Marie Manning

“ But when he heard the ring of the Arabian's hoofs down the lane, Buffy drew in his head, as if about to turn a somersault, then shot forth his legs and ran lumpishly and stupidly, exactly as his friends and relatives run around the ring in that act of the Wild West Show set down as: "Wild and Thrilling Race of Positively the Last Herd of Buffalo in Existence!"
Molly on the back of Sultan was deciding that an escaped buffalo was the mildest of contretemps. The gallop was a wonderful tonic. If people would only not get fussed up over trifles! ”

“ The immediate prospect before Molly as she rode with comet-like speed down the main thoroughfare was a series of groups that formed and dissolved with kaleidoscopic rapidity—groups that formed as human curiosity impelled people to rush out to see what was happening, and dissolved when the merest glance seemed to satisfy them. ”

“ The matadors now scrambled up the barricade and accosted the buffalo in more challenging tones. Still nothing happened! It is sad to be a matador, full of fire and purpose, and not have your bull take you seriously. The knights of the ring were still regarding their prey, not knowing in the least what to do next, when the buffalo saw them. At first he regarded them as if they were a couple of flies that had lighted on the pen, but something about them impelled another glance ”

“ Buffy did not seem to think much of the self-introduction of the two matadors. He slightly turned his head in the direction of the sound, opened his mouth as if he were about to reply, and seemingly thought better of answering anything so jejune and feeble. ”

“ Now, don't palaver, Molly—it doesn't go with your type. The only way for you to save the lamp-shades and layer-cake is to turn back now—the Exchange is about a block and a half off."
"There will be quantities of people lunching there—defenseless women." Then, to an old lady shrieking from a second-story window to be told what was the matter, "Nothing is the matter, Miss Brooks, only our buffalo is loose. Defenseless women, Tom." ”

“ Of course, she had started it, organized the pageants, induced the gentlewomen to leave their wares for sale, and thus had made herself dictator; but it was an office fitter for a matron than a young girl, and when her ruthless ambition caused her to ruin another life besides her own it was time to protest.
They worked the climax up, like the conspirators in Julius Cæsar. Mrs. Lycurgus Y. Greggs, who was dying to replace Molly as president, made an able Brutus. Miss Boothby did not catch more than a flying word here and there, but the atmosphere of the League fairly sizzled with conspiracy. ”

“ At this particular time, the family circle had been increased by three models—an Indian, a buffalo, and a pure-bred Arabian horse rented by a Wild West Show to Boothby, who was going to use them in a heroic group illustrative of this Republic before the coming of the white man.
Tom Standish felt that he was a model, too—a model of patience—since this was his third journey from the Southwest to try and induce Molly to return with him. She was, as usual, fluent in excuses ”

“ Continuing this line of reasoning, he remembered having been told never to go near the field where the bull was kept with anything red on; now if a bull did not like red, why, indeed, should a buffalo?
When Jack made his preparations, he had perfect faith in the lock of the buffalo-pen. He was not seeking to revive the noble sport of the plains. He had, in fact, no organized hunt in mind when he presented himself at the back gate of his crony, Bobby Lincoln, and said, "Say, where's that old red sweater of yours?" ”

“ Jenks, whose twin social specialties were deafness and a maddening and inexorable tendency to discuss the weather. Mr. Jenks did not hear the hoofs of Sultan till they were fairly upon him. Molly made a megaphone of her hands and shouted: "Our buffalo is loose. Run for your life!" ”

“ Boothby with just the faintest diminution of the family equanimity. "We'll ask Katie," as a plump housemaid came up-stairs with her arms full of clean linen.
"Katie, do you know where the Indian stays? He's not been occupying his room."
"I do, ma'am; he do be shlapin' each night wid the buffalo." ”