The four of us punches cows for the Cross J, draw down forty a month and spend our leisure time trying to figure out how old J. B. Whittaker ever got so much talent together in one bunch. We sure make a pretty good quartette for singing. We’ve got one tenor and three other voices. We hives up around Mike Pelly’s bar that day and sings songs until Chuck suggests that we better go down to the depot and see if the lady comes in. We’ve got several trains a day; so it’s up to us to see ’em all. The train ain’t in yet; so we sings a few more songs. After a while the train comes in—but no lady. Muley starts an argument with the conductor over it, but the conductor is a big, mean-looking person; we takes Muley away from him and sets him on a truck. * * * * * The train pulls out, and on the far side of the track stands a female. She must have got off on the wrong side. She sure is fair to look upon, and Muley falls off the truck when he tries to take off his hat to her. “Ma’am,” says Telescope, bowing and trying to take off the hat he’s already got in his hand, “ma’am, the town is on this side.” “Oh,” says she and then stares at us. “Her hair was gug-golden, and her lips was blue. Her eyes was sweeter than the morning dew. Her nose was like sea-shells, and her ears was pug— “And I’d like to assassinate Mike Pelly and J. B. Whittaker—honest to gosh!” says Muley, still on his hands and knees with his hat down over one eye. “Ma’am, it sure pains me to tell you this, but—you’ve got to go right back where you came from,” says Chuck sad-like. “Honestly.” “Go back?” she gasps, and Chuck nods. “Yes’m. You’ve got to. Not on our account, ma’am, but there seems to be a sentiment against women. One of them says that women is the banes of his existence, and the other says that—aw, Telescope, you talk a little. I ain’t going to stand here all day arguing with a perfect lady.” “You heard him say it, ma’am,” agrees Telescope. “They’re against a woman. Now if you was a—wait a minute! Gosh, lady, I got a hy-iu scheme. We’ll slip one over on the women-haters.” Telescope grabs her by the arm, and the lady acts mystified-like. “I—I don’t understand,” says she. “I—I——” “This ain’t no time or place to settle it,” says Telescope. “Come on, everybody.” “That’s all right, ma’am,” says Muley, taking hold of her other arm. “You can trust Telescope—as long as me and Chuck and Hen are along to protect you. Where we going, Telescope?” “We’ll leave our broncs here and take the buckboard,” says Telescope. “The old man is in a poker game by this time, and he won’t need it.” “I asked you in a lady-like manner to tell me where we’re going,” says Muley. “Is it a secret, Telescope?” “I’ll explain when we get there, Muley,” he replies.