Red Saunders
« • ■By • • •
HENRY
WALLACE PHILLIPS
M c C lure ,
by
copnusH.T.
’
I
B
hettl
"
“
o*
be
a
K> “ ’<„? the
philups
c -
company
"tyhy. Will! What would we ever
' ■ lf you Ho with ItT’ said she.
••Do with It? Why. eat It!”
"But we couldn’t eat all that!”
,?fot thnt i
•Then throw wlwt's left to the cats.
■ K™11'1
of h **.
■
i never 1 ad but one real
fr- "brG;.
1‘ Wo"
Koent n>-‘"
.-,.r of
II
■
I
and
from
'. g animuni
n-.- I" a harry. Still. 1
m the middle £
■ hit the caj use In
■
■ »'-
. .......... I
krtiles fr°m home
•
S’?111’
you thirsty to get shot
E-«**’’» thinking of which 1
E27ne.ee tn old Black Wolf and
pa noil straws with him to
Ktotmk tny canteen down to the
E .nd got ”’me frvsl1 " n 'r
1
Emeable «nd we hunched up to
E other. It ain't to my credit to
Et >-♦ T »*’ w”"”' hurt ,l,nn that
K* warted him. He got the
Eitraw and had to crawl a mile
E,h cactus, while I «at comforts-
E the cause 'f the disagreement
E„I>| to blm that ........... k«d Uke
Eiger and other things thnt an In-
Eculdn’t feel was a compliment.”
K >.nel back and roared. "I can
I -■ MW putting his hands down
Ktueful and turning back every
111 .while to cuss me. Turned out
Eft was his cayuse too. Feller that
Ku m
>’fro,n hlm" 1
E.. - .
: It, l.ut I can t
ten 1 think how I
■tot Injun."
Hger.erally speaking. Mias Mattle had
sense of bumOT, but the Joke
■
Iler educn-
K
.
that getting shot ,was
■
■ st
i should have thought you
Ks! have died. Will!"
■Tu.it! For a little crack in the
■fcrtel Red. with some Impatience.
B
■■ tsy In this
L
One of our
L. ..
g and took mi to camp.
Ere »as up and doing again in no
Kt Course. Black Wolf lias a game
I
;
u,„-st that’s
. ank or two of rheu-
m»tU In tlie rainy season. I paid
Mf for hts cayuse,” he finished
U
"I had the laugh on
t
1» Mattie told him she thought
K ».« noble of him. which tribute
■ . ad shifted tho
•jet
practical affairs.
k»ted Miss Mattie how much mon-
|itr bad a! 1 I. cv she managed to
lie out Now, it was one of the
lot.> of it"" I • nii.-ix In Fairfield
lt s;ei„ ,,f m t. rlal matters, per-
0 - 'i : e there was so little ma
m' matter la the community, but
b Mattie, d...-d to a thousand
home petty e. tiomies. hail often
U-: for a sympathetic ear to pour
O’ it a good honest complaint of hat-
C
■ ............ uld not
nb ith Cousin Will,
Elbe could say it was pretty hard
'let along mid gave some details,
h Mt that she knew him so very
*
hours! Red beard
(
'
He had scented
'ions at once.
P’ ... t ' : fun kidding on the
r-
: •1
hmi c<>n-
r
el ad to count the
r
and it made me
f ■htau
ne than when I
V
ler to school.
Well,
I
gone by for you. Mat-
r
1 down and, pulling
P*crwn |
,.,j ft on t|ie wll.
r ’ "Rlnw that In and llmiiet
.
er that there's more
bM It."
Pj* Mattle's prl le rose at a leap.
L
’b” ’al ! "I hope you don’t
l . ' * ’ J .' >u this to get money
* Ton."
i*1 med forward, put his hand on
F**Mvr and held her eyes with a
^“0» acres» of sternness and au-
I hope. Mattle.” said be. "that
'
■ that I think anything
•j.s.n« stared Into each other's
.'r't> full minute; then Miss Mat-
wtlu„ Mld
..j
T
yon do.”
b< .'w5
I did." retorted
'-at In thunder would I do
tuat • .1Py?
Why. gvsl
7/- »in. I
lid paper your house
htp,.
Now you try to fly
*■
like I tell you.”
ua Ip 1
ke down. The not fnl-
,r(* J
1*1
«-r-.i.
