THE El t.KXK IAII.r GUARD. FIHDAV, JANVARY 2. 100S
T
0d SaOTideffs
i3" ...By...
HENRY WALLACE PHILLIPS
PHILLIPS
COMPANY
BY
t
'Well. good day. Lettls," paid Red.
"If you can't get iiinrlers anywhere
else, come on im.l help mo bold the
tarn dowu."
"Ho you sleep lu the barn? Then
1 11 come buck euro. Toll you liow It
Is, Mr. Saunders. I've lnu-u stuck up
ladles, It's all settled como
Whereat they laughed nervously and
peculiar fact Is that my uatue is .Let- p,ir,y rose 'from the table
us.o
cncu i;eu. Mattle, 1
aiKilogize he Is a vegetable."
At which they nl! laughed agaiu.
"And now," said lied, "I'm lied
Saunders, ln:o of tin- Chanta Soochoo
ranch, territory of Dakota-state of
North Dakota, I mean. Can't got used
to the state business. There's a Hill and ' " three by nine office for four years
a ijicu on tins side of me and two Johns nsl. held to 'A to M. western brauch.'
and a Sammy on the other, l'oot of nmi lf ym uot ick of It there's no
the table Is Miss Mattie Saunders, next B1K., thing as sickness. To get out
to her-Just as they run-Miss l'auline uud breathe tho fresh air, to see the
Dooltttle and Miss Mary Ann Demllt, country, to bo my own master well,
who may be klu to the gentleman Blr, It just makes "mo treinblo to think
you're seeking." of lt, l uopo vou flu,i the straw-board
"Mr. Thomas F. Demllt?" asked tbe wunt you want to take up."
stranger. .. 8nolli(n-t wonder if lt would lie."
"He's my sister." responded Miss .0,,...Mi n,l "We'll make n corking
I
Enter the I "we.
', Then Miss Mattle broached the ques
tion sho had Uvn hovering around
ever since her guests bad taken their
leave.
"Do you think you'll really go Into
business with that young man who
was here to dinner?" she asked.
"Why, I think It's kinder likely,"
' as you got it rhaps, taps and latlgo
j little crop of long greous securely
planted in mo nam. wuero -, Btral,s, )r y,,u-i 1VU lt j front of my
able to cavort around us It sweetly
pleases tin', whv, 1 like the country.
(Continaed.
. . tnile hinges n tl,ti- l,nta
"suck Miss Saunders' It wns -olly dlnner pnrty. Tn0 Mary Ann. thereat the youths burled tennl t0 do business, Lettls, I can see
' reme over and take ' youug fellows Red had picked up in tll0;r f'lct'3 1,1 tlle lml,e8' ns Mr- Thoul- that-so cauUous and full of tricks aud
iBff: ... or hv and by, .h. u.,i,.mith' hm mr. niiMk. . as I'., in spite of many excellent qual- u ti,f
'Ju well fix It up all at dinary qualify of loungers. They were lie'- ',ore a P"ec resemblance to j Tlle voung man laughed aud then
! hnvs'" i boys of good country parentuge, with tl,le- sobered dowu. "Of course I know the
n noia. I UUJ - o . ---n,
.'. ha ..realest enter- : ...minion- school education who tin.
.... tnai oic ,
.. .....I u,.,.n til maul f...n.tQl nnxUI fl.wl nH,lnn ... ,1
:.jrt.ikcn. Miss Mattie b . tu0 occnsiomil odd job. Of course
" jjjounded ns the army (t .ould not tako long to transform
' .. . i.mict 1 l.,to .rtinmnn nnW ln wnlla lint-
a o.fl world is Cousin Imu. thev were nierolv thoughtless
m " -.. i'.. restillL- ,
' . .... ,1..,. if was neces- , ,,. .i .. i r
,!m fillll o;11- ' X lie nuie uuuii uio. uu (u licsco
l ,..i,it,iTir to 1 ....
lit sue i"'"" -- navor wuicu stoppered convention.
In aud
ha.t to get into every-
Iriness. The smith was like
fte rest of us-ae couiu
team if " was in uia o"
CHAPTEK VT.
