HEART
I oftho
SUNSET
& REX BEACtt
Author of 44 The Spoilers, ”4 4 The Iron Trail,
44The Silver Horde” Etc.
V*1 Hfptr tr tnim
n
I
CHAPTER I.
The Water-Hole.
A fitful brepze ployed among the
mesqulte bushes. The naked earth,
where It showed between the clumps
of grass, was baked plaster hard. Al
though the stm was half-way down the
west, Its glare remained untempep'd.
and the tantalizing shade of the sparse
mesqulte was more of a trial than a
comfort to the lone woman who, refus
ing its deceitful invitation, plodded
steadily over the waste. Stop, indeed,
she dared not. In spite of her fatigue,
regardless of the torture from feet and
limbs unused to walking, she must,
as she constantly assured herself, keep
going until strength failed. Somewhere
to the northward, perhaps a mih\ per
haps a league distant, lay the water
hole.
Desert travel wns nothing new to
her; thirst and fatigue were old ac
quaintances. She readjusted the strap
of the empty water bag over her shoul
der and the loose cartridge belt at her
hip, then set her dusty feet down the
slope. The sun had grown red and
huge when at last in the hard-baked
earth she discovered fresh hnofprints.
She followed them gladly, encour
aged when they were joined by
others. A low bluff rose on her left,
’and along its crest scattered Spanish
daggers were raggedly silhouetted
against the sky. She tried to run. but
her logs were heavy; she stumbled a
great deal, and her breath made
strange, distressing sounds as it issued
from her open lips. Hounding the
steep shoulder of the ridge, she lias
tended down a declivity into a knot «>f
scrub oaks and ebony trees, limn halt
ed, staring ahead of her. Nestling in
a shallow, flinty howl was a pool of
water, and on its brink a little fire was
burning.
it wus a tiny lire, overuuug "n>> •<
blackened pot; the odor of greasewood
and inestjuite smoke was sharp. A
man, rising swiftly to ids feet at the
first sound, was staring at the new
comer; he was as alert as any wild
thing. But the woman staggered di
rectly toward the pond, seeing nothing
after the first glance except tlie water.
She would have flung herself full
length upon the edge, but the man
stepped forward and stayed her, then
placed a tin cup in her hand. She
mumbled something In answer to ins
greeting and the hoarse, ravenlike
croak in tier voice startled her; then
she drank, with trembling eagerness
drenching the front of tier dress. The
water was warm, but it was clean and
delicious.
“Easy now. Take your time,” said
the man, as he refilled the cup. “It
won't give out.”
She knelt and wet her face and neck
Felt the stranger’s hands beneath bet
arms, felt herself lifted to a more com
fortable position. Without asking per
mission, the stranger unlaced first one
then the other of her dusty boots
seeming not to notice her weak at
tempt at resistance. Once lie hue
placed her bare feet In the water, silt
forgot her resentment in the Intense
relief.
The ^nnri left her seated in a eol
lapsed, semiconscious state, and went
hack to his fire. It was dark when foi
the first time she turned her head tet
ward the camp fire and stared curious
“How'd You Like Your Eggs—If W
Had Any?"
ly at the figure there. The appetizin
odor of broiling bacon had drawn he
attention, and as If no move went uc
noticed the man said, without liftin
his eyes:
"Supper will he ready directlj
How’d you like your eggs—if we ha
any?”
He spoke with an unmistakable Tei
drawl; the vvornun put Inui do..u 8
once for a cowboy. Well hack from
tlie fire lie hml arranged n .“eat for her,
using a saddle blanket, for a cover
ing, and upon this she lowered herself
stiffly.
“1 suppose you wonder how 1—hap
pen to be here,” she said.
‘‘Now don't talk ’til you’re rested,
miss. This coffee is strong enough to
walk on its hands, and I reckon about
two cups of it 'll rastle you into shape."
As she raised the fin mug to her lies
lie waved a hand and smiled. ‘‘Prink
hearty!-’ lie set a plate of bread and
bacon in her lap, then opened a glass
jar of jam.
The woman ate and drank slowly.
She was too tired to be hungry, and
meanwhile the young man squatted
upon his heels and watched her
through the smoke from u husk ciga
rette.
‘‘Have you had your supper?” she
I finally inquired.
