Strong High School - Mussul Unsquit Yearbook (Strong, ME)

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24 THE MUSSUL UNSQUIT tell you we finished the roundup to-day and found six of your steers in with ours. I told Hank and Bill, and they are bringing them over, replied Tex. 'f Guess it 's all right then, grunted the General, and he stalked into the house. You will be sure and come to-morrow, won't you, Tex? said Betty. I 'll be here all right, said Tex, and I hope jose won't start anything. I won't have any trouble if I can help it, and he rode away. Betty went into the house where her father was. She was the apple of his eye. If there was anything she wanted, all she had to do was to coax him a little, and she got it. There was one thing, however, that Betty hadn't been able to coax him to let her do and that was to ride VVildfire, his horse. He got that name because no one could ride or handle him, but the General. Betty was an exception to the rule. She could do anything with him but her father would never let her ride him. Say, Daddy, I asked Tex over to the party to-morrow night and he said he didn't think he 'd better come, but after a little coaxing he said he would. You don't care, do you? said Betty. I don't see what you want him for, said her father, and I'll bet he and Jose will have a row. That 's why Tex didn't want to come, said Betty, but he said he would try not to quarrel with jose and, Daddy, he can come, can't he? Yes, I suppose so, said her father, but, Betty, you must be careful because if jose gets angry, Tex would be apt to get killed. I guess Tex can take care of himself, and so saying, she went to make some preparations to meet her cousin. Helen came on the night stage and Betty, with Bill Hawkins, the foreman, was there to meet her. Helen enjoyed the buckboard ride back to the ranch and also the de- licious supper which awaited her arrival. Why shouldn't she enjoy it? Aunt Chloe, the best colored cook in the neighborhood for miles and miles around, had prepared it. Meanwhile Tex was shining up spurs, saddle, bridle, and when the next morning dawned, his father found him brushing Star's black velvety sides, combing out mane and tail, and petting him, talking to him as if he were a man. 'K Why are you so particilar, my boy, 'bout your saddle, bridle, and horse this mornin'? said John. U Here you are combin', brushin', shinin', and it 's been two hours since you got up. Your mother has nearly hollered her head off trying to tell you that breakfast was ready. Well, Dad, Betty has invited me to the party to-night and I kinder thought I'd brush up a bit, said Tex. Mr. Calder sorter wondered because he knew that there was never a bit of dirt on Star's glossy sides, and the bridle and saddle were always polished. Neverthe- less, he said, Better come in to breakfast now, Tex. After breakfast Tex saddled and bridled Star and went to town. He stayed a little while and then started for home, returning by way of Starken's ranch. When he had covered part of the distance he met Betty and Helen. To his surprise Betty had Wildnre and Helen had Beauty, Betty's horse. He tipped his hat and bade them a cheery Good morning. Hello, Tex. I want you to meet my cousin, Helen Wright, Mr. Calder,', said Betty. I am very glad to make your acquaint- ance, Miss Wright, said Tex, taking the daintily gloved hand in his. Tex is coming to our party to-night, said Betty, and - That was as far as she got for Wildfire saw a piece of paper blowing and bolted towards home. Betty was almost unseated but regained her seat and commenced try- ing to pull him in. He ran like the wind and no power of hers could stop him. Instantly Tex was after them, Helen rid- ing behind. Soon Star commenced to gain,