“1 ’*ra!n of fifteen years had
when the cord snap-
>w bow to thank you.
fc
to M ...
y. Oh, Wil
**W* m
‘“ good to be —
-
ia too
true!"
a
„
C h ,nt. MiifuC
| JL* *”* distress. "Now h<> 1
b-'
"o' • tnlnnfe! The e»
"»hat u
•Tou ,o 1,0 for
* ’be asked, drying her
1 don't k:.
tomorrow.” be replied.
*’ tc -"t’t "f t**f «twwst that
’bail 3< * w»»htub.
”'«* wm coopiem.
I
Mi»s Mattle stood In the halt opened door
and lt»tened.
You ain't ’going to full down on rro
the first favor 1 ask?" with mock sen
ousness.
"You shall have the roast of iieef.
Tears to me that you're foud of your
stomach. Will,” sai.l Miss Mattie, with
a recovering smile.
"I have n gi hh ! stomach that's al
ways done the right tiling by me when
I’ve dond* the right thing by it." said
Bed. "And, moreover. Just look at the
constitution I have to support. But
say, old lady, look nt that!" pointing
to the clock. "Eleven-thirty; time de
cent [ample were putting up for the
night.”
The words brought to an acute stage
a wandering fear which had passed
through Miss Mattie's mind nt Inter
vals during the evening. Where wan
she to look for sleeping accommoda
tions lor a man? S!ie revolte 1 ngnlnst
the convention Hint In her own min i
ns well ns tile rest of I'alrfield forbade
tile use of her house for tile purpose.
Long habit of thought had made these
niceties constitutional. It was almost
ns difficult for Miss Mattie to snv "I'll
fix up your bed right there on the
sofa” ns it would hnve been for lied to
pick n man's pocket, yet when she
thought of his instant nnd open gen
erosfty and what n dismal return
therefor it would be to thrust hlni»out
for reasons which she divined would
hnve no meaning for him, she heroical
ly resolved to throw custom to the
winds nnd speak.
But the difficulty was cut in another
fnshion.
“There’s a little barn In the back
yard thnt caught my eye,” said Red.
“and if you'll lend me a blanket I’ll
roll it out there.”
“Sleep in the barn! You’ll not do
nny such thing!” cried Miss Mattle.
“You’ll sleep right here on the sofn or
upstnlrs in my bed. Just ns you
choose.”
“If It’s nil the same to you. I’d rather
not Ro help me Bob. I’d smother In
here, Had the darnedest time coming
on that ever was—hotels, Little white
rooms with the walls coming In on
you. Worse than ratth-snnkes for keep
ing n man nwnke. Reminds me of the
hospital. Horse fell on me once aad ,
smashed me up so that I had to he
sent to get puttied up again, and I
never struck such a month ns thnt
since I was born. The dec told me I
mustn’t move, hut I told him I’d chuck
him out of the window If he filed to
atop me. and up I got. I’d have gone
dend sure if they’d held me a week
more. I speak for the bam, Mattle^
and I spenk real loud; that is, I mean
to say I’m going to sleep In the barn,
unless there's somebody a heap larger
than you on the premises. Now, there’s
no use for you to talk—I’m going to dn
Just ns I say.”
•'Well, I think that's Just dreadful!”
said Miss Mattle. “I’d like to know
what folks will think of me to hear
I turned my own cousin out in the
barn.” Her voice trailed off a little
at the end as the gist of what they
might say if he stayed in the house oc
curred to her. "Well.” «he continued,
“if you’re set I supi ■ se I can't object.”
Miss Mattie was not a good hand at
playing a part.
“I’m set." said Red. “Get me a
blanket " Aa she came in with this
he added. “Say, Mattle, could you let
me have a loaf of bread? I’ve got a
habit of wanting something to eat in
the middle of the night”
"Certainly! Don’t you want some
butter with ft? Here, I’ll fix It for you
on a plate.”
"No, don’t waste dish wn«hlng. I’ll
show you hpw to fix It." He cut the
loaf of bread In half, pulled out s por
tion of the soft part and filled the hole
with butter. »There we are. 10J
setting K> bother with afterward."
j
"I bat's a right smart notion. Will, cackle nnd the pompous crow, were In i f?iis morning "
have to be smooth and du
full chorus.
but you’ll want a knife ”
1 The compliment hit so tender a place
"Where am I at this time?" said he 'that Ml.-s Mattle lacked the resolution It wasn't a bad shanty.