“Who. me? Oh. I’ll eat with the '
help." He smiled, and when his flash- 1
ing teeth showed white against his
leathery tan the woman decided he
was not at all bad-looking. He was .
very tall and quite lean, with the long
legs of a horseman—this latter feature
accentuated by his liigh-heeled boots
and by tile short canvas cowboy coat
that reached only to bis cartridge belt.
His features she could not well make
out, for the fire was little more than
i bed of coals, and he fed it, Indiuu
like, with a twig or two at a time.
"I beg your pardon. I’m selfish.”
She extended her cup and plate as an
invitation for him to share their con
tents. "Please eat with me.”
But he refused. “I ain’t hungry,” he
affirmed. “Honest!”
Accustomed as she was to the dif
fidence of ranch hands, she refrained
from urging him, and proceeded with
her repast. When she had finished she
lay back and watched him as he ate
sparingly.
i.u,y uuisr it'll i lit" aiiu.m
Grande," she announced, abruptly, “lie
broke u leg, and I had to shoot him.”
“Is there any water in the Grunde?”
asked the man.
“No. They told me there was plenty.
I knew of this cliarco, so I made for
it.”
“Who told you there was water In
the nrroyo?”
“Those Mexicans at the little goat
ranch.”
“Ball!. So you walked in from Ar
royo Grande. It’s a good ten miles
straightaway, and I reckon you came
crooked. Eh?”
“Yes. And It was very hot. I was
never here but once, and—the country
looks different when you're afoot.”
“It certainly does,” the mai^nodded.
Then he continued, musingly : “No wa
ter there, eh? I figured there might
! be a little.” The fact appeared to
please him, for he nodded again as
he wtmt on with his meal. “Not much
rain down here, I reckon.”
“Very little. Where are you from?”
“Me? Hebbronville. My name is
Law."
Evidently, thought the woman, this
fellow belonged to the East outfit, or
some of the other big cattle ranches
I in the Hebbronville district. Probably
he was a range boss or a foreman.
After a time she said, “I suppose the
nearest ranch is that Bnlli place?”
“Yes’m.”
“I'd like to borrow jour horse.”
Mr. Law stared into his plate. "Well,
miss. I’m afraid—”
She added, hastily, “I’ll send you a
fresh one by Balli’s boy in the morn
ing.”
Law shook his head, “I cnn't loan
you my horse, miss. I got to meet a
man here.”
“When will he come?"
“He'd ought to he here at early dark
tomorrow evening.” Heedless of her
dismay, he continued, “Ycs'm, about
sundown.”
“But—I can’t stay here. I’ll ride to
P.alli's and have your horse hack by
afternoon.”
"My man might come earlier thnn I
expect,” Mr. Law persisted.
“Really. I cnn’t. see what difference
' it would make. It wouldn’t interfere
with your appointment to let me—’’
Law smiled slowly, and, setting his
plate aside, selected a fresh cigarette;
then, as he reached for a coal, he ex
! plained:
“I havent pot what you d rail ex
actly an appointment. This feller I’m
expectin’ is a Mexican, and day before
yesterday he killed a man over in Jim
Wells county. They got me by ’phone
at Hebbronville and told me he’d left.
He's headin’ for the border, and he's
due here about sundown, now that Ar
royo Grande’s dry. I was aimin’ tc
let you ride his horse.”
“Then—you’re an officer?”
“Yes’m. Ranger. Ho you see I cnn’t
help you to get home till my mat
comes. Do you live around here?’
The speaker looked up inquiringly, am
after on Instant’s hesitation the wom
an said quietly:
“1 uui Airs, Austin.” Sue was grata
ful for tin- gloom that hid her face. “I
lode out this way to examine a tract
of grazing land."
It seemed fully n minute before the
Ranger answered; then he said, in a
casual tone. ••[ reckon Las Palmns is
quile a ranch, ma’am."
“Yes. Hut we need more pasture.”
“I know your La Kerin ranch, too. I
was with General Castro when we had
that fight near there.”
“You were a Maderista?”
“V es’m. Machine-gun mull. That's a
fine country over there. Seems like
the Almighty got mixed and put the
Mexicans on the wrong side of the
Rio Grande. But i reckon you haven't
seen much of La Feria since the last
revolution broke out.”
“No. \Ve have tried to remain neu
tral. but—” Again she hesitated. “Mr.
Austin lias enemies. Fortunately both
sides have spared La Feria.”
Law shrugged ids broad shoulders.
“Oh, well, the revolution isn't over!