RE was a great
cr nail au cxplanatlmi. The twQ women visitors pitched
custuii.-iress. The agonies ng gooj n tme ns lmyuody.
sllfj curiosity the woiuij , ln thu uMaie of the festivities a
that Uiorlllllg UUtil .. mn,. ,Vnl;erl ll.nsr tlin fronr
! . ...mitinned U her resolu- Rtrnniror ovlrlentlv for lita
i ssked tbe smith plump out clotl)es ,vore tue cut 0f a city, and a
wliat it all me""' would have c0Bm0I)oIItan, up to date city at that,
tnerlenred to be appreciated. : H Btniped and looked at tho house,
tmill sepi uei n --- nesitatea a moment nuu men wailiecl
.jrlnit to himself lu jnstl- . , , to wncre tue foii. wero c,.tin
hat it wasn't right the way i ..Excuse meii Ba,j ue n8 tlley looijej
up at him, "but isn't this Mr. Deiuilt's
house?"
A momentary silence followed, as lt
was not clear whose turn it was to
answer. Miss Mattle glanced around
and, finding Bed's eye on her, replied:
"No, sir. Mr. Demllt'B house Is about
lacking and hammering that a mile farther up the road."
iminc Ked worked like a , "Dear me!" said tho young man rue-
Lrse now, that he bad com- tfully. He was a spick and span, In-
isuddea tuougnt sirucii mm, . tenigent tooKing man, wnu less or tue
not into the bouse. dandy about him than the air of a
,. j,,,) lie. man who nau never worn anything
rriiv ! but clothes of the proper trim and
use for the rest of that nice becone quite used to lt. Nevertheless
rofheef 1 smell in the oven the sweat stood out In drops on his
Lve nil these fellers stay to forehead, for Fnlrilcld's front "street"
-Sil give 'em one good feed, savored of a less moral region lhan it
tTou say?" really was on o bivlling summer day.
I'd like to, Will, but i don't The youug man sighed frankly and
bfre'l! I set them V" wiped his head. "Well, that's too
:e of boards outside for a ta- iatl," ho said. "I'm a stranger hr
tinnsit on boxes or something. ,,.,, . .
nuum JUII HUIMIJ' It'll nucic .1
I mean." continued the lady hur- . ,,iii.. thin won id look Insano to most
rledly. "that I'm bis brother." : ,, ,,i.. i. qi,i atimlllv. "but I'vo
"I'.y Jlminy, ma'am,," exclaimed Red. been In business long enough to see
"but yours Is n strange family!" .sharp gentlenieu come to grief In splto ;
"What Miss Demllt wishes to sny," 0 ,i1(,r funny work. I don't bellevo
cut In Miss Doollttle. with some ns- u ma-n come to any moro hanii by ;
perlty, "Is that Mr. Thoinns I'aulken- believing people mean well by blm ;
stone Demllt Is her brother." She did ,mm jlu would by working on the other !
not add, as extreme candor would have tack." ' I
urged, "Aud I have some hope re- j "tjood boy!" said Red, slapping him
mote, alas, but there of becoming sis- ' ou t10 back. "You stick to that and 1
ter to Miss iiemlit myself." you'll net a satisfaction out of It that
"Thank you!" said I.ettls. "Shall 1 money couldu't buy you. Another
bo able to see him tills afternoon?" thing, you'd never get a cent out of
"Oh, mercy, yes!" said Miss Mary m0 m thls world if you wero one of
Ann. "Ton is home all day." I tnese Bmooth young men. My eye teeth
"I can thank the kind fates for ' nro Pllt. Bou. for all I may seem cf .
din o
i and things enough?"
: Plenty of such things,
L't ain't too much trouble for
:. In It go." V
at all, Will-it will be a'
Atlc."
jm'll eat with me this day,"
pread the hoard table beneath
1 tree and cleaned up for
:st la the kitchen storm shed
apologetic "Sorry to trouble
s Saimdcrs," or such a mat-
ach rait in.
Miss Mattie was withdraw-
aeat from the oven there came
it tbe door.
-ess. jraclous!" she exclaimed.
;n tliat be now? Will, will
who that Is? I can't go."
" said Red and went to the
Sere stooj two women of that
period between forty and
ry decently dressed and with
tiatlon visible in the way they
idjasted various parts of their
urtod at the sudden spectacle
use man who said pleasantly.
!r do, ladies V
aow do you do?" replied the
'tantly and in a voice she had
?ard before. "I hope vou're
. a remark which tilled hel
prise.
is, I'm able to assume the per-
-r, as you can see," responded
a liandsomo smile of wel-
uoff do you llnd yourself?"
