ask as many as you please." +</p> <p> +"Well, I would like to know how much money you have with you." +</p> <p> +"Oh, I've got enough to pay all I lose betting on your marksmanship. If +you want to make the bet a hundred, or two hundred, or five hundred, +show your money and I'll cover it." +</p> <p> +"My friend, I really don't want your money, but I will make it five +hundred dollars just to show you how foolish you are to make a bet of +that kind with a stranger. Probably if you knew me you wouldn't make +such an offer." +</p> <p> +"Never mind who you are, I'm betting on the marksmanship," and the +fellow drew a big roll of money from his pocket and began to count it to +the amount of five hundred dollars. +</p> <p> +"All right," and Terry proceeded to count out five hundred dollars which +he asked the young lady from New Orleans to hold for him, saying that +she would be his stake holder. +</p> <p> +"Oh, my! What if I run away with it?" +</p> <p> +"Oh, I'll take the chances of it," laughed Terry. +</p> + +<p></p> +<hr /> + +<p></p> + +<div class="chapter"> +CHAPTER III. +<br /> +<br /> +HOW FRED, TERRY AND EVELYN RETURNED TO TEXAS.</div> + +<p> +The other passenger also handed his roll of bills to Miss Elon, and, +looking at Terry, said: +</p> <p> +"Now, go ahead." +</p> <p> +"Wait a few moments," said Terry, "until one flies over the deck, so +that he will drop down in order that the ladies may examine his wings." +</p> <p> +"All right; take your time," and, while he was standing around waiting +he asked the young lady who was holding the money who the young man was. +</p> <p> +"Why, he is Mr. Olcott. Haven't you heard of him?" +</p> <p> +"No, I never did. At least not that I can remember." +</p> <p> +The young lady seemed to be quite surprised, and asked him if he had +ever heard of Fred Fearnot. +</p> <p> +"Oh, yes, I've heard of him in the public press many a time." +</p> <p> +"Well, Mr. Olcott is Mr. Fearnot's partner, and they are both said to be +the best shots in the United States." +</p> <p> +The fellow looked straight at Terry as if trying to size him up. He +hadn't really ever heard of Olcott to his recollection but shooting a +gull on the wing with a revolver was such an extraordinary feat that he +was willing to take the chances. He had seen him bring down one gull and +like the majority of men who take chances, decided that it was +impossible for it to be done very often. +</p> <p> +By and by he looked up and saw a gull sailing over the deck and sung +out: +</p> <p> +"There's a good shot. Try him." +</p> <p> +Terry raised his gun and fired so quickly that none of the spectators +thought that he had even taken aim. The bullet struck the gull squarely +in the breast, and, of course, the bird came tumbling down right into +the group of passengers. +</p> <p> +Exclamations of surprise burst from nearly every man on the deck. +</p> <p> +The loser didn't seem to care anything about his loss, so Fred end Terry +sized him as a professional gambler. +</p> <p> +"Would you like to try another shot?" Terry asked. +</p> <p> +"Well, no; not at that price." +</p> <p> +"Well, I'll give you odds of two to one." +</p> <p> +"No, I've got enough," was the reply, and Terry laughed rather +sarcastically. +</p> <p> +"I'll give you odds of a hundred to one," Terry said. +</p> <p> +"Great Scott!" exclaimed another passenger. "Will you give me such odds, +mister?" +</p> <p> +"Yes if this gentleman refuses." +</p> <p> +"All right, I refuse," said the gentleman who had lost. +</p> <p> +"Then I'll take it and put up a hundred dollars," said the second man. +</p> <p> +"Well, that calls for ten thousand from me," replied Terry, and again he +waited for a good shot. +</p> <p> +Finally another gull came flying over, about twice as high as the first +two. +</p> <p> +Terry was going to wait for another chance, when the bettor angrily +exclaimed that he must want a bird to alight on the muzzle of his +revolver. +</p> <p> +"Why, surely you don't expect to have me shoot at a bird that is really +out of range, do you?" +</p> <p> +"No, but that wasn't out of range." +</p> <p> +"My friend, you don't know anything about distance on either land or +water. That gull is at least a hundred yards above us," and nearly every +man on the deck agreed with Terry, but the bettor became rather +sarcastic and asked if he expected the bird to knock his hat off with +one of its wings. +</p> <p> +"Here comes another one," sung out somebody, and, looking up, they saw +another gull about the same height from the deck. The bettor remarked: +</p> <p> +"Oh, he's too high." +</p> <p> +Everybody recognized the sneer in his tone. Terry, however, raised his +revolver and fired, and the gull came fluttering, down with one of its +wings actually cut off. +</p> <p> +The bettor's friends at once began sympathizing with him, but he looked +at Terry and asked if he considered that a good shot. +</p> <p> +"Yes, I consider that pretty good," said Terry. "I brought him down, and +the bet was that I couldn't hit him. I consider it a good shot because +he was up so high that he could scarcely have been brought down even +with a shotgun." +</p> <p> +Neither side had put up any money in that last bet, but the gambler +insisted that it wasn't a fair shot, and that he thought Terry ought to +make another trial. +</p> <p> +"No, sir," said Terry, "not for ten thousand dollars. I never play with +a man of your stripe." +</p> <p> +"Oh, you don't like my stripe, eh?" +</p> <p> +"No, I don't. All marksmen will agree that I brought the bird down +fairly. I didn't agree to shoot his head off as I did the first one, but +simply to bring him down. Now, if you will take the vote of the +passengers and they don't agree with me ten to one it is no bet." +</p> <p> +The gambler tried to argue about it rather than take the vote, but Terry +walked away and refused to talk with him. He was a big six-footer, +weighing pretty nearly two hundred pounds. +</p> <p> +When Terry turned his back on him and refused to talk with him he placed +his hand on Terry's shoulder and turned him square around so as to face +him telling him that if he meant to insult him he would throw him +overboard. +</p> <p> +Quick as a flash Terry said: +</p> <p> +"To be frank with you, sir, I do mean to insult you. I denounce you as a +dishonorable man, who won't play fair if it costs you a few hundred +dollars." +</p> <p> +With that the man aimed a blow at Terry's face with his big fist, but +Terry easily parried it and gave him three or four blows in rapid +succession on his chest in return, causing him to stagger back against +another man, who kindly held him up. +</p> <p> +"That's right," said Terry. "Hold him up," and in the next few seconds +Terry put in three or four more blows on his solar plexus, and down he +sank on the deck scarcely able to breathe. +</p> <p> +Some friends of the man took him up and carried him into the main +saloon, where others assisted him to his cabin. The captain heard of the +trouble and came out on the deck to make inquiries as to whom was to +blame. +</p> <p> +He soon got the straight story of it, and at once went to the fellow's +cabin and told him that if he made any more trouble on board his ship he +would have him put in irons until they reached the end of the voyage. +</p> <p> +Quite a number of gentlemen then asked Fearnot if his friend was a +professional fighter. +</p> <p> +"No," Fred replied. "He is a Wall Street broker, and is also my partner +in a ranch down in Texas." +</p> <p> +Both the Elon girls expressed their amazement at his fighting qualities. +</p> <p> +"Oh, that's nothing," said Evelyn. "He hasn't been whipped since he was +fifteen years old. I knew that that big fellow would be severely +punished if he struck brother. Now, if he had struck Mr. Fearnot, he +would have fared even worse; for Fred is probably one of the strongest +men of his size in the United States, so far as physical abilities are +concerned." +</p> <p> +Of course, there was no more shooting that day. The ship's surgeon said +that the man who had tackled Olcott would not be able to appear on deck +that day. +</p> <p> +That evening, as Evelyn and the elder Elon girl were standing out on the +forward deck, gazing at the stars, Terry came up and joined them. +</p> <p> +"Mr. Olcott," said the New Orleans beauty, "you are just the kind of a +man that I have been looking for for three or four years. Please tell me +how I can induce you to come courting." +</p> <p> +"Too late," laughed Terry, "I'm already mortgaged." +</p> <p> +"Oh, my! Just my luck." +</p> <p> +"Don't despair," laughed Terry. "You have perhaps heard the old saying +that there are just as many fish in the sea as were ever caught." +</p> <p> +"Oh, yes. There are plenty of good men; but no more like you. I don't +believe in fighting, but when I marry I want my husband to be able to +whip any other man." +</p> <p> +"All right," he laughed, "if you want me to lick a man for your husband +just to please you I will do it if you will send for me." +</p> <p> +"Oh, that wouldn't do. If my husband had to have another man to do his +fighting for him, I would soon get so disgusted that I would sue for a +divorce." +</p> <p> +"Well, that shows that every man ought to learn how to defend himself. +If you ever fall in love with a fellow and he wants you to marry him, +insist upon his taking boxing lessons. But let me tell you the majority +of boxing men are generally rough fighters, who like to get into trouble +just to show their skill as pugilists. Avoid all such." +</p> <p> +"Say, Olcott," a passenger asked Terry, "are you going to let Connolly +euchre you out of the hundred dollars you won?" +</p> <p> +"Oh, if he wants to keep it in the face of the passengers on board who +heard the bet, he is welcome to it as far as I am concerned. He is no +gentleman, and as such I dismiss him from my thoughts altogether. I've +been up against such men before. It's a debt of honor, and can't be +collected by law, and dishonorable men never pay such debts." +</p> <p> +The big fellow remained in his cabin to the end of the voyage, not +caring to come out where he would be likely to face Terry or some of his +friends, who thought he was acting disgracefully. The fact is, he didn't +have the half of one hundred dollars with him. +</p> <p> +During the remainder of the voyage Fred, Terry and Evelyn, with the two +Elon sisters, had splendid concerts every evening in the main saloon, to +the great enjoyment of the other passengers. +</p> <p> +The captain said that he had never heard such music, even when he had +had an opera troupe on board and the New Orleans ladies requested all +three of them to visit them at their residence. +</p> <p> +They thanked them for their invitation, of course, but, stated that they +would not spend more than twenty-four hours in the city, as they were +anxious to reach Texas; and that they would be very busy all the rest of +the season looking after their ranch. +</p> <p> +Some of the ladies did not believe it possible that such refined young +men could be ranchmen, so when the ship entered the mouth of the river +all the passengers crowded out on the deck to view the scenery as they +passed up the great "Father of Waters." +</p> <p> +Fred and Terry had fished and hunted down in the country, and they +explained to Evelyn all about the mode of life in the lagoon region. +</p> <p> +Evelyn had fallen in love with the two Elon sisters, and their father +became such an admirer of Fred and Terry that he insisted that they +should not go to any hotel, but during the twenty-four hours that they +spent in the city they should be his guests; so when the steamer landed +at the wharf in New Orleans, he divided the party so that his wife and +one of his daughters should drive home in the family carriage with +Evelyn and Terry, while he and Fred and his other daughter should remain +on board the steamer until the carriage returned for them. +</p> <p> +When they reached his residence they found that it was one of the finest +and most beautiful homes in the city, and that everything about it told +of great wealth. +</p> <p> +The next day Fred and Terry accompanied Mr. Elon downtown to visit +certain friends, and the Creole gentleman soon learned that his guests +had many other friends there, too. +</p> <p> +But for the fact that they were in a hurry to reach Crabtree, they would +have remained in the city as their guests for at least a week. +</p> <p> +As it was, they spent another day there, and had a royal good time. +</p> <p> +Then they took leave of their newfound friends, boarded the train for +Texas, and were soon whirling westward. It was a long ride from the +Crescent City to Crabtree, for that place was way down on the western +side of the State, and it was late in the night when they reached there; +in fact, long past midnight. +</p> <p> +Fred had wired to the clerk of the hotel for him to reserve comfortable +quarters for them, and when he arrived he found that the best rooms in +the house had been assigned to them. +</p> <p> +When they appeared in the breakfast room the next morning at quite a +late hour for that meal, all the ladies stopping at the hotel were on +the lookout for them. Those of them who knew Evelyn rushed into her +arms. +</p> <p> +"Great Scott, Fred!" said Terry. "Here we are with our arms ready to +receive them, and not one will even put up a pucker at us." +</p> <p> +"Well, what show can we expect to get with such a rival as Evelyn?" +</p> <p> +Many of the ladies had already had their breakfast, but they went in and +sat with Evelyn, and their tongues rattled like those of so many +magpies. +</p> <p> +Of course, they all shook hands with Fred and Terry, and talked freely +with them. They wanted to know when Miss Hamilton was going to come +down. +</p> <p> +"Oh, she'll come down some time," laughed Evelyn, "probably on her +bridal tour." +</p> <p> +"Oh, she wouldn't come down as you did, eh?" +</p> <p> +"No, we begged hard for her to do so, but she wouldn't. Brother will +have to go up some time and bring her down. Then, too, we will have two +brides down at the ranch, for young Mr. Cameron has a sweetheart up in +New York, and she is waiting for him to build and furnish a big house, +for her." +</p> <p> +"Well," said one of the ladies, "work on that house is going on fast; +but, look here, Miss Olcott, are you going to stay down there on that +ranch, or are you going to stop here at the hotel?" +</p> <p> +"Oh, she'll do both," put in Fred. "She is very fond of the actual life +of a ranch. She often came down to our ranch in Colorado with four or +five other girls, and she delighted in nothing so much as dashing over +the prairie on horseback, chasing coyotes and jack-rabbits, or else +feeding the pigs, chickens, and the milch-cows, all of which we had in +abundance around us there. We have some fine milch-cows on the ranch +now, and I expect to see her out every morning with her sleeves rolled +up and a big apron on, milking them and looking after the pigs and +chickens. She pets every animal on the place." +</p> <p> +Whereupon Evelyn invited several of the ladies to come down and visit +her on the ranch and help her feed the pigs and chickens and milk the +cows. +</p> <p> +"But I'll have to ask you to wait until I see what sort of quarters +brother and Mr. Fearnot have for me." +</p> <p> +"We have nothing but a plain ranch house, but there are plenty of them, +for we haven't put in the improvements we intend to. Men, you know, can +rough it; but sister will have a neat room fixed up for her. We will get +the best furniture that can be found in this place, carpets and +everything necessary for a lady's comfort." +</p> <p> +"No, brother," said Evelyn, "I want to rough it, and you promised that I +could do so." +</p> <p> +"Oh, yes; but I know you girls, and you get tired of roughing it very +quickly." +</p> <p> +"Well, let me rough it until I do get tired, and when I feel that I have +had enough I'll let you know." +</p> <p> +"All right; that's a bargain." +</p> + +<p></p> +<hr /> + +<p></p> + +<div class="chapter"> +CHAPTER IV. +<br /> +<br /> +HOW FRED AND TERRY FIXED UP EVELYN'S HOME ON THE RANCH</div> + +<p> +The next morning, after their arrival at Crabtree, Fred, Terry and +Evelyn were kept busy shaking hands with their friends. As the news +spread through the city fully a score of young ladies called at the +hotel to see Evelyn, for she had the happy faculty of making and +retaining friends wherever she went. +</p> <p> +Fred and Terry, though, at noon, took leave of her and told her to enjoy +herself until they came back, as they were going down to the ranch and +begin at once to fix up things so that she could he comfortable. +</p> <p> +Jack happened to be at the water tank when the engine of the freight +train stopped there to take a drink, and he gave a regular Indian +war-whoop when he saw the boys alight. He hugged both of them as they +climbed down from the engine, and fairly danced a jig in his delight at +seeing them. +</p> <p> +Terry looked around for the big house that Jack had been building for +his mother and sweetheart. When he saw it, he exclaimed: +</p> <p> +"Great Scott, Jack! What is that you are building out there? A hotel?" +</p> <p> +"Well, I call it my bachelor quarters, for the present," he replied; +"but when mother comes it will be our home." +</p> <p> +"Well, what in thunder do you want with such a big house? It's big +enough for all the cowboys on both ranches to live in." +</p> <p> +"Well, there is no hotel down here, you know, and there is not likely to +be one for several years to come; so, when any friends come down to +visit us, we'll have a place to take care of them." +</p> <p> +"Jack," said Terry, "Evelyn came down with us." +</p> <p> +"Great Scott! Ain't I glad! But why didn't you bring your girl with +you?" +</p> <p> +"She wouldn't come, Jack; but sister came down with us, as she wanted to +help us build up a home out here. So, until your mother and Katy +comedown, we'll let her be boss." +</p> <p> +"Yes, and what a boss she will be. I've been telling these fellows +around here that she is the most beautiful young lady in the whole +country. But when is she coming down?" +</p> <p> +"Just as soon as we can fix up one of the four-room houses for her, for +we will live there until we can build a larger house." +</p> <p> +"What do you want to build a house for when my house is large enough for +forty people?" +</p> <p> +"Oh we want to get into our own home. We want to build a residence down +at the mineral spring." +</p> <p> +"Oh, that's a mile off." +</p> <p> +"Yes, so it is. The depot here, though, is a general resort for every +rough character who comes along; but we'll have some of our lady friends +down here both from Crabtree and from the North. We'll fence in the +spring to keep the cattle from crowding around it, make beautiful flower +gardens, raise all sorts of vegetables and fruits, and try to make our +home here as lovely as our home up at New Era was." +</p> <p> +Jack and Terry led the way up to the house in which Jack had been +living, each carrying a valise. +</p> <p> +Before they reached there, at least half a dozen cowboys rushed up and +wanted to carry the valises for them, and made every demonstration of +pleasure at the return of the "Bosses." +</p> <p> +When the boys reached the house they found that one of bed-rooms +furnished and still another which had not been furnished up. +</p> <p> +"Jack, my boy," said Fred, "I see you have been keeping quite +comfortable since we left." +</p> <p> +"Yes, and at the same time quite busy." +</p> <p> +"Well, have you had any trouble with the cowboys?" +</p> <p> +"No, only in one instance, when one of the men got drunk and I promptly +discharged him. He was one of your men, too. He refused to be +discharged, and wouldn't leave, but went on working with the others. I +then told him that I wouldn't pay him a cent at the end of the month for +his work, as he was doing it of his own accord, and needn't expect any +pay for it. After a week he signed the pledge, came around to see me, +and said that he wished to apologize, and that he would never touch +another drop of whisky. I told him that on those conditions he could +keep his place, but that I would keep his written pledge to show to you, +so that if he ever broke it you would know what to do." +</p> <p> +"That's right, my boy, that's right. It don't pay to be too harsh. +Always give a man a chance. You were fortunate in not having any more +trouble than that." +</p> <p> +"Well, I did have several other little difficulties which did not +amount to much of anything; but at least a score of big, rough fellows +are waiting for you two to return home in order to get a chance to enter +your employ." +</p> <p> +"Well, we'll need a few more men, Jack, for we are going to buy another +thousand head of cattle and rush them down to the ranch as soon as +possible. How has the store been getting along?" +</p> <p> +"It's been doing fine. I've done a good business, and the trade is +growing fast." +</p> <p> +"Any cattle thieves been getting in their work?" +</p> <p> +"Well, I haven't heard of any, and I have had the cattle rounded up +three or four times and counted them; but I haven't much faith in the +accuracy of the count. I am beginning to suspect that both ranches have +lost a few, for I fear that the cowboys haven't kept as strict a watch +as they should have done. One day three big, rough follows came into the +store and wanted to raise a rough house, and I requested one of my +cowboys to go in there with me and help me to preserve the peace. Do you +remember that fellow whose name was Nick Henderson?" +</p> <p> +"Yes, I know him," said Terry. "Did he stand by you all right?" +</p> <p> +"You can bet he did. I wouldn't swap him for any of the cowboys I've +seen since I landed here. He doesn't understand the science of boxing, +but he does know how to use his muscles and no mistake, for he fanned +out two of those fellows with bare fists. One of them wanted to use his +gun, but I drew mine, and said that I would shoot first; so Nick just +cleaned out both of them, and I believe he is like you and Mr. +Fearnot–not afraid of anything. He is now said to be the best man on +either ranch, and he feels proud of the name." +</p> <p> +Jack pointed out the house which he assigned to the carpenters, saying +that they had built bunks, brought down their own blankets and cooking +utensils, and that they were all satisfied with their work and their way +of living. +</p> <p> +"I furnish them meat and bread," he said, "and they do their own +cooking, and I've been cooking my own meals, too." +</p> <p> +"What sort of a cook are you, Jack." +</p> <p> +"Well, I guess I weigh at least ten pounds more than I did when you left +here. Whether it is good cooking or not, I don't know; but it is good, +wholesome fare. I made coffee just as you taught me. I'm not good at +making biscuit, but I can make a good hoe-cake." +</p> <p> +They went into Jack's kitchen, and looking at his utensils, saw that he +had a place for everything, and everything in its place. +</p> <p> +"Jack; how did you learn to cook so well?" Terry asked. +</p> <p> +"Why, I used to help mother a good deal, and I have the timber brought +up and cut and piled away, so it is easy to build a fire. I had a well +driven down in the yard out there, and a pump attached to it. It is not +as good water as that down at the spring, but it is better than the +average well around through this State, and I didn't have to drive down +but thirty feet, either." +</p> <p> +"Good! If you were wrecked on a lone island, you would get along all +right, my boy. What is the bill of fare at your hotel now? +</p> <p> +"Just anything you want that the market affords. When I want fish I go +but to the lake and get it. When I want quail or prairie chicken they +come right up to the house to be shot." +</p> <p> +"All right, Jack. We'll help you cook, and if anything more is needed +than the market here affords, we will get it from Crabtree." +</p> <p> +On further inspection they found that he didn't have a carpet in the +house, but that he had good sheets and blankets and pillows and +first-class mattresses. +</p> <p> +"Fred," said Terry, "we'll have to live in this house until Jack gets +his home finished. We'll measure the size of those two rooms back there, +and one of us must go back to town to-morrow, buy carpets, have them +made, and lay in all other necessaries for Evelyn's comfort, and let her +invite some of the ladies up there to come down and rough it with us as +long as they are willing to do so. Evelyn, of course, will go with us +and assist us in making the purchases." +</p> <p> +They went out into the stable lot, saw the horses kept there. Then they +visited the cow lot and their barns, and saw that the milch-cows were +looking well, and, of course, fat and yielding an abundant supply of +milk, which Jack sent up to Crabtree every day, besides having plenty of +butter and milk for all the cowboys in their employ. +</p> <p> +Jack, too, had a good flock of chickens in his barn-yard, so he had +plenty of eggs; but he stated that he had not killed a single chicken +since Fred and Terry had gone North, as he preferred quail and prairie +chicken. He also stated that he had been compelled to clip their wings +very close, as his cowboys told him that if they got out they would find +such abundant feed in grass seed and other products of the plain that +they wouldn't come back home again. +</p> <p> +"Don't you believe that, Jack. If a hen raises a flock of chickens and +she and they are fed regularly, they will never leave the place; but +chickens who are allowed to run everywhere, as most ranchmen let their +chickens, will, of course, become wild like any other fowl." +</p> <p> +There were about a score of little pigs on the lot that were as fat as +butter and gentle as kittens. +</p> <p> +"By George, Terry," said Fred, "won't Evelyn be delighted with these +little fellows? But we will have to have ducks and turkeys." +</p> <p> +"Yes, wye can keep the ducks in bounds all right; but it will be a +little difficult to keep the turkeys in, unless we have a wire fence +enclosure reaching up about fifteen feet high." +</p> <p> +"Oh, we can do that. Turkeys are very fond of wandering over a wide +range; but I think we can keep them in bounds." +</p> <p> +That night, they had a good supper of broiled beefsteak, good hoe-cake, +milk and butter, and coffee in abundance. The two boys praised Jack +highly for his skill in managing things, and, of course, he felt very +proud. +</p> <p> +They told him that Broker Middleton had used some money belonging to his +mother, and had made about twenty thousand dollars for her, which she +had sent by them in a draft which she had purchased in the bank. +</p> <p> +Jack fairly whooped with joy. +</p> <p> +"It's just in time," said he, "for I haven't been able to sell any +cattle at this season of the year." +</p> <p> +"Jack," said Terry, "don't you worry about the future. You just take +good care of that money and don't use it except for necessities. How are +the cattle on your place?" +</p> <p> +"Mr. Olcott, they are the finest cattle I ever saw in my life. You would +he astounded to see how they have picked up flesh. The ranchman that we +bought them from must have had very poor ranges for them to feed on." +</p> <p> +"Oh, well, the grass out here has never been fed on before, except by +stray cattle, so I don't wonder at their being fat. When cold weather +comes we'll have many thousands of pounds more than the ranches above +here." +</p> <p> +After supper some of the cowboys from both ranches came in to have a +talk with their employers. Every one of them was smoking a pipe, as they +could always buy tobacco at the store. The stock in the little store had +about doubled since Fred and Terry went north, showing that a good +business had been done. +</p> <p> +"Jack, does the storekeeper keep his accounts straight?" +</p> <p> +"Oh, yes. I watch him very closely. I think he is an honest man too, and +he doesn't sell anything on a credit except to the cowboys on your ranch +and mine. Other cowboys come in and want credit, but I told him not to +credit anybody off of our two ranches, as we can then always know how +much they owe before paying them off. The storekeeper says that cowboys +are generally careless about paying debts, except in bar-rooms." +</p> <p> +Before going to bed, Fred and Terry measured the size of the two rooms +that they wanted to fit up for Evelyn, and Fred boarded the first +freight train engine that went up the next morning and so reached +Crabtree before Evelyn had finished her breakfast. She was very much +surprised at seeing him. +</p> <p> +"Fred," said she, "where is brother?" +</p> <p> +"He is down at the ranch, just the happiest boy you ever saw in your +life. He had milked two of the cows by sunrise this morning." +</p> <p> +"I never knew brother to do such a thing before in his life," she +laughed. "How many cows are there?' +</p> <p> +"Oh, about a dozen, and their milk is as rich as butter, and as yellow +as gold. It would tickle you to death to see Jack feed the little pigs +buttermilk. Each little pig tries to get more of it than his neighbor, +and then just to think, too, we have a good flock of chickens, those we +bought before we went up North; and Jack has never killed one. On the +contrary, he has bought upwards of a dozen hens, and the barn lot is +just overrun with little ones." +</p> <p> +"Why, hasn't he killed any of them. Fred? Doesn't he like chicken?" +</p> <p> +"Yes, he is very fond of them; but the quails and prairie chickens +actually come up and beg to be shot, and he has never had a chance at an +unlimited supply of game before in his life." +</p> <p> +"Oh, Fred, when are you going back down there?" +</p> <p> +"I'm going to-night." +</p> <p> +"Well, can I go back with you?" +</p> <p> +"Not just yet. I want you to go with me, though, and help me select two +carpets, which will be on the floor of your home." +</p> <p> +So she ran upstairs and got her hat and gloves, and went out with him. +</p> <p> +She wanted to select coarse ingrain carpets, saying that fine carpets +were not needed on a ranch. +</p> <p> +"Evelyn, you must select the very best velvet carpets that can be found +in this city." +</p> <p> +"Fred, that is reckless extravagance." +</p> <p> +"No, it isn't. A good velvet carpet will last just twice as long as an +ingrain one. I'm not going to buy anything cheap. The best is always the +cheapest. I want sofas, chairs, rockers, and tables, and then such other +dainties as your good taste may suggest. It is to be the home of my +sweetheart and Terry's sister, and we expect you to have quite a number +of young ladies from Crabtree to go down there and spend as long a time +as they choose, to be company for you. Then I'll buy a bookcase and have +plenty of books and magazines; for both Terry and you, as well as I, are +fond of good reading. Then we must have some good strong oilcloth to put +on the kitchen and dining room floors," and she followed Fred's +instructions, and made her choice of the carpets, and Fred, in paying +for them, offered them to the dealer to have them made up at once. Then +they selected chairs, tables, bureaus, a bookcase, and everything else +that was conductive to comfort. +</p> <p> +Evelyn was a little bit surprised when she saw what the total amount +came to, but Fred told her that she must not put in any objections, +whatever. He said that if she wanted to rough it she could go out of +doors into the barn lot, the cow lot, and the lot in which the pigs and +chickens were kept and amuse herself to her heart's content. +</p> <p> +The greater part of the day was taken up in making their purchases. +Then, about sunset, Fred returned to the ranch on the engine of a +freight, leaving Evelyn in the hotel. +</p> <p> +The lady guests of the house were quite disappointed, as they thought +they would hear him sing and play during the evening, but she told them +that he was preparing a house down on the ranch for her and a number of +their friends there in Crabtree, whom they were calculating on being +able to persuade to go down and spend some time with them. +</p> <p> +Of course, quite a number of them were quite eager to go. +</p> <p> +All that night Evelyn was dreaming of feeding a big flock of little +chickens and little pigs, and looking after and petting the mild-eyed +milch-cows, and awoke fully convinced that she was going to have the +happiest time of her life with her brother and her sweetheart as her +daily companions. +</p> <p> +Many a time had she milked her mother's cows in Fredonia, and she +enjoyed the exercise as well as making butter. +</p> <p> +Butter-making was a passion with her, and she understood it to +perfection. +</p> <p> +The next day she talked quite a while with several married ladies, +particularly those who understood housekeeping and milking and +butter-making. The ladies seemed to be surprised at her enthusiasm, and +asked her if she had ever milked a cow, or churned butter, and her +replies actually staggered some of them. +</p> <p> +She said that if she were worth a million dollars, that there was no +amusement she would rather indulge in than to milk cows, feed chickens, +gather eggs, and do all sorts of domestic work. +</p> <p> +The idea of a society girl indulging in such amusements seemed +incredible to the ladies at the hotel. +</p> <p> +Three days passed, which Fred and Terry improved by cleaning up around +the house. When the carpets came down, with men to lay them, the +furniture was moved in, and shades and lace curtains put up, until +really the plain little ranch house was more elegantly furnished than +many of the homes of the richest citizens in Crabtree. +</p> <p> +Then, Terry went up to Crabtree after Evelyn. He went on a freight train +engine, and Evelyn wanted to come back on the same; but he insisted upon +hiring a carriage at the livery stable and driving her through. +</p> + +<p></p> +<hr /> + +<p></p> + +<div class="chapter"> +CHAPTER V. +<br /> +<br /> +EVELYN ON THE NEW RANCH.