A ranch in Mexico is my idea of a bad
investment.” He rose and, taking Ids
blanket, sought a favorable spot upon
which to spread it. Then he helped
Mrs. Austin to her feet—her muscles
laid stiffened until she could barely
stand—after which he fetched his sad
dle for a pillow. He made no apolo
gies for his meager hospitality, nor did
his guest expect any. ‘
When ho had staked out his horse
for the night he returned to find the
woman rolled snugly in her coveting,
as in a cocoon. The dying embers llick
ered into flame and lit her hair redly.
She had laid off her felt hat, and one
loosened braid lay over her hard pil
low. Thinking her asleep, Law stood
motionless, making no attempt to hide
his expression of wonderment until,
unexpectedly, she spoke.
“What will you do with me when
your Mexican comes?” she said.
“Well, ma’am, I reckon I’ll hide you
out in the brush till I tame him.”
"Thank you. I’m used to the open.”
He nodded as if he well knew that
-he was; then, shaking out his slicker,
turned away.
As he lay staring up through the
thorny mpsqnitij,.branches that roofed
him inadequately from the dew, he
marveled mightily. A bright, steady*
■burning star peeped through the leaves
it him. and as he watched it he remem
bered that this red-haired woman with
the still, white face was known far and
wide through the lower valley as “The
Lone Star.” Well, he mused, the name I
fitted her; she was, if reports were i
rue, quite as mysterious, quite as cold
md fixed and unapproachable, as the
title Implied. Knowledge of her iden
:ity had come as a shock, for Law
iiu'W something of her history, and to
Ind her suing for his protection was
tuite thrilling. Tales of her pule
icauty were common and not tame,
nit she was all and more than she
tad been described.
She bad not been too proud and cold
o let him help her. In her fatigue
die had allowed him to lift her and
o make her more comfortable. Hot
igainst his palms—palms uuaceus
oined to (he touch of a woman’s flesh
—he felt the contact of her naked feet,
is at the moment when lie had placed
hem in the cooling water. Her feeble
■eslstance had only called attention to
ter sex—to the slim whiteness of her
inkles beneath her short riding skirt.
Following his first amazement at be- ,
folding her had come a fantastic ex
danntion of her presence—for a mo
nent or two it had seemed as if the
ates had taken heed of his yearnings
md had sent her to him out of the
lusk—wild fancies, like these, bother
nen who are much alone.
CHAPTER II
The Ambush.
Alnire Austin, like most normal
ivornen, had a surprising amount of
endurance, both nervous and muscu
ar, hut. having drawn heavily against
her reserve force, she paid the penalty.
1 hiring the early hours of the night
she slept hardly at all; as soon as her
bodily discomfort began to decrease
her mind became unruly, and it was
not until nearly dawn that she dropped
iff into complete unconsciousness. She
was awakened by a sunbeam which
pierced hef leafy shelter.
It was still early; the sun had just
cleared the valley’s rim and the ground
was damp with dew. Somewhere near
by an unfamiliar bird was sweetly
trilling. Alaire listened dreamily un
til the bird-carol changed to the air of
a familiar cowboy song, then she sift
up. queerly startled.
David Law was watering his horse,
grooming the animal meanwhile with
a burlap cloth. It was a beautiful
blood-bay mare, and as the woman
looked it lifted its head, then with
wet. trembling muzzle caressed its
owner's cheek. Undoubtedly this at
tention was meant for a kiss, and was
as daintily conferred as any woman’s
favor. It brought a reward in a lump
of sugttr.
“Good morning." said Mrs. Austin.
Law lifted his hat in a graceful sa
lute as he approached around the edge
i of tile pool, his spurs Jingling musical
ly. The mare followed.
“You have a line horse there."
“Yes’tn. Her and me get along all
right. 1 hope we didn’t wake you,
ma’am.”
“No. 1 was too tired to sleejj well.”
“Of course. 1 heard you stirring
about during the night.” Law paused,
and the mare, with sharp ears cocked
forward, looked over his shoulder in
! (positively. “Tell the lady good morn
ing. Bessie Belle,” lie directed. The
animal flung its head high, then
stepped forward and, stretching its
neck, sniffed doubtfully at the visitor.
"What a graceful bow!” Mrs. Aus
tin laughed. “You taught her that, I
presume.” _ _
"Ves’m ! She'd never boon to school
when I got lujr; she was plumb igno
rant. But she's trot nil the airs of a
fine Indy now Sometimes I go with
ouf sugar, but Bessie Belle never
does.”
