The Van Buren press., 1875-09-14

hHoW tnat the children OF the wllds are
not in the habit of putting on gloves,
either physically or metaphysically. Il
like very long stirrup,' he answered. i
want my toe barely to touch it..
: don't like short strrap, nuther,
A the stranger said, bnt it seems to me
them's a most too long, now stranger.
l fell into the habit of riding with a
: long strrup in California ssid Frank,
; and have not been able to. get over it,
since LII fact the stifrup is Of very lit
tie use to me. If horse kicks up or
bucks with me. let GO the stirrupss
: And suiting the action to the word, he
drew his feet out of the stirrups. There
was very little vanity in Franks compo-
sition. If he could be eaAsidered VAN,
] on any point, however, tnat point was
his horsemanship. The stranger had
struck the right chord at the first touch
. l rekon 'taint onsafe, stranger con-
descendingly rejeined he Of the blonde
beard.
/ haven't found it So
Now, don't you find it sorter fatig
uin' p
Not except on very long trips. But,
when ride thirty miles or over, | usu-
ally take up hole after dinner
Il thought yer did, stranger-I thought
umphaut chuckle. Now he continued,
I've done a heap of ridiu' in my time
used to be horsebrcaker myseIf-and
| tell yer, stranger, yer just take up them
thar strrups, little, and yeu'll ride a
heap easier-see if yer don't
There was silence between them for a
moment. The free and easy companion
broke it with:
Coin to hcv a bitup yondcr ?
Yes
Me, too Thunderin' poor hash
Scraps of jerked buffalo meat, warm
dough. and mud coffee Have to pay
for it though-whew And he gave a
long crescendo whistle.
We must have something to stay our
stomachs, whatever it costs
Coin to stay over, neighbour
Il think not shall probably lie by
until three or four clock. and then push
on to Bogsville, in the cool Of the after
noon
You've got pretty good animal,
thar
Yes said Frank, pattng his chestnut
sorrel, with white star and stockings.
Little Phil has got plenty of get-up' IN
him
You bet! There's a heap O jump in
those legs How'll yer fade, stranger ?
i won't trade; | -strons0t give Lit
tie Phil for better llraa cP'
Now said bis compasaion, that's just
like me. Money wouldn't buy old Spec
cfes here and be afectonately caressed
his bald faced, gIass-eyed calico pony.
: Hesa beautiful walker, stranger, he is;
and you know it's wakin' tells in a horse
after all. Jest try him
Thank you; don't care to try him.
well, now I'm of,,let me straddle that
thar sorrel o yourn
Being of complaisant disposition,
Frank complied They thus reached the
rancho, and passed the station-keeper on
their way into the sorra cross mounted
Frank on the glass eyed Calico and
the stranger on Little Phil.
In those primitive regions every man in
Ills own 2tOoiH ut 5taJlpt hCCDeI urFCf
moved from bis position. He told them,
almost without turning his head, where
the stable was. where the corn was, and
concluded with dinner in five minutes
After they had watered their horses,
and given them corn and hay, the travel.
lers went into the ranch and washed at
the wooden trough bunged with a corn
cob. The dirtiest piece of common soap
eyes ever saw this rancho furnished, and
the least toothed comb.
The dinner was better than Frank ex-
pected from the account given him by his
companion. 1t was nothing to brag of,
it is true, bat twenty mile ride before
dinner, is an excellent appetizer. The
travellers were joined at their meal by
the stock tenders and station hands
These gentlemen showed their independ.
ence by keeping their hats firmly on theil
heals. They conducted themselves with
the lofty dignity Of regular boarders, and
completely ignored the presence of the
strangers.
Frank sat between two of them They
took no notice of his polite offers oil
dishes, and seemed sublimey uneon-
, scious of his presence. They talked
: across him of matters solely concerning g
the stations, their acquaintonees, and
themselves Frank felt his inferiority as
mere outside barbarian, who did not
belong at Grasshopper Station but il
did not hurt his appetite
Dinner ended, Franks new acquaint-
ance left, after wishing him pleasant
journey. Frank lay down en- wooden
bench in the apartment which aerved for
office, dining room and parlor, and slept
soundly until four o'clock in the after
noon.
Then he again washed himself at the
dirty trough, paid fol the entertainment,
and went to the stable to saddle Little
Phil. To his utter dismay, Little Phi
was not in the stable, But his late com
panion's bald. faced, glass-eyed monster
was. Franks saddle was on the peg
where he had placed it, but that of his
blonde bearded acquaintance had disap
peared.
A sudden weakness, a feeling of nausea
seized upon poor Frank. He felt thai
he was the victim OF an inetfably mean
piece of horse-st stealing, Still he did not
want to believe that Little Phil was los
to him. He went back to the rancho tc
question the n-keeper before ac
cepting finally the disagreeable fact that
II / l.1 l. 81 oh,