'Wty Well." said the flnatornd
aow do you do'"
ii if we ain't rlirkt back whnro
hed from," mourned Red to
" it s one of the customs of
"Ify saying 'how der do' an
"retch, l pass lt up." Aloud
wains along flue, llow's
fi" "Cuss me lf I don't
t a little anyhow," he add-
e' vcrv won in. !.!..
Wy, with fervor. "Ilow"-
iunner on the nnerv fnr
i: woman lnttrnintort i- .
Fl. "llnrv 1 r. ... t
ft.ll. it. i'euuil, now
Wk like that? Your father's
JitSl Bve year last Innmr
rof th ,nm.
. "-".Mviii. v,ua oro-
pwarance of Mlss MatUo.
.' " u seeing the visit-
Mary and Pauline, how do
;Wer one, Pauline, looked up
"ly. Ue're well enough, i
Ste was weary of the form. !
ia Miss Mattle. !
'a time for uinuer." i
great pru-.est at this.
uionient to Fi.r,--
id hlV. K"nr" ,low" to i
ad Bton-,1 .., - '
. . ' ' lt sa , , etc
'"r? ha. Invl..i
could get some dinner?"
"What's the matter with that?" in
quired Red, pointing to the roast,
which still preserved an air of fallen
greatness. He hud liked the look of
the other instantly.
The stranger looked first at Red and
then at the roast. "The only thing I
cau Bee the matter with that," he an
swered, "Is that It is a slice too thick."
"Keno!" cried Red. "You get lt.
Mattle, another plate and weapons to
fit. Sit down, sir, and rest your fe
vered feet. If you don't like walking
any better than I do, you've probably
strewn fragments of one of the com
mandments all the way from where
the stage dropped you to this apple
tree."
"It seems to me that I did make
some remarks that I never learned nt
my mother's knee," returned the other,
laughing. "And I'm exceedingly
obliged for the Invitation, as there
doesn't seem to be .a hotel here, and
I nm but a degree south of starva
tion." "Red or black?" asked the host, with
a quick glance at his guest,
The other caught the allusion. "1
haven't followed tho deal," he replied,
"but I'll chance it on the red."
Somehow he felt instantly at home
nud at ease; It wns a quality that Red
Saunders dispersed wherever he went.
"There you are, sir," said Red, for
warding a plate full of Juicy meat.
"The Indies will supply the decora
tions. "
"Do you like rice as a vegetable,
sir?" inquired Miss Mattle.
"No, he dnesu't," Interrupted Red.
"He likes it as an animal. Never saw
any one who looked less like a veg
etable than our friend." The youug
man's laugh rang out above tho oth
ers.
Toor Miss Mottle was confused. "It's
too bad of you. Will, to put such a
meaning on my words," she said.
"The strange part of It is." spoke
tho young man, seeing an opportunity
for a Joke and to deal courteously with
that," said I.ettls. "I had begun to
think he was a myth," and he fell in
upon the tender meat with n vigorous
appetite of youth and n good diges
tion.
Nathaniel Lettls was by no means a
fool, aud he had experience ln busi
ness, but the mainspring of the young
fellow was frankness, and in the
course of the dinner he told his errand,
Mr. Demllt had written to his firm ex
plaining the advantages of starting a
strawboard factory ln Fairfield. It
was too small n thing for the firm to
be Interested in, but Lettls had a small
capital which be wished to Invest in
an enterprise of his own handling, and
lt had struck him that there might be
a chance for Independence: therefore
he had come to find out the lay of the
land.
Ited Saunders' first glance liking of
the stranger deepened as he told of
his business. The cowman did not
hinme people who took obvious ways
and dealt In ambiguities, for his ex
perience in the world, which was pret
ty fairly complete, had told him that
craft was a necessity for weak na
tures; nevertheless he cared not for
tnose who used lt.
In his part of the west n man would
no more think of giving a false im
pression of his financial standing to
alter his position i:i one's regard than
he would wear corsets. Money was of
small consequence; Its sequelae of loss.
Men spoke openly of how much they
made, how they liked tlle Job, how
their claims were paying. Such mat
ters wero neutral ground of chance
conversation as the weather Is lu tho
east. The rapid and unpredictable
changes of fortune gave n tendency to
make light of one's present condition.