In answer be drew out a leather case
from his breast pocket and oi>ened it as he took In the view. "Oh. I re- to tear it out; tieefde». it was so hon- | "Well, there came a Jar and waked
member!” aud his heart leaped, •Tm est ttiat it sounded much less like a him up. The box was rolling n little
Withlu was knife, fork, spoon and two tn my own home, by the Lord!”
eompliinent than a plain statement of ami going along, going along forty
flat boxes fur salt and pepper. "You
He went down to the brixik and fact. She bent tiaatily over the fire. mile an hour. Scotty lit a match and
see. I’m fixed," said he.
washed, drying bauds and face on the “I’m glad I look young. Will,” she said fouml lie was In a kind of Ug tunnel,
but the wall was flying by so fust lie
"Isn't that a eute trick?" she cried silk neckerchief, which is meant for softly.
ailiulnngly. "You're ready for most u»e as well as for decoration.
“So’m I!” he nssenteil heartily, f couldn't make out Just what kind of
anything."
Now, he'd gone to
In the meantime Miss Mattle had "What's the sense In being old. any- I a tunnel it was
"Sure." said Bed. “Now, good night. ■ wakened with a sense of something how? l’ui as llmlier and good for sleep tn jieaee ami quiet on a side hill,
Old lady." He l>ent down lu so nat delightful at hand, the meaning of myself ns ever I was tn spite of my and to wake up ami find himself t»>nt
tiding in a tunnel was euougli to sur
ural a fashion that MI m Mattie h»<* which escaped her for the time. And forty years."
kissed him before she knew what she then she remembered aud sprang out
“Tou're not forty years old!” ex- prise anybody. First he pincheil him
was going to do.
of tied like a girl. Hbe went to the claimed Miss Mattle. "You’re Joking." I self to see if It was Hank's pie or a
Down to the barn, through the soft window, threw open the shutters and
“Nary Joke—forty round triiai from cold fact; found it was a fact; then he
June evening, weut Red. whistling a let the stirring morning air flow in. flytug snow to roses since I hit land, lit uuother match and leaned over and
Mexican loss surq most melodiously.
This bad been her habit for a long i Mattie why, you were only a llttla looked at the black water underneath,
Miss Mattle stood in the half opened time. The window faced away from girl wbeu 1 left here don’t you re but this made the box tip so it »cart
door and listened Without was balm the road, and no on« oould see who luembar? You and your folk» came to him. aud he settled dowu In the bot
and starlight, and the spirit of flower» was not on Miss Mattle's own prem see us the week before I left. I got a tom again. lie didn't try to think.
thrashing for taking you and Joe to j What was the use? No man living
breathed out In odor* Tbs quaint sod ises
pretty tune rose and fell, quaseeed.
,
tha
mllliKiud and helping you to gtt could have figured things out with the
But this morning Red had wandered
lilted »long as it listed without re- around. Stopping at the rosebnabag f»od and wet. The thrashing was one few facts Scotty hud liefore him. All
gard for law and order. It struck Miss he picked a rose.
of the things that gave me a hanker of a sudden the ls>x made a rush and
Mattie to the heart. Her girlhood, with
“That has the real old time smeW” ing for tlie west. Very lltieral man ■not out into the air. ami Scotty felt
’God sakes!' he
its misty dreams of happiness, caiue he said as he held It to his nose with the hickory, father. Spare the thev were falling.
back to her on the wings of music.
"Sweetbriers are good, and I don’t go clothes and spoil the skin was his ■ays to himself. ‘What's next, 1 won
"Isn't that a sweet time?” she said, back on ’em. but they ain’t got the motto. He used to make me strip to der?’ Thou they hit the water below
with a lump in her throat.
the waist—phee-hew! Even a light wv’b a kerdap that nearly telescoped
frani these fellers have."
She went up into her room and sat
Bud in hand, he walked beneath Ml»» breeae rested heavy on my back when Scotty ami sent the spray flying. Aft
down a moment In confusion, trying to Mattle's windows, and lie was the dad got through with me. Say. Mattie, er that they weut along smooth again.
grasp the reality of all that bad hap first tiling her eye fell upon.
perhaps I oughtn't to say so. now that ’Well,' sajs Scotty. 'I don't know
pened. In the middle of the belief
Iler Btarthsl exclamation made him he's gone, but I don't think that's the wliere 1 tun. nor who 1 am. nor what's
happened, nor e bo's it. nor nothing
thnt these tilings were not so came the look up before she had time to with proper way to use a boy, do you?"
regret of a sensitive mind for errors draw.
