Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1872-03-08

recommended MS ruDDlEg.
"I'd like to take a hand and win
some money" said Johnny, reflect
lively, after pause.
The Old Man glibly repeated
what was evidently a familiar for
mula, that if Johnny would wait un-
til he struck it rich in the tunnel,
he'd have lots of money, etc., etc.
eyes," said Johnny, "but you
don't. And whether you strike it or
I win it, it's about the same. It's
all luck. But it's mighty cur'o's
about Chrismiss-ain't it? Why do
they call it Chrismiss?
Perhaps from some instructive
Difference to the ovcrhearing Of his
guests, or from some vague sense of
incongruity, the Old Mans reply
was SO low as to be inaudiblc be-
yond the room.
eyes," said Johnny, with some
slight abatement Of interest, "I've
heered O. him before. Thar, that'll
do, dad. don't ache near SO bad
as l did. Now wrap me tight in
this yer blanket. So, Now" he
added, in a muffled whisper, "sit
down yer by me till I 60 asleep
To assure himself of obedience, he
disengaged one hand from the blan-
ket and grasping his fathers sleeve
again composed himself to rest.
For some moments the Old Man
waited patiently. Then the unwon-
ted stiffness of the house excited
his curiosity, and without moving
from the bed, he cautiously opened
the door with his disengaged hand,
and looked into the main room. To
his infinite surprise it was dark and
deserted. But even then a smould
ering log on the hearth broke, and
by the upspringing blaze he saw
the figure of Dick Bullion sitting by
the dying embers.
"Hellow
Dick started, rose, and came
somewhat unsteadily toward him.
"Whar's the boys?" said the Old
Man.
"Gonc up the canon on little
pasear. They're comm back for
me in a mint. I'm waitin' round
for 'em. What are you starin' at
Old Man," he added with forced
laugh; edo you think Pm drunk?"
The Old Man might have been
pardoned for the supposition, for
Dicks eyes were humid and his
face flushed. He loitcrcd and
lounged back to the chimney, yawn-
ed, shook himself, buttoned up his
coat and laughed. ''Liquor amt so
plenty as that, Old Man. Now
don't you get up" he continued, as
the Old Man made a 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, nod
ded "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 dis
engaged it; it was small, weak and
emaciated. But perhaps because it
,cas 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
| fiickered and faded before his eyes,
re-appeared, 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
timer" "Past l2," was the reply
"Can you make it?-it's nigh onto
fifty miles, the round trip hither and
yon." 81 reckon" returned Dick
shortly. "Whar's the mare?" 'BilI
and Jacks holdin' her at the eros
SIM" "Let 'em hold on mint
longer" said Dick.
He turned and re-entered the
house softly. BY the light of the
guttering candle and dying fire ht
saw that the door of the little room
was open. He stepped toward il
OH tiptoe and looked in. The OLD
Man had fallen back in his chair
snoring, his helpless feet thrust Out
in line with his collapsed shoul'
ders, and his hat pulled over his
eyes. Beside him, on q narrow
wooden bedstead, lay Johnny, muf
fled tightly in a blanket which hid
all save a strip of forehead and s
few curls damp with perspiration
Dick Bullen made step forward
hesitated and glanced over his
shoulder into the deserted ROOM
Everything was quiet. With sud
den resolution he parted his huge
mustaches with both hands and
stopped over the sleeping boy
But even as he did SO, mische
vious blast, lying in wait, swooped
| down the chimney, rekindled the
hearth and lit up the room with .
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 mis-
shapen bulk, which, as Dick came
nearer, took the scmblance OF
great yellow horse.
It was the mare. She was not 3
pretty picture. From her Roman
nose to her rising launches, from
her arched spine hidden by the stiff
machillas of q 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 unde,
lip, in her monstrous color, there
was nothing but ugliness and vice.
"Now, them" said Staples, "stan
clear of her heels, boys, and up with
you. Don't miss your first hold oi
her name. and mind ye get your of
stirrup quick. Ready!"
There was q leap, q scrambline
struggle. a bound, a wild retreat OF