</div> + +<p> +Two young ladies at Crabtree offered to go down to the ranch with +Evelyn, but she suggested to them to wait until she first found out +whether the new home was one to which she would like to invite them. +</p> <p> +"If the place is such that I can offer you comfort, I will notify you, +without delay," so they remained behind at the hotel. +</p> <p> +The driver then started off down the road at a clipping pace. Terry had +hired a splendid team, and the driver understood well how to manage the +beautiful horses. +</p> <p> +The dirt road ran all the way down in sight of the railroad. They passed +many beautiful suburban residences during the first three or four miles, +after which they passed farmhouses and then the road stretched white and +straight over the wide prairies. +</p> <p> +Terry had directed that Evelyn's two trunks be sent down by freight. +Evelyn enjoyed the ride very much. +</p> <p> +"Brother," said she, "the grass seems to be greener and richer down +through this country than up in Colorado." +</p> <p> +"Yes, and so it is, else we wouldn't have bought down here. We have some +advantages here that we didn't have up there. There we had to drive our +cattle and receive our freight twenty miles away; but now the railroad +runs right along beside us, and the depot is on our side of the track. +Jack's ranch borders the road on the other side. The company has laid +side tracks for each ranch, and built a good depot. I think, in the +course of time, we'll have a far more beautiful home down here than we +had up in Colorado. Of course, though, Fred has told you all about the +magnificent mineral spring a mile from the railroad and on the ranch." +</p> <p> +"Yes, both of you have told me all about it." +</p> <p> +"Well, Fred thinks it best to build a residence right down there near +the spring in order that we may have the use of the water and some large +shade trees in the yard." +</p> <p> +"Terry, isn't there any building there now?" +</p> <p> +"No, the only buildings we have now are merely four-room frame buildings +for the men on the place, and we have fixed up one of them for our home +until we build a larger and better house down near the spring. There +isn't a particle of swamp about it; but there is plenty of good solid +earth all around it. Of course, we can cut a splendid road from the +depot down to it. We will build stables and all the necessary out-houses +down there, too, and will fence it in, so that the cattle cannot annoy +the residents of the place. There isn't a passenger depot built yet, and +passenger trains don't even stop there, unless they are flagged by the +freight agent." +</p> <p> +The road passed through several patches of timber and wide stretches of +prairie land presenting scenery that Evelyn loved and admired very much. +The splendid team made the trip in a little over two hours, a distance +of twenty miles. +</p> <p> +"You see that big building going up out there?" said Terry, pointing to +Jack's new home. +</p> <p> +"Yes." +</p> <p> +"Well, that is the new house that Jack is building for his mother and +his wife. It has a dozen large rooms in it." +</p> <p> +"Well, what in the world does he want with such a big house away out +here?" Evelyn asked. +</p> <p> +"Well, it is the first house he ever owned, and he says he wants it +roomy enough for his wife's and mother's friends to come down and stay +as long as they please, as it will cost him nothing to board them. I +guess that Fred and I will build a house just as big as that." +</p> <p> +"Terry, you and Fred must not indulge in any such extravagance." +</p> <p> +"Sister, don't you know that comfort is not extravagance?" The driver +had never been out there before, so he turned and asked Terry where he +must stop. +</p> <p> +"Right in front of that house out there," and he pointed to the house +which he and Fred had furnished for their home until a big house could +be put up. +</p> <p> +Both Fred and Jack were on the lookout for them. Evelyn saw them waving +their hats and she waved her parasol in return. They reached the house +about the time that the carriage did, and of course, as Fred lifted her +out of the carriage he caught Evelyn in his arms and kissed her several +times. Jack seized her hand and kissed it, saying: +</p> <p> +"Heavens, Miss Evelyn, but I am glad to see you way down here." +</p> <p> +"Thank you, Jack," said Evelyn. +</p> <p> +Then she turned and glanced around at the wild prairies on either side +of the railroad track. +</p> <p> +"Evelyn," said Fred, "come in and see the little home we have fixed up +for you," and he led her up on the little piazza and into the two rooms +that had been furnished up for her. +</p> <p> +Of course, she recognized the carpet, because she had chosen it herself +up in Crabtree, and also every piece of furniture. +</p> <p> +"Oh, my, how beautiful!" she exclaimed. "But how out of place such +furniture in a ranch house! I dare say there is not another so +beautifully furnished as this is in the State of Texas." +</p> <p> +"No," said Fred, "nor is there another house in all Texas with such a +beautiful mistress to reign over it." +</p> <p> +She laughed and seemed pleased with the compliment. +</p> <p> +As soon as she could throw off her hat and light coat she said: +</p> <p> +"Now, Fred, let me see the kitchen and the dining-room." +</p> <p> +"All right. This leads into the dining-room," so she went in there and +seemed equally pleased with its furnishings and then she looked into the +china closet and found two complete sets of china dishes. +</p> <p> +Then she went into the kitchen, where Fred and Terry had set up a +first-class range to take the place of the wide-open fireplace which +Jack had been using. The carpenters had built a splendid closet for all +the cooking utensils. There were all the necessary tables and chairs +there in the kitchen. She went to the sink and, turning the faucet, saw +a splendid flow of water. +</p> <p> +"Why, where in the world does this water come from?" she asked, very +much surprised. +</p> <p> +"Oh, that is one of Jack's ideas," replied Fred. "While we were away he +got permission from the superintendent of the railroad to run a pipe +from the railroad company's tank, some three hundred yards away, and +thus provided for a supply of water for household purposes as well as a +bathroom. Those are New York ideas which he brought out here with him, +and people who have visited the premises wondered what the Yankee boy +was up to. Of course the water isn't for drinking purposes, for he has a +driven well out in the yard, and the water is very good; but still it is +not like that down at the spring." +</p> <p> +She turned around and patting Jack on the shoulder said: +</p> <p> +"Jack, were you thinking of your mother or of Katy when you were fixing +up all these comforts?" +</p> <p> +"Of both, Miss Evelyn," he answered, "for mother is as fond of comforts +as any other woman. She does her own cooking, and I am having water +pipes run from the same source into our house." +</p> <p> +"By and by," he continued, "I'm going to see if I can't find artesian +water somewhere on the premises, and have it running through the house +all the time." +</p> <p> +"Good boy! Good boy!" laughed Evelyn. "Now, brother tells me that you +have pigs and chickens and milch-cows on the place, and I want to see +them at once." +</p> <p> +Terry and Fred and Jack went out with her. They first went to the big +stable, saw the saddle and carriage horses that they had bought, and she +was pleased with their appearance. +</p> <p> +"Evelyn, here are a pair of grays," said Fred, "which Terry and I say +belong to you and Mary, and we hope you will love them as much and train +them as you did those up at Fredonia." +</p> <p> +"Oh, my. That is work for me, but I am glad of it. Have they good +dispositions?" +</p> <p> +"Yes, the stable-man says that they are kind and gentle and very +susceptible to kind treatment." +</p> <p> +From the big stable they emerged into the big barn lot, passed through a +gate in a division fence, and saw a big flock of chickens. There were +about one hundred of the little things, all like little balls of down, +following clucking mother hens all over the place. +</p> <p> +Evelyn went into such expressions of delight at seeing a splendid flock +that made the boys smile. +</p> <p> +"Haven't you any turkeys?" she asked. +</p> <p> +"Not one," said Jack. "All the cowboys told me that the turkeys would go +off and find such an abundant supply of things to eat that they can't be +kept at home. But we have ducks and geese, which are kept over in +another lot." +</p> <p> +"Then they passed through another gate, where Evelyn saw a row of +cow-sheds, and a half dozen splendid looking Jersey cows. +</p> <p> +"Oh, my," she cried. "I never saw such fat, beautiful milch-cows in my +life." +</p> <p> +Jack ran up to two of the cows and put his arms around their necks, +patted their faces and noses, and the mild-eyed beauties seemed to enjoy +the petting. +</p> <p> +"Fred, where in the world did you and brother find Jersey cows way down +this way?" +</p> <p> +"Oh, we found them on some ranches on the line of the railroad further +back east. We paid a pretty good price for them, too. Down here the +ranchmen don't seem to understand the value of the Jersey cow; so when +we offered them a price that seemed the least bit extravagant, they +readily parted with them. We are going to get more of them, for milk and +butter sell readily all along the line of the road; but we don't sell +any buttermilk, though, for we let the little pigs have that, and the +little chickens, too. Jack had an experienced man to build a dairy house +in the latest approved style. +</p> <p> +"Jack, is there any buttermilk in the dairy house now?" he asked. +</p> <p> +"I don't know, sir; but I'll go and inquire." So he went to the dairyman +who had charge of the cows and the dairy house and found out that he had +about half a barrel of buttermilk, just a little bit sour. +</p> <p> +"Then have him bring several bucketfuls out to the little pigs." +</p> <p> +The dairyman brought two big pails full of the buttermilk and poured it +into a big sheet-iron receptacle, circular in form and about four inches +deep. The little pigs came running up to the gate, crying like little +pigs do when they smell food, and the gate was opened to let them get at +it, and every one, of course, stuck his nose into the buttermilk clear +up to his eyes, and they drank and pushed against each other until their +stomachs actually looked swollen. +</p> <p> +Evelyn stood and looked on, her eyes fairly sparkling with delight. She +picked up several of the little fellows, who seemed to be used to being +handled. They behaved, of course, like all little pet pigs. +</p> <p> +"Oh, what a sight!" she exclaimed. "How I do wish mother could see it." +</p> <p> +"And Mary, too," added Terry. +</p> <p> +"Yes, for she, too, is very fond of pigs and chickens, and milch cows." +</p> <p> +When the little pigs couldn't drink any more buttermilk they were driven +back into the lot where the sows were, and then the big pans were shoved +in so that the sows could drink the balance. Then they showed Evelyn +where the ducks and geese were kept. +</p> <p> +"Why in the world don't you let them run out and graze? Don't you know +that ducks and geese live on grass just like cows and horses?" +</p> <p> +"Yes, but we haven't arranged for that yet. These ducks and geese were +bought by Jack, while we were up in New York and there is such a wide +range that he has been afraid, to turn them out to go where they please. +Then, the coyotes, too, are very fond of ducks and geese. A chicken can +rise on the wing and get away, but fat ducks and geese can be caught +before they can flap their wings three times. We will gradually build a +wire mesh fence and turn them out so they will be protected from the +coyotes and foxes." +</p> <p> +After that Evelyn took a look at the dairy house. It had been built in +first-class style by an experienced dairyman, and was large enough to +manage the products of fifty cows if necessary, and Fred made the remark +that he hoped to some day have that many Jersey cows on hand. +</p> <p> +"Sister," put in Terry, "it won't cost a dollar a month more out here to +keep a dozen milch cows than it would cost to keep a half dozen, for +they can feed on the grass all day long, and at the present season the +grass is very full of milk, and there are two of these cows whose yield +of milk is so abundant that it is necessary to milk them at noon." +</p> <p> +"Brother," she asked, "how is the grass in the winter? Does it dry up +and turn brown like the grass in Colorado?" +</p> <p> +"Yes, I believe it does; but the winters down here are at least two +months shorter then they are up in Colorado. We expect to cut several +hundred tons of hay while it is yet young and fresh and full of milk, +and feed that to the milch cows during the winter. The beef cattle on +the range can keep fat on the dry grass like those on all ranches do." +</p> <p> +"Well, I'm glad to hear that," replied Evelyn, "for by that means you +will have the abundant supply of milk that you are now getting." +</p> <p> +She inspected every part of the dairy, particularly the arrangement for +keeping all of the utensils perfectly clean. +</p> <p> +Then she returned to the house, when Fred invited her to come out to the +store. +</p> <p> +"Why, goodness gracious!" she exclaimed. "Have you a store out here?" +</p> <p> +"Yes; that building out there fronting on the wagon road is the store, +and it does a particularly good business with the ranchmen who drive +along the road." +</p> <p> +"Well, well, well! What do you keep on sale there?" +</p> <p> +"Oh, we've got an experienced salesman, who was raised in the business. +He sells everything in the dry goods line and groceries and patent +medicines. Of course, the dry goods are only such as ranchmen and +farmers' wives need. If you want silks and fancy ribbons you would have +to drive to Crabtree. Drummers come along nearly every day with samples +of goods their employers have for sale, so if you want anything +different from what we have in the store, you can order it through +them." +</p> <p> +"Well, I want to go in there and see the stock," so she went over with +the boys, and Terry introduced her to the storekeeper as his sister. He +was a single man, so he stared at her in open-eyed wonder, as she was +perhaps the most beautiful woman he had ever seen in his life. She found +that there was a little of almost everything that was kept in a country +store. There was very little fancy goods, however, to be had there. +</p> <p> +While they were in the store a two-horse wagon drove up and stopped in +front of the store. The wagon was driven by an old farmer, who had with +him his wife and two daughters. Fred and Terry ran out of the store to +help the ladies out of the wagon. +</p> <p> +"Mrs. Jones." said Terry, "I am really glad that you have come. My +sister arrived to-day, and you are the first neighbor that she will +meet." +</p> <p> +"Oh, my! Is she going to live here on the ranch?" +</p> <p> +"Yes, until she gets tired of it. Then she will run up and stop at the +hotel at Crabtree for a change. But she is of a domestic turn, and as we +intend to have everything that can be raised on a ranch, we think that +she will be satisfied to stay." +</p> <p> +He was well acquainted with Mrs. Jones and her husband as well as the +two daughters, so he led the women into the store, where he introduced +them to Evelyn by name. +</p> <p> +The girls were about fifteen and eighteen rears of age, respectively, +and as Evelyn shook hands with them and welcomed them, they stared at +her as though she were a royal personage. +</p> <p> +"Girls," said she, addressing the two daughters, "this is the first time +I was ever on this ranch. Brother and Mr. Fearnot owned a ranch up in +Colorado, and there was no other ranch like it in all that state. I am +very fond of domestic life. They have a big flock of chickens, ducks and +geese and a splendid dairy-house, where they make fine butter and give +the buttermilk to the pigs. I have just been over the place to see them, +and I am as happy as the youngest pig on the place," and she laughed so +merrily that the girls forgot that she was a stranger and laughed +heartily with her, but her dress was so much better than that which they +wore that they actually felt awed as they looked her over. +</p> <p> +"Mrs. Jones," she said, turning to the mother, "how far is it from this +place to your home?" +</p> <p> +"Oh, it's fully ten miles. We are running a farm, not a ranch; but I +don't know what to make of your brother and Mr. Fearnot raising pigs and +chickens and making butter for sale on a ranch. I never heard of such +things being done on a ranch before." +</p> <p> +"Oh, brother and Mr. Fearnot believe in raising everything that can pick +a living on the big ranch. There are now a thousand beef cattle on the +ranch, and it costs nothing but the hire of the cowboys to raise them." +</p> <p> +"Oh, yes, I know that. But I never heard of chickens and geese and ducks +and pigs being raised on a ranch before." +</p> <p> +"Well, they will probably have a hundred milch cows soon, for it doesn't +cost any more to keep them than it does to keep the beef cattle." +</p> + +<p></p> +<hr /> + +<p></p> + +<div class="chapter"> +CHAPTER VI. +<br /> +<br /> +EVELYN'S FIRST DAY ON THE NEW RANCH.</div> + +<p> +Evelyn extended a cordial invitation to Mrs. Jones and her two daughters +to drive over to the ranch-house some day and spend the day with her, +and the mother gladly accepted the invitation. The girls were two +healthy-looking lasses, both blondes with rosy cheeks and sparkling +eyes. +</p> <p> +Terry kept the old man busy telling him of the improvements that they +were contemplating making on the ranch and of the residence that they +would build down by the big mineral spring. +</p> <p> +"Great rattlers!" the old man exclaimed. "You're sho gwine to spend a +lot of money, ain't you?" +</p> <p> +"Yes, we've got to in order to get a good start. If you know of any +ranchmen within a hundred miles of us who want to sell a hundred or two +beef cattle just tell us where to find him and we'll go after the +cattle." +</p> <p> +"Waal, I don't believe I know of any just now who want to sell any +cattle other then to the market, but I reckon you can find plenty of +them along the line of the railroad." +</p> <p> +"How many cattle do you want to buy?" he asked. +</p> <p> +"About one thousand," was the reply. +</p> <p> +"Land! but you'll have a big lot of 'em." +</p> <p> +"Oh, we could keep ten thousand on the ranch and keep them fat, too, for +the grass down here is very rich." +</p> <p> +"Yes, too rich for the farmers. We raise grass on our farms all summer. +We raise a heap of corn and cotton." +</p> <p> +"Yes, we will raise corn, too, next year, for the use of our horses and +hogs, but not for the cattle." +</p> <p> +"Gwine to raise pork, eh?" +</p> <p> +"Yes, pork will sell in the market just as readily as beef will, and we +are going to raise our own supplies for our cowboys and for family use. +We have forty thousand acres on the range, which is room enough to feed +several hundred people, as well as the cattle on the range and ducks, +pigs and chicken. I believe that our dairyman is making some of the +finest butter ever seen in this part of the South. It is sweet and rich +and as yellow as gold. Generally one can't get a glass of milk or a +pound of butter on any ranch, because the ranchmen don't take the +trouble to make it. Everything pays that is raised on a ranch, and the +greater the variety the more pay." +</p> <p> +"That's so," said the old man, shaking the ashes from his corncob pipe; +"but I reckon you'll have considerable trouble with coyotes and cattle +thieves." +</p> <p> +"Yes, we expect to have a little trouble with them, but we have a way of +dealing with cattle thieves which we have found to be very corrective. +Every cowboy on our ranch has a Winchester rifle, and a lead pill from +one of them makes a cattle thief sick. Then, too, a rope is something +very distasteful to that breed of mankind, and as for coyotes, we will +enclose that part of the ranch where we are keeping the pigs and ducks +and chickens with a high wire-net fence, which no coyote can scale." +</p> <p> +"Mister, wire fences cost a heap of money." +</p> <p> +"Very true; but they will pay for themselves in one season." +</p> <p> +By and by the old farmer's wife and daughters, having made their little +purchases in the store, came out to the wagon ready to start home. +</p> <p> +Evelyn came out with them and was on the best of terms with all three. +She shook hands with Farmer Jones and told him that his wife and +daughters had promised to come over and spend the day with her in the +near future, and that if he put up any objection to that he would +probably get himself into trouble. +</p> <p> +"All right, miss," said he. "I'll let 'em come and will drive 'em, too." +</p> <p> +"Do so," she replied. "We'll set you down at the head of the table and +see that you get plenty to eat." +</p> <p> +"Waal, miss, don't offer me any jerked beef, for I can't eat it." +</p> <p> +"Neither can I," she laughed, "and we never have it on our table. We'll +give you fish, prairie chicken, quail, jack-rabbit and that genuine old +Southern dish, bacon and greens." +</p> <p> +"That's it. You can bet on my coming, and right soon, too. Bacon and +greens is a dish fit for a king, but you haven't got any on this ranch, +I reckon." +</p> <p> +"No, we'll buy that in town, as we do sugar and tea and coffee, and if +you are fond of coffee, brother and Mr. Fearnot can certainly make the +best that you ever tasted." +</p> <p> +"Gosh! I do love it." +</p> <p> +Fred and Terry assisted the mother and her two daughters into the wagon, +and the girls they literally lifted off their feet by catching them +around the waist and lifting them up as though they were little +five-year-old-children. The girls blushed and laughed, and Evelyn really +enjoyed their confusion. +</p> <p> +They all drove off, waving their handkerchiefs at Evelyn and the boys. +</p> <p> +"Fred," said Evelyn, "they are plain, good, honest folks. The mother is +a good woman and the girls do their share of the household work at home. +Their hands show it." +</p> <p> +"Yes, and yet the old man is able to keep good servants for them, for +black servants are cheap down in this region, and by the way, dear, when +you go up to Crabtree again, you must start an inquiry for a good +colored cook among your lady friends. Tell them you want a good one, who +understands washing and ironing and all about cooking. At present we +boys do all the cooking down here and we send our laundry up to +Crabtree, where there are only three Chinamen to the whole town." +</p> <p> +"Fred, let me do the cooking at present," she asked. +</p> <p> +"Oh, yes, it's fun for you now; but you would get tired at it after a +while." +</p> <p> +"I'll make you boys do the rough work. When you go out to hunt in the +woods you go to sleep on the ground on blankets and do your own cooking, +so it certainly won't hurt you to rough it a little now." +</p> <p> +"No, it never did hurt us; but Terry and I know that there are at least +a score of young ladies in Crabtree who want to come down here out of +curiosity and for a change. We are going to have two additional rooms +built onto the house so that the two bedrooms that are now furnished can +be given up to them and we boys will occupy the annex." +</p> <p> +That evening they sat up quite late talking and planning. +</p> <p> +"See here, Fred," said Terry, "we have no musical instrument on the +ranch, so sister had better go in to-morrow and buy a piano." +</p> <p> +"Oh, my! how extravagant you boys are becoming," she exclaimed. "The +idea of a piano on a ranch would certainly astonish the natives." +</p> <p> +"Yes, so it would, but for all that we've got to have it." +</p> <p> +"Well, one of you must go in after it, for I won't." +</p> <p> +"I'll go," said Terry, "for a good piano we must have; and, besides +that, we must have a good violin, a good flute, and—" +</p> <p> +"A bass drum," Evelyn interrupted. +</p> <p> +"Yes," added Fred, "and a hurdy-gurdy." +</p> <p> +The next morning Evelyn, was up before either of the boys, for as soon +as she heard the little chickens peeping around she sprang up, put on a +wrapper and went out to see them and feed them. +</p> <p> +The dairyman was up feeding and milking the cows. Evelyn looked on for a +while, and finally took up a pail and began milking, too. The dairyman +looked on in astonishment. +</p> <p> +"Great rattlers, miss!" he exclaimed. "Where did you learn how to milk?" +</p> <p> +"Why, up at my home in New York state," she replied. "I made all the +butter from two splendid cows, and more often did the milking than the +hired help did." +</p> <p> +"Well," said he, "I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen you +milking this morning." +</p> <p> +She was talking with the dairyman when Fred showed up, exclaiming: +</p> <p> +"Hello! Why didn't you make an alarm when you got up so that I could +have heard it." +</p> <p> +"Oh, I didn't like to break up little boys' sleep. It is good for them." +</p> <p> +The dairyman chuckled at the retort, and so did Fred. +</p> <p> +Evelyn milked the pail full, turned it over to the dairyman and went to +see the little pigs. +</p> <p> +"Evelyn," said Fred, "how would you like to take a ride over the ranch? +We'll get back in time for breakfast." +</p> <p> +"I would like it very much, provided you give me a safe horse to ride." +</p> <p> +Fred went into the stable and saddled the big grays. They were almost a +match in size and appearance for the two big grays which Evelyn had sold +up North, and she greatly admired them. She stood there in the lot +waiting for them to be made ready, and then, without going into the +house to get a hat or any other article of dress, she placed her foot in +Fred's hand, which he held out for her, and was quickly lifted in the +saddle. +</p> <p> +"Are you going without your hat, Evelyn?" Fred asked. +</p> <p> +"Yes, the early morning sun can do me no harm, for it has hardly got its +eyes open yet." +</p> <p> +"All right; open the gate, Joe," and the dairyman went to the outer gate +and held it open for them to pass through. +</p> <p> +They went dashing down toward the spring, and when they reached there +Fred dismounted, went to where a big, native-raised gourd was hanging to +a bush, dipped it full of the water and handed it up to her. +</p> <p> +She drank copiously of it, smacked her lips and said: +</p> <p> +"Oh, my, Fred! I can taste both sulphur and iron plainly." +</p> <p> +"Yes, those ingredients are the strongest in its composition, if it were +nearer town it would become a the place of resort." +</p> <p> +"Well, you must make it one, anyway. You must lay off the grounds +beautifully, thin out the timber somewhat so flowers will grow and yet +leave enough to form plenty of shade. Then if you build a few cottages, +or maybe a hotel, it would easily become a resort–that is, if I am any +judge of the water. It tastes perfectly delicious to me, and really I +believe that it will finally prove the most valuable part of the ranch." +</p> <p> +Then Fred led the way further down the road in a southerly direction, +skirting the timber, and at almost every ten feet quail and prairie +chickens flew up out of their way. +</p> <p> +After they had gone about a couple of miles Evelyn suddenly saw +something running through the tall grass as if trying to avoid being +seen. +</p> <p> +"Fred." said she, "aren't those wolves out there?" +</p> <p> +"Where?" and Fred gazed in the direction in which she was pointing. +</p> <p> +He could barely catch a glimpse of their backs through the tall grass. +</p> <p> +"I guess they are coyotes," he said. "Let's give them a race," and he +put spurs to his horse and dashed off after them. Evelyn, of course, +followed, for she was quite as good a rider as he. +</p> <p> +To his surprise, he gained on them, and he knew that the coyote was +about the swiftest little animal of the kind anywhere, so he supposed +that the tall grass was impeding their progress. +</p> <p> +When he urged his horse faster the brutes turned, growled, showed their +fangs and stood at bay. +</p> <p> +"Great Scott, Evelyn!" he exclaimed, "they are timber wolves!" and his +horse showed fear of them. +</p> <p> +Evelyn reined up her horse right alongside of Fred. +</p> <p> +"Why, Fred," said she, "they seem to be defying us, which is a mighty +bold thing for them to do in the open daylight." +</p> <p> +"Yes, indeed; but they saw that we were gaining on them. Luckily I have +my revolver in my pocket," and with that he drew the weapon and again +dashed toward the wolves, who seemed to be full of fight. When within +fifteen feet of them he fired and the wounded wolf yelped with pain, +while his mate seemed on the point of charging upon them. He fired the +second time and the bullet crashed through the wolf's head. They both +gave a single yelp, sank down in the grass and did a little kicking. The +first one he had shot at hadn't been hit in a vital spot. +</p> <p> +So he stood by snarling and showing his fangs until another shot +stretched him on the ground alongside of his mate. +</p> <p> +"Why, Fred," said Evelyn, as she rode up and looked at them after they +were dead, "is it possible that they come up so near the houses on the +ranch?" +</p> <p> +"Well, I never saw them up so far this way before. I fear that they came +up during the night in search of a calf, and I dare say if we search +around we can find a dead calf half devoured somewhere in the +neighborhood; but we won't stop to look for it. We will go back to the +house and send two cowboys down here to get the wolves' pelts, for we +always let them have the pelts of any wild beasts that we kill." So they +rode back to the house, and just as Terry and Jack were placing +breakfast on the table Fred dismounted and assisted Evelyn to the +ground. She ran into the house, while Fred went to the stable with the +two horses and sent word around by the stableman to two of the cowboys +to go down and get the pelts of the two wolves and make a search for the +remains of any cow or calf that the wolves had probably killed during +the night. +</p> <p> +Before he returned to the house Evelyn had acquainted Terry with the +result of their ride. +</p> <p> +"I'm not surprised at it," said Terry. "Before we placed cattle on the +two ranches wolves were rarely seen in this part of the locality. They +come up from the river bottom, some thirty miles away, and I guess we +will have to have a grand wolf hunt pretty soon. Jack's and ours are the +only ranches between here and the river. There are farms, though; but +they don't raise cattle enough to tempt the wolves to leave the swamp, +and they kept their hogs pretty well protected by wire fences. I am +surprised, though, that only two wolves were seen, for generally they go +in gangs for protection. As a general thing they are afraid of the +long-horned cattle, and they rarely attack the grown ones; but they +manage to catch calves quite often, for these long-horned cattle can +toss a wolf high in the air and probably give him his death-wound." +</p> <p> +Fred came in and then they sat down to the table, on which was fried +prairie chicken and broiled quail. +</p> <p> +"Oh, my! such an appetite as I have," said Evelyn, "and I don't think I +ever sat down to a more appetizing meal in my life." +</p> <p> +Her cheeks were like roses, for the brisk ride in the morning air had +flushed them beautifully. +</p> <p> +"Terry, just look at those cheeks," said Fred, "did your ever see them +glow more than now?" +</p> <p> +"Oh, they'll glow every morning down here if she takes rides before +breakfast." +</p> <p> +They all ate heartily. Jack delighted in cooking since the new range had +been put up. +</p> <p> +Terry was an expert at broiling quail and any other kind of game, and +they had fresh butter and milk. +</p> <p> +"Brother," Evelyn said, during the meal, "last night Fred said that you +would have to go to town to buy a piano. Are you going?" +</p> <p> +"Yes, I guess I will." +</p> <p> +"Then I want you to take several balls of this butter to several +different ladies in town as presents from me and tell them that I want +them to pick out a good cook for me. Not that I am too lazy to do the +cooking myself, but because we will need a good, strong colored woman to +do household and laundry work." +</p> <p> +"Sensible!" remarked Fred. +</p> <p> +"Then bring one or two young ladies down with you," he added. +</p> <p> +"Oh, you needn't bring anybody down vet. I'm not becoming lonesome yet +by any means. I don't believe I would ever get lonesome with chickens +and cows and pigs and, ducks to look after." +</p> <p> +"My, sister! are you going to take all that responsibility on your +shoulders?" +</p> <p> +"Yes, for I'm going to be boss of the entire ranch, boys and all." +</p> <p> +"Good! Good!" exclaimed Fred. +</p> <p> +"Fred, don't whoop until you get out of the woods," said Terry, "for you +will soon find out her style of bossing. You will find her sitting on +the fence somewhere yelling to you to do this and to do that, and be +quick about it. I know what it is to work for a girl boss, so I will be +sure that we'll get competent help if it can be had. I want to do a +little bossing myself." +</p> <p> +As soon as Evelyn could fix up five or six pounds of the rich, golden +butter, pressed into pound cakes, Terry took the bucket in which she had +placed them and waited for the first freight train that came along. +Nearly a score of trains passed the ranch every twenty-four hours, going +either east or west, it was about an hour's ride from the ranch to +Crabtree. Terry sent the cakes of butter to the ladies whom Evelyn +wanted to have them and delivered her message to the effect that she +would be glad to have them find her a good, all-around cook and house +servant. +</p> <p> +Mrs. Westervelt, the wife of the railroad superintendent, said that she +knew a cook who would fill the bill. +</p> <p> +"Send for her at once, please, madam, and tell her to get ready to move +down to the ranch within a day or two. We will give her good wages and, +besides, allow her to make money out of the cowboys by doing their +washing, if she wishes to." +</p> <p> +"Mr. Olcott," she asked, "did your sister make this butter?" +</p> <p> +"No, she hasn't started that yet, but let me tell you there is no woman, +North or South, who can beat her at butter making." +</p> + +<p></p> +<hr /> + +<p></p> + +<div class="chapter"> +CHAPTER VII. +<br /> +<br /> +FRED AND TERRY AFTER CATTLE THIEVES.