"No, I don't,” said Mias Mattie. about this guiue. So far I ajn't taxui
committed. She remembered, with a
"Hello, there!" he called Joyfully. “Your father meant well, but his way hurt, though, ami I might just ns well
He down and get a little more rest.’
sudden sinking, that she had not thank "How do you open up tills day? You was useless aud cruel."
"It was broad daylight when be
ed him for the necklace. And the mon look pretty well!” he added, with a note
’Tve forgiven
hint
the whole
woke
up again, and a man was look
ey lay even now on the parlor table of admiration.
■weep,
”
said
Red.
“
But,
d
—
n
uie.
Miss Mattie had the
where he hud cast it! This added the wavy hair which Is never In better if I had a boy I wouldu't club the life ing into the lox. 'Hello, pardner!' he
physical fear of thieves. Down she order than when left to its own de out of him; I’d try to reason with him say». ’I hope you've had a pleasant
went and got the money, couuted out, vices. Her idea of coiffure was not first, anyhow. Makes a lioy as ugly Journey. Do you always travel this
to her unmitigated astonishment. $500 the most tiecoming that could have as anybody else to get the hide whaled way?*
"Scotty raised up and found his
and thrust it beueath her pillow, with been selected, as she felt that a off his back for nothing—once in
a shiver. Rhe wished she bud thought "young" style of hairdressing was awhile he needs it. Boy that's gut any craft was aground, high and dry—no
to tell him to take care of it. But sup foolish for a single woman of her life in him gets to be too much oc water within a hundred feet of it
pose the thieves were to fall on him years. Now, with the pretty soft hair casionally, and then a warming is On one side wns quite a little town.
” ’Say.* says lie, ’could I trouble you
as he slept? Red's friends would have flying, her eyes still humid with sleep healthful and nourishing. Lord, you’d
spent their sympathy on the thieves. aud a touch of color in her fnce from think I was tlie father of my country to tell me where I am, friend?’
" ’You’re at Placerville,' answers the
She rejoiced that the money was the surprise, relieved against the fleecy to hear me talk, wouldn't you? lf
where it was. Then she tried to re shawl she had thrown* about her shoul somelMidy'd write a tibok, 'What Red otlier.
’’ Tlaeervllle!’ yells Scotty. "And I
member what »lie had said throughout ders. she was lncont&tably both a dis Saunders Don't Know About Raising
the evening.
creet mid pretty picture. Yet Miss Children’ it would lie full of valuable went to sleep at Cutter's mill, aixt.v-
How’s thnt breakfast five miles from here! What are you
“Well, 1 suppose I must have acted Mattle could not forget the Imre feet Information.
giving us, man?'
like a ninny,” she concluded. "But and nightgown, although they were coming on?"
“ Tin putting It to you straight,' «ay»
isn't he Just splendid!" And as Cousin hidden from masculine eyes t>y wood
"All ready—sit right down. Will."
Will's handsome face, with Its daring, and plaster, nnd site wns embarrassed.
"Go you!" cried Red, and Incautious the stranger. ‘Take a look around
kiud eyes, came to her vision »lie felt Still, with all the su|M>rsen»ltive fan ly flung himself upon one of the kitch you.’
"Scotty looked, anil there wns all
comforted. "I don't lielleve but whut cies, Miss Mattie had a strong back en chairs, which collapsed instantly
kinds of wreckage, from a dead lieef
lie’ll make every allowance for bow bone of New England common sense. and dropped him to the floor.
excited 1 was,” said she. "lie seems She answered that she felt very well
"Mercy on us! Are you hurt?” cried critter to a w heelbarrow.
“'What in nation’s all this?' says he.
to understand those things for all he's Indeed and. to cover any awkward Miss Mattle, rushing forward.
" ’Washout,’ says tlie man. ’Cloud
such a large man. Well, it doesn t ness. Inquired what he had In his
"Hurt?" said Rod. "Try It! Just
seem as if it could be true.” With a hand.