A man would ray "I'm busted" with
out any moro feelln:? than ho would
say "I have a coal." Now, ln Fair
field, that Is not likely lonesome ln
that respect, one of the principal ob
jects in life was to conceal tho pov
erty which would persist In sticking
Its gaunt elbows through the cloth of
words spread over It. Red asked
stralghtforwnrd questions shrewd
ones, too seeing that the other was
one of his own kind and would not re
sent lt.
The man that does me a trick has u
chance for bad luck, and you can bet
on that."
"Lord, I believe you!" replied Lettls,
taking in the dimensions of his new
friend. "Well, good by for' the present,
Mr. Saunders. Thank you for tho din
ner and still more for the heart you
have nut Into me."
At U o'clock the fence wns not quite n,0 test,
finished. "No, I don't," agreed Red.
It's sport to take hold of a place like
this that's only held together by Us
suspenders and try to make u real live
man's town out of lt."
Miss Mattie drew a deep breath of
"But you don't know anything about ; relief, '"o u canio 1(6' tho hero in a
him. Will." she continued, putting the ! fairy story. Will, and 1 was afraid
I you'd go away like one." she said
I He readied across the table and pat
I ted her hnniY. "You'd have had
goue, too," said he. "The family
I stick together."
She thanked him ln a soft little
voice. "Dear me," she murmured, "lt
does seem that you've been here a
year, Will!"
"Never was told that I was such
Blow company liofore."
! "You know perfectly well that that
I Isn't what I uiean."
"Well, you'll have to put up with
mo for awhile whatever I am, luso
inuch as I'm to le a manufacturer and
the Lord knows what. Then some
day I'm going to have an awful hank
ering for the land where the bree'
blows, and then we'll lake n slitite for
open prairie. It's cruelty to animals
for me to straddle a horse now, yet
there's where I'm at home, and I'm
going to buy me n cayuse of somu
kind. Say, I ought to get at that, lf
I'm going around with Lettls I want
to rldo a horse. Know anybody that's
got a real live horse for sale, Mattle?
No? Well, I'll stop ln and see the
lady that deals the mall. I'll It you
wlfit that woman doesn't know about
what's going on In this ramp will nev
er get into history. Re back right
away!"
Bald ho to tho postmistress: "My
name's Saunders, ma'am cousin to
Miss Mattle. I Just stopped in to find
out lf you knew any ono that had a
house at ti o'clork tomorrow.
"All right, joung man; all right, sir.
Now don't blame me If you air took
home sIiik'S fust."
"Nary," said lied, "t'ome and seo
the fun."
"I sboivly will,!' replied the old gentleman.
. ii.u i
it-! f . IT 0 the next
to I A I a crowd lu
11 i 1 I "What bii
I 1 now, Will?
seucn-thfrty the fence vat done,
weak side of her desire forward ln or
der to rest moro securely if that stood , riding horse for sale-horso with four
good legs that 11 carry mo an uay.
Hut and about the rest 1 don't care a frollc-
"If you'll stay with mo until tho here's tho way I feel about that: 1 some cuss,
thing's' done, I'll stand another dollar , want to be doing something according j Tho postmistress replied at such
all around," said Red. "I don't want lt j to my size: besides Unit, It would bo length and with such velocity that
to stare me ln the face tomorrow." i a good thing for this place If sonio Red was amazed. Ho gathered from
The eldest spoke up. "We'll stay kind of a live doings was to start here, her remarks that a certain Mr. I'ptou
with you, Mr. Sauhders, but we don't All right, that's my side of lt. Now, had an animal, purchased of a chanco
wuut any money for it, do we. fel- .as far as not knowing that young fel- horse dealer, which lt was altogether
lers7" ' ler's concerned. I might tuink I knew likely he would dispose of. ns the first
"No" they replied In chorus, well him from cyclone cellar to roof tree, time he had tried the brute it went
lueuning what they said. ; and ho might do me to n crowded p Into the air nil sorts of ways and
"Whv vou're nerfect v welcome to House. .My niea is nuu nies a goou nuran me un u ..n...... ........
