The Dude Wrangler | Page 7

of it to the driver of
the laundry wagon.
"I was shore pinin' to step in the middle of a horse," was Pinkey's
explanation of their eccentric arrival. "It kinda rests me."
While all this was happening Wallie stood holding his lemonade tray.
When he could get close, he welcomed the Smith boy and was
introduced to Pinkey, and stood around long enough to learn that the
latter and Helene Spenceley knew each other.
Nobody, however, was interested in seeing his roses. Even Miss Mattie
Gaskett, who always clung like a burr to woollen clothing with the least
encouragement, said carelessly when he showed her the lemonade tray:
"As good as your best, Wallie," and edged over to hear what Pinkey
was saying.
There was nothing to do but withdraw unobtrusively, though Wallie
realized with chagrin that he could have gone upstairs on his hands and
knees without attracting the least attention. For the first time he
regretted deeply that his eyesight had kept him out of the army, for he,
too, might have been winning war crosses in the trenches instead of
rolling bandages and knitting socks and sweaters.
Wallie almost hated the lemonade tray as he slammed it on the table,
for in his utter disgust with everything and everybody the design
seemed to look more like cabbages than roses.
CHAPTER IV
THE BRAND OF CAIN
There never was a nose so completely out of joint as Wallie's nor an
owner more thoroughly humiliated and embittered by the fickleness
and ingratitude of human nature. The sacrifices he had made in
escorting dull ladies to duller movies were wasted. The unfailing

courtesy with which he had retrieved their yarn and handkerchiefs, the
sympathy and attention with which he had listened to their symptoms,
his solicitude when they were ailing--all were forgotten now that
Pinkey was in the vicinity.
The ladies swarmed around that person, quoted his sayings delightedly,
and declared a million times in Wallie's hearing that "he was a
character!" And the worst of it was that Helene Spenceley did not seem
sufficiently aware of Wallie's existence even to laugh at him.
As the displaced cynosure sat brooding in his room the third morning
after Pinkey's arrival he wished that he could think of some perfectly
well-bred way to attract attention.
He believed in the psychology of clothes. Perhaps if he appeared on the
veranda in something to emphasize his personality, something
suggesting strength and virility, like tennis flannels, he could regain his
hold on his audience.
With this thought in mind Wallie opened his capacious closet filled
with wearing apparel, and the moment his eyes fell upon his riding
breeches he had his inspiration. If "the girl from Wyoming" thought her
friend Pinkey was the only person who could ride a horse, he would
show her!
It took Wallie only so long to order a horse as it required to get the
Riding Academy on the telephone.
"I want a good-looking mount--something spirited," he instructed the
person who answered.
"We've just bought some new horses," the voice replied. "I'll send you
the pick of them."
Wallie hung up the receiver, fairly trembling with eagerness to dress
himself and get down on the veranda. He looked well in riding
togs--everyone mentioned it--and if he could walk out swinging his
crop nonchalantly, well, they would at least notice him! And when he

would spring lightly into the saddle and gallop away--he saw it as
plainly as if it were happening.
Although Wallie actually broke his record he seemed to himself an
unconscionable time in dressing, but when he gave himself a final
survey in the mirror, he had every reason to feel satisfied with the result.
He was correct in every detail and he thought complacently that he
could not but contrast favourably with the appearance of that
"roughneck" from Montana--or was it Wyoming?
"What you taking such a hot day to ride for?" Mrs. Appel called when
she caught sight of Wallie.
The question jarred on him and he replied coolly:
"I had not observed that it was warmer than usual, Mrs. Appel."
"It's ninety, with the humidity goodness knows how much!" she
retorted.
Without seeming to look, Wallie could see that both Miss Spenceley
and Pinkey were on the veranda and regarding him with interest. His
pose became a little theatrical while he waited for his mount, striking
his riding boot smartly with his crop as he stood in full view of them.
Everyone was interested when they saw the horse coming, and a few
sauntered over to have a look at him, Miss Spenceley and Pinkey
among the others.
"Is that the horse you always ride, Wallie?" inquired Miss Gaskett.
"No; it's a new one I'm going to try out for them," Wallie replied,
indifferently.
"Wallie, do be