</div> + +<p> +Terry, being a good judge of musical instruments, went to a music store +in Crabtree, ran his fingers over the keys of half a dozen different +pianos, and quickly made his selection. Then he purchased a splendid +violin, paying seventy-five dollars for it, which was the most costly +violin that was ever sold in Crabtree, for he was very fond of good +violin music. Then he bought a guitar, a banjo and a splendid flute. The +dealer promised to send them all down to the ranch the next day. +</p> <p> +"I'll take the violin and the flute myself," said Terry. +</p> <p> +"Mr. Olcott," said the dealer, "we have a large selection of vocal and +instrumental music. Would you like to look over it to make some +selections?" +</p> <p> +"Haven't time," he replied. "Sister may have a big quantity of her old +music in her trunk, but if she didn't bring any down with her she can +come down here some day and look over your stock." +</p> <p> +"Here is a printed list of all the music now before the public." +</p> <p> +"All right, I'll take that list to her," and he folded it up and put it +in his pocket. +</p> <p> +Then he went to see the two young ladies whom Evelyn had told him to +bring down with him if they would come. +</p> <p> +He found them, and, to his surprise, found them ready to go on an hour's +notice. He told them that he would drive around for them with a +carriage, as no passenger train ever stopped at the ranch unless it was +flagged. +</p> <p> +They told him that it didn't make any difference so long as they didn't +have to walk. +</p> <p> +They had never been on a ranch in their lives, although they were rather +familiar with farm life around that locality. He went to the livery +stable and hired the same team that had carried Evelyn out two days +before. +</p> <p> +Then he went to a well-known grocer and bought several cases of +preserves and sweetmeats of various kinds to be sent down the next day, +laid in a good stock of magazines, then drove around to the residence of +the two young ladies, and when they were ready to go they started off +for the ranch. Their trunks were to come down in a wagon. +</p> <p> +The girls were delighted with everything they saw on the way. +</p> <p> +When they reached the ranch Evelyn and Fred and Jack were at the store +to greet them. While the two girls were hugging and kissing Evelyn, Fred +and Terry threw their arms around each other and imitated them to the +best of their ability; but, instead of kissing each other, they smacked +their mouths over each other's shoulders and uttered expressions of joy +in imitation of them. The girls were greatly amused, and the storekeeper +almost went into convulsions of merriment. +</p> <p> +"Now, girls," said' Evelyn, "come over to the house with me and you'll +see how we are roughing it out here." So she led the way from the store +to the house which they called their home. +</p> <p> +When they entered the two beautifully furnished rooms the girls uttered +exclamations of surprise. +</p> <p> +"Why, Evelyn," one of them exclaimed, "there isn't a prettier furnished +house in all Crabtree. I can't see for the life of me why you call it +roughing." +</p> <p> +"Well, I call it roughing because we can do just as we please out here. +There is nobody about to criticise us. I hope you brought some of your +old clothes with you that won't be hurt by roughing it!" +</p> <p> +"Yes, we brought some old dresses with us." +</p> <p> +"All right, just as soon as your trunks come in put on your roughest +suits and I'll show you how much fun we can have out here." +</p> <p> +She then led them into the kitchen and dining-room. +</p> <p> +One of the bedrooms had two beds in it, and all three of them would +sleep in there, leaving Fred and Terry to have the other room. +</p> <p> +A half hour later the girls' trunks were brought into the house and they +proceeded at once to don what they called their home dresses. +</p> <p> +Then Evelyn led them out to the poultry yard, to the cow-sheds and the +dairy-house, Then they went to the big lot in which lived the sows and +pigs. After that they visited the big stables, where Evelyn pointed with +great pride to two big grays which the boys had bought for her, and +there she told them the story of the grays she had owned before, how she +had trained them so that she could drive them without bridles anywhere +and guide them entirely by her voice. +</p> <p> +One of the girls said that she couldn't train a Texas horse that way. +</p> <p> +"Oh, any horse is susceptible to kindness, dear. I will soon have them +so trained that they will follow me wherever I go and I'll teach them +how to obey every command I give them. It takes time and patience, +though." +</p> <p> +"Evelyn, where is the big spring that we have heard so much about?" +</p> <p> +"It is about a mile down that way," and she pointed southward. +"To-morrow we will ride down there, for we have a large surrey and two +horses for domestic use." +</p> <p> +About sunset Evelyn insisted on their going out to the cowpen and see +her milk. Up to that time they hadn't taken any stock in her claim that +she could milk cows and make butter, and they regarded her as simply a +society girl who wouldn't do any work at all; but the dairyman told them +that she was the best milker he had ever seen. +</p> <p> +It was a pretty big job, but she milked the half dozen Jersey cows, +actually doing a man's work. Neither of the girls had ever milked a cow +in their lives, for their parents didn't keep any cows at their city +home. +</p> <p> +That night they sat down to a game dinner of quail, jack-rabbits and +prairie chickens. +</p> <p> +Evelyn insisted on their standing by her in the kitchen and seeing her +cook everything. They were satisfied that she had not been boasting, and +such biscuit they had never tasted in their lives, notwithstanding the +fact that their mother had a well-trained colored cook. +</p> <p> +"Evelyn," the elder of the sisters asked, "you seem to know all about +housework, but tell me how you manage to keep your hands so soft and +white if you have been doing this sort of work before." +</p> <p> +"Oh, I don't do it regularly, only when I take a notion to do so at +home; but I think it is every woman's duty to learn such things, so that +if she gets hold of an incompetent servant she can teach her." +</p> <p> +The two girls were actually ashamed of their ignorance of domestic life. +</p> <p> +During the evening Fred produced his violin and flute. +</p> <p> +"Oh, my, brother!" exclaimed Evelyn, "that is a beautiful violin. What +did you buy such an expensive one for?" +</p> <p> +"Why, you know me, sister," he replied; "a harsh note grates on me worse +than a crosscut saw going through a knotty log." +</p> <p> +Evelyn seized the bow, resined it herself, tuned the violin and began +playing like an expert. Fred took up the flute and accompanied her, +making the most delightful music. +</p> <p> +There were some cowboys in the store smoking and talking, but when they +heard the violin and flute they all rushed out and stood at the gate, +about forty feet away from the door, and listened, and there they stood, +quiet and silent, for upwards of an hour. +</p> <p> +Then Terry took the flute and the girls saw that he could play equally +as well as Fred. Evelyn soon took up the guitar and accompanied him on +that instrument. +</p> <p> +Then she handed the guitar to Fred and took the flute from Terry. +</p> <p> +The girls soon saw that she was perfectly at home with any musical +instrument, and that the boys were, too. +</p> <p> +Evelyn had the girls up with the sun the next morning. They were not in +the habit of starting the day so early, but she laughed at them and told +them they didn't know how to live. +</p> <p> +She soon had them in the kitchen, where Jack had started a fire in the +range, and began giving them culinary lessons. +</p> <p> +It was great fun for her, and also for Fred and Terry. +</p> <p> +Some two or three days later Fred left the ranch, going up by the +passenger train, which was flagged for him to board it, and at Crabtree +he took a train for points a hundred miles east, where he hired a team +and driver to take him around among the ranches all through that +section. He spent a week inspecting cattle, buying them and having them +shipped down to the ranch. +</p> <p> +Finally, in order to make up the order that he wanted, he had to drive +back to the railroad and go further eastward; so he was gone about ten +days. He paid for the cattle with checks on the bank at Crabtree, but in +some instances the cattlemen rode down to Crabtree to see whether or not +the checks were good before they would ship the cattle. +</p> <p> +When Fred returned to the ranch he found the two girl visitors still +with Evelyn, and learned from them that they were willing to stay out +there just as long as Evelyn wished them to. +</p> <p> +"You haven't gotten tired of the ranch yet?" he asked. +</p> <p> +"No, indeed. We never enjoyed ourselves better away from home in our +lives. Mr. Olcott and Evelyn are undoubtedly the finest musicians we +ever heard. That piano is a grand instrument, and every evening, when +the weather is fine, the cowboys dance in the yard to their playing; +and, Mr. Fearnot, I really believe that every horse and cow and pig and +chicken on the ranch is in love with Evelyn Olcott, while she has such +influence over the cowboys that I believe she could make them do murder +at her command." +</p> <p> +Fred laughed and said: +</p> <p> +"Yes, she has that same influence over me, too." +</p> <p> +The girls looked at Evelyn and laughed, and she remarked: +</p> <p> +"Didn't I tell you that every sort of animal is susceptible to +kindness?" +</p> <p> +"Why, do you mean to call Mr. Fearnot an animal?" +</p> <p> +"Certainly. Every man and woman is just as much an animal as a horse or +cow is." +</p> <p> +Both the girls opened their eyes wide and Evelyn and Fred and Terry +laughed heartily at them. +</p> <p> +"Why, didn't you know that man is an animal?" Fred inquired. +</p> <p> +"No, indeed. Never heard of such a thing before in my life," and then +both Fred and Terry fell to explaining the matter to them. The younger +of the two sisters said they made her feel "cheap" by proving to her +that she was a mere animal. +</p> <p> +"Oh, be careful with your words. Neither of us have said that you were a +mere animal," said Terry. "Man belongs to the animal kingdom just as any +four-footed beast does. Generally the things that will kill any brute +will also kill a man. Both have flesh and blood, eat and drink; but man +is, of course, the highest grade of the animal kingdom. They are divided +into different tribes, just as animals are into different species. The +Caucasian is the highest type, and the grades go down from this point +until we reach the bushmen of Australia, who are said to be the lowest +type of mankind." +</p> <p> +The girls were highly interested in his talk, and on the piazza and on +the front steps cowboys were listening with the deepest interest. +</p> <p> +They, too, had never thought of the subject; but Fred and Terry were +very familiar with it, for they had both studied it very deeply. +</p> <p> +A few days after Fred's return from his trip, during which he had bought +another thousand head of cattle, the cattle began arriving. +</p> <p> +Then Fred and Terry and the cowboys were all very busy. The cars were +run down to the stockpen, where they were unloaded and turned loose into +their new home. Many of them were evidently very hungry, and had +probably been kept penned up for several days before the cars which were +to bring them down were sent up for them. +</p> <p> +"By George, Terry," said Fred, "that lot of cattle is almost starved. +The ranchmen didn't feed them while keeping them penned up waiting for +the train." +</p> <p> +"Yes, and they ought to be made to pay for it, Fred." +</p> <p> +"Oh, what's the use? They'll soon pick up on this ranch, but really I +think they ought to be punished for their heartlessness. Just because +they were sold they wouldn't give them any extra feed." +</p> <p> +The girls came down and saw the cattle leave the cars and run down the +gangway that led into the stockpen, from which they passed hurriedly +into the ranch. +</p> <p> +Evelyn had seen cattle shipped and unloaded before, but her two visitors +had not, so they stood and watched the process of unloading for several +hours. +</p> <p> +"Fred," said Terry, after seeing several carloads of the cattle turned +out, "I think that, on an average, they are a very fine lot of cattle." +</p> <p> +"Well, I tried to be careful, Terry, and I am glad I was, for there were +quite a number who tried to pan off poor cattle on me. Their brand is +already registered, just the same as ours. Of course, their calves we +will have to put our registered brand on, and after a while we will have +to add it to the brand of the original owners." +</p> <p> +The addition another thousand cattle to the ranch made a pretty good +display. +</p> <p> +Both Fred and Terry made a careful count of every beef that arrived. +They both rather suspected that they would come up a little short, but +to their very great gratification every carload panned out according to +the bill. +</p> <p> +They were all of the long-horned species, and some of them were very +large. The train was run on a sidetrack, and as fast as the cars were +emptied they were moved further down the sidetrack until every car had +been emptied. +</p> <p> +"Oh, my, Fred!" said Evelyn, "surely some of those cattle must have been +hurt, crowded as they were in those cars, with such long horns." +</p> <p> +A careful inspection was made and not one was found to be seriously +hurt. Fred had stipulated with the ranchmen whom he had bought front +that only a given number should be placed in a car, and Superintendent +Westervelt had warned the employees of the road not to exceed the limit. +</p> <p> +That night Fred and Terry rode all around the enclosed part of the range +on the lookout for wolves, and also to let the cowboys see that they +were expected to do their work faithfully. +</p> <p> +The new cattle grazed incessantly, but nothing occurred during the night +to start an alarm among them. The majority of them, as dark set in, laid +down to sleep or to chew their cud. +</p> <p> +The two boys turned in at about two o'clock in the morning. +</p> <p> +The next day one of the cowboys came in and reported that somebody down +at the lower end of the ranch had cut out a complete panel of the barbed +wire, thus leaving a wide gap for the cattle to go through. +</p> <p> +Fred and Terry hurried down there on their horses with their +Winchesters, accompanied by two of their most expert and faithful +cowboys and made a thorough investigation. +</p> <p> +They could see the tracks of three men, who had probably cut the wires; +but they were unable to find the trail of any cattle passing through the +gap. In fact, none of the cattle had done any grazing that far down. +</p> <p> +They sent a cowboy back up to the ranch-house and had him bring down a +coil of wire and the necessary tools to connect it with the wires that +had been cut, and when that was done they detailed one-half of their +force to watch the line of the fence at that end of the ranch during the +following night. +</p> <p> +They taught them a series of signals, which must be given and answered +before firing at any one. +</p> <p> +"Now, boys," said Fred, "be careful. We don't want any innocent man +hurt, but if you find any one tampering with the fence give him a chance +to cut just one wire to establish his guilt and then call a halt. If he +doesn't hold up open fire on him, and keep firing until he comes down. +Both Olcott and I will be moving about the greater part of the night. We +want all cattle thieves to understand that they can't steal any of our +cattle with impunity." +</p> <p> +That night, after singing and playing at the house with the girls, the +boys mounted their horses and started for the lower end of the ranch. +</p> <p> +When they reached there they dismounted, hitched their horses in the +timber and started down the line on foot. They found the cowboys that +they had stationed along the line in their respective places. They were +very prompt in exchanging signals, and they spoke in whispers so that +their voices might not be overheard. +</p> <p> +By and by in the starlight they saw about a score of cattle going +through the grass as though they were being driven by somebody. +</p> <p> +Fred and Terry crouched down in the grass and watched them. +</p> <p> +They both became fully satisfied that some one was driving them, and +they ran along with the cattle in order to ascertain where they were +going, and why. They were very near the corner of the fence, for, as the +reader doubtless remembers, they had enclosed only twenty of the forty +thousand acres, as they thought that was about as much as they would +have need for inside of the next two years. +</p> <p> +Suddenly Terry tapped Fred on the shoulder and whispered: +</p> <p> +"Down, Fred," and Fred dropped down on his knees. +</p> <p> +Terry motioned with his hand and pointed out on his right where they +could both see the figures of two men moving cautiously and closely +behind the cattle, and they both wondered if another panel of the wire +had not been cut just ahead of them. +</p> <p> +Suddenly one of the cattle turned in their direction, and one of the men +ran around to head him off. He ran almost over Fred, who sprang up and +dealt him a blow on the side of his head that caused him to sink down +unconscious. +</p> + +<p></p> +<hr /> + +<p></p> + +<div class="chapter"> +CHAPTER VIII. +<br /> +<br /> +FRED AND TERRY CAPTURE CATTLE THIEVES.</div> + +<p> +Terry heard the blow that Fred gave the cattle thief and he knew what it +meant, for the fellow sank down without uttering a word. +</p> <p> +The thief's pal, seeing that the cow that had strayed off was not being +turned around, went to the assistance of his confederate and he ran up +against Terry. +</p> <p> +Terry rose up and gave him a crack on the head with his heavy revolver. +He saw more stars than he probably ever thought had a home in the skies, +and down he dropped. +</p> <p> +"Now, Terry," whispered Fred, "let's see if there are any more of them," +and as quick as possible they bound the two unconscious thieves hands +and feet and continued to follow the cattle. +</p> <p> +They walked straight up on their feet, knowing that the confederates, if +there were any, would mistake them for their pals if they saw them. +</p> <p> +After a few minutes they saw two other fellows advancing toward them, +and one of them came up to Fred and asked in a low tone of voice: +</p> <p> +"What's the matter?" +</p> <p> +"Only this," said Fred, smashing him in the face with his revolver and +sending him tumbling over in the grass. The other fellow stopped and, +suspecting something wrong, started to run. +</p> <p> +"Halt!" said Terry, "or you're a dead man." +</p> <p> +The fellow threw himself down in the grass and tried to run on his hands +and knees and thus escape any bullet that might be flied at him, but +Terry was on him in a moment and gave him a terrible crack with his +revolver on his head. +</p> <p> +Terry searched him for a weapon and found an ugly-looking knife and a +revolver on him. He took possession of the weapons and, with the ball of +twine he had with him, bound him hard and fast, his hands behind him and +his ankles together, and then ran on ahead of the cattle to look for the +gap he suspected they were headed for, he soon found it. +</p> <p> +Before a single beef had passed through he and Fred turned the cattle +back. +</p> <p> +Then both of them followed the trail of the thieves, which they were +enabled to do, dark though it was, by following the disarranged tall +grass. +</p> <p> +They found all of the men had recovered consciousness except the fourth +man, who, was lying where he had fallen like a dead man. +</p> <p> +"Terry," said Fred, "this is your man. What in thunder did you crack him +so hard for?" +</p> <p> +"I wanted to make sure of him," and they proceeded to drag the men to +the gap that had been cut through the wire fence, took them through it, +stood them up against a tree, for there were a few scattering trees +growing down there, and tied them to the trunk hard and fast. +</p> <p> +They both struck matches and held them up before their faces to see if +they could recognize them, but they had never seen them before. +</p> <p> +One of them, fearing that he would be recognized, very promptly blew out +the light and mattered something in Spanish, so from that Fred and Terry +judged that they were Mexicans–one, at least–and Fred took Terry aside +and whispered to him that there must be other men mixed up in it; so +they concluded to build a fire some ten feet off from them and then go +back inside the enclosure and conceal themselves in the grass to watch, +for they knew that nobody could go up to the tree to release the men +tied there without being seen by the light of the fire. +</p> <p> +The fire was built up against an old dead log, which, being dry and well +seasoned, burned readily, and in some places blazed up some ten feet or +more high. Some of the cowboys, seeing the light of the fire a half mile +away, came down to see what it meant. +</p> <p> +Fred and Terry recognized them and they waited to watch their movements. +One of them went up and talked with one of the men who was bound to the +tree. +</p> <p> +Both of them suspected their loyalty, but they proved to be true. +</p> <p> +They looked around to find Fred and Terry, and several times used the +signals that Fred had given them. +</p> <p> +When Fred and Terry returned their signals they came toward them, +looking carefully for them. +</p> <p> +When they found them one of them asked: +</p> <p> +"Boss, did you tie up those fellows?" +</p> <p> +"Yes," said Terry, "and there's another one lying back there in the +grass with a broken head, but all the same we tied him by his hands and +feet to keep him from getting away." +</p> <p> +Just then they heard the man groaning and calling to his pals, and the +two cowboys followed the sound of his voice and soon found him, he +having recovered consciousness. They picked him up and brought him down +near the fire. +</p> <p> +There all four of them denied that they had done anything wrong. +</p> <p> +Each claimed that he had nothing to do with cutting out the wire, denied +that he was driving the cattle and, of course, claimed to be innocent of +any wrong-doing. +</p> <p> +"Well," said Fred, "I hope you will be able to prove your innocence in +court, for that is where you are going." +</p> <p> +Then Fred turned on the two cowboys and asked them why they had left +that corner of the ranch unguarded. +</p> <p> +"Boss," one of them said, "there wasn't enough of us to reach down so +far, and we thought that it would be safe to let it alone and to-morrow +report it, but as soon as we saw the light we came down to investigate +it." +</p> <p> +Both of them thought that that excuse was reasonable, and Fred told them +that they were expected to be vigilant in the discharge of their work +and that they would employ more cowboys. +</p> <p> +"Now you two can lie down here and sleep while we keep watch." +</p> <p> +"Boss, we'll watch while you sleep," was the reply. +</p> <p> +"No, we are going to keep watch ourselves. At daylight I want one of you +to make your way back to the barn and hitch up a team, bring down a coil +of wire and the necessary tools to repair this gap and then take the +prisoners back to town. +</p> <p> +"Fred," said Terry, "why not tell them to bring a coil of rope." +</p> <p> +"What do you want with a rope, Terry?" +</p> <p> +"Oh, Judge Lynch always has use for a rope for cattle thieves. I will +act as sheriff, if you don't wish to have anything to do with it. +Generally I am opposed to lynching, but this is a fair case." +</p> <p> +"No, Terry, I don't believe in that. I'm sorry that, instead of +capturing them, we didn't shoot them and thus get rid of them without +calling in Judge Lynch." +</p> <p> +The prisoners, of course, heard every word that the boys uttered. The +fact is, they were both talking for their benefit. The cowboys, though, +thought that they were in earnest and they would see a lynching, so when +the dawn of day began to appear in the east Fred sent one of the cowboys +back to the barn with instructions to bring down a coil of barb wire and +a coil of rope. +</p> <p> +One of the prisoners, tied to the tree, begged that Mr. Fearnot would +come up to the tree and let him talk with him. +</p> <p> +Fred did so, and the fellow said that if he wouldn't punish him and +would release him, he would leave the country and never show up there +again. +</p> <p> +"Oh, yes; but it is bad policy to let a cattle thief go loose, after he +has been caught in the act." +</p> <p> +Then the others began making similar promises, and never did men beg for +their lives as hard as they did. +</p> <p> +One of the cowboys was sent off for wire and rope, and while he was gone +a farmer came by, making an early start for Crabtree. +</p> <p> +The road passed within a couple of hundred yards of where the men were +tied to the tree, and he heard them talking as well as noticed the smoke +from the fire which Fred and Terry had built out there. +</p> <p> +He left his team in the road, and coming into the woods, there learned +the whole secret of the situation. +</p> <p> +He knew Fred and Terry, for he had frequently stopped at their ranch, so +he, on his way to town, notified every farmer and ranchman whom he +passed that Fearnot and Olcott were going to hang four cattle thieves +down at the lower end of their ranch. +</p> <p> +Everybody who heard the news wanted to see the lynching, so they came +down there. Fred told them that he had no idea of taking the law in his +own hands, and that he intended taking the prisoners into town and +turning them over to the sheriff. All the prisoners, being Mexicans, +whom the farmers throughout that section hated like poison, stood in +great danger of being hanged at once by the angry ranchmen; but Fred +refused to permit it. He bargained with one of them to take them in his +wagon to Crabtree, and then mounted his horse and started off ahead of +them. They were bound hard and fast, so they could give the farmer no +trouble. +</p> <p> +"Terry," said he before he left, "you must see to the careful repairing +of the fence and keep a watch over everything. I am going to see if I +can find a good electrician to come out and electrify the wires in this +fence, so when they attempt to cut this fence again some of them will +get knocked off the face of the earth." So he put spurs to his horse and +started off. He knew he could reach Crabtree about two hours ahead of +the prisoners. +</p> <p> +The party of rough fellows, farmers and cowboys, went along with the +wagon, and before they had gone three miles they took the prisoners from +the farmer and strung them up in some timber along the roadside; so when +the farmer reached Crabtree he had no prisoners, and he told a harrowing +tale to Fred of how the men had taken the prisoners from him and strung +them up. +</p> <p> +"Well, well, well," he ejaculated. "I am sorry for that; not that I +don't think they deserved it, but I don't believe in that sort of thing. +Now, I want you to come with me to the sheriff and several responsible +citizens and tell that story to them, for I don't want to be accused of +having anything to do with the matter, other than capturing the +thieves." +</p> <p> +The farmer told his story to the sheriff, which official, accompanied by +several citizens, as well as some deputies, rode down there to +investigate the matter. +</p> <p> +Meanwhile Fred went in search of an electrician. There was only one in +the city, and he had charge of the city electrical lighting, so he +couldn't go down to the ranch and electrify the wires around the entire +range, for it wouldn't do to perform that feat unless some one was left +in charge of the city's plant. +</p> <p> +Fred bargained with him to communicate with some competent electrician +in some other city and get him to come down to the ranch and stay for +one month, saying that he would pay him well for his services. +</p> <p> +Fred rode down the other road that ran parallel with the railroad track, +reaching home, after hard riding, a little after dark. +</p> <p> +Early the next morning when Fred went to the store he found some four or +five cowboys who had just arrived, having come in to put in applications +for employment as cowboys. +</p> <p> +Said a big, brawny fellow, who measured six feet and two inches in +height: +</p> <p> +"Mr. Fearnot, we hear that you have added a thousand more cattle to your +herd, and we know that you need more cowboys. We are all trained +ranchmen and cowboys, and understand the business from A to Z. Just set +us to work at once, and there'll be no more cattle thieving around here, +for we know just how to deal with them." +</p> <p> +Fred did not like the looks of any one in the party. Their faces showed +plainly that they were certainly devotees of the jug, so he said: +</p> <p> +"Gentlemen, of course we will need more cowboys, for it is our intention +to add still another thousand head of cattle to our herd; but we really +can't employ another man until we first investigate his former life. We +don't want any man in our employ who drinks whisky. Neither Mr. Olcott +nor myself ever touch the stuff, and I never took a drink of anything +intoxicating in my life, so I don't want any one around me who does." +</p> <p> +"Well," said the big fellow, "I never was drunk in my life, I have taken +whisky moderately whenever I felt like it ever since I was of age, so if +you give me a job I'll agree never to take a drink as long as I am on +the place." +</p> <p> +But Fred could see from his eyes and face that the man was not telling +the truth. +</p> <p> +He said that if Fred would write to certain ranchmen further up the road +where he had worked that he would find out that he was as good a +ranchman as could be found anywhere in the State; but Fred shook his +head and remarked that he would take his time, and that he and Olcott +would act as cowboys themselves until they had selected others to do the +work for them. +</p> <p> +About three hours later a cowboy arrived in the conductor's cab, on the +rear end of a freight train, and going to the little store, inquired for +Fearnot. +</p> <p> +There were four cowboys in the store at the time, and they could see +from his dress and style that the newcomer was a cowboy, too. +</p> <p> +The storekeeper went out on the porch and caught a glimpse of Fred over +at the barn lot. He gave a halloo, which attracted Fred's attention, and +then he beckoned to him. Fred at once started for the store, but the +newcomer, who had followed the storekeeper out on the piazza, saw him +and said: +</p> <p> +"Thank you, boss; I know him. I used to work for him up in Colorado, and +he is one of the best men that ever breathed." +</p> <p> +When Fred was within one hundred yards of the store, he recognized the +cowboy, and called to him: +</p> <p> +"Hello, Tom!" and the newcomer returned his greeting. +</p> <p> +When Fred reached the store, the two shook hands heartily. +</p> <p> +"Tom, what in the world brought you way down here?" Fred inquired. +</p> <p> +"Mr. Fearnot. I came down here to take my old place with you on the +ranch, if you need me." +</p> <p> +"All right, Tom, you can have it. You are just the kind of a man that I +do need." +</p> <p> +Just then Terry came up and another handshaking took place between the +cowboy and him. +</p> <p> +Terry and Tom seemed to be highly pleased at meeting each other. +</p> <p> +When Tom learned that Evelyn was down there he exclaimed: +</p> <p> +"Good heavens, Mr. Terry, I want to see her, and get down on my knees to +her, for if there ever was an angel on earth, she is that one." +</p> <p> +Both Fred and Terry laughed, and the latter informed him that here were +two other young ladies down there from Crabtree. +</p> <p> +"Look here, boss," said Tom, "I heard up at Crabtree that four cattle +thieves had been strung up down here yesterday. Is that so?" +</p> <p> +"Yes, Tom; but we had nothing to do with that part of the affair." +</p> <p> +The other cowboys were standing at the other end of the porch, and heard +Fred engage the newcomer, and that, too, after refusing to employ any of +them. Their faces showed plainly their disgust, and not to say +dissatisfaction, and the big six-foot fellow went up to Fred and again +applied for employment, saying that he couldn't find a better cowboy in +the whole State than he was, and that he could get references to prove +it. +</p> <p> +"See here, my friend," said Fred, "you may be all that you claim, and I +hope that you are: but really I want to be convinced of that fact before +I take you on our force." +</p> <p> +"Boss, set me to work at once, and you needn't pay me a cent until after +you learn that I am all that I claim to be." +</p> <p> +"No, sir. A man can't work ten minutes for me without pay; so just leave +your address here at the store, and I'll notify you if I want you." +</p> <p> +"Why, boss, you have just taken on a new man, and that, too, after +refusing to employ any of those in my party. Do you call that fair +play?" +</p> <p> +"Yes, for I know this man personally. He has been in my employ before, +and I was satisfied with his work." +</p> <p> +The fellow turned away, growing threateningly and the party went inside +the store, and there held a consultation. +</p> <p> +Tom and Fred and Terry went over to the house, where the ladies were, +and Evelyn, as soon as she saw him, recognized him, and exclaimed: +</p> <p> +"Why, there's Tom Hecker." +</p> <p> +Tom instantly doffed his hat and stood, bowing and smiling, as if highly +pleased at her recognition of him. +</p> <p> +"Tom," said she, advancing out on the piazza, "come here; I want to +shake hands with you, for you were of great service to me on several +occasions up in Colorado." +</p> <p> +Tom advanced, too, and she extended her hand to him. +</p> <p> +He appeared to be supremely happy. She didn't, of course, introduce him +to the two young ladies, for she resented their social positions. But +she did remark to them, in his hearing, that he was one of her brother's +most faithful cowboys on the old Colorado ranch, and that he was as +brave as he was faithful. +</p> <p> +She asked Tom when he had seen Wicklow and his wife, and he replied that +he hadn't seen them for over a month, that the old force had been pretty +well scattered, and that the old ranch had been divided up into three +ranches, as three different individuals had bought it. +</p> <p> +He said, though, that when last he saw the Wicklow family they were all +well. +</p> + +<p></p> +<hr /> + +<p></p> + +<div class="chapter"> +CHAPTER IX. +<br /> +<br /> +WHAT HAPPENED TO THE COWBOY WHO INSISTED ON WORK OR FIGHT.