the cash!" said lied. 1 "oal like raro you unow now mat is,
"And you're welcome to the work," I "I remember about uls not letllng
retorted the boy, "We're paid pkMt,y ' the people go, but I'm ufrnld I d m't
t3 it is." , know my Itible us well us I ought to,
"If that's the way you look at lt, Will," apologized Miss Mattle, rather
I'm much obliged to you," said Red, astonished at his allusion,
who would uot have discouraged such "Let the people go? Itible?" cried
n feeling for anything. Ho said to Red, laying down his knife and fork,
himself, "This don't seem much like still moro astonished nt her allusion,
the kind of people I've heard Inhabited "Will you kindly tell me what tb
these parts. Those boys are all right, has to do with faro bank? Girl, in:
Reckon If you use people decent they'll of us Is full of glio-U songs, and far,
ulnv un to vonr lead, no matter what far off tlie reservation. What in the
country it is." ! name of llrlgham Young's off-ox are In here wants to see him about buying
At 7:30 tlie fence was done, coriroous you talking about?" a horse."
ln a coat of fresh red paint, and
the bunds departed, each .with a slice
nf Miss Mattie's chocolate cake, n
owner to
tricks before high heaven ns made tho
angels weep.
"Where does this man live?" askwl
Rod, Willi a kindling eyo.
"Tin lives about three miles out on
the relervll'.a road, but he's In towu
tonight visltln' Miss Alders. Johnny!"
to u small boy who had been following
the conversation, his wide open eyes
bent on Red nud bis mouth and wig
gling bare toes expressing their delight
lu vigorous contortions, "Johnny, you
run tell Mr. Upton there's n gentleman
CHAPTER VII.
xt morning there wag
lu front of the bouse.
have you been doing
?" asked Miss Mat-
He, with prescience.
"Only buying a horse, Mattie," re
turned Red soberly. "Seems to bo
quite nu event here."
"Is that'll!!?" '
"That's all, so help mo Hob!" Red
had a suspicion that there would lw
objections If she knew what kind of a
horse It was.
Lettls, who had roomed with Rod
overnight, was In the secret.
The horse arrived, leading very
quietly, as Mr. I'ptou had si. id. It
was a buckskin, fat mil hearty from
long resting. .Nothing could be moro
docile lhan the pensive lower lip nnd
the meek curve of tlie neck. Nothing
could be moro contradictory than tho
light of Its eye, a brooding, baleful
fire, quietly biding Ms time.
"Scatter, friends!" cried Sted ns ho
put his foot lu tho stirrup. "Don't bo
too proud to take to timber!
Ho swung over ns lightly ns a tra
peze performer, deftly catching his
other stirrup. Tho horso groaned and
shivered.
"Don't let him get his head down!
flol ding itl Don't you!" screamed Mr.
Upton ln wild excitement.
Red threw the bridle over tho horn
of the saddle "(!o It, you devil!"
cried ho. And they went. Six feet
straight In tho air, first pass. Tho
crowd scattered, as requested. They
hurried nt that. Red gave the brute
the benefit of ills 2,10 ns they touched
earth, and his oppouent grunted when
lie felt the Jnr of it. They rocketed
ond rlcochetted; they wero here, they
wero there, they wore everywhere, tho
buckskin squealing like n pig and fight
ing with every ounce of the strength,
that lay In his steel strung legs. The
dust rose In clouds; Red's hat Hew In
no time; he was yelling like a maniac,
nud tlie crowd was yelling like more,
inaulacs. Now mid then a glimpse of
the rider's face could bo caught, trans
ported with Joy of tho struggle; then
Die dust would roll tip and hide every
thing. No out was more pleasid nt
t)i spectacle than the blacksmith. Hn
wns capering ln the middle of tlie
1 road, waving a hand hammer and
shouting: "Hold him down! Hold him
down! Why do you let him Jump up
like that? lf I was on that horso I'd
snow you! Aw, thero It Is nguln.
Stop him! Slop him!"
At lids point the buckskin made
lllliee enormous leaps lor uie niucn-
thing to make the heathen gods feel
contemptuous of ambrosia.
They went straight to the black
smith's shop, where they were anxious
ly expected.
"(lood Lord!" he said a little later,
"lf you fellers will talk one. at a time,
p'r'nps I can make out' what's hap
pened. Now, Sammy, s'p'oso you. i!o
the speaking:
it, III. .u Mt.tM.Tl, I,,, li.wl niirli.t-utnoil.
