e Sliver and me
could get to the corral. Lord! The sounds made my blood run cold!
Old Buck squealing like a boar-pig in a wolf trap, and Jonesy
yelling, 'Help! Murder! Police!' Even that did not cure Jones
from sticking his nose where it wasn't wanted. Why, once--but
thunder! It would take me a long while to tell you all that
happened to Jones.

"One thing that didn't hurt Kyle any in the campaign was that he
was 'most as good-looking for a man as she was for a woman. They
made a pair to draw to, I tell you, loping over the prairie, full
of health and youngness! You wouldn't want to see a prettier sight
than they made, and you could see it at any time, for they were
together whenever it was possible. Loys was so happy it made you
feel like a boy again to see her. She told me in private that it
was wonderful how the air out here agreed with her, and I said it
was considered mighty bracing, and never let on that they
proclaimed their state of mind every time they looked at each
other. I reckon old smart-Aleck Jonesy was the only party in the
township who didn't understand. Kyle used to put vinegar in his
coffee and things like that, and if you'd ask him, 'What's that
fellow's name that runs the clothing store in town?' he'd come out
of his trance and say 'Yes,' and smile very amiable, to show that
he thoroughly admitted you were right.

"Well, things went as smooth and easy as bob-sledding until it came
time for Loys to be moseying back to college again.

"Then Kyle took me into his confidence. I never was less
astonished in my whole life, and I didn't tell him so. 'Well, what
are you going to do about it?' says I.

"He kind of groaned and shook his head. 'I dunno,' says he. 'Do
you think she likes me, Red?' I felt like saying, 'Well, if you
ain't got all the traits but the long ears, I miss my guess,' but I
made allowances, and says I, 'Well, about that, I don't think I
ought to say anything; still, if I had only one eye left I could
see plain that her education's finished. She don't want any more
college, that girl don't.'

"'Think not?' says he, bracing up. And then, by-and-by, they went
out to ride, for Jonesy was good to the girl, I'll say that for
him. He was willing to do anything for her in reason, according to
his views. But Kyle wasn't in them views; he was out of the
picture as far as husbands went.

"They came back at sunset, when the whole world was glowing red the
same as they