</div> + +<p> +Fred called up one of his cowboys, introduced Hecker to him, and +informed him that he was henceforth to be one of the force of cowboys, +as he had been in his employ up in Colorado, and was a good fellow, +trustworthy, and not afraid of either cattle thieves or long-horned +cattle. +</p> <p> +"Now, take him around to the stables and barns, and all the lots, and +let him see everything on the place." +</p> <p> +"All right, boss," and he and Tom went off together. Of course, Hecker +had no end of questions to answer, for the Texas cowboy was more or less +puzzled to understand his present employer. +</p> <p> +Of course, Tom told him that Fearnot and Olcott were the best and +bravest men whom he had ever known, and that the man who undertook to +buck against them made the mistake of his life. +</p> <p> +Fred and Terry then busied themselves about other matters, which had +been called to their attention. +</p> <p> +Terry suggested the feasibility of buying at least a thousand head of +sheep and fencing off a portion of the ranch for their use. +</p> <p> +They were talking over that when word was sent to them that dinner was +ready. They went over to the house and found that Evelyn and the two +girls, with the old black cook, who had been employed in Crabtree, had +prepared a most savory meal, and they at once sat down to it. +</p> <p> +They were about through with their meal, when they heard loud talking +and the tramping of feet, and the next moment the door leading into the +dining-room was burst in, and the big cowboy whose application for +employment had been refused, stalked into the room, waving a branding +iron over his head in a most ferocious manner. +</p> <p> +The two young lady visitors sprang up, and rushing into the other room +shut the door. But Evelyn knew that there could be no safer place for +her than with Fred and Terry. +</p> <p> +When she saw the big fellow with that formidable weapon in his hands she +paled somewhat, and thought that Fred and her brother were in danger of +being badly hurt, if not killed. +</p> <p> +The man had evidently been drinking heavily, for his face was flushed. +</p> <p> +"Mr. Fearnot," he fairly roared, "you refused to give me work this +morning, and yet an hour later you took on another man. Now I've got to +have work or know the reason why, or else clean out the whole ranch!" +and he flourished the branding-iron above his head in a most threatening +manner. +</p> <p> +"It's work or fight," he continued. "Which shall it be?" +</p> <p> +Terry had his rifle hanging on a couple of pegs at the rear end of the +kitchen, and he started for it. +</p> <p> +Fred had bought, up in Crabtree, a few weeks before, a bulldog, which he +was training for his own use, and the dog had come into the dining-room +and sat in a place that had been assigned him in expectation of being +fed when the dinner was finished. +</p> <p> +As the burly cowboy burst open the door and rushed into the dining-room, +brandishing a branding-iron above his head, and threatening dire +destruction to everybody present, Fred dashed at him, and seized his +upraised arm, while Terry reached for his rifle. +</p> <p> +The burly cowboy aimed a blow at Fred's head with the branding-iron, but +Fred reached up and caught him by the wrist, while the dog ran around +and attacked him in the rear. +</p> <p> +The fellow evidently thought that it would be an easy matter to jerk +loose from Fred's grip, but to his amazement he found that his grip was +like that of a steel vise, and to save his life he couldn't pull loose +from him. +</p> <p> +Fred held him steadily, and with his left fist dealt him a blow on the +right side of his chest. +</p> <p> +Terry then ran up with his Winchester, holding it rather menacingly. +</p> <p> +"Let him alone, Terry," said Fred, "I'll attend to him." +</p> <p> +Fred then gave him three or four blows while the fellow kept jerking and +twisting to try to free himself, after a while giving vent to fierce +imprecations and at the same time trying to avoid the fangs of the +bulldog. +</p> <p> +Fred then began pushing the villain back toward the door, through which +he had entered. +</p> <p> +Seeing that he couldn't use the branding-iron on Fred, he tried to take +it in his left hand for that purpose, but Fred's left interfered, and +the fellow felt as though his right arm would be broken. +</p> <p> +Fred, pushed him out of the door, and he lost his balance as he went +through, and so fell to the ground. +</p> <p> +As the man fell to the ground, just outside the door, the branding-iron +slipped from his hand. Then Fred jerked him up to his feet, and went at +him like a cyclone. Four or five blows on the chest caused him to go +down again. +</p> <p> +Again Fred jerked the fellow up on his feet, and the second time beat +him down, until the fellow didn't have breath enough left in him to say +anything. +</p> <p> +Fred let him lie there for about one minute, and then said: +</p> <p> +"You wanted work or fight. I'll give you all the fight you want and +charge you nothing for it," and as soon as the fellow tried slowly to +get up, Fred dealt him another blow that laid him out for about five +minutes. +</p> <p> +Hearing that the fight had ceased, Evelyn entered the other room to +assure the girls that Fred and Terry could take care of the fellow, +again came out, and looked at the scene going on outside. +</p> <p> +"Brother," said she, "you are not going to kill him, are you?" +</p> <p> +"No, I'm just going to let Fred manage him in his own way." +</p> <p> +"Fred," she asked, "what are you going to do to him?" +</p> <p> +"Go into the house, dear, and quiet those girls. I'm not going to shed +any blood or take a life." +</p> <p> +She didn't follow his injunctions to go into the house, but she kept +quiet a while and watched them. +</p> <p> +"Fred, have you killed him?" she asked presently, as she saw the man +lying like a dead man on the ground. +</p> <p> +"No; I knocked him out, though, and am waiting for him to get his breath +back." +</p> <p> +By and by the fellow began to breathe hard and groan. +</p> <p> +Finally he opened his eyes and looked up at Fred. +</p> <p> +"You wanted fight or work," sad Fred. "What do you want now?" +</p> <p> +"Mister, I want to go as far away from here as I can." +</p> <p> +"Well, why didn't you go when you had the chance?" +</p> <p> +"Boss, I didn't know you then; but I do now." +</p> <p> +"Well, get up and leave, and don't you waste a minute of time in getting +away." +</p> <p> +The fellow got up and started off in the direction of the store. +</p> <p> +His three companions had retreated to that place, and as soon as he +started, Fred followed him and assisted him in leaving by administering +kicks which raised him from the ground at least a foot at every kick. +</p> <p> +Suddenly he drew a revolver from his pocket. It was strange that he +hadn't attempted to use it before. +</p> <p> +He drew it and turned to face Fred; but just then Fred saw the weapon +and kicked it out of his hand. +</p> <p> +"Oh you're not satisfied yet? You wanted to shoot, eh? Now, I'll show +you what shooting is," and he sent Terry into the house to get his +revolver and an apple. +</p> <p> +There were a few green apples in the kitchen, which the cook intended to +stew that afternoon. +</p> <p> +Terry came out with one of the apples in one hand and the revolver in +the other. +</p> <p> +"Now, my good fellow, you take that apple and hold it between your thumb +and forefinger. Hold it out straight at arm's length, while I send a +bullet through it." +</p> <p> +"Boss, I can't hold it." +</p> <p> +"All right. If you don't hold it between your thumb and forefinger I'll +shoot at your hand." +</p> <p> +"Boss, why don't you let me go? I've got enough, and I'll leave the +State." +</p> <p> +"Hold out that apple," said Fred. +</p> <p> +The man held the apple out at arm's length between his thumb and +forefinger, but his hand was trembling so that Fred had to be very +careful for fear that he would hit the hand and thus maim him for life: +but the bullet went square through the apple, and it fell to the ground. +</p> <p> +The fellow nearly had a fit. He picked up the pieces of the apple and +looked at them. +</p> <p> +"Now you want to leave this locality about as fast as your heels can +carry you," said Fred. +</p> <p> +With that the fellow, without stopping to pick up his hat, turned around +and left, and all he would say to his companions was: +</p> <p> +"Come, boys, let's get away from here. This is no place for us." +</p> <p> +He stopped at the well, took a dipper full of water, and then started +off, while the other three followed him. +</p> <p> +That big cowboy was never seen in that part of Texas afterward. +</p> <p> +The storekeeper told the story to his customers as they came into the +store, and it was soon known all over that county. +</p> <p> +The facts of the lynching of the four Mexican cattle thieves had been +published all over that part of the State, and Fred and Terry were +relieved from the odium of having had anything to do with the affair, +other than the capture of the men. +</p> <p> +The sheriff and his deputies took charge of the bodies, as they were +found hanging to the trees, and buried them by the road-side. +</p> <p> +They were buried in one pit, and above them was a head-board, on which +was painted in large letters the story of their fate. +</p> <p> +Tom Hecker had written to four of his former cowboy companions that he +had found a place with Fearnot and Olcott again, and that they wanted +four more of them to join him. +</p> <p> +They at once resigned their places with their employers, and soon +reached their ranch. +</p> <p> +They were each supplied with a Winchester and cartridges, and told to +capture every cattle thief that they found on the range, even if they +had to bring them down with a bullet. +</p> + +<p></p> +<hr /> + +<p></p> + +<div class="chapter"> +CHAPTER X. +<br /> +<br /> +CONCLUSION.</div> + +<p> +As the news spread around through the county of Fred's having shot an +apple from the fingers of another man, it seemed so incredible that +scores of people came to the cowboys to inquire as to the truth of the +story. +</p> <p> +One day, when Tom was sent to town with a wagon to bring back some +things that Fred had ordered, he told a story at the depot, when a man +challenged him to prove it. He said that be had seen Mr. Olcott fire at +a tree with his revolver at a distance of thirty paces, and then plant +the rest of the bullets in the weapon in the same hole in the tree. +</p> <p> +Said the townsman: +</p> <p> +"I've got a hundred dollars, which says that that is not so. That no +such thing ever happened." +</p> <p> +"Well," said Tim, "I haven't got one hundred dollars, for I don't carry +my money with me wherever I go; but I will have to come up again on +Saturday, and I will see if I can get Mr. Olcott to come up with me and +prove it to you by shooting for you." 7 +</p> <p> +"All right," said the man. "I will meet you here, and put up the money, +and I will bet one hundred dollars that Mr. Olcott can't plant all the +bullets in his revolver in the same hole at a distance of thirty paces, +and if you want to make another bet, I'll bet ten dollars that Mr. +Olcott won't undertake it." +</p> <p> +"That's a go," said Tom, "Just meet me here on Saturday, and I will +bring up my money ready to bet any amount that I can get you to put up +that he can do it." +</p> <p> +When he went home Tom told Terry of the bet that he had made. +</p> <p> +"Now, Mr. Olcott, I haven't got much money, but I'll put up every cent I +have on your marksmanship, and I beg you, as a favor, to go with me on +Saturday and give me a chance to win that bet, for I need it, as I am +engaged to a girl up at Ranchman's Rest, whom I want to marry just as +soon as I can get money enough ahead to build a little home for her." +</p> <p> +"All right. Tom. I'll help you out. I'll go up with you, and if that +fellow or any other man wants to bluff you, I'll check enough out of the +bank for you to cover whatever he or his friends may put up." +</p> <p> +The next Saturday Terry went up to Crabtree, going on a freight train +cab, Tom drove a wagon, for there was no local freight train running +that day down to the ranch. +</p> <p> +The fact is, only through freights ran over the road at that section, +hence none of the cars were unlocked at the ranch. Of course, Terry had +his faithful revolver with him, and when Tom arrived, the sporting men +got around him and challenged him to show his money. +</p> <p> +"All right, sir. Mr. Olcott has agreed to shoot, and I am ready to cover +any amount you want to put up, unless you have put up more than I +have."' +</p> <p> +The original bettor offered to put up three hundred dollars. +</p> <p> +"All right," said Tom. "I'll cover that." +</p> <p> +Then several others put up one and two hundred each. +</p> <p> +Terry had given Tom a check for one thousand dollars, and Tom hurried +off to the bank with it, cashed it, and covered all the bets. +</p> <p> +The depot agent acted as stakeholder. +</p> <p> +Then they went about a quarter of a mile up the road into a piece of +timber, where thirty paces were stepped off, and a piece of white paper, +about an inch square, was fastened, against the tree. +</p> <p> +One man carried a sharp axe with him, saying that he was not going to +let any trick be played on him. +</p> <p> +"It's easy enough," said he, "for one shot to be fired in the tree and +the other shots just to be blank cartridges." +</p> <p> +Terry then fired the first shot, and every man in the party went to the +tree to look at the bullet hole. +</p> <p> +Then Terry fired the other live shots with cool deliberation and +caution. +</p> <p> +When the whole six bullets had been fired no one could tell, from the +appearance of the bullet hole, that any other bullet had hit the tree. +</p> <p> +The man with the axe proceeded to cut into the tree in quest of the +bullets, and the whole six bullets were found, one on top of the other. +</p> <p> +When they came back the report was that six bullets were shot into the +first bullet hole and were found when the chips were cut out. +</p> <p> +On that the men paid the thousand dollars to Tom, whose enthusiasm was +so great that he was ready to risk the whole amount by offering to bet +two to one that Olcott could shoot an apple from his head with that +revolver at a distance of one hundred yards. +</p> <p> +But the party of bettors had had enough. They didn't care to risk any +more money and some of them couldn't afford to lose a hundred dollars; +but firmly believing that they would win, they had borrowed a little to +make up that amount. +</p> <p> +Evelyn and her two visiting friends agreed to go up to Crabtree and +stand up with Tom and his girl when they were married. +</p> <p> +The girl lost no time in leaving Ranchman's Rest for Crabtree, and when +she arrived there Fred and Terry recognized her as a girl they had often +seen, without knowing who she was. They greeted her kindly, and so did +Evelyn, saying she remembered her face well, and within thirty minutes +after she arrived in Crabtree they were married in the parlor of the +hotel at Crabtree, with Fred and Evelyn standing up with them, and quite +a bevy of young ladies acting as maids of honor. +</p> <p> +Terry paid for the dinner of the couple at the hotel, after which they +went out to the wagon that was to carry her trunk, and Tom and she drove +to the ranch by themselves, while Evelyn and the girls returned in the +ranch carriage. +</p> <p> +Fred and Terry and Jack went down on the conductor's caboose of the +freight train. +</p> <p> +Thus Fred and Terry managed their new ranch by giving the strictest +personal attention to every little matter of importance. +</p> <p> +They made it a rule to deal justly and kindly with every man in their +employ, and thus gained their confidence. +</p> <p> +By and by the Crabtree Herald published a statement that the fattest +cattle in the whole State of Texas were to be found on the ranch of +Fearnot and Olcott, and soon applications from cattle firms way up in +Kansas City, Omaha and Chicago began coming to them, the firms asking +for particulars. Terry and Fred knew every one of their correspondents. +</p> <p> +They wrote back to them, however, that it was not there intention to +sell but a limited number of their cattle that fall; but every one of +the firms wrote back to them, saying that they would take their word as +to the condition of the cattle that they had for sale, and would pay the +highest market price for them. +</p> <p> +Some of the firms offered to go down at once, although it was some two +or three months ahead of the regular season for buying cattle, pick them +out, and pay a cash deposit, contracting to pay the market price when +the cattle were ready for sale, and that each beef was to be weighed at +the depot. +</p> <p> +Jack said that he would have a few hundred head for sale, while Fred and +Terry had over five hundred. +</p> <p> +Jack finished his big house, and at once proceeded to furnish it. +</p> <p> +Evelyn looked after that part of it for him, so, while he went North +after his mother and sweetheart Evelyn attended to the furnishing of his +home, and all of his cowboys were instructed to obey whatever orders +either Mr. Olcott or Mr. Fearnot might give. +</p> <p> +Jack wanted Evelyn to go up with him, but she wrote to Mary Hamilton to +go down to New York City and act as bridesmaid for Katy Malone. +</p> + +<p> +Next week's issue will contain "FRED FEARNOT AND THE LARIAT THROWER; OR, +BEATING THE CHAMPION OF THE WEST." +</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FRED FEARNOT'S NEW RANCH***</p> +<p>******* This file should be named 21795-h.txt or 21795-h.zip *******</p> +<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/1/7/9/21795">http://www.gutenberg.org/2/1/7/9/21795</a></p> +<p>Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed.</p> + +<p>Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution.</p> + + + +<pre> +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/license">http://www.gutenberg.org/license)</a>. + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS,' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/pglaf. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://www.gutenberg.org/about/contact + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/pglaf + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +Each eBook is in a subdirectory of the same number as the eBook's +eBook number, often in several formats including plain vanilla ASCII, +compressed (zipped), HTML and others. + +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks replace the old file and take over +the old filename and etext number. The replaced older file is renamed. +VERSIONS based on separate sources are treated as new eBooks receiving +new filenames and etext numbers. + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org">http://www.gutenberg.org</a> + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + +EBooks posted prior to November 2003, with eBook numbers BELOW #10000, +are filed in directories based on their release date. If you want to +download any of these eBooks directly, rather than using the regular +search system you may utilize the following addresses and just +download by the etext year. + +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/etext06/">http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/etext06/</a> + + (Or /etext 05, 04, 03, 02, 01, 00, 99, + 98, 97, 96, 95, 94, 93, 92, 92, 91 or 90) + +EBooks posted since November 2003, with etext numbers OVER #10000, are +filed in a different way. The year of a release date is no longer part +of the directory path. The path is based on the etext number (which is +identical to the filename). The path to the file is made up of single +digits corresponding to all but the last digit in the filename. For +example an eBook of filename 10234 would be found at: + +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/0/2/3/10234 + +or filename 24689 would be found at: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/4/6/8/24689 + +An alternative method of locating eBooks: +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/GUTINDEX.ALL">http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/GUTINDEX.ALL</a> + +*** END: FULL LICENSE *** +</pre> +</body> +</html> diff --git a/21795-h/images/masthead-waw1074.jpg b/21795-h/images/masthead-waw1074.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..ee72bbf --- /dev/null +++ b/21795-h/images/masthead-waw1074.jpg diff --git a/21795-h/images/title-waw1074.jpg b/21795-h/images/title-waw1074.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..f1acdc8 --- /dev/null +++ b/21795-h/images/title-waw1074.jpg diff --git a/21795.txt b/21795.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8c49711 --- /dev/null +++ b/21795.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3787 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, Fred Fearnot's New Ranch, by Hal Standish + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: Fred Fearnot's New Ranch + and How He and Terry Managed It + + +Author: Hal Standish + + + +Release Date: June 10, 2007 [eBook #21795] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FRED FEARNOT'S NEW RANCH*** + + +E-text prepared by Richard Halsey + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original cover illustration. + See 21795-h.htm or 21795-h.zip: + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/1/7/6/21795/21795-h/21795-h.htm) + or + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/1/7/6/21795/21795-h.zip) + + + Originally published in Work and Win, An Interesting Weekly for + Young America, July 4, 1919 + + + + + +FRED FEARNOT'S NEW RANCH + +and + +How He and Terry Managed It + +by + +HAL STANDISH + + + + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +FEARNOT AND OLCOTT AT FREEDONIA. + +Fearnot and Olcott remained in Wall Street after the great excitement +occasioned, by Fred's sudden change of front, when he turned from a bull +to a bear in the market, quietly waiting for another chance to make a +deal. + +All the brokers in the Street had nothing else to talk about for the +time being but that singular event, and it became well known that the +brokers who had been attempting to crush him the second time narrowly +escaped being themselves completely ruined. + +Although Fred and Terry didn't reap the benefit of the change as much as +they expected, they made a neat little sum, and Broker Bellamy, who had +been Fred's most persistent enemy, was so badly crippled that many +brokers thought he was completely ruined. + +His two nephews, thinking that Fred had been too harsh with their uncle, +hired a couple of thugs to give him a good beating, but the news of +their intention having reached Fred's ears, Terry kept inside the +typewriter's room an hour after the close of business for some time. + +One afternoon the thugs entered the room and the leader fell into Fred's +terrible grip, and he squeezed his ribs so fiercely that several of them +were broken. The wounded slugger's pal was roundly thrashed, too, by +Terry, who couldn't resist the temptation to take a hand in it, but he +was permitted to take his friend out to the hospital. + +The building was so nearly deserted at the time that the news did not +get out. + +The two young nephews of Broker Bellamy on learning of the failure of +their hired assassins, immediately sailed from New York for parts +unknown, and all Wall Street became interested in the question of what +had become of them, where they had gone and why they had left the city +between sunset and sunrise. + +Fred and Terry believed that they knew just why they had gone away, but, +of course, had no idea where they had gone. + +Broker Bellamy, who was very fond of his two stalwart nephews, intimated +that he believed that Fred and Terry knew what had become of them, and, +from that, the gossips began saying that the old broker had charged Fred +and Terry with making way with his two nephews. At first Fred and Terry +laughed at it, and so did all Wall Street. Nobody believed it except +their enemies, who were willing to believe anything to their discredit. + +Terry finally called up Broker Bellamy and took him to task for starting +such a report that they had had some hand in making way with his +nephews, but the old man, of course, denied the charge, whereupon Terry +told him of the hired sluggers who had attacked Fred in his office, and +how their attack had proved an absolute failure. + +One of the sluggers had died from being shot by a crook after making +confession to one of the surgeons that he had been hired by the two +Bellamy boys, and that therefore he ought to understand why his nephews +had absconded from the city. + +The old fellow was dumfounded, and it was probably true when he denied +that he knew anything about the attack on Fearnot, and so he refused to +make any retraction whatever. + +Then Terry wrote an account of the whole incident and had it published +in one of the big dailies. This was a shock to the entire city. + +Terry obtained an affidavit from one of the surgeons who had treated the +wounded man in the hospital and one also from the other thug who had +witnessed and taken part in the attack corroborating the charge that +Terry had made. + +It came very near ruining the old broker, who already had many enemies +in the Street, and it gradually forced him to retire. + +After that Fred and Terry took part in several more little deals, some +of which panned out pretty well, while others profited them little or +nothing; but in the aggregate they had gathered in a pretty good sum +during the season, and they decided that they were pretty well paid for +their return to Wall Street; so they finally decided to go back down +into Texas to look after their new ranch and try to add another thousand +head of cattle to their herd. + +They wrote Jack that they were going to return south, and as soon as +Jack received their letter he promptly wired back to them to stay there +until he joined them, as he intended to come up after his mother and to +marry Katy Malone, who was still working in the office with Louise +Crane. + +"Great Scott, Terry!" said Fred. "Jack has finished his house by this +time, and now he is in a hurry to get his mother and sweetheart down +there with him." + +"Well, I don't blame him, Fred. Katy is a sweet girl and dead in love +with him, while his mother wants her along as a companion." + +"Very true; but, Terry, I fear that he is making a mistake." + +"Don't say anything about that, Fred," advised Terry, "for it would hurt +both his and her feelings, and probably his mother's. I don't see how it +is possible that his house can be finished ready for occupancy in such a +short time." + +"Neither do I, and I'm going to wire to him and ask him if the house is +finished, and if it isn't I'll just advise him to postpone his trip +North until it is." So he wired to Crabtree, and the dispatch was sent +down the road by the operator to him. + +Jack promptly answered the question by saying that the house was not yet +finished, and would not be for several months yet, but that his mother +and Katy could find comfortable quarters in one of the other houses. + +Fred immediately wired back: + +"Take my advice, Jack, and wait until the house is finished and +furnished." + +The next morning he received a reply from Jack, saying: + +"All right, sir, I'll wait." + +"Terry, that boy is no fool," Fred remarked, as he showed him the +dispatch. + +"Now, Terry," said Fred, "let's see if we can't persuade Evelyn and Mary +to go back with us down there. We can keep them at the hotel in +Crabtree, supply them with a carriage and a pair of horses, and you know +it is not absolutely necessary for us to live out on the ranch entirely +yet. Then, too, we are well enough supplied with money now to entertain +them in good style, as well as to add another thousand head of cattle to +our herd." + +"Fred, that would suit you all right, for I have no doubt but that +Evelyn would be glad to go, but I am afraid that Mrs. Hamilton will +refuse to give her consent to Mary's going out there, and I am sure, +too, that she will never consent to our marriage if I intend to bring +her down here to live. She seems to have a holy horror of Texas; for +that state has the name, you know, all over this part of the country as +being a place for which all law-breakers leave when the sheriff gets +after them. We had that idea, too, until we stayed down there among +them for a few months; but there are no better people in the world, on +an average, than we have found the citizens of Texas to be." + +"Well, Terry, let's take a run up to Fredonia and have a talk with the +girls and their mothers. We may be able to persuade Mrs. Hamilton to our +way of thinking." So a few days later they took the train up to +Fredonia, without having notified the girls of their intention of doing +so. + +It so happened that on that very day Evelyn and Mary took a ride over on +Main street, and when they had finished their little shopping Evelyn +suggested that they drive up to the depot and see the train pass. + +They did so, and were never more surprised in their lives than when they +saw Fred and Terry emerge from the cars. + +"Oh, Mary!" exclaimed Evelyn, "there are Fred and brother!" + +"Where? Where?" Mary questioned. + +"Why, don't you see them coming there with their valises in their +hands?" and the two girls threw their arms around each other's necks and +kissed each other in their great joy at seeing their sweethearts. + +Fred and Terry saw the carriage and at once left the station platform +and started toward it. + +Evelyn sprang out of the carriage, ran to Terry, threw her arms around +his neck and kissed him only as a loving sister can. + +Fred dropped his valise, and, catching her in his arms, kissed her on +both cheeks, while probably a score of spectators stood looking on; but +then neither of them cared for that, for every man, woman and child in +Fredonia knew of their engagement. + +"Dear," said Fred, "how did you know that we were coming up?" + +"Fred, I really can't say. Mary and I were down on Main street shopping. +Suddenly the thought of you and brother came into my head and my heart +suggested that we come up here, although both of us were ignorant that +you boys were coming up on that train." + +"Well, bless that dear heart," said Fred, as he assisted her into the +carriage. + +Of course, the Olcott and Hamilton families were greatly surprised. + +Fred explained to Evelyn that he and Terry had succeeded in their deals +down in Wall Street and had almost recovered from their losses caused by +failure of the Texas bank, and that they were thinking of going back +down to Texas to look after their new ranch and to try to add another +thousand head of cattle to their herd. + +"And you came up to tell us good-by, eh?" + +"Well, we came up to see you girls, but about that I'll tell you later." + +Neither of the boys went over into town during that day. They were +satisfied to remain with their sweethearts, and their sweethearts were +more than pleased to have them do so. Both the girls were highly pleased +with the report they made as to their financial success in Wall Street. + +"Fred," said Evelyn, "why not defer your return to Texas until cold +weather, when I would be glad to go down with you and brother and spend +the winter there, for I enjoyed myself splendidly last winter. The +people were kind and sociable." + +"Yes, indeed, we have found them so. When we left there, as I told you +when we first came up, we were loaded down with loving messages for you +from the best society people there at Crabtree, but I never saw Wall +Street so dull in my life. I've had my revenge over the worst enemy I +ever had there; but you know all about that, for you were down at the +office at the time I changed front and got the best of Broker Bellamy +and his syndicate." + +"Yes, and I actually felt sorry for the old rascal. I don't enjoy other +people's distress, Fred." + +"No I know that; but I tell you that sometimes revenge is sweet. We +didn't make as much out of that deal as we expected to, but still we +have no right to complain. We have not only saved ourselves from +financial embarrassment, but have money enough left to add another +thousand head of cattle to the ranch and to build any kind of a house +that would suit you." + +"Suit me!" said she. "Are you expecting to make that your future home, +Fred?" + +"I'll leave that with you, dear. If you insist upon it we can live +elsewhere and do as we did on the Colorado ranch, leaving faithful men +to manage it for us." + +"Fred, I could live contentedly anywhere in the world where you are +satisfied and can make money. + +"Mrs. Hamilton, however," she continued, "is horrified at the idea of +Mary living so far from her. She has a great fear of the climate of +Texas, and she thinks the people, too, down there are nearly half +savages." + +"Well, can't you tell her better than that?" + +"I have told her all about how I found the people down there at +Crabtree, but she says I was there at a hotel where only people