Desdemona was not the only woman to have trouble over a handkerchief. It occurred to Mary also. Mary was in love with Bill, who worked on her father’s ranch, and was greatly admired by all the boys. Shorty returned from town one day with a fine checkered handkerchief, which he proudly placed about his neck, strutting in front of Bill to attract his notice. The handkerchief was almost loud enough to speak for itself, so Bill noticed it all right. One of the boys sneaked it from about Shorty’s neck and hung it on a nail, where Mary found it. Seeing that it was new, she placed it about her own comely neck, but alas, Othello Bill became jealous and accused her of accepting it from Shorty. High-spirited Mary did not deign to enlighten him, but went for a row on the river. She was captured by Indians and taken before the chief of the tribe, who was holding a big race that day. Mary had a brilliant idea and scornfully told the chief that his warriors did not know how to ride, and that she could beat them. The idea of the “pale face squaw” distancing his braves caused the old chief much merriment, and he arranged a race, with Mary mounted on his own steed. Mary finished first past the chief’s wigwam, but forgot to stop, and soon the entire tribe was after her in pursuit. In the meantime Bill had gone for a ride in the woods and found the fatal handkerchief, where it had fallen from Mary’s neck. He started back on the trail and reached her, and when they returned to the ranch, where Shorty had been bewailing his lost finery, the lovers’ quarrel was easily patched up.