“And you with a sweet tooth!'*
The Hanger smiled pleasantly.
“She’s as easy as a rookin’ chair.
We're kind of sweethearts. Ain’t we.
kid?" Again Bessie Belle tossed tier
head high. “That’s ‘yes.’ with the re
verse English.” the speaker explained.
Ho would not permit her to help with
the breakfast, so she lay hack watch
ing her host, whose personality, now
P(-ALTVd
“Sometimes I Go Without Sugar, but
Bessie Belle Never Does."
that she saw him by daylight, had be
gun to challenge her Interest. Phys
ically Law was of an admirable make
—considerably over six feet in height,
with wide shoulders and lean, strong
limbs. Although his face was schooled
to mask all but the keenest emotions,
a pair of blue-gray, meditative eyes,
with a whimsical fashion of wrinkling
half-shut when he talked, relieved a
countenance that otherwise would
have been a trifle grim and somber.
The nose was prominent and boldly
arched, the mouth was thin-lipped and
mobile. In his face there was nothing
animal in a bad sense. Certainly it
showed no grossness. The •man, de
spite his careless use of the plains ver
nacular, seemed to be rather above
the average in education and intelli
gence. On the whole, she rather re
sented the good impressio'n Law had
made upon 'her, for on general prin
ciples she chose to dislike and distrust
men. Rising, she walked painfully to
the-pond and made a leisurely toilet.
Breakfast was ready when she re
turned, and once more the man sat
j upon his heels and smoked while she
ate. After a while site remarked: “I’m
glad to see a Ranger In this country.
There* has been a lot of stealing down
our way, and file association men can't
seem to stop it. Perhaps you can.”
“The Rangers have a reputation in
that line,” he admitted. “But there is
stealing all up and down tiie border,
since the war.”
“The ranchers have organized. They
have formed a sort of vigilance com
mittee In each town, and talk of using
bloodhounds.”
“Bloodhounds ain’t any good, outside
of novels. If beef got scarce, them
Greasers would steal the dogs and eat
’em.” He added, meditatively, “Dog
ain’t such bad entin’, either.”
“Have you tried it?”
Mr. Law nodded.
“Did you join the Maderistas for ex
citement ?”
"Mostly. Then, too, I believed I*an
chito Madero was honest and would
give the peons land. An honest Mexi
can is worth fightin’ for. anywhere.
The pelados are still struggling for
their land—for that and a chance to
live and work and he happy.”
Mrs. Austin stirred impatiently.
“They are fighting because they are
told to tight. There is no patriotism
in them,” said she.
“I think,” he said, with grave delib
erateness. “the majority feel something
big and vague and powerful stirring
Inside them. They don’t know exactly
what it is, perhaps, but it is there.
Mexico has outgrown her dictators.
They have been overthrown by the
same causes that brought on the
French Revolution.”
“The French Revolution 1” Alalre
leaned forward, eying the speaker with
startled intensity. “What do you know
about tin' French Revolution?”
Reaching for a coal, the Ranger
spoke without lacing her. “I've read a
good bit, ma’am, and I’m a noble
listener. 1 remember good, too. Why, I
had a picture of the Bastille once.”
Ho pronounced it “Bastilly.” and his
hearer settled hack. “That was some
calaboose, now, wasn’t it?” A moment
later he inquired. Ingenuously, “1 don’t
suppose you ever saw that Bastille,
did you?”
“No. Only the place where it stood.”
“Sho’! i'ou must have traveled right
smart for such a young lady.” lie
beamed amiably upon her.
There was something winning about
this young man’s modesty, and some
thing flattering In his respectful admi
ration. He seemed, also, to know his
place, a fact which was even more it;
his favor. Undoubtedly he had force
and ability; probably his love of ad
venture and a happy lack of settled
purpose hud led him to neglect hi-'
more commonplace opportunities and
sent him into the Ranger service. This
Ilian had been denied what site termed
education; then fore she decided to
put one in his way.
“Do you like to read?” she asked
UUu.
"Say' If’* my favorite form or ex
ercise.” Law’s blue-gray eyes were ex
pressionless, his face was bland.
"Why?"
“I have a ere:if many hooks at Las
Palmas. You mlirht enjoy some of
them.”
“Vow that’s nice of yon, nta’am.
Mebbe I’ll look into (Iiis cattle-stealln’
in your neighborhood, and if I do I’ll
. sure come borrowin’.”
