Honoré Willsie

“ Hugh set his teeth. This was the sort of thing a man who entered public life let himself in for! After a short struggle, which showed plainly in his face, he said:
“I don’t care to go into the reasons that led me to give two years to The Lariat. But I will say that if we can prevent the flooding of the Old Sioux Tract, I’ll make it over to the state of Wyoming as a perpetual fossil field.”
“Then what do you get out of this campaign?” asked another member.
“I get the satisfaction,” said Hugh, “of having saved something that is of immense value, though it can’t be measured in money.” ”

“ Why, you poor maverick, you, that woman made a failure of her own husband and her own daughter! And she darn near made a failure of you. How do you expect her to run a fight like this?”
“Nevertheless, Fred,” said Hugh, firmly, “she’s made a wonderful success of herself in politics, and in that one thing I’ve entire confidence in her. ”

“ When the government aviator tells me you are a full-fledged air man, I’ll go up with you.”
“That’s good!” Fred’s tone was mollified. “How do you like my outfit, Hughie? Got it from that little aviator, Marten. Takes about ten years off me, eh?”
“Yes, it does, Fred, and if you’d shave your beard, you’d lose ten years more.”
This was an old debate between the two, always much enjoyed by Hugh and much resented by Fred. But now, to Hugh’s vast amusement, the old miner felt his beard regretfully, sighed, walked out of The Lariat and headed for the barber shop. ”

“ Neither can civilization afford to lose the Old Sioux Tract. It is, if you please, a sealed library of priceless manuscripts. These manuscripts may revolutionize our ideas on evolution, on religion, on the birth and growth and destiny of man. ”

“ Ellis, the chairman, has a brother on the Public Utilities Commission.”
Hugh sighed. “Well, what is their objection to helping me?”
“Just what they said yesterday. They don’t see any flesh and blood interest in fossils. Not that I expected them to! But I did think they’d see possibilities in you. But, you see, they all are women who’ve made their way up from the ranches and they don’t see things like they ought to. Not that they’d admit it. But I realize that, now that I've looked them over. The other committee was this new generation and they are softer. ”

“ Morgan.
“Yes, I do refuse to be,” replied Hugh “I may not have fatherhood in my soul, but I do love this old state of Wyoming, and I do think the Children’s Code bill should not be imperiled by me or any other man with a one-track mind. I’ve made a big mistake in putting myself into your hands, Mrs. Morgan. ”

“ What’s the idea? Bookie was a big man, but I never could get this stuff about Hughie’s throwing himself away, because he was too big for fossils. A man that ain’t strong enough to put himself where he belongs in the world, ain’t big, and that’s all there is about it.”
“Good heavens!” ejaculated Hugh, “forget it!— So you are against me too in this fight, Johnny?”
“Yes, I am,” replied the young rider, shortly. “I’ve gotta be. Come on, Jessie. It will be after midnight when we get home,” and the two left The Lariat in silence. ”

“ Morgan stated the purpose of the meeting.
“Ladies, one of the greatest fossil fields in the world lies in the neighborhood of Fort Sioux. It is threatened with destruction, and I asked your chairman to call you together that we might plan how to save it.” ”

“ Ah, you say to me, man has developed from savagery only because of his capacity to keep records, records by which society could absorb all that had been done, in order to do more. Civilization, ladies, could not afford to lose the Library of Louvain. ”

“ Ellis was again watching Hugh’s face attentively. “One, you can save your fossil field only as governor. Politics absolutely control the natural resources of this state. Efforts at the Capitol have focused for years on water-power sites. There’s a big battle between state and federal control and it’s been expedient to concentrate more and more control in the governorship. You don’t know all this, Mrs. Morgan says. Fact number two—the women, for various reasons, will swing the next gubernatorial election, and Mrs. ”

“ Morgan. “You need a man for the women to fasten to. Here’s a man who’s—” She was interrupted by Hugh. “I’d much prefer you’d drop the whole matter as far as this committee is concerned, Mrs. Morgan,” he said. ”