"Why, you spoke rf l'liaraoli, will, i'oiii uisuiro ion. .. mm Tm) Kl1)tll c,.st ,ip,V to tho winds
nnd I can remember about his holding remonstrated Red. . I nm, mmt ()v01. t,u, nL,,ll.L,st flMu.e m tIl0
the children of Israel cnpllve, nud thu "Ho won t call that disturbing him. I mvK (lmt m(U, 1)OVS .lcll coasting
plagues, but I really don't see Just replied uio pos.nusiress, wu a cll ..mllu.u whopper," or words to
how It lipplilM."
"Oh!" said Red, as a great light
broke upon him, "Oh, I see what
you're thinking about. The old boy
who corralled the Jews and mai'.e 'em
work for the first and last time In
their history, nnd they filled blm full
of Ileus and darkness and all kinds of
unpleasant experiences to break even?
laugh. "He'll be here 111 no lime.'
She wns n true prophet. It. seemed
that effect, and took bis next breath
two minutes litter. Ilo might have
Whereupon Sammy faithfully enroll- Well, I was not talking nbout him nt
lcled the events of the day. The boys nil. My faro Is a game played with
had behaved themselves ns lf thero a layout and 11 pack of cards and n
wns nothing out of the common hap- little tin box that you ought to look at
pening while they were with Red, bo-' carefully before you put any money
lug held up by a sense of pride, but on tho board, to see that lt ain't ar
naturully tho splendid physique of the ranged Tor dealing seconds; and
cowman, his picturesque attire, his there's a lookout nnd a case keeper
Lettls wanted nothing better than a J nu,,ndoned way of scattering money : nnd-woll, I don't believe I could tell
chance to expand on the subject. It
wns close to his heart. Ho had been
a subordinate about as long ns a proud
nnd masterful young fellow ought to
be.' Now he wns quivering to try his
own strength, nnd, Feeing, for his part,
Unit his host was Inspired with a gen
uine Interest and not curiosity, ho
gave him all the Information In his
power.
"But n plant like that Is going to
cost some money, ain't It?" nskeil Ited.
"Too much for me. I'm tifral l." re
plied Lettls. "I have So.ikio to put In.
and I suppose I could borrow the rest,
but that's I'a.h'.llng the. business with
ton heavy charges right In the liegln
nlug. Still, It may not be us bad as I
fancy."
Red drummed ou the table, thinking.
around and the air cf a frolic ho hud 1 you Just how It works, but some day
managed to Impart to a day's hard I'll make a layout and we'll have somo
work all had effect on Imagination, i fun. It's a bully game, but I say, It's
and the boys wero very1 much ex- i a great deal like lire the splits go to
cited. j the dealer; that Is to say, that If tho
"I'd like to know how many Injuns king comes out to win nud lose nt the
thnt feller's killed!" piped up tho j same time, you Ioso anyhow, see?"
youngest. "Hy! lie could grab hold ! "No," said Miss Mattle truthfully,
of a man and wring his neck like a Red thrust his fingers through his
chicken." hair and sighed. "I'm afraid I know
"Aw, tst!" remonstrated the black- ; too much about It to explain It clear
smith, lint the elders stood by the , ly," he replied. "Hut what I menu Is
youuker this time. , this: Some people try to play Bysfem
"Yes, be could, Mr. I'nrrel!" said ; nt faro, anil they last about as quick
they. "You ought to soon him when as those that don't. I always put tho
ho rolled up his sleeves! Ile'B got uu ; limit on the card that's handiest, and
arm ou him like the hind leg of u . the game don't owe me a cent. As a
horse, and he uses an ax like a tack j matter of fact, some of tho tin horns
hammer. " Ho got mad once when ho ' used to wear a pained expression when
pounded his thumb and busted tho j they suw me coming across tlie room,
"I wouldn't mind getting Into a busl- pQst ,,, m tWo with one crack." I I'vo spilt 'em from stem to keelson
ness of some i.inu us 100,4 . . . vcu, ho looks like 11 husky man," : more than once und never used n cop.