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we are giving a party for her to-morrow THE MUSSUL UNSQUIT 23 came up. The second ball pitched to him he hit, with all the force he could muster. The crowd in tl1e grandstand rose as one. The ball sailed over the left Held fence, and Bob romped around the bases with Dick ahead of him, and the game and the cham- pionship were won. G. E. F., 124. TEX CALDER OF THE STARKEN- CALDER COMPANY fEnglish IVJ HERE was a great cloud of dust and the horse that Tex Calder was riding was brought suddenly upon its haunches, as suddenly Tex was on the ground, had hitched his beloved horse, Star, and ran swiftly into the house, where his father and mother were waiting. It 's all right, Dad, he cried, we have the cattle all rounded up today and not one missing, but there are six belonging to the General. That's too bad, Tex, said his father, but you pick 'em out, son, and return 'e1n. The General would be mighty mad if he knowed there wuz Clly of his cattle in with ourn. Bc careful and don't git into eny trouble with him because you know he ain't so awfully friendly with us since you 've been shying up ter his gal, Betty. Don't worry, Dad, I'll be all right, said Tex, and with these words he ran out, ordered Hank and Bill to bring the steers along, and mounting Star, rode away to the Starken ranch. Mrs. Calder turned to her husband, and said, John, I am afraid Tex will meet with -lose Gardeau and then some one will get hurt for Tex is a bad man with a gun. Don't worry, dear, said John, but in his heart he was worrying. not because he feared for his son but he did not want Tex to kill lose. Wlhen John Calder was younger he owned the ranch he was now living on and the General owned tl1e one he was now occupying. They were neighbors and were friendly, but in later years a feeling had grown up between the two families, espe- cially on tl1e General's side. I-Ie thought his child was better than Johns and Tex was never received very well in the Starken home, except by Betty. Betty and Tex loved each other but on account of the General, they had not much opportunity to associate together. The General had planned for her marriage with Jose Gar- deau, a young Spaniard of wealth. Betty hated Jose, and, of course, he and Tex were deadly enemies. Jose had made the brag that he would kill Tex. Tex was already at the General's ranch. He rapped and Betty met llllfl at the door. Oh! Tex, come in, I have good news for you, cried Betty. My cousin, Helen Vlfright, is coming on the night stage, and night. Vlfill to meet her I reckon away, Betty, and I don't especially at come, he father? he you come, Tex? I am going to-night. it might be well for me to stay on account of your father, want any trouble with jose, this time, so I guess I won't replied. 'WVhere is your added. Papa has gone to town but he ought to be here any minute now, won't you wait? Betty said. I guess you can tell him as well as I, said Tex, but seeing the disappointment in Betty's eyes, he added, I guess I 'll wait, Betty. K' There, that Is nice, said Betty, now won't you please come to our little party to-morrow night? I want you so much and Tex, I know Father won't care. VVith these words she threw herself into his arms and started to cry. Then suddenly she wiped away the tears and said, WI won't marry Jose Gardeau, never, and you 're coming to my little party, so there, aren't you?'I and Tex nodded. They were interrupted by the arrival of the General. Hello, Tex,', said heg A' what 's the newsim Nothing much, except I came over to

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THE MUSSUL UNSQUIT 25 inch by inch. Tex called to Betty to keep her nerve. They came in sight of the Starken ranch and the General saw them coming. He was terrified, for Wildfire was headed toward the big corral where the horses were and he knew that he would try to jump the fence to get i11 with the other horses as he had done once before. But there was now no cause to worry, for Tex was at her side and lifted her bodily from the horse. Wildfire kept on going, tried to jump the fence, fell and broke his leg. Tex put Betty down and then started to leave, but the General said, Tex, my boy, I have just learned a great lesson. How can I ever repay you for what you have done today? You are welcome here at any time. Come to the party to-night as an honored guest and say, Tex, tell your Dad I want to see him on some business before the party. Tex rode away and told his father, who My boy, I have known General said, Starken for many a year and to-night he is going to bury the hatchetf' The time for tl1e party arrived and the came rapidly. .lose was there but guests seemed ill at ease. Betty noticed this and told her father. Betty, he said, I want to ask your forgiveness. jose is not the man for you. Treat him well to-night and be careful about a tight between him and Tex. I'll talk to you later, dear. What is the matter, jose. said Betty as she returned to him. Does my little senorita not think me all right to-night? said jose. I thought something was the matter, Betty replied. Ah! come out here where we can talk alone and I will tell you, he said. There my little one, said jose, and l1is dark eyes Hashed. Heem come here to-day. I see heem here yesterday. You tell heem you never marry jose. You hate heem. You ask heem to party. I kill heem. To-night you marry me or and he drew the wicked dagger, but Betty was not afraid. psy 'K jose Gardeau, I don't love you. I hate you, and I will never marry you, you thief, said Betty, and also-- A murderer, said another voice, the voice of Tex Calder. Betty, get behind me, over near the tree,', said Tex, never letting his eyes leave those of jose and always keeping his right hand near the butt of his revolver. jose Gai-deau, said Tex, a word from me and you would be put behind the bars. You know that I know who 'killed Tony M., then ran away with his wife, deserted her, stole my father's cattle and tried to shoot joe Desmond. VVho robbed the bank of El Dorado? VVho held up the stage at Parmego Pass and robbed innocent women and even little children? jose Gardeau, you must pay, you, who are at this minute trying to drag Betty down to become a slave to your accursed plans and plots. just then jose made a move and Tex, drawing his revolver quickly, shot the dag- ger from his hand, seized him, and tied him. A quick messenger notified Captain Maloney and a bunch of Texas Rangers. Tex handed jose over to them. About this time the General came forward and said, What 's the meaning of this, sir? Captain Maloney said, Nothing sir, only this young man by the name of Tex Calder, saved us tl1e trouble of capturing jose Gardeau, famous bandit, horse and cattle thief, murderer. He receives a re- ward of S5,000. I-Ie turned to Tex and said, Calder, come to the Ranger headquarters to-mor- row and receive your reward. I wish to talk to you about joining tl1e Rangers. The General's eye twinkled as he said to Tex, Meet me in the living room as soon as the guests go. After the guests departed and Helen was bidding a few remaining friends good night, Tex went into the living room. His father, the General, and Betty were waiting for him. I suppose you will be joining the Rang- ers to-morrow, eh, Tex? said the General,