New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-09-12


like me. Money wouldn't buy old Specta-
cleo here" and he atfectionately caressed
his bald faced, glass-eyed "calico" pony.
81 He's beautiful walker, stranger, he is;
and yer know that it's walkiu' tells in
horse, after all. Jest try him
Thank you; don't care to try him"
"Well, now Im of, let me straddle that
thar soirel o. yourn."
Being of a complaisant disposition, Frank
complied. They thus reached the ranch,
and passed the station keeper on their way
into the coral, cross mounted-Frank on
the glasseyed calico" and the stranger on
Little Phil.
In those primitive regions every man is
bis own groom. The station keeper never
moved from his position. He told them,
almost without turning his head, where the
stable was, where the water was, where the
corn-crib was, and concluded with DINNER
in five minutes"
After they had wltered their herses and
given them corn and hay, the travellers went
into the ranch and washed at a wooden
trough buDged with corn cob. The dirtiest
piece of common soap eyes. ever saw this
ranch furnished and the least tOOtbed 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 but twentymile ride before dinner
ia an excellent appetizer. The travellers
were joined at their meal by the stock
tenders and station hands. These gentle
men showed their independence by keeping
their hats firmly on their heads. They con
Quoted themselves with the lofty dignity of
regular toarders, and completely ignored
the presence of the strangers. Frank sat
between two of them. They took no notice
of his polite offer of dishes, and seemed
sublimely unconscious of his presence. They
talked across him of matters solely con
corning the station, their acquaintance and
themselves. Frank felt his inferiOrity as
mere outside barbarian who did not belong
at 'Grasshopper Station" but it did not
hurt his appetite much
Dinner ended, Franks new acquaintance
lett after wishing him pleasant Journey.
Frank lay down on a wooden bench in the
apartment which served for office, dining
room and reception parlor, and slept sound
ly until about four O'Clock in the afternoon.
Then he again washed himself at'the dirty
trough, paid for his entertainments and went
to the stable to saddle Little Phil. To his
utter dismay, Little Phil was not in the
stable! But his late companions laid faced,
glass eyed monster wal Franks saddle
was on the peg where he had placed it, but
that of his blonde bearded acquaintance
had disappeared.
A sudden weakness. q feeling of nausea,
seized upon poor Frank. He felt that he
was the victim of an ineffably mean piece
OF horee stealing. Still he did not want TO
believe that Little Phil was lost to him.
He W. Mt back to the ranch to question the
station keeper before accepting nally the
disa greeable fact that the blonde bearded
blue-eyed sixfooter was neither more nor
lees than horse thief, and a very mean
rascal to boot.
why, stranger" asked the landlord,
whats the matter Yer amt been tuck
bad or hurt, hev yerF
Frank was as pale as a ghost Indeed, it
seemed to him at that moment that he had
as little backbone as the ARREST ghost that
ever sneaked back into the glimpses of the
moon.
where is my horse :" he asked.
"In the stable, l. s'pose," answered the
station keeper.
"No," said Frank, shaking HE head visit
fully.
WHAT" said the station keeper "Stran-
ger, you must be crazy
He went to the stable and looked in.
"What the devil do you meant" cried he
"Your horse is there, all right" Then he
added in lower tone, 81 W, nder if the
darned FOOLS loony"
That's not my horse" said Frank, shak.
ing his head.
mot your horse9 I'll take my oath on the
biggest Bible ever was got up, saw you
ride him to the stable"
did you see that long bearded scoundrel
who came in with me. leave?"
II did"
What horse did he rider
The same he rode in on
Franks heart went down with sudden
plunge. The matter was no longer in doubt;
he understood it all. Poor Little Phil was
gone for ever. To overtake him with the
glass eyed quadruped after three hours
start was beyond all hone.
Frank told his host the story of his meet.
ing with the blueeyed horse thief and his
foolish change of horses. As he proceeded
the station keeper eyed him more ard more
fiercely to the end of his story. Then he
stepped inside the door of the rancho and
Friend" said he, THAT story is too
darn'd thin. want you to git out O. here.
You don't put up none of your jobs on me.
You git after your chum as quick as the
Lord will let yer. This yere ranch is no
horse thieves boardin'hOuse. If you think
you're goin' to scare any money out o. me,
you're mistaken. l amt no fghtin' charac-
ter. but don't skeer worth a cent"
Fiank was too much annoyed and humi-
lated to resent this speech. He told the
landlord very humbly that he was mis-
what be had told him was the
plain truth. He made no claim against
aim, and wanted nothing from him but to
be informed which way his late com mon
mad taken.
"He left the way you both GOMEZ said
The host; land, friend, ii what you say is
rue, you're the softest chicken that ever
vas piucked in these parts. But, darn my
kin can't believe they raise SIGH in the
United States. Even the greenest New
Yorker l sver see out here couldn't be
ooled that way"
Frank .addled Spectacles with heart
'ull of bitterness. He felt as if he could
nave shot the poor brute. He had never
Kicked an animal in his life, but he came
,erribly near it then. His better nature re-
asserted itself, however. Poor animaln
thought he, sits not your fault If your late
me fool"
urther words with the station keeper rode
back on the trail OF the ravisher of his
Little Phil. He had no clear idea
Why he did so. But to go on to BOggsville
would be to give up Little Phil forever, and
hat be could not make up his mind to do
ls yet. He instinctively sought surcease of
Iorrow in rapid motion, and driving his
purs rowel-deep into poor old Speo's fianks,
,e dashed off o. full speed.
Specs, though 80 rum un to look, like
most ponies of Indian antecedents, was not,
lfter all, very "bad I'm to CO." But after |
! few miles he slsckened his pace, and at
he same moment Frank head the chatter |
# rapidly approaching hoofs behind him.
de reined up for Q moment TO reconn0itre |
he newcomers. Two men were riding
'spidly toward him. They made no sign;
hey did not hail him, but he heard the re-
port of . pistol and the unmistakable whiz
# bullet close to his ear. 1t was what |
hey used to call in the army 'close CALL"
md could hsve been meant for nobody but |
lin,