-1 worLl:
5 f"r him to stay
sUau r ' ony "ore
UJU you to help nie
v wa Hm, .. m d()n.t
om,;rk! 05 Tmt fixing,
al?" ",,,,kef. "it's 00
ta , ... ron an. this
" 11 08 It base as
j
, inv .li.it vnumt man wide open greetings and the explanation of the road, boro the poworrul man ana
land Pi bet vou I don t loso by Idui eaud, -Pl "'ed 1.1. chin ! Horse. Then there wero frantic cries
!" ,.'?L'y J" whisker regretfully. "Young man," of warning. Fifty feet between tho
" Jit ttrijipi d tit to find out II v"t Knew
un.; one Mint mil u rtillwj homefur
title."
,.,i.inr. ii.iiiirs " ho snlil. "I don't I ..... i..i,.,i,i, ..uf i, : ii i.i,...,i ,., .i,i ,, dercd, solemn faced man, who had
hanker to keep store much. Suppose ; 1Mn.t you tako (he' cxtry dollur , llln0 ' Sow ,, ho brought brush heap of chin whlskar decorut
I go along with you when you look up . wuen nB mn(lo tM0 o(rcr? Uo .)ettr!! ,0 hlB Blji d,Wn on tll0 ,,,!,., rm Bg Ing tho lower part of his face. After
bow much straw is raised ana tne rest ; kn()W wlmt uc wns bout, und It looks
of It?" I bltwl nt foollKti to snv 'no' to 1L"
vvnnM von?" cried the young fel-! ,,, .,,.,, n,, "w i.i,. mu. kn.i n n m.. whisker regretfully. "Young man,'
low eagerly. "Ry George, sir, I wish I wlmteu t0 sll0w him we wero Just as tifT pup for all ho dresses kind of nice. "'! '. a l''"ar and on-
vou could see your wny clear to take ; gmd 0? 10 folk knew;. explained 1 might Just ns well try blm on tho pleasant position. I here's mighty
hold of lt! Could you stand 10,(XK), tm. eu,.st Bomcwhnt shnmefaccdly. fly as to go luuk heading around ami '"J'ew ' wouldn't no In n hawse
for Instance? Excuse the question, but . Tb(! blacksmith straightened himself, get stuck anyhow, with the unsntls- trade, but I draw the Hue on murder.
I'm so anxious over this"- quite right, too," said he. "We air , factory addition of feeling that 1 was That there liawse'll kill yon. Justs
"Lord, what's the harm of asking wlll,n yoa colno , tlllt ... A mtlu a f(H1, .,, , coh,nj,." sure ns you're fool enough to put yer-
facts?" said Red. Then, with a gleam ,9 wonderful tonic. Each man Most of the argument bad been an- self on his back. I II sell you a reul
of genial pride, "Ten muni-null uuiuu of that gathering felt hlmwMf Uio ls-t- clent Aryan to Miss Mattle, but tin) " -
break me by n darn signi. lcr for the display of It. ring of the voice nnd the little she un-
Lettls' boyish face fairly glowed. "It Iu ()lc Im.nlltme u,,j wns repairing dorstood ma le the tenor plain. A sud-
was my good angel made me stop in ()le ruV1(;t.8 0f tlc ,iy opposite Miss den moisture gathered In her eyes ns
front of your fence," he said. "I saw j.ltte t a supper table which was B,e said; "You're too good and honest
you all eating in here, nnd you looked bountifully spread. Miss Mattle put ami gem-runs n limn to distrust nny-
bo Jolly thnt I thought I'd stop on the ,w0 am, two t0KPti1(.r nI1,i fnU(i tiu.y b,lv Thut s what I think, Will."
chance you might be the man I was m(,unt n inrger sum of eatables than , "Mattle. I wish you wouldn't talk
looking for. Now I II go rtgui on aim gue nna ntlcrt0 felt sufficient, nud.
Mr. Iiemlit nnd llnd out wnni no vMl tll0 lmng ,lt tUe thought of
as ,1 uie ooy o on e,. .- , ci, (1u lMio, tm 110 0..(U Kht,u0li
when ho returned wllh 11 sloop shoiil-l . . , ... f . . . .
picket fence opposite. Red regretted
the nbsenco of herders ns the sharp
pickets loomed near, lt was no tlmo
for regrets. The horse was over with
but llllle damage a slight scratch;
enough to rouso bis teniper, however,
for he w haled away with both hind
feet, and parts of Iho fence landed n
hundred feet off. Then a dash through
an undent grape arbor, and they were
lost to view of tho road. Some reck
less small boys scampered after, but
tho majority preferred to trace tho
progress of tho conlllct by tho aborig
inal "Yeriioops" that came from some
where 111 behind the old houses,
"There they go!" piped up a shrill
voice of the small boy brigade. "Right
through Mis' Davlsses hen coops! You
ought to see them hens lly!" Tho tri
umphant glee Is beyond the reach of
wolds. Simultaneous squawking veri
fied thu remark as well as a femlnlno
voice urging a violent protest, cut
short by n scream of terror, and tho
Hlaiu of a door. Tho Inhabitants of
"Mis' Davlsses" house Instantly ap
peared through the front door, seeking
the street.
