Page:Caroline Lockhart--The Fighting Shepherdess.djvu/194

 THE FIGHTING SHEPHERDESS

stagecoach which had been resurrected from a junk-heap behind a blacksmith shop, repaired and shipped to the Scissor Outfit as being the last word in the picturesque discomfort for which dudes hankered, the onlookers ob- served with keen interest as the Dude Wrangler tore past the Prouty House, " There must be a bunch of mil- lionaires coming in on the local."

The horses kept on past the station, but by throwing his weight on one rein Tetters ran them over the flat in a circle until they were winded. Then he brought them dripping and exhausted to the platform, where he said civilly to a bystander, indicating a convenient pickhandle:

" If you'll jest knock the * oflf ' leader down if he bats an eyelash when the train pulls in, I'll be much obliged to you."

As is frequently the way with millionaires, few of those who emerged from the day coach sandwiched in between a coal and freight car, looked their millions. It was evi- dent that they had reserved their better clothing for oc- casions other than traveling, since to the critical eyes of the spectators they looked as though they were dressed for one of the local functions known as a " Hard Times Party."

The present party of millionaire folk seemed to be led by a bewhiskered gentleman in plaid knickerbockers and puttees, who had travelled all the way from Canton, Ohio, in hobnailed shoes in order instantly to be ready for mountain climbing.

To a man they trained their cameras upon Teeters, who scowled, displayed his teeth slightly, and looked ferocious and desperate enough to scare a baby.

Then his expression changed to astonishment as his eyes fell upon a passenger that was one of three who, slow in collecting their luggage, were just descending. A

178