of +refinement live, and that I know nothing about the people out in the +country. I laughed at her and asked her if she knew anything about them +herself, and she retorted that everybody who read newspapers knew what +sort of people lived down there." + +"Well, dear, Terry and I have come up to see if we could persuade you +and Mary to go down there with us and spend the fall and winter." + +"Fred, I am perfectly willing to go anywhere that brother goes along +with us, and I will do my best to get Mrs. Hamilton's consent for Mary +to go, for she has never been down in that section of the country." + +"Well, you go, anyhow," suggested Fred. "I want you to see the new +ranch. I wouldn't think of making a home at the ranch we looked at when +we went down to Crabtree. The one that we afterwards bought as an +investment is the one I mean. I believe that we can, eventually, build +up a little place of resort about that big, bold mineral spring just a +mile from the railroad track, and I intend to have the water analyzed. +The physicians claim down there that it has been partially analyzed and +is said to be the finest water in the South, but I am going to send a +bottle of the water to a chemist in New York or Philadelphia who has an +established reputation and have him analyze it. + +"I do hope, though," he added, "that you will plead with Mrs. Hamilton +for her consent to let Mary go down and see the country." + +That evening the two boys spent with their sweethearts at their +respective homes. + +Terry then told Mary what he wanted her to do, saying that Evelyn was +going down with him and Fred to see their Texas ranch, and he wanted her +to go, too. + +"Mary," said he, "it is the richest ranch I ever saw in my life. We +thought the one in Colorado was a grand one, and so it was, but the +grass there was never so abundant or so nutritious as at our new ranch. +It grows much taller, keeps fresh and green longer, and the soil itself +is several degrees richer than the Colorado ranch. You never so many +quail in your life as you can see there every day in the week all the +year round. There are prairie chickens, and there are ten jack-rabbits +there to one in Colorado." + +"But, Terry, last winter you wrote me about some bad Mexican and +American cowboys who had made trouble for you." + +"Yes, but didn't we have the same trouble out in Colorado? Didn't I +point out to you several times in Colorado the graves of horse thieves +and cattle thieves whom our cowboys had shot to prevent them from +plundering our ranch? Are not murders committed right here in New York +City often, and don't you read of them in the papers? Why, there is no +place in the country where bad men don't live, and bad women, too, for +that matter; and by this time those cowboys have found out that Fred and +I, as well as Jack, are deadshots and not afraid to pull a trigger on a +bad character, so you can't say anything against that locality any more +than you can any other in the West." + +"Terry, is Evelyn going back with you?" she asked. + +"Yes she has said that she would, but she wants you to go, too." + +"Terry, I'm afraid that mother will never consent." + +"By George, Mary, she must consent," said Terry. "I'm not going to let +her destroy my happiness." + +"Well, Terry, you will have to talk with her yourself." + +"That's just what Fred and I came up to do, dear. Of course, we couldn't +take you against her consent until after you and I are married, and if +she won't consent to your accompanying Evelyn down there, why I'll hurry +back as soon as I can get the home ready for you, marry you and away +we'll go to just where we darn please!" + +The next day Fred and Terry made a combined attack on Mrs. Hamilton +trying to gain her consent for Mary to go down and spend the fall and +winter in Texas with Evelyn, but she was firm in her refusal, saying +that Mary had spent "nearly half her time for several years away from +home, and that she was opposed to her going so far south, anyway." + +Both Fred and Terry had to finally give it up in despair. Evelyn said +that she would go down with them, as she had never enjoyed herself more, +even up at New Era, than she had at Crabtree. + +She said, too, that she had never met up with more refined people than +she had there. Mary, of course, cried herself sick and begged piteously +for permission to accompany Evelyn. Mrs. Hamilton, though, put up all +sorts of excuses. When she mentioned the matter of expense Evelyn said +that Mary could go as her guest, and that she need not spend one nickel +for anything. + +"Besides, mother," pleaded Mary, "I have money of my own, you know, and +surely, as I am of age, I should be permitted to spend some of it just +as I please." + + +CHAPTER II. + +TERRY OLCOTT ON DECK. + +Finding all their pleadings with Mrs. Hamilton in vain, Fred and Terry +began making preparations for the long trip down to Texas, accompanied +only by Evelyn. + +While regretting to see her leave, her mother never objected to her +going anywhere with her brother; so, after a few days' preparations, +they were all ready to start. + +Mary accompanied them down to New York City, where she was to spend a +week with Mrs. Middleton. + +They finally decided to take a steamer from New York to New Orleans, and +quite a party of friends accompanied them down to the wharf. The very +best staterooms in the steamer had been reserved for them. Evelyn's +cabin was a bank of flowers, which loving friends and admirers had sent +down for her. + +Evelyn was a pretty good sailor, and had once crossed the Atlantic +without the least bit of seasickness. Among the passengers was a family +of New Orleans people, a father and mother and two beautiful daughters. +The father was a rich New Orleans merchant whom Fred and Terry knew well +by reputation, and, of course, the merchant and his family knew them in +the same way Evelyn made their acquaintance before the vessel had +actually passed through the Narrows. The two sisters fell in love with +her at once. The elder sister was about twenty years of age and of +exquisite Creole beauty. She was very much surprised when she found out +that Evelyn could speak French as fluently as she could. + +"Oh," said Evelyn, "I spent a most agreeable time in Paris once. My +brother and Mr. Fearnot are both quite good linguists, Mr. Fearnot +particularly. He can learn a foreign language more easily and rapidly +than any one I ever knew. Brother can learn it easily, too; but not as +much so as Mr. Fearnot." + +Just as the steamer was passing out of the Narrows both Fred and Terry +came up to where Evelyn was talking with the two French girls, and she +introduced them to the boys. + +Both the New Orleans girls looked at them as though somewhat surprised. +"Why, Mr. Fearnot," said one of them, "I've heard a great deal about +you, but you are much younger than I expected to find you." + +"Oh, I'm a kid yet," he laughed, and Terry proceeded to amuse them with +some funny stories. + +The elder of the two Creoles remarked that she was very fond of the sea. + +"Do you ever get seasick?" Terry asked. + +"No; do you?" + +"Yes, every time I get out on blue water I have to pay tribute to old +King Neptune. I've done my best to make friends with him, but I always +fail. He will have his joke with me." + +"Ladies," remarked Fred, "if you want something to laugh at until you +reach New Orleans just manage to see Olcott when he is seasick." + +"Why, what is funny about it?" + +"I can't tell you. He makes funny remarks and queer noises." + +Evelyn laughed and said: + +"Yes, he expresses opinions about old Father Neptune that I think he +really ought to be ashamed of." + +"Don't you get seasick?" + +"Not unless the water is rough and the waves come rolling high, and then +I have to retire to my stateroom for at least twenty-four hours; then +I'm all right for the rest of the voyage, even if it extends all around +the world." + +As they were rounding Sandy Hook a great many of the passengers sought +the seclusion of their staterooms and cabins, for the waves were rolling +very actively. + +Evelyn and the two Creole girls, whose name was Elon, remained on deck +longer than any of the lady passengers on board. + +By and by Evelyn and the younger of the two Elon sisters retired to +their rooms. + +The elder one laughed and said to Fred: + +"Mr. Fearnot, we two seem to be on quite good terms with the old man of +the sea." + +"Yes," returned Fred. "When I made up my mind to go South by water I +began to make preparations to remain on good terms with Father Neptune. + +"Why, how in the world did you manage to do that?" + +"Why, don't you know a remedy for seasickness, or a pallative, at +least?" + +"Why, no, indeed. What is it? I have never heard of any except lemons." + +"Well, lemons are very good, and will be effective if you tackle them +twenty-four hours or more before beginning the voyage. I have a bottle +of acid phosphate in my room, and a teaspoonful in half a glass of water +soon equips one in such a manner that he can resist the effects of the +motion of the ship." + +"Oh, my! will you give me a drink of it? I'm not at all seasick, but if +the water gets any rougher I will be." + +"Certainly," and Fred went to his room and soon returned with a glass +with about two teaspoonfuls of acid phosphate in it. He went to the +water cooler, filled the glass with cold water and presented it to the +young lady. + +"Drink about half of it," said he, "and in twenty or thirty minutes +drink the other half." + +She took the glass, tipped it up and drained every drop of its contents. + +"By George," said he, "you took a good dose." + +"Oh, I'm used to drinking phosphates; but never heard of it as an +antidote for seasickness before. Have you had a drink of it?" + +"Oh, yes; I've had two drinks since I left the wharf." + +He took the glass to his room, and when he came out he tendered his arms +to the girl and went promenading up and down the deck. + +Her father went to her and asked her if she felt any seasickness. + +"No, father," said she, "not the least bit. This gentleman is Mr. +Fearnot, the famous athlete." + +"Well, well, well! I'm glad to meet you, Mr. Fearnot. I heard of you +several times when you were in New Orleans. What's become of your friend +Olcott?" + +"Oh, he's on board, and so is his sister Evelyn." + +"Well, I'd like to meet him and his sister," said the old gentleman. + +"Father," said his daughter, "she is just the sweetest and prettiest +girl you ever saw in your life. I met her when we first came on board, +but as the sea was a little too rough for her she had to retire to her +room, and I hardly think that we will have the pleasure of seeing her +again before tomorrow. Mr. Olcott, her brother, Mr. Fearnot tells me, is +an awful victim to seasickness, and that he says and does funny things +while old Neptune has a grip on him." + +Then she suddenly asked her father how her mother was. + +"Oh, she is in her room actually groaning and making believe that she is +going to die." + +"Oh, she does that every time she sails," and the girl laughed merrily. + +Mr. Elon remained with her and Fred for at least a half hour. Then he +drew a package of cigars from his pocket said tendered one to Fred. + +"Thank you, sir; but I never smoke." + +"Well you will excuse me, then, if I indulge." + +"Certainly, sir; certainly." So he retired to the further side of the +deck and lit a cigar by using a match made in Sweden which the fiercest +wind cannot extinguish. + +Then he began puffing furiously. + +The girl squeezed Fred's arm and said: + +"Just watch him. You'll see him slipping back to his room pretty soon. +He's no sailor." + +"Well," said Fred, "you seem to be a pretty good mariner." + +"Yes; if you have any suspicions that I will retreat, just stick to me." + +"All right, I'll keep an eye on you, for you are beautiful to look at, +if you will pardon the liberty of expression." + +"Mr. Fearnot, did you ever see a girl who didn't like such expressions?" + +"Yes, I saw one once when she was struggling with an attack of mal de +mer, and she had to yield to its effect in the presence of all the +crowd, for there was no place for retreat for her. We were returning +from Coney Island. The young man who was acting as her escort thought +that he would compliment her by mentioning that she was the most +beautiful girl on the ship. She thought it was spoken sarcastically, for +she couldn't conceive how a seasick girl could be beautiful, and then +just at that time she was disgorging the dinner which she had eaten an +hour or two before, so she turned on him and gave him a pretty sharp +rebuke." + +Miss Elon laughed heartily at the story, and said: + +"Well, I don't blame her, for a girl thinks at such a time as that she +looks as ugly as she feels, even if she don't. Now, Mr. Fearnot," she +continued, "will you please go back and bring me another dose of that +acid phosphate?" + +"Certainly, certainly!" and he hurried back to his cabin and returned +with the glass with the phosphate in it. Filling the glass with water, +he presented it to her and suggested that she take only half the dose. + +"All or nothing," she laughed, and swallowed the contents of the glass. + +She returned the glass to Fred with thanks, and he took it back to his +cabin and took a dose himself. + +To his astonishment the girl kept her feet admirably, and even when +supper was announced she looked up at him and said: + +"Mr. Fearnot, father and mother and sister have all retired. Will you +take me down to supper?" + +"With the greatest of pleasure," he replied, with a smile. "You are a +strong, brave girl, and you must pardon me if I give utterance to my +admiration." + +"Thank you. Thank you very much, Mr. Fearnot," and, taking his arm, she +accompanied him down into the dining-room, where she was the only lady +passenger present. + +She ate rather a light supper, and so did Fred. The meal over, they went +back up on deck, for all people when seasick want to be out in the fresh +air, and if the wind blows strong and cold they are all the better for +it. + +Of course, the air wasn't cold at that season of the year, but the wind +blew fresh and strong from over the sea. + +They walked about on the deck until ten o'clock, and then she said: + +"Mr. Fearnot, you will excuse me if I retire." + +"All right," said he, "but tell me, do you feel the least bit seasick?" + +"No, indeed. I did expect to be, but that acid phosphate seemed to have +been the very thing for me, and I thank you heartily for suggesting it +to me." + +"Perhaps you had better take another dose before retiring. You may need +some, too, through the night; so you may take the bottle to the cabin +with you," and he got it and placed it in her hand. + +The next morning the passengers came straggling into the breakfast-room, +some looking very pale and wearied; but the elder Miss Elon came +tripping down the stairs like a sparrow. + +While she and Fred were at the table her sister and Evelyn came in +together. + +Fred sprang up to accompany them to seats. + +"How are you feeling, dear?" Fred inquired. + +"Fred, I confess I haven't gotten over old Neptune's slap yet. Did he +worry you any?" + +"Not the least," and then he told her about Miss Elon's sister. + +The younger Miss Elon was sitting alongside of Evelyn and remarked: + +"Oh, Josephine never gets seasick." + +"So I found out last night," replied Fred, "for we promenaded the deck +until ten o'clock. She drank pretty freely of acid phosphate, and that +removed the feeling entirely." + +"Oh, my, Fred! Why didn't you offer me some of it?" + +"I did for two days before we came aboard, but you refused to take it." + +"Yes, but I didn't need it then." + +"Well, that is the time when you should have taken it. I see you are +looking a little pale yet, and it isn't too late to brace up with a dose +of it now, but Miss Josephine has the bottle in her cabin." + +"Yes," said her sister; "she gave me a dose of it, too, and, Mr. +Fearnot, I wish you could have heard the many kind things she said about +you. It's a wonder your ears didn't tingle." + +"Well, well, well! Now I know why my ears did tingle so last night. I am +glad I know what caused it." + +Evelyn laughed with Miss Elon and remarked: + +"He is good at that sort of thing." + +The breakfast set the girls all right, and they went up on deck and +promenaded until many other ladies appeared, some of them still showing +the effects of seasickness, but by noon they were all out, for the sea +was by no means very rough, and the further south the ship plowed the +more quiet the waters became. + +Terry didn't eat any breakfast that morning at all, unless sucking two +or three whole lemons might be called by that name. + +He came out on deck about ten o'clock, still entertaining very bad +opinions of old Father Neptune. + +He could have abused the old fellow better without indulging in +profanity than any man living, but along in the middle of the afternoon +he recovered entirely. + +He took charge of Grace Elon, the younger of the two Elon sisters, and +kept her laughing heartily as they walked to and fro upon the deck. + +When they struck Cape Hatteras, where the water is always rough, it was +quite late in the night, and some of the passengers felt the effect of +it, which spoiled the pleasure of the evening. + +The water is nearly always rough at that point on the Atlantic coast. + +The next morning, though, the bosom of the ocean seemed to be like a +vast mirror, so smooth was it. Seagulls were flying around, following +the ship to pick up such bits of food as the cooks and waiters cast +overboard. Some four or five gentlemen got out on the stern deck and +with revolvers were shooting at the birds. + +Nearly a dozen shots were fired without a single seagull being hit. + +All sailors object to passengers shooting at Mother Carey's chickens, as +they call the seagull, but the average passenger has no such +superstition. + +"It's a pity," said Josie Elon, "to kill such beautiful birds. How white +and clean they seem to be, and what beautiful white wings they have. +Every feather seems to have been made of snow." + +"They are very hard to hit," remarked Terry, "and only a good marksman +can hit one of them on the wing." + +"Mr. Olcott, I have read in the papers about you and Mr. Fearnot being +the best marksmen in the country. Couldn't you kill one of them?" + +"Yes, easily, and if you want a wing to place in your hat I will procure +it for you." + +"I would like to have one so that I could examine the feathers." + +"Wait, then, until I can get my revolver and I'll bring one down on deck +here so that you can examine it to your satisfaction." So he went to his +room and soon returned with his revolver. + +"Now, let's get out on the middle of the deck and wait until one of the +gulls flies over us, then he will drop down on the deck and he can be +your prize." + +He waited for about fifteen minutes before a gull flew directly +overhead, and then he quickly raised his revolver and fired. The bullet +actually cut the bird's head off and it fell fluttering to the deck. + +Of course, the marksmanship created quite a sensation among the +passengers every one of whom exclaimed that it was an accident, and that +the gentleman might fire one hundred times again without bringing down +another bird, but not one of them thought to ask the name of the +gentleman who had fired the shot, for the ladies gathered around to +examine the beautiful plumage of the gull. + +There were two or three ladies on board who had wing feathers of the +same kind in their hats, and some of them insisted on comparing the +wings of the dead gull with some found on the hats of the ladies. + +Naturally a dispute arose among them as to whether or not those on the +hat were the same kind as those of the dead bird. Some, of course, were +larger than others. + +Terry suggested that he bring down another one that the comparison might +be made as to the size and exact color to settle the question as to +whether they were all of the same kind. + +"See here, my friend," said one of the gentlemen on the deck, "I'll lay +fifty dollars down here which says that you can't bring down another one +in fifty shots." + +"What!" Terry exclaimed, "do you mean to say that I can't bring down +another with fifty shots?" + +"That's just what I do, sir." + +"Well, you are a very foolish man, if you will excuse the expression." + +"Oh, I'll excuse that," said the man, "but I mean just what I say. If +you had a shotgun I wouldn't make the bet, but with your revolver you +couldn't hit another bird on the wing in fifty shots, and if you want to +cover the bet I'll double it with pleasure." + +"Do you mind my asking you another question?" Terry inquired. + +"No; ask as many as you please." + +"Well, I would like to know how much money you have with you." + +"Oh, I've got enough to pay all I lose betting on your marksmanship. If +you want to make the bet a hundred, or two hundred, or five hundred, +show your money and I'll cover it." + +"My friend, I really don't want your money, but I will make it five +hundred dollars just to show you how foolish you are to make a bet of +that kind with a stranger. Probably if you knew me you wouldn't make +such an offer." + +"Never mind who you are, I'm betting on the marksmanship," and the +fellow drew a big roll of money from his pocket and began to count it to +the amount of five hundred dollars. + +"All right," and Terry proceeded to count out five hundred dollars which +he asked the young lady from New Orleans to hold for him, saying that +she would be his stake holder. + +"Oh, my! What if I run away with it?" + +"Oh, I'll take the chances of it," laughed Terry. + + +CHAPTER III. + +HOW FRED, TERRY AND EVELYN RETURNED TO TEXAS. + +The other passenger also handed his roll of bills to Miss Elon, and, +looking at Terry, said: + +"Now, go ahead." + +"Wait a few moments," said Terry, "until one flies over the deck, so +that he will drop down in order that the ladies may examine his wings." + +"All right; take your time," and, while he was standing around waiting +he asked the young lady who was holding the money who the young man was. + +"Why, he is Mr. Olcott. Haven't you heard of him?" + +"No, I never did. At least not that I can remember." + +The young lady seemed to be quite surprised, and asked him if he had +ever heard of Fred Fearnot. + +"Oh, yes, I've heard of him in the public press many a time." + +"Well, Mr. Olcott is Mr. Fearnot's partner, and they are both said to be +the best shots in the United States." + +The fellow looked straight at Terry as if trying to size him up. He +hadn't really ever heard of Olcott to his recollection but shooting a +gull on the wing with a revolver was such an extraordinary feat that he +was willing to take the chances. He had seen him bring down one gull and +like the majority of men who take chances, decided that it was +impossible for it to be done very often. + +By and by he looked up and saw a gull sailing over the deck and sung +out: + +"There's a good shot. Try him." + +Terry raised his gun and fired so quickly that none of the spectators +thought that he had even taken aim. The bullet struck the gull squarely +in the breast, and, of course, the bird came tumbling down right into +the group of passengers. + +Exclamations of surprise burst from nearly every man on the deck. + +The loser didn't seem to care anything about his loss, so Fred end Terry +sized him as a professional gambler. + +"Would you like to try another shot?" Terry asked. + +"Well, no; not at that price." + +"Well, I'll give you odds of two to one." + +"No, I've got enough," was the reply, and Terry laughed rather +sarcastically. + +"I'll give you odds of a hundred to one," Terry said. + +"Great Scott!" exclaimed another passenger. "Will you give me such odds, +mister?" + +"Yes if this gentleman refuses." + +"All right, I refuse," said the gentleman who had lost. + +"Then I'll take it and put up a hundred dollars," said the second man. + +"Well, that calls for ten thousand from me," replied Terry, and again he +waited for a good shot. + +Finally another gull came flying over, about twice as high as the first +two. + +Terry was going to wait for another chance, when the bettor angrily +exclaimed that he must want a bird to alight on the muzzle of his +revolver. + +"Why, surely you don't expect to have me shoot at a bird that is really +out of range, do you?" + +"No, but that wasn't out of range." + +"My friend, you don't know anything about distance on either land or +water. That gull is at least a hundred yards above us," and nearly every +man on the deck agreed with Terry, but the bettor became rather +sarcastic and asked if he expected the bird to knock his hat off with +one of its wings. + +"Here comes another one," sung out somebody, and, looking up, they saw +another gull about the same height from the deck. The bettor remarked: + +"Oh, he's too high." + +Everybody recognized the sneer in his tone. Terry, however, raised his +revolver and fired, and the gull came fluttering, down with one of its +wings actually cut off. + +The bettor's friends at once began sympathizing with him, but he looked +at Terry and asked if he considered that a good shot. + +"Yes, I consider that pretty good," said Terry. "I brought him down, and +the bet was that I couldn't hit him. I consider it a good shot because +he was up so high that he could scarcely have been brought down even +with a shotgun." + +Neither side had put up any money in that last bet, but the gambler +insisted that it wasn't a fair shot, and that he thought Terry ought to +make another trial. + +"No, sir," said Terry, "not for ten thousand dollars. I never play with +a man of your stripe." + +"Oh, you don't like my stripe, eh?" + +"No, I don't. All marksmen will agree that I brought the bird down +fairly. I didn't agree to shoot his head off as I did the first one, but +simply to bring him down. Now, if you will take the vote of the +passengers and they don't agree with me ten to one it is no bet." + +The gambler tried to argue about it rather than take the vote, but Terry +walked away and refused to talk with him. He was a big six-footer, +weighing pretty nearly two hundred pounds. + +When Terry turned his back on him and refused to talk with him he placed +his hand on Terry's shoulder and turned him square around so as to face +him telling him that if he meant to insult him he would throw him +overboard. + +Quick as a flash Terry said: + +"To be frank with you, sir, I do mean to insult you. I denounce you as a +dishonorable man, who won't play fair if it costs you a few hundred +dollars." + +With that the man aimed a blow at Terry's face with his big fist, but +Terry easily parried it and gave him three or four blows in rapid +succession on his chest in return, causing him to stagger back against +another man, who kindly held him up. + +"That's right," said Terry. "Hold him up," and in the next few seconds +Terry put in three or four more blows on his solar plexus, and down he +sank on the deck scarcely able to breathe. + +Some friends of the man took him up and carried him into the main +saloon, where others assisted him to his cabin. The captain heard of the +trouble and came out on the deck to make inquiries as to whom was to +blame. + +He soon got the straight story of it, and at once went to the fellow's +cabin and told him that if he made any more trouble on board his ship he +would have him put in irons until they reached the end of the voyage. + +Quite a number of gentlemen then asked Fearnot if his friend was a +professional fighter. + +"No," Fred replied. "He is a Wall Street broker, and is also my partner +in a ranch down in Texas." + +Both the Elon girls expressed their amazement at his fighting qualities. + +"Oh, that's nothing," said Evelyn. "He hasn't been whipped since he was +fifteen years old. I knew that that big fellow would be severely +punished if he struck brother. Now, if he had struck Mr. Fearnot, he +would have fared even worse; for Fred is probably one of the strongest +men of his size in the United States, so far as physical abilities are +concerned." + +Of course, there was no more shooting that day. The ship's surgeon said +that the man who had tackled Olcott would not be able to appear on deck +that day. + +That evening, as Evelyn and the elder Elon girl were standing out on the +forward deck, gazing at the stars, Terry came up and joined them. + +"Mr. Olcott," said the New Orleans beauty, "you are just the kind of a +man that I have been looking for for three or four years. Please tell me +how I can induce you to come courting." + +"Too late," laughed Terry, "I'm already mortgaged." + +"Oh, my! Just my luck." + +"Don't despair," laughed Terry. "You have perhaps heard the old saying +that there are just as many fish in the sea as were ever caught." + +"Oh, yes. There are plenty of good men; but no more like you. I don't +believe in fighting, but when I marry I want my husband to be able to +whip any other man." + +"All right," he laughed, "if you want me to lick a man for your husband +just to please you I will do it if you will send for me." + +"Oh, that wouldn't do. If my husband had to have another man to do his +fighting for him, I would soon get so disgusted that I would sue for a +divorce." + +"Well, that shows that every man ought to learn how to defend himself. +If you ever fall in love with a fellow and he wants you to marry him, +insist upon his taking boxing lessons. But let me tell you the majority +of boxing men are generally rough fighters, who like to get into trouble +just to show their skill as pugilists. Avoid all such." + +"Say, Olcott," a passenger asked Terry, "are you going to let Connolly +euchre you out of the hundred dollars you won?" + +"Oh, if he wants to keep it in the face of the passengers on board who +heard the bet, he is welcome to it as far as I am concerned. He is no +gentleman, and as such I dismiss him from my thoughts altogether. I've +been up against such men before. It's a debt of honor, and can't be +collected by law, and dishonorable men never pay such debts." + +The big fellow remained in his cabin to the end of the voyage, not +caring to come out where he would be likely to face Terry or some of his +friends, who thought he was acting disgracefully. The fact is, he didn't +have the half of one hundred dollars with him. + +During the remainder of the voyage Fred, Terry and Evelyn, with the two +Elon sisters, had splendid concerts every evening in the main saloon, to +the great enjoyment of the other passengers. + +The captain said that he had never heard such music, even when he had +had an opera troupe on board and the New Orleans ladies requested all +three of them to visit them at their residence. + +They thanked them for their invitation, of course, but, stated that they +would not spend more than twenty-four hours in the city, as they were +anxious to reach Texas; and that they would be very busy all the rest of +the season looking after their ranch. + +Some of the ladies did not believe it possible that such refined young +men could be ranchmen, so when the ship entered the mouth of the river +all the passengers crowded out on the deck to view the scenery as they +passed up the great "Father of Waters." + +Fred and Terry had fished and hunted down in the country, and they +explained to Evelyn all about the mode of life in the lagoon region. + +Evelyn had fallen in love with the two Elon sisters, and their father +became such an admirer of Fred and Terry that he insisted that they +should not go to any hotel, but during the twenty-four hours that they +spent in the city they should be his guests; so when the steamer landed +at the wharf in New Orleans, he divided the party so that his wife and +one of his daughters should drive home in the family carriage with +Evelyn and Terry, while he and Fred and his other daughter should remain +on board the steamer until the carriage returned for them. + +When they reached his residence they found that it was one of the finest +and most beautiful homes in the city, and that everything about it told +of great wealth. + +The next day Fred and Terry accompanied Mr. Elon downtown to visit +certain friends, and the Creole gentleman soon learned that his guests +had many other friends there, too. + +But for the fact that they were in a hurry to reach Crabtree, they would +have remained in the city as their guests for at least a week. + +As it was, they spent another day there, and had a royal good time. + +Then they took leave of their newfound friends, boarded the train for +Texas, and were soon whirling westward. It was a long ride from the +Crescent City to Crabtree, for that place was way down on the western +side of the State, and it was late in the night when they reached there; +in fact, long past midnight. + +Fred had wired to the clerk of the hotel for him to reserve comfortable +quarters for them, and when he arrived he found that the best rooms in +the house had been assigned to them. + +When they appeared in the breakfast room the next morning at quite a +late hour for that meal, all the ladies stopping at the hotel were on +the lookout for them. Those of them who knew Evelyn rushed into her +arms. + +"Great Scott, Fred!" said Terry. "Here we are with our arms ready to +receive them, and not one will even put up a pucker at us." + +"Well, what show can we expect to get with such a rival as Evelyn?" + +Many of the ladies had already had their breakfast, but they went in and +sat with Evelyn, and their tongues rattled like those of so many +magpies. + +Of course, they all shook hands with Fred and Terry, and talked freely +with them. They wanted to know when Miss Hamilton was going to come +down. + +"Oh, she'll come down some time," laughed Evelyn, "probably on her +bridal tour." + +"Oh, she wouldn't come down as you did, eh?" + +"No, we begged hard for her to do so, but she wouldn't. Brother will +have to go up some time and bring her down. Then, too, we will have two +brides down at the ranch, for young Mr. Cameron has a sweetheart up in +New York, and she is waiting for him to build and furnish a big house, +for her." + +"Well," said one of the ladies, "work on that house is going on fast; +but, look here, Miss Olcott, are you going to stay down there on that +ranch, or are you