The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1872-03-07

thar
The Old Man partly opened the door
and peered through. His guests were
sitting there sociably enough, and there
were a few silver coins in q lean buck
skin purse on the table. "Bettin on
suthin'-some@ little game or MOTHER
They're all right" he replied to Johnny
and recommended his rubbing.
I'D like to take a hand and win
some money" said Johnny, rehectively,
after pause.
The Old Man glibly repeated what
was evidently familiar formula, that
| if Johnny would wait until he struck it
rich in the tunnel he'd have lots of
money, &C., &c.
"Yes,' said Johnny, "but you don't.
And whether you strike it or l win it,
it's about the same. It's all luck But
| it's mighty cur'o's about Chrismiss-
amt it ? Why do they call it Chrismiss ?"
Perhaps from some instructive de-
ference to the overhearing of his guests,
or from some vague sense ofincongruity,
the Old Mans reply was so low as to be
inaudible beyond the room.
"Yes," said Johnny, with some slight
abatement of interest, "Fve heerd O him
before. Thar, that'll do, dad. don't
ache near SO bad as 1 did. Now wrap
me tight in this yer blanket. So. Now"
he added in muffled whisper, ." sit down
yer by me till go asleep To assure
himself of obedience, he disengaged one
hand from the blanket, and grasping
his fathers sleeve, again composed him
self to rest.
For some moments the Old Man wait
ed patiently. Then the unwonted still
ness of the house excited his curiosity,
and without moving from the bed, he
cautiously opened the door with his dis
engaged hand, and looked into the main
room. To his infinite surprise it was
dark and deserted. But even then
smouldering log on the hearth broke,
and by the upspringing blaze he saw the
figure of Dick Bullen sitting by the dy-
ing embers.
Hello :"
Dick started, rose, and came somewhat
unsteadily toward him.
"Whar's the boysI" said the Old
Man.
"Gone up the canon on little pasedr.
They're coming back for me in mint.
I'm waitin' round for 'em. What are
your starin' at, Old Man," he added with
forced laugh; edo you think I'm
drunk"
The Old Man might have been par
doned the supposition, for Dicks eyes
were humid and his face flushed He
loitered and lounged back to the chin
ney, yawned, shook himself, buttoned
up his coat and laughed. Liquor amt
so plenty as that, Old Man. Now don't
you git up, he continued as the Old
Man made movement to release his
sleeve from Johnny's hand. "Don't
you mind manners. Sit jest whar you
be; I'm goin' in a jiffy. Thar, that's
them now"
There was low tap at the door. Dick
Bullen opened it quickly, nodded "good
night" to his host, and disappeared.
The Old Man would have followed him
but for the hand that still unconsciously
grasped his sleeve. He could have easily
disengaged it; it was small weak and
emaciated. But perhaps because it was
small, weak and emaciated, he changed
his mind, and, drawing his chair closer
to the bed, rested his head upon it. In
this defenseless attitude the potency of
his earlier potations surprised him. The
room fickered and faded before his eyes,
reappeared, faded again, went out, and
left him-asleep.
Meantime Dick Bullen, closing the
door, confronted his companions. care
you ready" said Staples. "Ready,"
said Dick "what's the time? Past
twelve" was the reply "can you make
it its nigh on fifty miles, the round
trip hither and yon." 81 reckon" re-
turned Dick, shortly. "Whar's the
mare Z" "Bill and Jacks holdin' her
at the crossin'." "Let 'em hold on a
mint longer" said Dick.
He turned and re-entered the house
softly. By the light of the guttering
candle and dying fire he saw that the
door of the little room was open. He
stepped toward it ON tiptoe and looked
in. The Old Man had fallen back in his
chair, snoring, his helpless feet thrust
out in a line with his collapsed shoulders,
and his hat pulled over his eyes, Be-
side him, on a narrow wooden bedstead,
lay Johnny, mufiled tightly in a blanket
that hid all save a strip of forehead and
few curls damp with perspiration.
Dick Bullen made step forward, hes
itated, and glanced over his shoulder
into the deserted room. Everything was
quiet. With a sudden resolution he part
ed his huge mustaches with both hands
and stopped over the sleeping boy. But
even as he did so mischievous blast,
lying in wait, swooped down the Chin
ney, rekindling the hearth. and lit up
the room with a shameless glow from
which Dick fled in bashful terror.
His companions were already waiting
for him at the crossing. Two OF them
were struggling in the darkness with
some strange misshapen bulk, which, as
Dick came nearer, took the semblance
of great yellow horse.
1t was the mare. She was not a pref
| ty picture. From her Roman nose to
her rising launches, from her arched
spine hidden by the stiff machillas of a
Mexican saddle, to her thick, straight,
bony legs, there was not line of equine
grace. In her half-blind but wholly
vicious white eyes, in her protruding
under lip, in her monstrous color, there
was nething but ugliness and vice.
"Now then," said Staples, "stand
cl'ar of her heels, boys and up with you.
Don't miss your first holt of her name,
and mind ye get your off stirrup quick.
Ready! |"
There was a leap, scrambling strug-
gle, a bound, wild retreat of the crowd,
circle of flying lhoofs, two springless
leaps that t'jarred the earth, rapid play
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