"Oh, I’ll send you a boxful when I
1 jret back,” said Altdre, and L>ave
fhanked her humbly.
Later, when he vent to move his
mare into a shady spot, the Ranger
chuckled and slapped his thigh with
i iiis hat. “Bessie Belle, we’re going to
| improve our minds,” he said aloud.
! "We’re going to be literary and read
‘Pilgrim’s Progress’ and ‘Alice in
Wonderland.’ I bet we’ll enjoy ’em,
eh? But—doggone! She’s a nice lady,
and your coat Is just the same color
ns her hair.”
Where the shade was densest and
the breeze played most freely, there
Dave fixed a comfortable couch for bis
guest, and during the heat of the fore
noon she dozed. But one cannot sleep
well with a tropic sun in the heavens,
and since there was really nothing for
her to do until the heat ahnted, Alaire,
when she awoke, obliged the Ranger
to amuse her.
As the morning progressed Law
proved himself at; interesting compan
on, and in spite of the discomforts of
the situation tlie hours slipped rap
idly. Luncheon was a disagreeable
meal, eaten while the nrroyo baked
and the heat devils danced on the
hills; but the unpleasantness was of
; brief duration, and Law always man
aged to banish boredom. Nor did he
seem to waste a thought upon the na
ture of that grim business which
brought him to this place. Quite the
contrary, in the afternoon he put his
mare through her tricks for Alaire's
edification, and gossiped idly of what
ever interested iiis guest.
Then as the sun edged to the west
and Mrs. Austin became restless, he
saddled Bessie Belle and led her down
tin* gulch into a safer covert. Return
ing, ho carefully obliterated all traces
of the camp. He watered the ashes of
Hie fire, gathered lip the telltale scraps
>f paper and fragments of food, and
then when the place suited him fell to
examining his rifle.
Alilire watched him with interest.
“Where shall I go,” she asked, “and
what shall 1 do?"
“You just pick out a good cover be
vond the water hole and stay there,
j ma'am. It may he a long wait, tor
1 something may have happened. If so,
; we’ll have to lie close. And don’t wor
1 ry yourself none, ma'am; he won’t
make no trouble.”
With the sunset the water hole lay
sleeping.
Alai re's retreat was far from com
fortable: there was an ants* nest some
I where near her and she thought of
j moving; hut suddenly her breath
caught and her heart jumped uncon
trollably. She crouched lower, for di
rectly opposite her position, and out
lined against the sky where the sharp
ridge cut it, was the figure of a
mounted man. She was conscious that
. a keen and hostile pair of eyes was
| searching the coverts surrounding ttie
I eharco.
Then, as silently as it had appeared,
the apparition vanished beyond the
ridge. Alaire lay close, as she had
been directed, praying that the horse
man had been warned; hut shortly she
heard again the rustle of stiff
branches, mid out into the opening rode
i Mexican. He was astride a wiry
gray pony, and in the strong twilight
Alaire could see his every feature—the
I swarthy cUceks, the roving eyes be
i neatli the black felt hat. A carbine
lay across his saddle horn, a lariat
was colled beside his leg, a cartridge
bolt circled his waist. There was
something familiar about the fellow,
hut at the moment Alalre could not
determine what it was.
After one swift, appraising: glance
the newcomer rode straight to tin?
verge of the water hole and dismount
ed; then lie and his horse drank side
by side.
It was the moment for a complete
and effective surprise, hut nothing
happened. Wli.v didn't Law not? Aiaire
licnt ; i\v. straining eves and ears. Put
o command came from the Hanger.
Ihcu, us U In answer to her perplex
itv. n second horseman appeared, and
the woman realized how simply she
lmd been fooled.
ii
CHAPTER III. *
What Happened at the Water Hole.
The newcomers exchanged a word
or two in Spanish, then the second
rider flung himself from his saddle and
made for the water. He wus lying
prone and drinking deeply when out of
nowhere came a sharp command.
“Oijrn! Hands up, both of you!”
The first arrival jumped as if a rat
tlesnake hail buzzed at his pack, the
second leaped to his feet with an oath.
“Prop your gun, eornpanero!"
P.oih Mexicans cried, ns if at a cue,
“Who speaks?”
“A Ranger.”