going to stop here at the hotel?" + +"Oh, she'll do both," put in Fred. "She is very fond of the actual life +of a ranch. She often came down to our ranch in Colorado with four or +five other girls, and she delighted in nothing so much as dashing over +the prairie on horseback, chasing coyotes and jack-rabbits, or else +feeding the pigs, chickens, and the milch-cows, all of which we had in +abundance around us there. We have some fine milch-cows on the ranch +now, and I expect to see her out every morning with her sleeves rolled +up and a big apron on, milking them and looking after the pigs and +chickens. She pets every animal on the place." + +Whereupon Evelyn invited several of the ladies to come down and visit +her on the ranch and help her feed the pigs and chickens and milk the +cows. + +"But I'll have to ask you to wait until I see what sort of quarters +brother and Mr. Fearnot have for me." + +"We have nothing but a plain ranch house, but there are plenty of them, +for we haven't put in the improvements we intend to. Men, you know, can +rough it; but sister will have a neat room fixed up for her. We will get +the best furniture that can be found in this place, carpets and +everything necessary for a lady's comfort." + +"No, brother," said Evelyn, "I want to rough it, and you promised that I +could do so." + +"Oh, yes; but I know you girls, and you get tired of roughing it very +quickly." + +"Well, let me rough it until I do get tired, and when I feel that I have +had enough I'll let you know." + +"All right; that's a bargain." + + +CHAPTER IV. + +HOW FRED AND TERRY FIXED UP EVELYN'S HOME ON THE RANCH + +The next morning, after their arrival at Crabtree, Fred, Terry and +Evelyn were kept busy shaking hands with their friends. As the news +spread through the city fully a score of young ladies called at the +hotel to see Evelyn, for she had the happy faculty of making and +retaining friends wherever she went. + +Fred and Terry, though, at noon, took leave of her and told her to enjoy +herself until they came back, as they were going down to the ranch and +begin at once to fix up things so that she could he comfortable. + +Jack happened to be at the water tank when the engine of the freight +train stopped there to take a drink, and he gave a regular Indian +war-whoop when he saw the boys alight. He hugged both of them as they +climbed down from the engine, and fairly danced a jig in his delight at +seeing them. + +Terry looked around for the big house that Jack had been building for +his mother and sweetheart. When he saw it, he exclaimed: + +"Great Scott, Jack! What is that you are building out there? A hotel?" + +"Well, I call it my bachelor quarters, for the present," he replied; +"but when mother comes it will be our home." + +"Well, what in thunder do you want with such a big house? It's big +enough for all the cowboys on both ranches to live in." + +"Well, there is no hotel down here, you know, and there is not likely to +be one for several years to come; so, when any friends come down to +visit us, we'll have a place to take care of them." + +"Jack," said Terry, "Evelyn came down with us." + +"Great Scott! Ain't I glad! But why didn't you bring your girl with +you?" + +"She wouldn't come, Jack; but sister came down with us, as she wanted to +help us build up a home out here. So, until your mother and Katy +comedown, we'll let her be boss." + +"Yes, and what a boss she will be. I've been telling these fellows +around here that she is the most beautiful young lady in the whole +country. But when is she coming down?" + +"Just as soon as we can fix up one of the four-room houses for her, for +we will live there until we can build a larger house." + +"What do you want to build a house for when my house is large enough for +forty people?" + +"Oh we want to get into our own home. We want to build a residence down +at the mineral spring." + +"Oh, that's a mile off." + +"Yes, so it is. The depot here, though, is a general resort for every +rough character who comes along; but we'll have some of our lady friends +down here both from Crabtree and from the North. We'll fence in the +spring to keep the cattle from crowding around it, make beautiful flower +gardens, raise all sorts of vegetables and fruits, and try to make our +home here as lovely as our home up at New Era was." + +Jack and Terry led the way up to the house in which Jack had been +living, each carrying a valise. + +Before they reached there, at least half a dozen cowboys rushed up and +wanted to carry the valises for them, and made every demonstration of +pleasure at the return of the "Bosses." + +When the boys reached the house they found that one of bed-rooms +furnished and still another which had not been furnished up. + +"Jack, my boy," said Fred, "I see you have been keeping quite +comfortable since we left." + +"Yes, and at the same time quite busy." + +"Well, have you had any trouble with the cowboys?" + +"No, only in one instance, when one of the men got drunk and I promptly +discharged him. He was one of your men, too. He refused to be +discharged, and wouldn't leave, but went on working with the others. I +then told him that I wouldn't pay him a cent at the end of the month for +his work, as he was doing it of his own accord, and needn't expect any +pay for it. After a week he signed the pledge, came around to see me, +and said that he wished to apologize, and that he would never touch +another drop of whisky. I told him that on those conditions he could +keep his place, but that I would keep his written pledge to show to you, +so that if he ever broke it you would know what to do." + +"That's right, my boy, that's right. It don't pay to be too harsh. +Always give a man a chance. You were fortunate in not having any more +trouble than that." + +"Well, I did have several other little difficulties which did not +amount to much of anything; but at least a score of big, rough fellows +are waiting for you two to return home in order to get a chance to enter +your employ." + +"Well, we'll need a few more men, Jack, for we are going to buy another +thousand head of cattle and rush them down to the ranch as soon as +possible. How has the store been getting along?" + +"It's been doing fine. I've done a good business, and the trade is +growing fast." + +"Any cattle thieves been getting in their work?" + +"Well, I haven't heard of any, and I have had the cattle rounded up +three or four times and counted them; but I haven't much faith in the +accuracy of the count. I am beginning to suspect that both ranches have +lost a few, for I fear that the cowboys haven't kept as strict a watch +as they should have done. One day three big, rough follows came into the +store and wanted to raise a rough house, and I requested one of my +cowboys to go in there with me and help me to preserve the peace. Do you +remember that fellow whose name was Nick Henderson?" + +"Yes, I know him," said Terry. "Did he stand by you all right?" + +"You can bet he did. I wouldn't swap him for any of the cowboys I've +seen since I landed here. He doesn't understand the science of boxing, +but he does know how to use his muscles and no mistake, for he fanned +out two of those fellows with bare fists. One of them wanted to use his +gun, but I drew mine, and said that I would shoot first; so Nick just +cleaned out both of them, and I believe he is like you and Mr. +Fearnot--not afraid of anything. He is now said to be the best man on +either ranch, and he feels proud of the name." + +Jack pointed out the house which he assigned to the carpenters, saying +that they had built bunks, brought down their own blankets and cooking +utensils, and that they were all satisfied with their work and their way +of living. + +"I furnish them meat and bread," he said, "and they do their own +cooking, and I've been cooking my own meals, too." + +"What sort of a cook are you, Jack." + +"Well, I guess I weigh at least ten pounds more than I did when you left +here. Whether it is good cooking or not, I don't know; but it is good, +wholesome fare. I made coffee just as you taught me. I'm not good at +making biscuit, but I can make a good hoe-cake." + +They went into Jack's kitchen, and looking at his utensils, saw that he +had a place for everything, and everything in its place. + +"Jack; how did you learn to cook so well?" Terry asked. + +"Why, I used to help mother a good deal, and I have the timber brought +up and cut and piled away, so it is easy to build a fire. I had a well +driven down in the yard out there, and a pump attached to it. It is not +as good water as that down at the spring, but it is better than the +average well around through this State, and I didn't have to drive down +but thirty feet, either." + +"Good! If you were wrecked on a lone island, you would get along all +right, my boy. What is the bill of fare at your hotel now? + +"Just anything you want that the market affords. When I want fish I go +but to the lake and get it. When I want quail or prairie chicken they +come right up to the house to be shot." + +"All right, Jack. We'll help you cook, and if anything more is needed +than the market here affords, we will get it from Crabtree." + +On further inspection they found that he didn't have a carpet in the +house, but that he had good sheets and blankets and pillows and +first-class mattresses. + +"Fred," said Terry, "we'll have to live in this house until Jack gets +his home finished. We'll measure the size of those two rooms back there, +and one of us must go back to town to-morrow, buy carpets, have them +made, and lay in all other necessaries for Evelyn's comfort, and let her +invite some of the ladies up there to come down and rough it with us as +long as they are willing to do so. Evelyn, of course, will go with us +and assist us in making the purchases." + +They went out into the stable lot, saw the horses kept there. Then they +visited the cow lot and their barns, and saw that the milch-cows were +looking well, and, of course, fat and yielding an abundant supply of +milk, which Jack sent up to Crabtree every day, besides having plenty of +butter and milk for all the cowboys in their employ. + +Jack, too, had a good flock of chickens in his barn-yard, so he had +plenty of eggs; but he stated that he had not killed a single chicken +since Fred and Terry had gone North, as he preferred quail and prairie +chicken. He also stated that he had been compelled to clip their wings +very close, as his cowboys told him that if they got out they would find +such abundant feed in grass seed and other products of the plain that +they wouldn't come back home again. + +"Don't you believe that, Jack. If a hen raises a flock of chickens and +she and they are fed regularly, they will never leave the place; but +chickens who are allowed to run everywhere, as most ranchmen let their +chickens, will, of course, become wild like any other fowl." + +There were about a score of little pigs on the lot that were as fat as +butter and gentle as kittens. + +"By George, Terry," said Fred, "won't Evelyn be delighted with these +little fellows? But we will have to have ducks and turkeys." + +"Yes, wye can keep the ducks in bounds all right; but it will be a +little difficult to keep the turkeys in, unless we have a wire fence +enclosure reaching up about fifteen feet high." + +"Oh, we can do that. Turkeys are very fond of wandering over a wide +range; but I think we can keep them in bounds." + +That night, they had a good supper of broiled beefsteak, good hoe-cake, +milk and butter, and coffee in abundance. The two boys praised Jack +highly for his skill in managing things, and, of course, he felt very +proud. + +They told him that Broker Middleton had used some money belonging to his +mother, and had made about twenty thousand dollars for her, which she +had sent by them in a draft which she had purchased in the bank. + +Jack fairly whooped with joy. + +"It's just in time," said he, "for I haven't been able to sell any +cattle at this season of the year." + +"Jack," said Terry, "don't you worry about the future. You just take +good care of that money and don't use it except for necessities. How are +the cattle on your place?" + +"Mr. Olcott, they are the finest cattle I ever saw in my life. You would +he astounded to see how they have picked up flesh. The ranchman that we +bought them from must have had very poor ranges for them to feed on." + +"Oh, well, the grass out here has never been fed on before, except by +stray cattle, so I don't wonder at their being fat. When cold weather +comes we'll have many thousands of pounds more than the ranches above +here." + +After supper some of the cowboys from both ranches came in to have a +talk with their employers. Every one of them was smoking a pipe, as they +could always buy tobacco at the store. The stock in the little store had +about doubled since Fred and Terry went north, showing that a good +business had been done. + +"Jack, does the storekeeper keep his accounts straight?" + +"Oh, yes. I watch him very closely. I think he is an honest man too, and +he doesn't sell anything on a credit except to the cowboys on your ranch +and mine. Other cowboys come in and want credit, but I told him not to +credit anybody off of our two ranches, as we can then always know how +much they owe before paying them off. The storekeeper says that cowboys +are generally careless about paying debts, except in bar-rooms." + +Before going to bed, Fred and Terry measured the size of the two rooms +that they wanted to fit up for Evelyn, and Fred boarded the first +freight train engine that went up the next morning and so reached +Crabtree before Evelyn had finished her breakfast. She was very much +surprised at seeing him. + +"Fred," said she, "where is brother?" + +"He is down at the ranch, just the happiest boy you ever saw in your +life. He had milked two of the cows by sunrise this morning." + +"I never knew brother to do such a thing before in his life," she +laughed. "How many cows are there?' + +"Oh, about a dozen, and their milk is as rich as butter, and as yellow +as gold. It would tickle you to death to see Jack feed the little pigs +buttermilk. Each little pig tries to get more of it than his neighbor, +and then just to think, too, we have a good flock of chickens, those we +bought before we went up North; and Jack has never killed one. On the +contrary, he has bought upwards of a dozen hens, and the barn lot is +just overrun with little ones." + +"Why, hasn't he killed any of them. Fred? Doesn't he like chicken?" + +"Yes, he is very fond of them; but the quails and prairie chickens +actually come up and beg to be shot, and he has never had a chance at an +unlimited supply of game before in his life." + +"Oh, Fred, when are you going back down there?" + +"I'm going to-night." + +"Well, can I go back with you?" + +"Not just yet. I want you to go with me, though, and help me select two +carpets, which will be on the floor of your home." + +So she ran upstairs and got her hat and gloves, and went out with him. + +She wanted to select coarse ingrain carpets, saying that fine carpets +were not needed on a ranch. + +"Evelyn, you must select the very best velvet carpets that can be found +in this city." + +"Fred, that is reckless extravagance." + +"No, it isn't. A good velvet carpet will last just twice as long as an +ingrain one. I'm not going to buy anything cheap. The best is always the +cheapest. I want sofas, chairs, rockers, and tables, and then such other +dainties as your good taste may suggest. It is to be the home of my +sweetheart and Terry's sister, and we expect you to have quite a number +of young ladies from Crabtree to go down there and spend as long a time +as they choose, to be company for you. Then I'll buy a bookcase and have +plenty of books and magazines; for both Terry and you, as well as I, are +fond of good reading. Then we must have some good strong oilcloth to put +on the kitchen and dining room floors," and she followed Fred's +instructions, and made her choice of the carpets, and Fred, in paying +for them, offered them to the dealer to have them made up at once. Then +they selected chairs, tables, bureaus, a bookcase, and everything else +that was conductive to comfort. + +Evelyn was a little bit surprised when she saw what the total amount +came to, but Fred told her that she must not put in any objections, +whatever. He said that if she wanted to rough it she could go out of +doors into the barn lot, the cow lot, and the lot in which the pigs and +chickens were kept and amuse herself to her heart's content. + +The greater part of the day was taken up in making their purchases. +Then, about sunset, Fred returned to the ranch on the engine of a +freight, leaving Evelyn in the hotel. + +The lady guests of the house were quite disappointed, as they thought +they would hear him sing and play during the evening, but she told them +that he was preparing a house down on the ranch for her and a number of +their friends there in Crabtree, whom they were calculating on being +able to persuade to go down and spend some time with them. + +Of course, quite a number of them were quite eager to go. + +All that night Evelyn was dreaming of feeding a big flock of little +chickens and little pigs, and looking after and petting the mild-eyed +milch-cows, and awoke fully convinced that she was going to have the +happiest time of her life with her brother and her sweetheart as her +daily companions. + +Many a time had she milked her mother's cows in Fredonia, and she +enjoyed the exercise as well as making butter. + +Butter-making was a passion with her, and she understood it to +perfection. + +The next day she talked quite a while with several married ladies, +particularly those who understood housekeeping and milking and +butter-making. The ladies seemed to be surprised at her enthusiasm, and +asked her if she had ever milked a cow, or churned butter, and her +replies actually staggered some of them. + +She said that if she were worth a million dollars, that there was no +amusement she would rather indulge in than to milk cows, feed chickens, +gather eggs, and do all sorts of domestic work. + +The idea of a society girl indulging in such amusements seemed +incredible to the ladies at the hotel. + +Three days passed, which Fred and Terry improved by cleaning up around +the house. When the carpets came down, with men to lay them, the +furniture was moved in, and shades and lace curtains put up, until +really the plain little ranch house was more elegantly furnished than +many of the homes of the richest citizens in Crabtree. + +Then, Terry went up to Crabtree after Evelyn. He went on a freight train +engine, and Evelyn wanted to come back on the same; but he insisted upon +hiring a carriage at the livery stable and driving her through. + + +CHAPTER V. + +EVELYN ON THE NEW RANCH. + +Two young ladies at Crabtree offered to go down to the ranch with +Evelyn, but she suggested to them to wait until she first found out +whether the new home was one to which she would like to invite them. + +"If the place is such that I can offer you comfort, I will notify you, +without delay," so they remained behind at the hotel. + +The driver then started off down the road at a clipping pace. Terry had +hired a splendid team, and the driver understood well how to manage the +beautiful horses. + +The dirt road ran all the way down in sight of the railroad. They passed +many beautiful suburban residences during the first three or four miles, +after which they passed farmhouses and then the road stretched white and +straight over the wide prairies. + +Terry had directed that Evelyn's two trunks be sent down by freight. +Evelyn enjoyed the ride very much. + +"Brother," said she, "the grass seems to be greener and richer down +through this country than up in Colorado." + +"Yes, and so it is, else we wouldn't have bought down here. We have some +advantages here that we didn't have up there. There we had to drive our +cattle and receive our freight twenty miles away; but now the railroad +runs right along beside us, and the depot is on our side of the track. +Jack's ranch borders the road on the other side. The company has laid +side tracks for each ranch, and built a good depot. I think, in the +course of time, we'll have a far more beautiful home down here than we +had up in Colorado. Of course, though, Fred has told you all about the +magnificent mineral spring a mile from the railroad and on the ranch." + +"Yes, both of you have told me all about it." + +"Well, Fred thinks it best to build a residence right down there near +the spring in order that we may have the use of the water and some large +shade trees in the yard." + +"Terry, isn't there any building there now?" + +"No, the only buildings we have now are merely four-room frame buildings +for the men on the place, and we have fixed up one of them for our home +until we build a larger and better house down near the spring. There +isn't a particle of swamp about it; but there is plenty of good solid +earth all around it. Of course, we can cut a splendid road from the +depot down to it. We will build stables and all the necessary out-houses +down there, too, and will fence it in, so that the cattle cannot annoy +the residents of the place. There isn't a passenger depot built yet, and +passenger trains don't even stop there, unless they are flagged by the +freight agent." + +The road passed through several patches of timber and wide stretches of +prairie land presenting scenery that Evelyn loved and admired very much. +The splendid team made the trip in a little over two hours, a distance +of twenty miles. + +"You see that big building going up out there?" said Terry, pointing to +Jack's new home. + +"Yes." + +"Well, that is the new house that Jack is building for his mother and +his wife. It has a dozen large rooms in it." + +"Well, what in the world does he want with such a big house away out +here?" Evelyn asked. + +"Well, it is the first house he ever owned, and he says he wants it +roomy enough for his wife's and mother's friends to come down and stay +as long as they please, as it will cost him nothing to board them. I +guess that Fred and I will build a house just as big as that." + +"Terry, you and Fred must not indulge in any such extravagance." + +"Sister, don't you know that comfort is not extravagance?" The driver +had never been out there before, so he turned and asked Terry where he +must stop. + +"Right in front of that house out there," and he pointed to the house +which he and Fred had furnished for their home until a big house could +be put up. + +Both Fred and Jack were on the lookout for them. Evelyn saw them waving +their hats and she waved her parasol in return. They reached the house +about the time that the carriage did, and of course, as Fred lifted her +out of the carriage he caught Evelyn in his arms and kissed her several +times. Jack seized her hand and kissed it, saying: + +"Heavens, Miss Evelyn, but I am glad to see you way down here." + +"Thank you, Jack," said Evelyn. + +Then she turned and glanced around at the wild prairies on either side +of the railroad track. + +"Evelyn," said Fred, "come in and see the little home we have fixed up +for you," and he led her up on the little piazza and into the two rooms +that had been furnished up for her. + +Of course, she recognized the carpet, because she had chosen it herself +up in Crabtree, and also every piece of furniture. + +"Oh, my, how beautiful!" she exclaimed. "But how out of place such +furniture in a ranch house! I dare say there is not another so +beautifully furnished as this is in the State of Texas." + +"No," said Fred, "nor is there another house in all Texas with such a +beautiful mistress to reign over it." + +She laughed and seemed pleased with the compliment. + +As soon as she could throw off her hat and light coat she said: + +"Now, Fred, let me see the kitchen and the dining-room." + +"All right. This leads into the dining-room," so she went in there and +seemed equally pleased with its furnishings and then she looked into the +china closet and found two complete sets of china dishes. + +Then she went into the kitchen, where Fred and Terry had set up a +first-class range to take the place of the wide-open fireplace which +Jack had been using. The carpenters had built a splendid closet for all +the cooking utensils. There were all the necessary tables and chairs +there in the kitchen. She went to the sink and, turning the faucet, saw +a splendid flow of water. + +"Why, where in the world does this water come from?" she asked, very +much surprised. + +"Oh, that is one of Jack's ideas," replied Fred. "While we were away he +got permission from the superintendent of the railroad to run a pipe +from the railroad company's tank, some three hundred yards away, and +thus provided for a supply of water for household purposes as well as a +bathroom. Those are New York ideas which he brought out here with him, +and people who have visited the premises wondered what the Yankee boy +was up to. Of course the water isn't for drinking purposes, for he has a +driven well out in the yard, and the water is very good; but still it is +not like that down at the spring." + +She turned around and patting Jack on the shoulder said: + +"Jack, were you thinking of your mother or of Katy when you were fixing +up all these comforts?" + +"Of both, Miss Evelyn," he answered, "for mother is as fond of comforts +as any other woman. She does her own cooking, and I am having water +pipes run from the same source into our house." + +"By and by," he continued, "I'm going to see if I can't find artesian +water somewhere on the premises, and have it running through the house +all the time." + +"Good boy! Good boy!" laughed Evelyn. "Now, brother tells me that you +have pigs and chickens and milch-cows on the place, and I want to see +them at once." + +Terry and Fred and Jack went out with her. They first went to the big +stable, saw the saddle and carriage horses that they had bought, and she +was pleased with their appearance. + +"Evelyn, here are a pair of grays," said Fred, "which Terry and I say +belong to you and Mary, and we hope you will love them as much and train +them as you did those up at Fredonia." + +"Oh, my. That is work for me, but I am glad of it. Have they good +dispositions?" + +"Yes, the stable-man says that they are kind and gentle and very +susceptible to kind treatment." + +From the big stable they emerged into the big barn lot, passed through a +gate in a division fence, and saw a big flock of chickens. There were +about one hundred of the little things, all like little balls of down, +following clucking mother hens all over the place. + +Evelyn went into such expressions of delight at seeing a splendid flock +that made the boys smile. + +"Haven't you any turkeys?" she asked. + +"Not one," said Jack. "All the cowboys told me that the turkeys would go +off and find such an abundant supply of things to eat that they can't be +kept at home. But we have ducks and geese, which are kept over in +another lot." + +"Then they passed through another gate, where Evelyn saw a row of +cow-sheds, and a half dozen splendid looking Jersey cows. + +"Oh, my," she cried. "I never saw such fat, beautiful milch-cows in my +life." + +Jack ran up to two of the cows and put his arms around their necks, +patted their faces and noses, and the mild-eyed beauties seemed to enjoy +the petting. + +"Fred, where in the world did you and brother find Jersey cows way down +this way?" + +"Oh, we found them on some ranches on the line of the railroad further +back east. We paid a pretty good price for them, too. Down here the +ranchmen don't seem to understand the value of the Jersey cow; so when +we offered them a price that seemed the least bit extravagant, they +readily parted with them. We are going to get more of them, for milk and +butter sell readily all along the line of the road; but we don't sell +any buttermilk, though, for we let the little pigs have that, and the +little chickens, too. Jack had an experienced man to build a dairy house +in the latest approved style. + +"Jack, is there any buttermilk in the dairy house now?" he asked. + +"I don't know, sir; but I'll go and inquire." So he went to the dairyman +who had charge of the cows and the dairy house and found out that he had +about half a barrel of buttermilk, just a little bit sour. + +"Then have him bring several bucketfuls out to the little pigs." + +The dairyman brought two big pails full of the buttermilk and poured it +into a big sheet-iron receptacle, circular in form and about four inches +deep. The little pigs came running up to the gate, crying like little +pigs do when they smell food, and the gate was opened to let them get at +it, and every one, of course, stuck his nose into the buttermilk clear +up to his eyes, and they drank and pushed against each other until their +stomachs actually looked swollen. + +Evelyn stood and looked on, her eyes fairly sparkling with delight. She +picked up several of the little fellows, who seemed to be used to being +handled. They behaved, of course, like all little pet pigs. + +"Oh, what a sight!" she exclaimed. "How I do wish mother could see it." + +"And Mary, too," added Terry. + +"Yes, for she, too, is very fond of pigs and chickens, and milch cows." + +When the little pigs couldn't drink any more buttermilk they were driven +back into the lot where the sows were, and then the big pans were shoved +in so that the sows could drink the balance. Then they showed Evelyn +where the ducks and geese were kept. + +"Why in the world don't you let them run out and graze? Don't you know +that ducks and geese live on grass just like cows and horses?" + +"Yes, but we haven't arranged for that yet. These ducks and geese were +bought by Jack, while we were up in New York and there is such a wide +range that he has been afraid, to turn them out to go where they please. +Then, the coyotes, too, are very fond of ducks and geese. A chicken can +rise on the wing and get away, but fat ducks and geese can be caught +before they can flap their wings three times. We will gradually build a +wire mesh fence and turn them out so they will be protected from the +coyotes and foxes." + +After that Evelyn took a look at the dairy house. It had been built in +first-class style by an experienced dairyman, and was large enough to +manage the products of fifty cows if necessary, and Fred made the remark +that he hoped to some day have that many Jersey cows on hand. + +"Sister," put in Terry, "it won't cost a dollar a month more out here to +keep a dozen milch cows than it would cost to keep a half dozen, for +they can feed on the grass all day long, and at the present season the +grass is very full of milk, and there are two of these cows whose yield +of milk is so abundant that it is necessary to milk them at noon." + +"Brother," she asked, "how is the grass in the winter? Does it dry up +and turn brown like the grass in Colorado?" + +"Yes, I believe it does; but the winters down here are at least two +months shorter then they are up in Colorado. We expect to cut several +hundred tons of hay while it is yet young and fresh and full of milk, +and feed that to the milch cows during the winter. The beef cattle on +the range can keep fat on the dry grass like those on all ranches do." + +"Well, I'm glad to hear that," replied Evelyn, "for by that means you +will have the abundant supply of milk that you are now getting." + +She inspected every part of the dairy, particularly the arrangement for +keeping all of the utensils perfectly clean. + +Then she returned to the house, when Fred invited her to come out to the +store. + +"Why, goodness gracious!" she exclaimed. "Have you a store out here?" + +"Yes; that building out there fronting on the wagon road is the store, +and it does a particularly good business with the ranchmen who drive +along the road." + +"Well, well, well! What do you keep on sale there?" + +"Oh, we've got an experienced salesman, who was raised in the business. +He sells everything in the dry goods line and groceries and patent +medicines. Of course, the dry goods are only such as ranchmen and +farmers' wives need. If you want silks and fancy ribbons you would have +to drive to Crabtree. Drummers come along nearly every day with samples +of goods their employers have for sale, so if you want anything +different from what we have in the store, you can order it through +them." + +"Well, I want to go in there and see the stock," so she went over with +the boys, and Terry introduced her to the storekeeper as his sister. He +was a single man, so he stared at her in open-eyed wonder, as she was +perhaps the most beautiful woman he had ever seen in his life. She found +that there was a little of almost everything that was kept in a country +store. There was very little fancy goods, however, to be had there. + +While they were in the store a two-horse wagon drove up and stopped in +front of the store. The wagon was driven by an old farmer, who had with +him his wife and two daughters. Fred and Terry ran out of the store to +help the ladies out of the wagon. + +"Mrs. Jones." said Terry, "I am really glad that you have come. My +sister arrived to-day, and you are the first neighbor that she will +meet." + +"Oh, my! Is she going to live here on the ranch?" + +"Yes, until she gets tired of it. Then she will run up and stop at the +hotel at Crabtree for a change. But she is of a domestic turn, and as we +intend to have everything that can be raised on a ranch, we think that +she will be satisfied to stay." + +He was well acquainted with Mrs. Jones and her husband as well as the +two daughters, so he led the women into the store, where he introduced +them to Evelyn by name. + +The girls were about fifteen and eighteen rears of age, respectively, +and as Evelyn shook hands with them and welcomed them, they stared at +her as though she were a royal personage. + +"Girls," said she, addressing the two daughters, "this is the first time +I was ever on this ranch. Brother and Mr. Fearnot owned a ranch up in +Colorado, and there was no other ranch like it in all that state. I am +very fond of domestic life. They have a big flock of chickens, ducks and +geese and a splendid dairy-house, where they make fine butter and give +the buttermilk to the pigs. I have