To show the errntlcnlness of fate, no
sooner hail they reached' the road than
Red's mount cleared thu parapet of tho
bridge In a single leap, a beautiful
leap, and came down upon them in
the roud.
All got out of tho way but a, three-year-old,
forgotten In the excitement.
Upon this small lad, fallen lint ln tbe
road, boro the powerful man and
k mnm
wants to do In the matter. (1B inadequacy of her first offering to
! "Walt for the wagon and you can n(,r pn,,,,!!,, provided such fatness as
' ride." said Ited. "uoy s gone the land of Fairfield boasted.
like thnt," Bald ho in an Injured voice.
"It ain't hardly resectable.'
II risk blm." cut lu Red. "Could
you lead I1I111 dowu here In the morn
ing?" "Yes, indeedy he's n perfect lndy
of n horse to lend -you can pick up
nlry foot climb nil over him. In fac'
s'lmig's you don't try to rldo I1I1I1 or
bitch lilin up. If you do that well,
... 1.- . - 1 "Bring on your ibuwi
"FOOt Of UU tODU ft ill MS cue - Mfl LettiS.
as ucrp.
"""Li bit entertainers it the same Ume-"ile
young man, you II get a pretty fair
After which there wns a silence for "moo or wnni is meant i.y one or m
a short time. Then said Miss Mattle, demons of hell.
rw. vn,. think von could content vour- "Wliut kind of saddlo have you
' . . . .... !,!,.. f,.r mo this ,. .. . .- . .. .... n.ir
see his una nooui ..-... iney uiscuswu me eveum ui uio acir here, will, alter an 1110 uiiug- -
. n.naniln.n tf rnn re . .... "fine of them nntBndUh wextern fir-
afternoon, in i"t? ui.-o..... . uay wnu ruiisuicuoii. you ve seen 1 - q. . . ,l . i,
011 . ..1.. i...i,i .mi hi-in .. . ...... ........ ....... m. . . .. fnir. 11.. nnm ihf... in tvttii ih.wlng point with wrath, told In sued lan.
not too prouu 10 r --.tiy. sa u mum jiuiiie. luu uo iiii iiriguteiieu at tne cuange '" . . . , ...
not 100 10 ,. . ,.. rn be ' . . . . . .. .. 1 .,tmnir..n ... I ihoiuflir I'd tnU guage as had nevor been beard lu
us wlto tins oak imngs . wuu.m. . i oou, ,,,.. -, ,c you now umi i. i. . . -- Kalrtlelil that the owner was atiU
It, will, doii'l you r hadn't any capital and had to worn uV ...,.- . .......... , .. - ---- -
Red smiled In pleased acknowledge nure M a ioor man, I don't Iwlleve I d "rce weeks after my "lacli ailio. q
meat "I n no peanut stand, rid Ue tno trouble to try and live. I n ,u"1
"I like to see things aniot
youngster and thoso mangling hoofs
twenty five! The cro.d gasped. They
wero blotted together! Not so. A
mighty hand had snatched the boy.
away In that Instant of time. He was
safe and very Indignant 111 a howling,
huddled heap In the ditch by the road
side, but alas for horse and rider!
The buckskin was not used to such
fonts, nnd when ISed'a weight was
thrown to the side for the roach bo
missed his stride, struck his feet to
gether, and down they went, whllo tlie
f 1 nit deep dust sprang Into the air like
an explosion.
Miss Mntllo rushed to tin two Ht
the accident, followed by every..'.
Young lettls. equully frightened,
close beside her. '
"Oh, Will, are you killed?' sho cried.
And then a voice devoid of any slgna
of weakness, but loaded to tho breuk-
"Comou. boys!" said Bed, and the Uur Mld
mother. But, having that pleasant "' " fr ". J'Wt
(gontlneud Next Friday.)