Jump up in the air and sit on the floor burst up on the divide—worst we've
ever had—your box Is about high
half sigh, Miss Mattie knelt and sent
"Go<xl old rose,” replied Red. “Old where you are now, and see if you get
vp her modest petition to her Maker time smeller— better suited to you than hurt! Oh, no! I'm not hurt, but I'm water mark-you see there was water
nnd got into her little white l>ed.
astonished lie.vond measure, like the enough for awhile- I reckon you're
to me—ketch!”
nlMiut the only thing that came through
In the meantime Red's actions would
At the word he tossed it, and Miss man that tickled the mule. I’ll take
have awakened suspicion. He hunted Mattie caught it dexterously. Red had my breakfast right here—shouldn't alive.’
“'Well, wouldn't that knock you?’
around until he found a tin can, then an exceedingly keen eye for some wonder a lilt lf the floor went back
lit a match and rummaged the barn things, nnd he noticed the certainty on me and landed me In the cellar. No. says Scotty.
“While the rest of the folk at the
amid terror stricken squawks from the of the action. He hated fumblers. "A sir! I won’t get up! -Hand me the
mill was taking to tlie high ground for
inhabitants, the liens.
person can do tilings right lf they've supplies. I know when I'm well off.
"One. two. three, four." he counted. got minds Hint work,” was one of his If you want to eat breakfast with me. tlielr lives, with tlie water ronrlug ami
••Reckon I can last out till mornlug <>u pet sayings. “ 'Taint tlie muscles at come sit on the’floor. I'm not going to tearing through the gulch, Scotty had
that. Mattie, she's white people-Just all; it's In the head, and 1 like the kind hnve m.v spine pushed through the top
tlie nicest I ever saw-but she ain’t of head that’s in use all the time.” of my head twice in tlie same day."
used to providing for a full grown Therefore this »mail affair made an
“Will, you are the most ridiculous
person I ever did see!" snld Miss Mat
man.”
impression on him.
He stepped to the back of the barn
“Why, you could lie a baseball play tie. and she laughed till she cried In
slicer lightheartedness. "But there's a
anil looked about him. "Nobody *n er.” said lie.
see me from here," he said in satis
"I used to play with Joe when I chair you can trust. Come on now."
“Well, If you’ll tnke your solemn
faction. Then he scraped together n wal a girl," said Miss Mattle, smiling.
pile of chips and sticks and built a “I always liked boys’ play lietter than oath thnt tills one has no mustache to
fire filled tlie tin can nt the brook, sat I did girls’. Joe taught me how to deceive me." snld Red doubtfully. "It
It on two stones over, the fire, rolled throw a tiall too. lie said he wouldn't looks husky. Well. I'll try It. Hooray!
himself a cigarette ami waited. A play with me unless I learned not to She didn't give an inch! This kind of
large, yellow tomcat came out of the •scoop it,’ girl fashion. I suppose you reminds me of the time Jimmy Hen
brush and threw his green headlights will lie wanting breakfast." There drieks came back from town and
on bitn. meaowlng tentatively.
was a hint of sarcasm in the doubt of walked off the edge of tlie bluff In the
"Hello, pussy!" said Red. "You hun the inquiry.
• dark. It Just happened flint Old Scot
gry too? Well. Just wait a minute and
"That's what I do,” said Red. “You ty Ferguson's cabin wns underneath
we’ll help that feeling. Like bread, must Just hustle down and get thing» him. Jim took most of the roof off
pussy?” Tlie cat gobbled the morsel to boiling or I'll throw bricks through with him ns he went in. He »at
greedily, came closer and begged for the windows. I’ve been up for the awhile to figure out what was trumps,
basing come l.'.O feet too fast to do
more. The tin can boiled over. Bed last two hours.”
popped the eggs in. puffed ^1» ciga i "Why, I don’t believe it!” said Miss much thinking. Then, ■Hello!’ he yells.
Old Scotty was a sleeper from way
rette to a bright coal and looked at his Mattle.
watch by the light. "Gee! Ten min I “No more do I, but It seems like It," i back, but this woke him up.
“ 'Hello!' say» he. ‘Was'er matter?*
utes more now!” said he.