just been over the place to see them, +and I am as happy as the youngest pig on the place," and she laughed so +merrily that the girls forgot that she was a stranger and laughed +heartily with her, but her dress was so much better than that which they +wore that they actually felt awed as they looked her over. + +"Mrs. Jones," she said, turning to the mother, "how far is it from this +place to your home?" + +"Oh, it's fully ten miles. We are running a farm, not a ranch; but I +don't know what to make of your brother and Mr. Fearnot raising pigs and +chickens and making butter for sale on a ranch. I never heard of such +things being done on a ranch before." + +"Oh, brother and Mr. Fearnot believe in raising everything that can pick +a living on the big ranch. There are now a thousand beef cattle on the +ranch, and it costs nothing but the hire of the cowboys to raise them." + +"Oh, yes, I know that. But I never heard of chickens and geese and ducks +and pigs being raised on a ranch before." + +"Well, they will probably have a hundred milch cows soon, for it doesn't +cost any more to keep them than it does to keep the beef cattle." + + +CHAPTER VI. + +EVELYN'S FIRST DAY ON THE NEW RANCH. + +Evelyn extended a cordial invitation to Mrs. Jones and her two daughters +to drive over to the ranch-house some day and spend the day with her, +and the mother gladly accepted the invitation. The girls were two +healthy-looking lasses, both blondes with rosy cheeks and sparkling +eyes. + +Terry kept the old man busy telling him of the improvements that they +were contemplating making on the ranch and of the residence that they +would build down by the big mineral spring. + +"Great rattlers!" the old man exclaimed. "You're sho gwine to spend a +lot of money, ain't you?" + +"Yes, we've got to in order to get a good start. If you know of any +ranchmen within a hundred miles of us who want to sell a hundred or two +beef cattle just tell us where to find him and we'll go after the +cattle." + +"Waal, I don't believe I know of any just now who want to sell any +cattle other then to the market, but I reckon you can find plenty of +them along the line of the railroad." + +"How many cattle do you want to buy?" he asked. + +"About one thousand," was the reply. + +"Land! but you'll have a big lot of 'em." + +"Oh, we could keep ten thousand on the ranch and keep them fat, too, for +the grass down here is very rich." + +"Yes, too rich for the farmers. We raise grass on our farms all summer. +We raise a heap of corn and cotton." + +"Yes, we will raise corn, too, next year, for the use of our horses and +hogs, but not for the cattle." + +"Gwine to raise pork, eh?" + +"Yes, pork will sell in the market just as readily as beef will, and we +are going to raise our own supplies for our cowboys and for family use. +We have forty thousand acres on the range, which is room enough to feed +several hundred people, as well as the cattle on the range and ducks, +pigs and chicken. I believe that our dairyman is making some of the +finest butter ever seen in this part of the South. It is sweet and rich +and as yellow as gold. Generally one can't get a glass of milk or a +pound of butter on any ranch, because the ranchmen don't take the +trouble to make it. Everything pays that is raised on a ranch, and the +greater the variety the more pay." + +"That's so," said the old man, shaking the ashes from his corncob pipe; +"but I reckon you'll have considerable trouble with coyotes and cattle +thieves." + +"Yes, we expect to have a little trouble with them, but we have a way of +dealing with cattle thieves which we have found to be very corrective. +Every cowboy on our ranch has a Winchester rifle, and a lead pill from +one of them makes a cattle thief sick. Then, too, a rope is something +very distasteful to that breed of mankind, and as for coyotes, we will +enclose that part of the ranch where we are keeping the pigs and ducks +and chickens with a high wire-net fence, which no coyote can scale." + +"Mister, wire fences cost a heap of money." + +"Very true; but they will pay for themselves in one season." + +By and by the old farmer's wife and daughters, having made their little +purchases in the store, came out to the wagon ready to start home. + +Evelyn came out with them and was on the best of terms with all three. +She shook hands with Farmer Jones and told him that his wife and +daughters had promised to come over and spend the day with her in the +near future, and that if he put up any objection to that he would +probably get himself into trouble. + +"All right, miss," said he. "I'll let 'em come and will drive 'em, too." + +"Do so," she replied. "We'll set you down at the head of the table and +see that you get plenty to eat." + +"Waal, miss, don't offer me any jerked beef, for I can't eat it." + +"Neither can I," she laughed, "and we never have it on our table. We'll +give you fish, prairie chicken, quail, jack-rabbit and that genuine old +Southern dish, bacon and greens." + +"That's it. You can bet on my coming, and right soon, too. Bacon and +greens is a dish fit for a king, but you haven't got any on this ranch, +I reckon." + +"No, we'll buy that in town, as we do sugar and tea and coffee, and if +you are fond of coffee, brother and Mr. Fearnot can certainly make the +best that you ever tasted." + +"Gosh! I do love it." + +Fred and Terry assisted the mother and her two daughters into the wagon, +and the girls they literally lifted off their feet by catching them +around the waist and lifting them up as though they were little +five-year-old-children. The girls blushed and laughed, and Evelyn really +enjoyed their confusion. + +They all drove off, waving their handkerchiefs at Evelyn and the boys. + +"Fred," said Evelyn, "they are plain, good, honest folks. The mother is +a good woman and the girls do their share of the household work at home. +Their hands show it." + +"Yes, and yet the old man is able to keep good servants for them, for +black servants are cheap down in this region, and by the way, dear, when +you go up to Crabtree again, you must start an inquiry for a good +colored cook among your lady friends. Tell them you want a good one, who +understands washing and ironing and all about cooking. At present we +boys do all the cooking down here and we send our laundry up to +Crabtree, where there are only three Chinamen to the whole town." + +"Fred, let me do the cooking at present," she asked. + +"Oh, yes, it's fun for you now; but you would get tired at it after a +while." + +"I'll make you boys do the rough work. When you go out to hunt in the +woods you go to sleep on the ground on blankets and do your own cooking, +so it certainly won't hurt you to rough it a little now." + +"No, it never did hurt us; but Terry and I know that there are at least +a score of young ladies in Crabtree who want to come down here out of +curiosity and for a change. We are going to have two additional rooms +built onto the house so that the two bedrooms that are now furnished can +be given up to them and we boys will occupy the annex." + +That evening they sat up quite late talking and planning. + +"See here, Fred," said Terry, "we have no musical instrument on the +ranch, so sister had better go in to-morrow and buy a piano." + +"Oh, my! how extravagant you boys are becoming," she exclaimed. "The +idea of a piano on a ranch would certainly astonish the natives." + +"Yes, so it would, but for all that we've got to have it." + +"Well, one of you must go in after it, for I won't." + +"I'll go," said Terry, "for a good piano we must have; and, besides +that, we must have a good violin, a good flute, and---" + +"A bass drum," Evelyn interrupted. + +"Yes," added Fred, "and a hurdy-gurdy." + +The next morning Evelyn, was up before either of the boys, for as soon +as she heard the little chickens peeping around she sprang up, put on a +wrapper and went out to see them and feed them. + +The dairyman was up feeding and milking the cows. Evelyn looked on for a +while, and finally took up a pail and began milking, too. The dairyman +looked on in astonishment. + +"Great rattlers, miss!" he exclaimed. "Where did you learn how to milk?" + +"Why, up at my home in New York state," she replied. "I made all the +butter from two splendid cows, and more often did the milking than the +hired help did." + +"Well," said he, "I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen you +milking this morning." + +She was talking with the dairyman when Fred showed up, exclaiming: + +"Hello! Why didn't you make an alarm when you got up so that I could +have heard it." + +"Oh, I didn't like to break up little boys' sleep. It is good for them." + +The dairyman chuckled at the retort, and so did Fred. + +Evelyn milked the pail full, turned it over to the dairyman and went to +see the little pigs. + +"Evelyn," said Fred, "how would you like to take a ride over the ranch? +We'll get back in time for breakfast." + +"I would like it very much, provided you give me a safe horse to ride." + +Fred went into the stable and saddled the big grays. They were almost a +match in size and appearance for the two big grays which Evelyn had sold +up North, and she greatly admired them. She stood there in the lot +waiting for them to be made ready, and then, without going into the +house to get a hat or any other article of dress, she placed her foot in +Fred's hand, which he held out for her, and was quickly lifted in the +saddle. + +"Are you going without your hat, Evelyn?" Fred asked. + +"Yes, the early morning sun can do me no harm, for it has hardly got its +eyes open yet." + +"All right; open the gate, Joe," and the dairyman went to the outer gate +and held it open for them to pass through. + +They went dashing down toward the spring, and when they reached there +Fred dismounted, went to where a big, native-raised gourd was hanging to +a bush, dipped it full of the water and handed it up to her. + +She drank copiously of it, smacked her lips and said: + +"Oh, my, Fred! I can taste both sulphur and iron plainly." + +"Yes, those ingredients are the strongest in its composition, if it were +nearer town it would become a the place of resort." + +"Well, you must make it one, anyway. You must lay off the grounds +beautifully, thin out the timber somewhat so flowers will grow and yet +leave enough to form plenty of shade. Then if you build a few cottages, +or maybe a hotel, it would easily become a resort--that is, if I am any +judge of the water. It tastes perfectly delicious to me, and really I +believe that it will finally prove the most valuable part of the ranch." + +Then Fred led the way further down the road in a southerly direction, +skirting the timber, and at almost every ten feet quail and prairie +chickens flew up out of their way. + +After they had gone about a couple of miles Evelyn suddenly saw +something running through the tall grass as if trying to avoid being +seen. + +"Fred." said she, "aren't those wolves out there?" + +"Where?" and Fred gazed in the direction in which she was pointing. + +He could barely catch a glimpse of their backs through the tall grass. + +"I guess they are coyotes," he said. "Let's give them a race," and he +put spurs to his horse and dashed off after them. Evelyn, of course, +followed, for she was quite as good a rider as he. + +To his surprise, he gained on them, and he knew that the coyote was +about the swiftest little animal of the kind anywhere, so he supposed +that the tall grass was impeding their progress. + +When he urged his horse faster the brutes turned, growled, showed their +fangs and stood at bay. + +"Great Scott, Evelyn!" he exclaimed, "they are timber wolves!" and his +horse showed fear of them. + +Evelyn reined up her horse right alongside of Fred. + +"Why, Fred," said she, "they seem to be defying us, which is a mighty +bold thing for them to do in the open daylight." + +"Yes, indeed; but they saw that we were gaining on them. Luckily I have +my revolver in my pocket," and with that he drew the weapon and again +dashed toward the wolves, who seemed to be full of fight. When within +fifteen feet of them he fired and the wounded wolf yelped with pain, +while his mate seemed on the point of charging upon them. He fired the +second time and the bullet crashed through the wolf's head. They both +gave a single yelp, sank down in the grass and did a little kicking. The +first one he had shot at hadn't been hit in a vital spot. + +So he stood by snarling and showing his fangs until another shot +stretched him on the ground alongside of his mate. + +"Why, Fred," said Evelyn, as she rode up and looked at them after they +were dead, "is it possible that they come up so near the houses on the +ranch?" + +"Well, I never saw them up so far this way before. I fear that they came +up during the night in search of a calf, and I dare say if we search +around we can find a dead calf half devoured somewhere in the +neighborhood; but we won't stop to look for it. We will go back to the +house and send two cowboys down here to get the wolves' pelts, for we +always let them have the pelts of any wild beasts that we kill." So they +rode back to the house, and just as Terry and Jack were placing +breakfast on the table Fred dismounted and assisted Evelyn to the +ground. She ran into the house, while Fred went to the stable with the +two horses and sent word around by the stableman to two of the cowboys +to go down and get the pelts of the two wolves and make a search for the +remains of any cow or calf that the wolves had probably killed during +the night. + +Before he returned to the house Evelyn had acquainted Terry with the +result of their ride. + +"I'm not surprised at it," said Terry. "Before we placed cattle on the +two ranches wolves were rarely seen in this part of the locality. They +come up from the river bottom, some thirty miles away, and I guess we +will have to have a grand wolf hunt pretty soon. Jack's and ours are the +only ranches between here and the river. There are farms, though; but +they don't raise cattle enough to tempt the wolves to leave the swamp, +and they kept their hogs pretty well protected by wire fences. I am +surprised, though, that only two wolves were seen, for generally they go +in gangs for protection. As a general thing they are afraid of the +long-horned cattle, and they rarely attack the grown ones; but they +manage to catch calves quite often, for these long-horned cattle can +toss a wolf high in the air and probably give him his death-wound." + +Fred came in and then they sat down to the table, on which was fried +prairie chicken and broiled quail. + +"Oh, my! such an appetite as I have," said Evelyn, "and I don't think I +ever sat down to a more appetizing meal in my life." + +Her cheeks were like roses, for the brisk ride in the morning air had +flushed them beautifully. + +"Terry, just look at those cheeks," said Fred, "did your ever see them +glow more than now?" + +"Oh, they'll glow every morning down here if she takes rides before +breakfast." + +They all ate heartily. Jack delighted in cooking since the new range had +been put up. + +Terry was an expert at broiling quail and any other kind of game, and +they had fresh butter and milk. + +"Brother," Evelyn said, during the meal, "last night Fred said that you +would have to go to town to buy a piano. Are you going?" + +"Yes, I guess I will." + +"Then I want you to take several balls of this butter to several +different ladies in town as presents from me and tell them that I want +them to pick out a good cook for me. Not that I am too lazy to do the +cooking myself, but because we will need a good, strong colored woman to +do household and laundry work." + +"Sensible!" remarked Fred. + +"Then bring one or two young ladies down with you," he added. + +"Oh, you needn't bring anybody down vet. I'm not becoming lonesome yet +by any means. I don't believe I would ever get lonesome with chickens +and cows and pigs and, ducks to look after." + +"My, sister! are you going to take all that responsibility on your +shoulders?" + +"Yes, for I'm going to be boss of the entire ranch, boys and all." + +"Good! Good!" exclaimed Fred. + +"Fred, don't whoop until you get out of the woods," said Terry, "for you +will soon find out her style of bossing. You will find her sitting on +the fence somewhere yelling to you to do this and to do that, and be +quick about it. I know what it is to work for a girl boss, so I will be +sure that we'll get competent help if it can be had. I want to do a +little bossing myself." + +As soon as Evelyn could fix up five or six pounds of the rich, golden +butter, pressed into pound cakes, Terry took the bucket in which she had +placed them and waited for the first freight train that came along. +Nearly a score of trains passed the ranch every twenty-four hours, going +either east or west, it was about an hour's ride from the ranch to +Crabtree. Terry sent the cakes of butter to the ladies whom Evelyn +wanted to have them and delivered her message to the effect that she +would be glad to have them find her a good, all-around cook and house +servant. + +Mrs. Westervelt, the wife of the railroad superintendent, said that she +knew a cook who would fill the bill. + +"Send for her at once, please, madam, and tell her to get ready to move +down to the ranch within a day or two. We will give her good wages and, +besides, allow her to make money out of the cowboys by doing their +washing, if she wishes to." + +"Mr. Olcott," she asked, "did your sister make this butter?" + +"No, she hasn't started that yet, but let me tell you there is no woman, +North or South, who can beat her at butter making." + + +CHAPTER VII. + +FRED AND TERRY AFTER CATTLE THIEVES. + +Terry, being a good judge of musical instruments, went to a music store +in Crabtree, ran his fingers over the keys of half a dozen different +pianos, and quickly made his selection. Then he purchased a splendid +violin, paying seventy-five dollars for it, which was the most costly +violin that was ever sold in Crabtree, for he was very fond of good +violin music. Then he bought a guitar, a banjo and a splendid flute. The +dealer promised to send them all down to the ranch the next day. + +"I'll take the violin and the flute myself," said Terry. + +"Mr. Olcott," said the dealer, "we have a large selection of vocal and +instrumental music. Would you like to look over it to make some +selections?" + +"Haven't time," he replied. "Sister may have a big quantity of her old +music in her trunk, but if she didn't bring any down with her she can +come down here some day and look over your stock." + +"Here is a printed list of all the music now before the public." + +"All right, I'll take that list to her," and he folded it up and put it +in his pocket. + +Then he went to see the two young ladies whom Evelyn had told him to +bring down with him if they would come. + +He found them, and, to his surprise, found them ready to go on an hour's +notice. He told them that he would drive around for them with a +carriage, as no passenger train ever stopped at the ranch unless it was +flagged. + +They told him that it didn't make any difference so long as they didn't +have to walk. + +They had never been on a ranch in their lives, although they were rather +familiar with farm life around that locality. He went to the livery +stable and hired the same team that had carried Evelyn out two days +before. + +Then he went to a well-known grocer and bought several cases of +preserves and sweetmeats of various kinds to be sent down the next day, +laid in a good stock of magazines, then drove around to the residence of +the two young ladies, and when they were ready to go they started off +for the ranch. Their trunks were to come down in a wagon. + +The girls were delighted with everything they saw on the way. + +When they reached the ranch Evelyn and Fred and Jack were at the store +to greet them. While the two girls were hugging and kissing Evelyn, Fred +and Terry threw their arms around each other and imitated them to the +best of their ability; but, instead of kissing each other, they smacked +their mouths over each other's shoulders and uttered expressions of joy +in imitation of them. The girls were greatly amused, and the storekeeper +almost went into convulsions of merriment. + +"Now, girls," said' Evelyn, "come over to the house with me and you'll +see how we are roughing it out here." So she led the way from the store +to the house which they called their home. + +When they entered the two beautifully furnished rooms the girls uttered +exclamations of surprise. + +"Why, Evelyn," one of them exclaimed, "there isn't a prettier furnished +house in all Crabtree. I can't see for the life of me why you call it +roughing." + +"Well, I call it roughing because we can do just as we please out here. +There is nobody about to criticise us. I hope you brought some of your +old clothes with you that won't be hurt by roughing it!" + +"Yes, we brought some old dresses with us." + +"All right, just as soon as your trunks come in put on your roughest +suits and I'll show you how much fun we can have out here." + +She then led them into the kitchen and dining-room. + +One of the bedrooms had two beds in it, and all three of them would +sleep in there, leaving Fred and Terry to have the other room. + +A half hour later the girls' trunks were brought into the house and they +proceeded at once to don what they called their home dresses. + +Then Evelyn led them out to the poultry yard, to the cow-sheds and the +dairy-house, Then they went to the big lot in which lived the sows and +pigs. After that they visited the big stables, where Evelyn pointed with +great pride to two big grays which the boys had bought for her, and +there she told them the story of the grays she had owned before, how she +had trained them so that she could drive them without bridles anywhere +and guide them entirely by her voice. + +One of the girls said that she couldn't train a Texas horse that way. + +"Oh, any horse is susceptible to kindness, dear. I will soon have them +so trained that they will follow me wherever I go and I'll teach them +how to obey every command I give them. It takes time and patience, +though." + +"Evelyn, where is the big spring that we have heard so much about?" + +"It is about a mile down that way," and she pointed southward. +"To-morrow we will ride down there, for we have a large surrey and two +horses for domestic use." + +About sunset Evelyn insisted on their going out to the cowpen and see +her milk. Up to that time they hadn't taken any stock in her claim that +she could milk cows and make butter, and they regarded her as simply a +society girl who wouldn't do any work at all; but the dairyman told them +that she was the best milker he had ever seen. + +It was a pretty big job, but she milked the half dozen Jersey cows, +actually doing a man's work. Neither of the girls had ever milked a cow +in their lives, for their parents didn't keep any cows at their city +home. + +That night they sat down to a game dinner of quail, jack-rabbits and +prairie chickens. + +Evelyn insisted on their standing by her in the kitchen and seeing her +cook everything. They were satisfied that she had not been boasting, and +such biscuit they had never tasted in their lives, notwithstanding the +fact that their mother had a well-trained colored cook. + +"Evelyn," the elder of the sisters asked, "you seem to know all about +housework, but tell me how you manage to keep your hands so soft and +white if you have been doing this sort of work before." + +"Oh, I don't do it regularly, only when I take a notion to do so at +home; but I think it is every woman's duty to learn such things, so that +if she gets hold of an incompetent servant she can teach her." + +The two girls were actually ashamed of their ignorance of domestic life. + +During the evening Fred produced his violin and flute. + +"Oh, my, brother!" exclaimed Evelyn, "that is a beautiful violin. What +did you buy such an expensive one for?" + +"Why, you know me, sister," he replied; "a harsh note grates on me worse +than a crosscut saw going through a knotty log." + +Evelyn seized the bow, resined it herself, tuned the violin and began +playing like an expert. Fred took up the flute and accompanied her, +making the most delightful music. + +There were some cowboys in the store smoking and talking, but when they +heard the violin and flute they all rushed out and stood at the gate, +about forty feet away from the door, and listened, and there they stood, +quiet and silent, for upwards of an hour. + +Then Terry took the flute and the girls saw that he could play equally +as well as Fred. Evelyn soon took up the guitar and accompanied him on +that instrument. + +Then she handed the guitar to Fred and took the flute from Terry. + +The girls soon saw that she was perfectly at home with any musical +instrument, and that the boys were, too. + +Evelyn had the girls up with the sun the next morning. They were not in +the habit of starting the day so early, but she laughed at them and told +them they didn't know how to live. + +She soon had them in the kitchen, where Jack had started a fire in the +range, and began giving them culinary lessons. + +It was great fun for her, and also for Fred and Terry. + +Some two or three days later Fred left the ranch, going up by the +passenger train, which was flagged for him to board it, and at Crabtree +he took a train for points a hundred miles east, where he hired a team +and driver to take him around among the ranches all through that +section. He spent a week inspecting cattle, buying them and having them +shipped down to the ranch. + +Finally, in order to make up the order that he wanted, he had to drive +back to the railroad and go further eastward; so he was gone about ten +days. He paid for the cattle with checks on the bank at Crabtree, but in +some instances the cattlemen rode down to Crabtree to see whether or not +the checks were good before they would ship the cattle. + +When Fred returned to the ranch he found the two girl visitors still +with Evelyn, and learned from them that they were willing to stay out +there just as long as Evelyn wished them to. + +"You haven't gotten tired of the ranch yet?" he asked. + +"No, indeed. We never enjoyed ourselves better away from home in our +lives. Mr. Olcott and Evelyn are undoubtedly the finest musicians we +ever heard. That piano is a grand instrument, and every evening, when +the weather is fine, the cowboys dance in the yard to their playing; +and, Mr. Fearnot, I really believe that every horse and cow and pig and +chicken on the ranch is in love with Evelyn Olcott, while she has such +influence over the cowboys that I believe she could make them do murder +at her command." + +Fred laughed and said: + +"Yes, she has that same influence over me, too." + +The girls looked at Evelyn and laughed, and she remarked: + +"Didn't I tell you that every sort of animal is susceptible to +kindness?" + +"Why, do you mean to call Mr. Fearnot an animal?" + +"Certainly. Every man and woman is just as much an animal as a horse or +cow is." + +Both the girls opened their eyes wide and Evelyn and Fred and Terry +laughed heartily at them. + +"Why, didn't you know that man is an animal?" Fred inquired. + +"No, indeed. Never heard of such a thing before in my life," and then +both Fred and Terry fell to explaining the matter to them. The younger +of the two sisters said they made her feel "cheap" by proving to her +that she was a mere animal. + +"Oh, be careful with your words. Neither of us have said that you were a +mere animal," said Terry. "Man belongs to the animal kingdom just as any +four-footed beast does. Generally the things that will kill any brute +will also kill a man. Both have flesh and blood, eat and drink; but man +is, of course, the highest grade of the animal kingdom. They are divided +into different tribes, just as animals are into different species. The +Caucasian is the highest type, and the grades go down from this point +until we reach the bushmen of Australia, who are said to be the lowest +type of mankind." + +The girls were highly interested in his talk, and on the piazza and on +the front steps cowboys were listening with the deepest interest. + +They, too, had never thought of the subject; but Fred and Terry were +very familiar with it, for they had both studied it very deeply. + +A few days after Fred's return from his trip, during which he had bought +another thousand head of cattle, the cattle began arriving. + +Then Fred and Terry and the cowboys were all very busy. The cars were +run down to the stockpen, where they were unloaded and turned loose into +their new home. Many of them were evidently very hungry, and had +probably been kept penned up for several days before the cars which were +to bring them down were sent up for them. + +"By George, Terry," said Fred, "that lot of cattle is almost starved. +The ranchmen didn't feed them while keeping them penned up waiting for +the train." + +"Yes, and they ought to be made to pay for it, Fred." + +"Oh, what's the use? They'll soon pick up on this ranch, but really I +think they ought to be punished for their heartlessness. Just because +they were sold they wouldn't give them any extra feed." + +The girls came down and saw the cattle leave the cars and run down the +gangway that led into the stockpen, from which they passed hurriedly +into the ranch. + +Evelyn had seen cattle shipped and unloaded before, but her two visitors +had not, so they stood and watched the process of unloading for several +hours. + +"Fred," said Terry, after seeing several carloads of the cattle turned +out, "I think that, on an average, they are a very fine lot of cattle." + +"Well, I tried to be careful, Terry, and I am glad I was, for there were +quite a number who tried to pan off poor cattle on me. Their brand is +already registered, just the same as ours. Of course, their calves we +will have to put our registered brand on, and after a while we will have +to add it to the brand of the original owners." + +The addition another thousand cattle to the ranch made a pretty good +display. + +Both Fred and Terry made a careful count of every beef that arrived. +They both rather suspected that they would come up a little short, but +to their very great gratification every carload panned out according to +the bill. + +They were all of the long-horned species, and some of them were very +large. The train was run on a sidetrack, and as fast as the cars were +emptied they were moved further down the sidetrack until every car had +been emptied. + +"Oh, my, Fred!" said Evelyn, "surely some of those cattle must have been +hurt, crowded as they were in those cars, with such long horns." + +A careful inspection was made and not one was found to be seriously +hurt. Fred had stipulated with the ranchmen whom he had bought front +that only a given number should be placed in a car, and Superintendent +Westervelt had warned the employees of the road not to exceed the limit. + +That night Fred and Terry rode all around the enclosed part of the range +on the lookout for wolves, and also to let the cowboys see that they +were expected to do their work faithfully. + +The new cattle grazed incessantly, but nothing occurred during the night +to start an alarm among them. The majority of them, as dark set in, laid +down to sleep or to chew their cud. + +The two boys turned in at about two o'clock in the morning. + +The next day one of the cowboys came in and reported that somebody down +at the lower end of the ranch had cut out a complete panel of the barbed +wire, thus leaving a wide gap for the cattle to go through. + +Fred and Terry hurried down there on their horses with their +Winchesters, accompanied by two of their most expert and faithful +cowboys and made a thorough investigation. + +They could see the tracks of three men, who had probably cut the wires; +but they were unable to find the trail of any cattle passing through the +gap. In fact, none of the cattle had done any grazing that far down. + +They sent a cowboy back up to the ranch-house and had him bring down a +coil of wire and the necessary tools to connect it with the wires that +had been cut, and when that was done they detailed one-half of their +force to watch the line of the fence at that end of the ranch during the +following night. + +They taught them a series of signals, which must be given and answered +before firing at any one. + +"Now, boys," said Fred, "be careful. We don't want any innocent man +hurt, but if you find any one tampering with the fence give him a chance +to cut just one wire to establish his guilt and then call a halt. If he +doesn't hold up open fire on him, and keep firing until he comes down. +Both Olcott and I will be moving about the greater part of the night. We +want all cattle thieves to understand that they can't steal any of our +cattle with impunity." + +That night, after singing and playing at the house with the girls, the +boys mounted their horses and started for the lower end of the ranch. + +When they reached there they dismounted, hitched their horses in the +timber and started down the line on foot. They found the cowboys that +they had stationed along the line in their respective places. They were +very prompt in exchanging signals, and they spoke in whispers so that +their voices might not be overheard. + +By and by in the starlight they saw about a score of cattle going +through the grass as though they were being driven by somebody. + +Fred and Terry crouched down in the grass and watched them. + +They both became fully satisfied that some one was driving them, and +they ran along with the cattle in order to ascertain where they were +going, and why. They were very near the corner of the fence, for, as the +reader doubtless remembers, they had enclosed only twenty of the forty +thousand acres, as they thought that was about as much as they would +have need for inside of the next two years. + +Suddenly Terry tapped Fred on the shoulder and whispered: + +"Down, Fred," and Fred dropped down on his knees. + +Terry motioned with his hand and pointed out on his right where they +could both see the figures of two men moving cautiously and closely +behind the cattle, and they both wondered if another panel of the wire +had not been cut just ahead of them. + +Suddenly