The fellow Law had addressed let
fall his rifle; two pairs of dark hands
rose slowly. Then the Ranger went on
in Spanish:
“Anto, lower your left hand and un
buckle your belt.” Anto did as he
was told, his revolver and cartridge
belt dropped to the ground. “And you,
compadre, do the same. Mind you,
the left hand! Now face about and
walk to the cbarco, both of you.
Good!”
Law stepped Into view, his Winches
ter In the crook of his arm. He emptied
the three discarded weapons, then,
walking to Anto’s horse, he removed
the second carbine from beneath the
saddle-flap and ejected Its shells Into
his palm.
This done, he addressed the stranger.
“Now, friend, who are you, and why
are you riding with this fellow?”
“My name is Panfllo Sanchez, senor.
Refore God, I have done nothing." The
speaker was tremendously excited. In
the midst of his Incoherent protesta
tions Mrs. Austin appeared.
“He is telling you the truth, Mr.
Law,” she said, quietly. “He Is one of
my men.”
Both Mexicans looked blank. At
sight of the speaker their mouths fell
open, and Panfllo ceased his gesticula
tion.
Mrs. Austin went on: “lie is my
horse-breaker’s cousin. He couldn’t
have hnd any part in that murder in
Jim Wells county, for he was Ht Las
Palmas when I left.”
Panfllo recovered from his amaze
ment, removed his sombrero, and
blessed his employer extravagantly;
then he turned triumphantly upon his
captor. “Behold!” cried he. “There
you have the truth. I am an excellent,
hard-working man and as honest as
rintl ”
I “Surely you don’t want him," Alnire
. appealed to Law. “He was probably
helping his enwhfrymnn to escape—but
, they all do that, you know.”
“All right ! If he’s your man. that's
enough," Dave told her. “Now then,
i boys, it will soon be dark and we'll
need some supper before we start. It
won't hurt Amo’s horse to rest a bit,
either. You are under arrest." he add
I ed. addressing the latter. “I won’t tie
I you unless—”
I “No, senor!” Anto understood per
fectly. and was grateful.
“Well, then, build a Are, and you.
Pnnfilo, lend a baud. The senora will
! need a cup of tea. for we three have
a long ride ahead of us."
No time was lost. Both Mexicans
fell to with a will, and In a surprising
ly short time water was boiling. When
it came Law’s turn to eat, Alalre, who
was eager to ho gone, directed her em
ployee td fetch the ranger’s horse. Pan
! Ill** acquiesced* readily and buckled on
his cartridge belt and six-shooler. He
was about to jack up his rifle, too. hut
finding Law’s eyes inquiringly fixed up
on him, he turned with a shrug and
disappeared down the arroyo. It was
plain that lie considered his friendly
relations well established and resented
the ranger’s suspicion.
“How long has that fellow been
working for you?" Law jerked his head
in the direction Punfilo had taken.
“Not long. I—don’t know much
about him." Alalre confessed. Then,
as if in answer to Ills unspoken ques
tion. “But I’m sure he’s all right.”
"Is he looking up range for you?"
“X—no! I left him at the ranch. T
don’t know how he came to he here,
unless— It is rather strange!"
Dave shot a swift, interrogatory
glance at PHiifilo’s traveling compan
ion, but Anto's face was stony, his.
black eyes were fixed ii|*on the fire.
With an abrupt gesture Law ttuag
aside the contents of ids cup and strode
I to Panfilo’s horse, w hich stood deject
edly with reins hanging.
“Where are you—going?” Alalre rose
nervously.
It was nearly dark now; only the
crest of the ridges were plain against
the luminous sky; in the brushy bot
tom of the arroyo the shadows were
deep. Alalre lmd no wish to he left
ulunc with the prisoner. - - -
lOonunued Next Week.)
Extinct Billy Goat.
Strange Is the march of time. The
billy anrl nanny goat were once a doth
inuring feature in every civilized
American community. Zlm writes In
; Cartoons Magazine. A snapshot could
j not have been taken without a gout
somewhere in the picture, but the goat,
was not deemed a fit insect to hobnob.*
In swell society. Its product mlphr
be admitted across the threshold of
the rich, but not its savory self. Tl\*.
highest standard the goat has ever
attained is the mascotshlp of a vt^me
teer Are company, or a similar ofllee.
in the United States navy, which wasi
practically the lowest rank of any
living thing aboard. In his palmy days
vivid posters were often seen of him
in the act of Juggling with n glass of
fresh bock, and now, since the brew
eries themselves are in disfavor, tlies
American billy goat Is doomed to putt*
down tha lias of hashssng l