H“*** replied Red. "Don’t you want the fire
“Jim saw lie wasn’t more than hnlf
seems to me ns lf I could watt
He started? Come down und open up the
j nwnke yet, no he sny8. Why. I wns
pulled the watch out several times. 1 bouse.”
"What’s the matter with the d—n ! When Miss Mattle appeared at the up on the bluff there. Scotty, and. see
thing? I lielieve It’s stopped.” he door In ho strode with nil armful of ing ft was such a short distance. I
growled. But nt last "'rime!” he wood, dropping It, man fashion, crash, thought I’d drop inP
shouted gleefully, kicked the can over on tlie floor.
"'Aw rl’.’ grunted Scotty. ’Make
and gathered up its treasures in his
"Skip out of the way,” said lie. “I’il y’self t’ home,' anil with that he rolls .
over.
handkerchief.
show you how to build a fire."
"Now. Mr. Cat. we're going to do
"Jim couldn't wait for morning, nnd. |
“It hat tn nation n oil Ihitf' 8<iyn he.
The early morning bail lieen the most
some n-al eating." said he. "Just sit desolate time to Miss Mattle. As the though his leg was pretty badly peacefully gone off In Ills little lioat
right down and make yourself at day warmed up the feeling of loneli sprained, ho made the trip all the way 1 down tlie creek ami. luslead of going
home Tills i« kind of fun. l y .links.
ness vanished, |>erhaps to return nt Yound the trail nnd woke ua up to tell I over tlie rapids, where he'd have been
Down went the eggs. r.llJ down went evening, but not then with tlie same us how he'll gone through Ferguson's I done, for all Ills luck, tlie l«u ambles
the loaf of bread In grfuerous slices, absolutenesK as when she walked roof and the old man asked him to 1 through the flume they was building
never forgetting a fair share for the about the kitchen to the echo of her make himself at home. Next morning ( for the new mill Of course tiiere was
there was Scotty out In front of bis. the Jounce over the tall race, liut that
own footsteps la the morning.
"Woosh! I f'*'1 '’«’tier!" cried Red.
Now the slamming nnd the banging cabin. Ills thumbs In Ills vest boles, hadn't hurt liini much, ami after be
“And now for s >:ne sleep.” He swung which accompanied Red’s energetic ac looking up.
rocked in the cradle of the deep until
np Into the hayloft.,spread the blan tions rang In her ears most cheerily.
“ 'What’» the matter. BcottyY nays I. he got lieached nt Placerville.
’’ 'Well. I wlslit you’d tell me what j ‘•’Cotne along, friend.' says Scotty
ket on tlie still frngriuit old hay and She even found a relish In t
jmot li
roiled himself up in a trie«-
ered oath that heralded the t. st of a in the name of God went through that to the feller 'You ami me are going
• I did .1 M**1 tur!1 when 1 c,mo “ splinter In his Anger,
to have a little drink on tills. If It Is
It was very roof?' sayn he.
here." be mused "If I have got only wicked, but It was also very much
"I nwallered a laugh croHswayn nnd the Inst act’ And I reckon probably
one relation, she's « dandy—so pretty alive.
put on a serious face. ‘Must have been they made it two. for when Scotty got
and quiet and nice She» a marker
back again lie wus in a condition that
Red arose and dusted off his knees, a rock.’ nays I.
for all I've got. is Mattle.
" Rock nothin'!* nays lie. ‘If It had made everylsidy lielieve that he'd only
"Now we’re off!" he said as the Are
The cat came up. purring and mak began to roar.
been a rock 'twould have stayed In the giiessed nt tlie story tie t./ld. But they
"What'» next?”
ing bread.” He sniff'sl feline fashion
"If you’d grind the coffee. Will?" she cabin, wouldn't It? Well, there ain't found out afterward It was a solemn
at Re<l’» face.
the first blasted thing of any shape nor fart. Mattie, give us some unite cof
suggested.
•Too! Shoo! Go ’way. pussy. Set
descriirtlon in there but the Dole. Yon fee.”
“Sure! Where's the hand organ?”
tle yourself down and we’ll pound our
Thus abruptly recalled to Fulrfield.