one of the cattle turned in their direction, and one of the men +ran around to head him off. He ran almost over Fred, who sprang up and +dealt him a blow on the side of his head that caused him to sink down +unconscious. + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +FRED AND TERRY CAPTURE CATTLE THIEVES. + +Terry heard the blow that Fred gave the cattle thief and he knew what it +meant, for the fellow sank down without uttering a word. + +The thief's pal, seeing that the cow that had strayed off was not being +turned around, went to the assistance of his confederate and he ran up +against Terry. + +Terry rose up and gave him a crack on the head with his heavy revolver. +He saw more stars than he probably ever thought had a home in the skies, +and down he dropped. + +"Now, Terry," whispered Fred, "let's see if there are any more of them," +and as quick as possible they bound the two unconscious thieves hands +and feet and continued to follow the cattle. + +They walked straight up on their feet, knowing that the confederates, if +there were any, would mistake them for their pals if they saw them. + +After a few minutes they saw two other fellows advancing toward them, +and one of them came up to Fred and asked in a low tone of voice: + +"What's the matter?" + +"Only this," said Fred, smashing him in the face with his revolver and +sending him tumbling over in the grass. The other fellow stopped and, +suspecting something wrong, started to run. + +"Halt!" said Terry, "or you're a dead man." + +The fellow threw himself down in the grass and tried to run on his hands +and knees and thus escape any bullet that might be flied at him, but +Terry was on him in a moment and gave him a terrible crack with his +revolver on his head. + +Terry searched him for a weapon and found an ugly-looking knife and a +revolver on him. He took possession of the weapons and, with the ball of +twine he had with him, bound him hard and fast, his hands behind him and +his ankles together, and then ran on ahead of the cattle to look for the +gap he suspected they were headed for, he soon found it. + +Before a single beef had passed through he and Fred turned the cattle +back. + +Then both of them followed the trail of the thieves, which they were +enabled to do, dark though it was, by following the disarranged tall +grass. + +They found all of the men had recovered consciousness except the fourth +man, who, was lying where he had fallen like a dead man. + +"Terry," said Fred, "this is your man. What in thunder did you crack him +so hard for?" + +"I wanted to make sure of him," and they proceeded to drag the men to +the gap that had been cut through the wire fence, took them through it, +stood them up against a tree, for there were a few scattering trees +growing down there, and tied them to the trunk hard and fast. + +They both struck matches and held them up before their faces to see if +they could recognize them, but they had never seen them before. + +One of them, fearing that he would be recognized, very promptly blew out +the light and mattered something in Spanish, so from that Fred and Terry +judged that they were Mexicans--one, at least--and Fred took Terry aside +and whispered to him that there must be other men mixed up in it; so +they concluded to build a fire some ten feet off from them and then go +back inside the enclosure and conceal themselves in the grass to watch, +for they knew that nobody could go up to the tree to release the men +tied there without being seen by the light of the fire. + +The fire was built up against an old dead log, which, being dry and well +seasoned, burned readily, and in some places blazed up some ten feet or +more high. Some of the cowboys, seeing the light of the fire a half mile +away, came down to see what it meant. + +Fred and Terry recognized them and they waited to watch their movements. +One of them went up and talked with one of the men who was bound to the +tree. + +Both of them suspected their loyalty, but they proved to be true. + +They looked around to find Fred and Terry, and several times used the +signals that Fred had given them. + +When Fred and Terry returned their signals they came toward them, +looking carefully for them. + +When they found them one of them asked: + +"Boss, did you tie up those fellows?" + +"Yes," said Terry, "and there's another one lying back there in the +grass with a broken head, but all the same we tied him by his hands and +feet to keep him from getting away." + +Just then they heard the man groaning and calling to his pals, and the +two cowboys followed the sound of his voice and soon found him, he +having recovered consciousness. They picked him up and brought him down +near the fire. + +There all four of them denied that they had done anything wrong. + +Each claimed that he had nothing to do with cutting out the wire, denied +that he was driving the cattle and, of course, claimed to be innocent of +any wrong-doing. + +"Well," said Fred, "I hope you will be able to prove your innocence in +court, for that is where you are going." + +Then Fred turned on the two cowboys and asked them why they had left +that corner of the ranch unguarded. + +"Boss," one of them said, "there wasn't enough of us to reach down so +far, and we thought that it would be safe to let it alone and to-morrow +report it, but as soon as we saw the light we came down to investigate +it." + +Both of them thought that that excuse was reasonable, and Fred told them +that they were expected to be vigilant in the discharge of their work +and that they would employ more cowboys. + +"Now you two can lie down here and sleep while we keep watch." + +"Boss, we'll watch while you sleep," was the reply. + +"No, we are going to keep watch ourselves. At daylight I want one of you +to make your way back to the barn and hitch up a team, bring down a coil +of wire and the necessary tools to repair this gap and then take the +prisoners back to town. + +"Fred," said Terry, "why not tell them to bring a coil of rope." + +"What do you want with a rope, Terry?" + +"Oh, Judge Lynch always has use for a rope for cattle thieves. I will +act as sheriff, if you don't wish to have anything to do with it. +Generally I am opposed to lynching, but this is a fair case." + +"No, Terry, I don't believe in that. I'm sorry that, instead of +capturing them, we didn't shoot them and thus get rid of them without +calling in Judge Lynch." + +The prisoners, of course, heard every word that the boys uttered. The +fact is, they were both talking for their benefit. The cowboys, though, +thought that they were in earnest and they would see a lynching, so when +the dawn of day began to appear in the east Fred sent one of the cowboys +back to the barn with instructions to bring down a coil of barb wire and +a coil of rope. + +One of the prisoners, tied to the tree, begged that Mr. Fearnot would +come up to the tree and let him talk with him. + +Fred did so, and the fellow said that if he wouldn't punish him and +would release him, he would leave the country and never show up there +again. + +"Oh, yes; but it is bad policy to let a cattle thief go loose, after he +has been caught in the act." + +Then the others began making similar promises, and never did men beg for +their lives as hard as they did. + +One of the cowboys was sent off for wire and rope, and while he was gone +a farmer came by, making an early start for Crabtree. + +The road passed within a couple of hundred yards of where the men were +tied to the tree, and he heard them talking as well as noticed the smoke +from the fire which Fred and Terry had built out there. + +He left his team in the road, and coming into the woods, there learned +the whole secret of the situation. + +He knew Fred and Terry, for he had frequently stopped at their ranch, so +he, on his way to town, notified every farmer and ranchman whom he +passed that Fearnot and Olcott were going to hang four cattle thieves +down at the lower end of their ranch. + +Everybody who heard the news wanted to see the lynching, so they came +down there. Fred told them that he had no idea of taking the law in his +own hands, and that he intended taking the prisoners into town and +turning them over to the sheriff. All the prisoners, being Mexicans, +whom the farmers throughout that section hated like poison, stood in +great danger of being hanged at once by the angry ranchmen; but Fred +refused to permit it. He bargained with one of them to take them in his +wagon to Crabtree, and then mounted his horse and started off ahead of +them. They were bound hard and fast, so they could give the farmer no +trouble. + +"Terry," said he before he left, "you must see to the careful repairing +of the fence and keep a watch over everything. I am going to see if I +can find a good electrician to come out and electrify the wires in this +fence, so when they attempt to cut this fence again some of them will +get knocked off the face of the earth." So he put spurs to his horse and +started off. He knew he could reach Crabtree about two hours ahead of +the prisoners. + +The party of rough fellows, farmers and cowboys, went along with the +wagon, and before they had gone three miles they took the prisoners from +the farmer and strung them up in some timber along the roadside; so when +the farmer reached Crabtree he had no prisoners, and he told a harrowing +tale to Fred of how the men had taken the prisoners from him and strung +them up. + +"Well, well, well," he ejaculated. "I am sorry for that; not that I +don't think they deserved it, but I don't believe in that sort of thing. +Now, I want you to come with me to the sheriff and several responsible +citizens and tell that story to them, for I don't want to be accused of +having anything to do with the matter, other than capturing the +thieves." + +The farmer told his story to the sheriff, which official, accompanied by +several citizens, as well as some deputies, rode down there to +investigate the matter. + +Meanwhile Fred went in search of an electrician. There was only one in +the city, and he had charge of the city electrical lighting, so he +couldn't go down to the ranch and electrify the wires around the entire +range, for it wouldn't do to perform that feat unless some one was left +in charge of the city's plant. + +Fred bargained with him to communicate with some competent electrician +in some other city and get him to come down to the ranch and stay for +one month, saying that he would pay him well for his services. + +Fred rode down the other road that ran parallel with the railroad track, +reaching home, after hard riding, a little after dark. + +Early the next morning when Fred went to the store he found some four or +five cowboys who had just arrived, having come in to put in applications +for employment as cowboys. + +Said a big, brawny fellow, who measured six feet and two inches in +height: + +"Mr. Fearnot, we hear that you have added a thousand more cattle to your +herd, and we know that you need more cowboys. We are all trained +ranchmen and cowboys, and understand the business from A to Z. Just set +us to work at once, and there'll be no more cattle thieving around here, +for we know just how to deal with them." + +Fred did not like the looks of any one in the party. Their faces showed +plainly that they were certainly devotees of the jug, so he said: + +"Gentlemen, of course we will need more cowboys, for it is our intention +to add still another thousand head of cattle to our herd; but we really +can't employ another man until we first investigate his former life. We +don't want any man in our employ who drinks whisky. Neither Mr. Olcott +nor myself ever touch the stuff, and I never took a drink of anything +intoxicating in my life, so I don't want any one around me who does." + +"Well," said the big fellow, "I never was drunk in my life, I have taken +whisky moderately whenever I felt like it ever since I was of age, so if +you give me a job I'll agree never to take a drink as long as I am on +the place." + +But Fred could see from his eyes and face that the man was not telling +the truth. + +He said that if Fred would write to certain ranchmen further up the road +where he had worked that he would find out that he was as good a +ranchman as could be found anywhere in the State; but Fred shook his +head and remarked that he would take his time, and that he and Olcott +would act as cowboys themselves until they had selected others to do the +work for them. + +About three hours later a cowboy arrived in the conductor's cab, on the +rear end of a freight train, and going to the little store, inquired for +Fearnot. + +There were four cowboys in the store at the time, and they could see +from his dress and style that the newcomer was a cowboy, too. + +The storekeeper went out on the porch and caught a glimpse of Fred over +at the barn lot. He gave a halloo, which attracted Fred's attention, and +then he beckoned to him. Fred at once started for the store, but the +newcomer, who had followed the storekeeper out on the piazza, saw him +and said: + +"Thank you, boss; I know him. I used to work for him up in Colorado, and +he is one of the best men that ever breathed." + +When Fred was within one hundred yards of the store, he recognized the +cowboy, and called to him: + +"Hello, Tom!" and the newcomer returned his greeting. + +When Fred reached the store, the two shook hands heartily. + +"Tom, what in the world brought you way down here?" Fred inquired. + +"Mr. Fearnot. I came down here to take my old place with you on the +ranch, if you need me." + +"All right, Tom, you can have it. You are just the kind of a man that I +do need." + +Just then Terry came up and another handshaking took place between the +cowboy and him. + +Terry and Tom seemed to be highly pleased at meeting each other. + +When Tom learned that Evelyn was down there he exclaimed: + +"Good heavens, Mr. Terry, I want to see her, and get down on my knees to +her, for if there ever was an angel on earth, she is that one." + +Both Fred and Terry laughed, and the latter informed him that here were +two other young ladies down there from Crabtree. + +"Look here, boss," said Tom, "I heard up at Crabtree that four cattle +thieves had been strung up down here yesterday. Is that so?" + +"Yes, Tom; but we had nothing to do with that part of the affair." + +The other cowboys were standing at the other end of the porch, and heard +Fred engage the newcomer, and that, too, after refusing to employ any of +them. Their faces showed plainly their disgust, and not to say +dissatisfaction, and the big six-foot fellow went up to Fred and again +applied for employment, saying that he couldn't find a better cowboy in +the whole State than he was, and that he could get references to prove +it. + +"See here, my friend," said Fred, "you may be all that you claim, and I +hope that you are: but really I want to be convinced of that fact before +I take you on our force." + +"Boss, set me to work at once, and you needn't pay me a cent until after +you learn that I am all that I claim to be." + +"No, sir. A man can't work ten minutes for me without pay; so just leave +your address here at the store, and I'll notify you if I want you." + +"Why, boss, you have just taken on a new man, and that, too, after +refusing to employ any of those in my party. Do you call that fair +play?" + +"Yes, for I know this man personally. He has been in my employ before, +and I was satisfied with his work." + +The fellow turned away, growing threateningly and the party went inside +the store, and there held a consultation. + +Tom and Fred and Terry went over to the house, where the ladies were, +and Evelyn, as soon as she saw him, recognized him, and exclaimed: + +"Why, there's Tom Hecker." + +Tom instantly doffed his hat and stood, bowing and smiling, as if highly +pleased at her recognition of him. + +"Tom," said she, advancing out on the piazza, "come here; I want to +shake hands with you, for you were of great service to me on several +occasions up in Colorado." + +Tom advanced, too, and she extended her hand to him. + +He appeared to be supremely happy. She didn't, of course, introduce him +to the two young ladies, for she resented their social positions. But +she did remark to them, in his hearing, that he was one of her brother's +most faithful cowboys on the old Colorado ranch, and that he was as +brave as he was faithful. + +She asked Tom when he had seen Wicklow and his wife, and he replied that +he hadn't seen them for over a month, that the old force had been pretty +well scattered, and that the old ranch had been divided up into three +ranches, as three different individuals had bought it. + +He said, though, that when last he saw the Wicklow family they were all +well. + + +CHAPTER IX. + +WHAT HAPPENED TO THE COWBOY WHO INSISTED ON WORK OR FIGHT. + +Fred called up one of his cowboys, introduced Hecker to him, and +informed him that he was henceforth to be one of the force of cowboys, +as he had been in his employ up in Colorado, and was a good fellow, +trustworthy, and not afraid of either cattle thieves or long-horned +cattle. + +"Now, take him around to the stables and barns, and all the lots, and +let him see everything on the place." + +"All right, boss," and he and Tom went off together. Of course, Hecker +had no end of questions to answer, for the Texas cowboy was more or less +puzzled to understand his present employer. + +Of course, Tom told him that Fearnot and Olcott were the best and +bravest men whom he had ever known, and that the man who undertook to +buck against them made the mistake of his life. + +Fred and Terry then busied themselves about other matters, which had +been called to their attention. + +Terry suggested the feasibility of buying at least a thousand head of +sheep and fencing off a portion of the ranch for their use. + +They were talking over that when word was sent to them that dinner was +ready. They went over to the house and found that Evelyn and the two +girls, with the old black cook, who had been employed in Crabtree, had +prepared a most savory meal, and they at once sat down to it. + +They were about through with their meal, when they heard loud talking +and the tramping of feet, and the next moment the door leading into the +dining-room was burst in, and the big cowboy whose application for +employment had been refused, stalked into the room, waving a branding +iron over his head in a most ferocious manner. + +The two young lady visitors sprang up, and rushing into the other room +shut the door. But Evelyn knew that there could be no safer place for +her than with Fred and Terry. + +When she saw the big fellow with that formidable weapon in his hands she +paled somewhat, and thought that Fred and her brother were in danger of +being badly hurt, if not killed. + +The man had evidently been drinking heavily, for his face was flushed. + +"Mr. Fearnot," he fairly roared, "you refused to give me work this +morning, and yet an hour later you took on another man. Now I've got to +have work or know the reason why, or else clean out the whole ranch!" +and he flourished the branding-iron above his head in a most threatening +manner. + +"It's work or fight," he continued. "Which shall it be?" + +Terry had his rifle hanging on a couple of pegs at the rear end of the +kitchen, and he started for it. + +Fred had bought, up in Crabtree, a few weeks before, a bulldog, which he +was training for his own use, and the dog had come into the dining-room +and sat in a place that had been assigned him in expectation of being +fed when the dinner was finished. + +As the burly cowboy burst open the door and rushed into the dining-room, +brandishing a branding-iron above his head, and threatening dire +destruction to everybody present, Fred dashed at him, and seized his +upraised arm, while Terry reached for his rifle. + +The burly cowboy aimed a blow at Fred's head with the branding-iron, but +Fred reached up and caught him by the wrist, while the dog ran around +and attacked him in the rear. + +The fellow evidently thought that it would be an easy matter to jerk +loose from Fred's grip, but to his amazement he found that his grip was +like that of a steel vise, and to save his life he couldn't pull loose +from him. + +Fred held him steadily, and with his left fist dealt him a blow on the +right side of his chest. + +Terry then ran up with his Winchester, holding it rather menacingly. + +"Let him alone, Terry," said Fred, "I'll attend to him." + +Fred then gave him three or four blows while the fellow kept jerking and +twisting to try to free himself, after a while giving vent to fierce +imprecations and at the same time trying to avoid the fangs of the +bulldog. + +Fred then began pushing the villain back toward the door, through which +he had entered. + +Seeing that he couldn't use the branding-iron on Fred, he tried to take +it in his left hand for that purpose, but Fred's left interfered, and +the fellow felt as though his right arm would be broken. + +Fred, pushed him out of the door, and he lost his balance as he went +through, and so fell to the ground. + +As the man fell to the ground, just outside the door, the branding-iron +slipped from his hand. Then Fred jerked him up to his feet, and went at +him like a cyclone. Four or five blows on the chest caused him to go +down again. + +Again Fred jerked the fellow up on his feet, and the second time beat +him down, until the fellow didn't have breath enough left in him to say +anything. + +Fred let him lie there for about one minute, and then said: + +"You wanted work or fight. I'll give you all the fight you want and +charge you nothing for it," and as soon as the fellow tried slowly to +get up, Fred dealt him another blow that laid him out for about five +minutes. + +Hearing that the fight had ceased, Evelyn entered the other room to +assure the girls that Fred and Terry could take care of the fellow, +again came out, and looked at the scene going on outside. + +"Brother," said she, "you are not going to kill him, are you?" + +"No, I'm just going to let Fred manage him in his own way." + +"Fred," she asked, "what are you going to do to him?" + +"Go into the house, dear, and quiet those girls. I'm not going to shed +any blood or take a life." + +She didn't follow his injunctions to go into the house, but she kept +quiet a while and watched them. + +"Fred, have you killed him?" she asked presently, as she saw the man +lying like a dead man on the ground. + +"No; I knocked him out, though, and am waiting for him to get his breath +back." + +By and by the fellow began to breathe hard and groan. + +Finally he opened his eyes and looked up at Fred. + +"You wanted fight or work," sad Fred. "What do you want now?" + +"Mister, I want to go as far away from here as I can." + +"Well, why didn't you go when you had the chance?" + +"Boss, I didn't know you then; but I do now." + +"Well, get up and leave, and don't you waste a minute of time in getting +away." + +The fellow got up and started off in the direction of the store. + +His three companions had retreated to that place, and as soon as he +started, Fred followed him and assisted him in leaving by administering +kicks which raised him from the ground at least a foot at every kick. + +Suddenly he drew a revolver from his pocket. It was strange that he +hadn't attempted to use it before. + +He drew it and turned to face Fred; but just then Fred saw the weapon +and kicked it out of his hand. + +"Oh you're not satisfied yet? You wanted to shoot, eh? Now, I'll show +you what shooting is," and he sent Terry into the house to get his +revolver and an apple. + +There were a few green apples in the kitchen, which the cook intended to +stew that afternoon. + +Terry came out with one of the apples in one hand and the revolver in +the other. + +"Now, my good fellow, you take that apple and hold it between your thumb +and forefinger. Hold it out straight at arm's length, while I send a +bullet through it." + +"Boss, I can't hold it." + +"All right. If you don't hold it between your thumb and forefinger I'll +shoot at your hand." + +"Boss, why don't you let me go? I've got enough, and I'll leave the +State." + +"Hold out that apple," said Fred. + +The man held the apple out at arm's length between his thumb and +forefinger, but his hand was trembling so that Fred had to be very +careful for fear that he would hit the hand and thus maim him for life: +but the bullet went square through the apple, and it fell to the ground. + +The fellow nearly had a fit. He picked up the pieces of the apple and +looked at them. + +"Now you want to leave this locality about as fast as your heels can +carry you," said Fred. + +With that the fellow, without stopping to pick up his hat, turned around +and left, and all he would say to his companions was: + +"Come, boys, let's get away from here. This is no place for us." + +He stopped at the well, took a dipper full of water, and then started +off, while the other three followed him. + +That big cowboy was never seen in that part of Texas afterward. + +The storekeeper told the story to his customers as they came into the +store, and it was soon known all over that county. + +The facts of the lynching of the four Mexican cattle thieves had been +published all over that part of the State, and Fred and Terry were +relieved from the odium of having had anything to do with the affair, +other than the capture of the men. + +The sheriff and his deputies took charge of the bodies, as they were +found hanging to the trees, and buried them by the road-side. + +They were buried in one pit, and above them was a head-board, on which +was painted in large letters the story of their fate. + +Tom Hecker had written to four of his former cowboy companions that he +had found a place with Fearnot and Olcott again, and that they wanted +four more of them to join him. + +They at once resigned their places with their employers, and soon +reached their ranch. + +They were each supplied with a Winchester and cartridges, and told to +capture every cattle thief that they found on the range, even if they +had to bring them down with a bullet. + + +CHAPTER X. + +CONCLUSION. + +As the news spread around through the county of Fred's having shot an +apple from the fingers of another man, it seemed so incredible that +scores of people came to the cowboys to inquire as to the truth of the +story. + +One day, when Tom was sent to town with a wagon to bring back some +things that Fred had ordered, he told a story at the depot, when a man +challenged him to prove it. He said that be had seen Mr. Olcott fire at +a tree with his revolver at a distance of thirty paces, and then plant +the rest of the bullets in the weapon in the same hole in the tree. + +Said the townsman: + +"I've got a hundred dollars, which says that that is not so. That no +such thing ever happened." + +"Well," said Tim, "I haven't got one hundred dollars, for I don't carry +my money with me wherever I go; but I will have to come up again on +Saturday, and I will see if I can get Mr. Olcott to come up with me and +prove it to you by shooting for you." 7 + +"All right," said the man. "I will meet you here, and put up the money, +and I will bet one hundred dollars that Mr. Olcott can't plant all the +bullets in his revolver in the same hole at a distance of thirty paces, +and if you want to make another bet, I'll bet ten dollars that Mr. +Olcott won't undertake it." + +"That's a go," said Tom, "Just meet me here on Saturday, and I will +bring up my money ready to bet any amount that I can get you to put up +that he can do it." + +When he went home Tom told Terry of the bet that he had made. + +"Now, Mr. Olcott, I haven't got much money, but I'll put up every cent I +have on your marksmanship, and I beg you, as a favor, to go with me on +Saturday and give me a chance to win that bet, for I need it, as I am +engaged to a girl up at Ranchman's Rest, whom I want to marry just as +soon as I can get money enough ahead to build a little home for her." + +"All right. Tom. I'll help you out. I'll go up with you, and if that +fellow or any other man wants to bluff you, I'll check enough out of the +bank for you to cover whatever he or his friends may put up." + +The next Saturday Terry went up to Crabtree, going on a freight train +cab, Tom drove a wagon, for there was no local freight train running +that day down to the ranch. + +The fact is, only through freights ran over the road at that section, +hence none of the cars were unlocked at the ranch. Of course, Terry had +his faithful revolver with him, and when Tom arrived, the sporting men +got around him and challenged him to show his money. + +"All right, sir. Mr. Olcott has agreed to shoot, and I am ready to cover +any amount you want to put up, unless you have put up more than I +have."' + +The original bettor offered to put up three hundred dollars. + +"All right," said Tom. "I'll cover that." + +Then several others put up one and two hundred each. + +Terry had given Tom a check for one thousand dollars, and Tom hurried +off to the bank with it, cashed it, and covered all the bets. + +The depot agent acted as stakeholder. + +Then they went about a quarter of a mile up the road into a piece of +timber, where thirty paces were stepped off, and a piece of white paper, +about an inch square, was fastened, against the tree. + +One man carried a sharp axe with him, saying that he was not going to +let any trick be played on him. + +"It's easy enough," said he, "for one shot to be fired in the tree and +the other shots just to be blank cartridges." + +Terry then fired the first shot, and every man in the party went to the +tree to look at the bullet hole. + +Then Terry fired the other live shots with cool deliberation and +caution. + +When the whole six bullets had been fired no one could tell, from the +appearance of the bullet hole, that any other bullet had hit the tree. + +The man with the axe proceeded to cut into the tree in quest of the +bullets, and the whole six bullets were found, one on top of the other. + +When they came back the report was that six bullets were shot into the +first bullet hole and were found when the chips were cut out. + +On that the men paid the thousand dollars to Tom, whose enthusiasm was +so great that he was ready to risk the whole amount by offering to bet +two to one that Olcott could shoot an apple from his head with that +revolver at a distance of one hundred yards. + +But the party of bettors had had enough. They didn't care to risk any +more money and some of them couldn't afford to lose a hundred dollars; +but firmly believing that they would win, they had borrowed a little to +make up that amount. + +Evelyn and her two visiting friends agreed to go up to Crabtree and +stand up with Tom and his girl when they were married. + +The girl lost no time in leaving Ranchman's Rest for Crabtree, and when +she arrived there Fred and Terry recognized her as a girl they had often +seen, without knowing who she was. They greeted her kindly, and so did +Evelyn, saying she remembered her face well, and within thirty minutes +after she arrived in Crabtree they were married in the parlor of the +hotel at Crabtree, with Fred and Evelyn standing up with them, and quite +a bevy of young ladies acting as maids of honor. + +Terry paid for the dinner of the couple at the hotel, after which they +went out to the wagon that was to carry her trunk, and Tom and she drove +to the ranch by themselves, while Evelyn and the girls returned in the +ranch carriage. + +Fred and Terry and Jack went down on the conductor's caboose of the +freight train. + +Thus Fred and Terry managed their new ranch by giving the strictest +personal attention to every little matter of importance. + +They made it a rule to deal justly and kindly with every man in their +employ, and thus gained their confidence. + +By and by the Crabtree Herald published a statement that the fattest +cattle in the whole State of Texas were to be found on the ranch of +Fearnot and Olcott, and soon applications from cattle firms way up in +Kansas City, Omaha and Chicago began coming to them, the firms asking +for particulars. Terry and Fred knew every one of their correspondents. + +They wrote back to them, however, that it was not there intention to +sell but a limited number of their cattle that fall; but every one of +the firms wrote back to them, saying that they would take their word as +to the condition of the cattle that they had for sale, and would pay the +highest market price for them. + +Some of the firms offered to go down at once, although it was some two +or three months ahead of the regular season for buying cattle, pick them +out, and pay a cash deposit, contracting to pay the market price when +the cattle were ready for sale, and that each beef was to be weighed at +the depot. + +Jack said that he would have a few hundred head for sale, while Fred and +Terry had over five hundred. + +Jack finished his big house, and at once proceeded to furnish it. + +Evelyn looked after that part of it for him, so, while he went North +after his mother and sweetheart Evelyn attended to the furnishing of his +home, and all of his cowboys were instructed to obey whatever orders +either Mr. Olcott or Mr. Fearnot might give. + +Jack wanted Evelyn to go up with him, but she wrote to Mary Hamilton to +go down to New York City and act as bridesmaid for Katy Malone. + +Next week's issue will contain "FRED FEARNOT AND THE LARIAT THROWER; OR, +BEATING THE CHAMPION OF THE WEST." + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FRED FEARNOT'S NEW RANCH*** + + +******* This file should be named 21795.txt or 21795.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/1/7/9/21795 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://www.gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/pglaf. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://www.gutenberg.org/about/contact + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: +https://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + diff --git a/21795.zip b/21795.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..46af55a --- /dev/null +++ b/21795.zip diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f870b3f --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #21795 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/21795) |
