The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1883-12-07

seemed to have come to a stand still. I'm
der the pine trees remained the troughs to
catch the sap, and they had not. been
touched for a year. 1t was desolation and
dreariness. / was wet to the skin and hun.
cry, and Jo seemed to be waiting in vivac-
ity. I invariably relied on 10 for inf orma-
ton as to the presence of any one, for if
he winded any human being his ears told
it tc me. 10 worked his ears and I was on
the alert, and rising IN my stirrups, l at
once made out q colored boy mounted on "a
handsome mule making a eutacross a strae-
gle of brush. I halted him at once and
questioned him.
docs so-and-so live about here?" I
asked.
&c, Sch; they hab all gwine away. Kase
it is getting too hot for dem. aad there amt
nobody around"
And pray, to whom do you belong?" I
asked. Then ] really noticed his mule--a
pearl OF mules, an Andaiuslan mule, dapple
gray, with big, lustrous antelope legs and
dainty feet.
The boy saw my admirine eyes, when he
at once said: "Gor-a-massy, you isn't gwine
to take this yer mule?"
To whom do you belong? l inquired.
Don't blong hea' at all. Up-country
niger, Just drifted down hea' dis way"
Don't lie to me, | oy. Don't pretend to
fool me, or l will have to find out the way
to make you talk sense"
Done tell you for true. Mas'r, all about
it: Use took up with Mas'r PEBBLES for a
while. This hea' mule isn't his'n. He
don't have nothin'. We'se half starved, we
is"
His excess of zeal ruined his care. I
ssernly babe him SNOW the way to PEBBLES
house, and he reluctantly kept alongside Of
me.
You isn't a jedge OF mules" said he.
No" said l, never owned one."
This hea one is glandered, and that
hlere cussed that he amt with his feed.
Don't you never, Mas'r, nave nothin' to do
with mules. They isn't lucky to them that
owns dappel mnles." The boy was taking
a wnd ing path and evidently was trying to
lead me OFF. l had no time to waste.
aDismount, you rascal" I said suddenly,
and follow on foot. Give me that mules
halter" He did SO, sliding off all in a
heap.
| held the mule loose by his halter, who,
following his instincts, at once tdrned sharp
round. and in five minutes / saw the Pee
bles mansion. 1t was an Indifferent struc-
ture, but the barn gave some hopes. A
well-fed mule was proof sure in those days
OF abundant corn some here.
MY coming fortunately, had not been
anticipated, for the ground was SO wet that
the CHATTER OF our animals had rot been
heard. "Take me. to the barn." l said,
and now, boy, no nonsense. l have 50
men within call" I tied up the mule, and
bidding the boy go with me, 1 went straight
to the house. You stay with me, and
don't if you value your ears, go back to that
barn, and with the boy on my right hand
side, still mounted, I rcde up to the
PEBBLES house. At once the front door
opened on a crack. and simultaneously an
upper window. From my position looking
down / could see a shot-gu leaning on q
lot Of hoe handles.
: want to buy some corn and bacon: I.
am prepared to pay for it, Mr.. PEBBLES, 1
said.
Amt got none, and confed. money amt
no use anyhow, was the reply.
Then a sharp voice from the window
said: "Skat man alivei This amt no time
to go dickerin' around for corn and SIGH.
Skat mani
Will specie buy your corn?" I said.
Ut mought, squeaked the voice from
the window, 1T would be So in silver a
bushel; right down. and you to tote it.
How much can your mule carry?"
w amt got no mule"
WHAT'S the. use of lying, Mrs. PEBBLES:
YOU have q fine mule. He will carry easily
10 bushels Of corn. I will buy that much
corn, and you Will have to load it for me.
AID the boy will lead the mule to a place i
DESIGNATE, where you will be paid I
shonld have paid her in confederate money
at $500 a bushel, for, saving a silver quar-.
ter. q pocket piece, l had seen no silver nor
gold for three long Years.
L amt one of them kind. No, sir. It's
money down on the nail. Bartholomew,
shet that door,"
Then determined to steal that mule.
was mac enough to have proceeded to force.
bu. what was the use? i could not hamper
10 with corn. Ii had enough to do to car.
ry me some sixteen miles back aglin.
l must ave n feed for my horse, any.
how" Isaid. looking askance at the man.
and l vii. pay for it with a silver quar-.
ter"
The window opened, and a shrill voice
SAID: Let the othering man haveit. + lr-
tholomew, and try the quarter first atw;rt
youf teeth, and pass it up 70 me urterward."
Iha colored boy, who had been lonngipg
near, was instructed by the woman to bring
mo 20 ears of cora and not another one
We amt got nonein the barn, and what
httle nubbins we has we keeps in the
house, said Mrs. PEBBLES.
ihe ears of corn were thrown on the
ground, the qualter paid, and Joe at once,
ate them all mp.
You are not very hosrifahls or Won
would give me u bite of something" said |.
We amt IN the giving line jsst ow-
whites Ia scarcer than the hons teeth. Co
about your business"
"Ynu area skiufint," 1 said, enraped.
and have q great mind to come in and
help myself"
"Btttlolomewl" said the voice.
III be dares to bulge an inch it will be
the last of him." and l went in the door.
aud king up alHng, otd-fashioned, single
!, arrelca ducking gun, uncapped it, and
broke the lock across q fallen iron dog.
"Cyrus!" shrieked the woman, and the
boy made a dodge up stairs, but grabb-d
him. lie might give he alarm, for there
Was a Federal outpost within L mile or two.
Cyrus was subdRed at once.
Now" said | to the boy, "come with na.
| cant afford TO let you run loose this way.
! am going TO tie you up. l wont hurt
"Fore God, Mas'r, the mule amt worth
nothin'.H I had to hold him tight, and
with JOS bride in one hand and Cyrus's
head under my arm / marched to the sta
bl
The objective point was the mnle. With
u AZ mule saw unlimited corn and provis-
ions for my men. Get that lovely animal
in or near my quarters aud it is. worth
bushels of corn. stacks of bacon and lash
ings OF topanco. 1 had only TO forward that
Rlnle 80 miles north OF us, and there was
abundance in the future, for no Coufader-
ate co,nmissary ev i gave 81 thought. +
tied Cyrus by the arms and legs to the beam
OF. nm old cotton press, and aid II have
surrounded this place, NV mon are MS
thick around as bees. II You open your mouth
before nightfall you are a g1uer. You iain't
Q bad boy. and keep on being good" Their