He put the mill tietween liis knees can go In and look for yourself.’
ear for another forty miles. 1 like you
“It coat Scotty one case of rye tn Ml«» Mattle started up.
anil
converted
the
lieans
to
powder
to
first rate when you don t walk on my
“Well. Will. It <!oes seein ns If that
make ua forvet those cfrciimstancea.”
face” lie stretched an l yawnad enor- the tune of "Old Dog Tray” through
"I should have thought the man was a dangerous country to live in,"
his
nose,
which
Miss
Mattle
found
nii,n,|y ..Ves. sir. Matties all right/
fWotild lie killed, striking on tlie roof said she.
very amusing.
said he. "A a-a ll rl"- And Chanta
"Ob. not so awful." snld Bed. "Just
^.Thee Red was In the land of dreams.
She measured out the coffee, om- that way.” Mid Mias Mattie.
"Oh. no! Hoof was made of qnaklng ns many people «lie here ns they do
spoonful
for
each
cup
nnd
one
for
the
Hire, back in God’s country within
as;, saplings, just about strong enough . ♦here This world'* n dangerous place
twenty miles of the placa where he pot Red watched her patiently, and to break his fall. Scotty was the to live lu wherever jou strike It. Mat
when she had finished he threw in
was born, the wanderer laid him down
the rest of the contents of the mill •lee|*T. thoug’i! It wasn't hardly nat tie.”
again, an l in spite of rai l and foray.
"That's *o." sail site thoughtfully.
drawer. "I like It fairly strong.” said ural the way tlmt man could pound bl*
w..,Hkr nnd
of he in explanation.
"And now." said Red. pushing back
ear through thick and thin. He had
tear, har-1 times »nd. liar’“« tret of
“Now. Will!" protested Miss Mattle quite a surprising time of It once. He*l his chair, “it's time I g >t to work and
,,.r»nne lie was much
the
i ,, ’^mpSThonret.
g-aeron*.
"Look st you! That will te as bitter t>een prospaetlug round the Ruby re left you to do the housework undis
fra* tory ore district and he catne out turbed."
deXmar'are !«y who bad left there as lionesot"'
"What are you going to do. Will?"
“Thin her up with milk and shell be at Hank Cutter's sawmill Jn«t at sun
twenty-four year» ago.
"First place, there's fences and
down. Hank's place was full of gold
ail right," repileil Red
“Well, anch wasteful way» I never rushers, so Old Nrotty thought bed thing* tn >ie tinkered up. I see. I
CHAPTER V
¿id see. Notiody’d think you were » cl<*p outd'iors in |>en<-e and quiet ¡4« ■uppove a tn 111 Inn a I re like me ought to
discovered some big boxes that Hank hire those things done, but I'd have
JIE next morning when Red day over fifteen."
awoke arrows of gold were
"I'm not." said Red stoutly, "and.” was making for ore blna for the new measles of the mind If I sat around
shooting through the holes In catching her chin In his hand nnd turn mill, and as the ground was kind of doing nothing."
"1 have l*en wanting to get the
the oid l«m. and OUaMu the ing her |a<e up toward him. "notiody’d damp from a thunder shower they had
bird life, the twittering and chirping,
put your score much higher than that •hat day lie sprreds hia blanket Inside (dace in gool order for some time.”
the fluent wbiiR.e »nd tb» warble, neitbae
U m
If ‘hey treated w> thatr »yre the boa aa«l F'«» to Meep Ora otns *<14 Mlns Mattle, "but what with the
m
money 1 na! to spend for tin-
«
that, and not Is-lng able to get Mr.
Joyce to come In for a day’s work
when I wantiil him. It's gone on until
there is a good deal of wrack to It.”
"We il wrack It t'other way round In
uo time. Got any tools here?"
"Out In the barn is what's left of
father's tools
People have borrowed
'em aud forgot to return ’em. and
they’ve rusted or lieen lout unlll l'ui
Ifrald there ain't many of 'em left."
"Well. I'll get along today somehow,
and later on we’ll stm'k up. Want any
help around the house?"
“Thank you. no. Will."
"Theu l'ui otf "
It was almost with a feeling of ter
ror that Miss Mattle beheld him root
up tho fence. Iler Idea of repairing
wok to put lu a picket here nnd there
where it w as most needed. Red's wat
to knock it n’l tint first ami set it up
n Al condition afterward. So In twa
tours' time lie straightened up aud
mapped the sweat from ills brow, be
holding the slain picket» prone on th«
grass with thorough satisfaction. Y’et
he felt tired, for the day was already
hot w ith a moist ami soaking seacoast
bent, to which the plainsman wan un-
accuHtomed. A three-quarter grown
boy passed by, lounging on the seat
of a farm wagon.
"Hey!” hailed Red. Tlie l>oy stopped
and turned slowly nrouml.
"Yes, Bir," lie answered courteously
enough.
"Want a Job?" said Red.
"Well, 1 dunno," replied the boy.
He wns much astonished at the ap
pearance of his Interrogator, and be
was a cautious New England boy to
boot.
"You don’t know?" retorted Red.
“Well,” with some sarcasm, "d'ye sup
pose I could find out at the postoffice?”
The boy looked at Red. with a twin
kle In his eye and a comical drawing
of his long mouth.
"1 calc’late If you cud fin’ <*t any-
w'eres 'twould lie there," snld he.
Red laughed. He iiad noticed the
busy postmistress ruslilng out of her
■tore to waylay any one likely to have
Information on any subject, a stream
of questions proceeding from her
through the door.
"Say, you got anything particular
to do?”
“No. sir; leastways tli'aln’t no hurry
about it.”
“Can 1 buy stuff to make a fence
with around here?"
"Yes. sir; Mr. Pettigrew’s got all
kinds of buildin' material at his »tor®
—two mile over yonder,” imlntlng with
the whip.
"You drive over there for me and
get some Just like tills here—picket»
aud |H>sts and whatever you call them
long pieces, and 1'11 make It right with
you."
"Yes, sir. IIow much will I get?”
“Oh, tell him to fill the wagon up
with it, and I'll send back wbat I
don't want. Hustle, now, like a good
isiy; I want to get shut of this Job;
I liked It I etter before I begun."
When bls Mercury had speeded on
l.e "urney nt n faster gilt than Red
h :.<I have given him credit for th®
uclii'ect Hit de down to tho black
smith's »11 >p.
There was a larger
crowd than usual around the forge,
ns the advent of t!ie stranger had got
Into the wind, ui: I the village Vulcan
was a person who not only looked tha
whole world in the fnce. but uo on®
of the maiden ladles of Fairfield could
haie excelled his Interest in looking
tlie whole world as much In tlie inside
pocket as possible. The blacksmith
wns emphatically a man of gossip, as
well as a hardworking, God fearing
man.
"Say, there he comes now, Mr. Tut
tle!" cried one of the loungers, and
nudged the smith to look.
“Well, let him come!” retorted the
smith testily. Jamming a shoe in the
fire w ith unnecessary force; ns a mat
ter of fact lie was embarrassed. The
loungers liud<ll<‘d together for moral
support ns the big cowman loomed
through tlie doorway.
"Good morning, friends!" snld he.
“Good morning, sir!" replied the
blacksmith, rubbing his hands on bls
apron. "Nice day, sir."
"For the suke of good fellowship I’ll
say ‘yes’ to that," re ponded Red. “but
If you want my honest opinion on the
subject it’s d—u hot."
“’TIs that." assented the smith, and
a slleuce followed.
“Say, who’s your crack fence build
er around here," asked Red—"the man
that can make two pickets grow where
only one grew liefore and do it so easy
that It's a pleasure to sit and look at
hltuT’
“Hey?" inquired the smith, not pre
cisely getting tlie meaning of the ad
dress.
“Why, I’ve got a fence to build,” ex
claimed Red, "and now I want soma
help- wnut it so bad I'll prodm-e to th«»
extent of three a day und call It n day
from now till 0 o’clock. Any takers
here? Make your bets while the little
laiil rolls.”
The loungers understood the general
drift of this arid pricked up their earn,
as did the blacksmith. “Guess one of
the boys will help you," said the latter.
"Well, who’s It?" ask ed Bed, glanc
ing nt the circle of faces Three dol
lars a day w as enormous wages In
that part of tb<* couutry.
Nobody
knew Just wbat to say.
"Oh. well,” cried Red, "let's every
body ran! I reckon I can find some
thing to do for the five of you. Are
you with me?”
"Yea, sir,” they said promptly.
"Can I borrow a hammer or so off
you, old man?” quretloned Red of U m
am Ith.
a
“Certainly, air,” returned the latter
heartily. "Take wbat you want.”
tContlriued Next Week.)
R A. Johnson, of Chicago, arrlv»d
in Eugene yesterday to look over the
* country with a view of locating.