Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1886-12-20

silver coins and lean buckskin 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 a
pause.
The Old Man glbly 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, etc, etc.
"Yes,n said Johnny, @but you don't And
whether you strike it or win it, it's about
the same. Its all luck. But it's mighty
cur'o's about Chrismiss-ain't ita Why do
they call it Chrismissse
Perhaps from some instructive Difference to
the overhearilig of his guests, or from some
vague sense of incongruity, the Old Mans
reply was so low as to be inaudible beyond
the room.
Yes, said Johnny, with some slight abate-
ment of interest, "Ive heerd o him before.
Thar, thatil do, dad / don't ache near SO
bad as did. Now wrap me tight i'll this yer
blanket So. Now he added in a mufiled
whisper, @sit down yer by me till go asleep"
To assure himself of obedience, he disenga ged
one hand from the blanket, and, grasping his
fathers sleeve, again composed himself to
rest.
For some moments the Old Man waited
patiently. Then the unwonted 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 smoldering log ON tho hearth broke,
and by the upspringing blaze he saw the
figure of Dick Bulen sitting by the dying
emLers.
1Hello!,
Dick started, rose, and came somewhat I'M
steadily toward him.
"Whar's the boys!n said the Old Man.
"Gone up the canyon on a little pasear.
They're coming back for me in a mint I'm
waitn' round for 'em What are you starin'
at, Old Mana" he added with forced laugh:
"do you think I'm drunkr
The Old Man might have been partoned the
superstition, for Dicks eyes were humid and
back to the chimney, yawned, shook himself,
buttoned up his coat and laughed. Liquor
amt so plenty as that, Old Man Now don't
you git up,n he continued, as the Old Man
made movement to release his sleeve from
Johnny's hand. "Don't you mind manners
Sit jest where you be; I'm goin' in 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 per-
haps because it ,cas small, weak and ema-
ciated he changed his mind, and drawing
his chair closer to the bed, rested his head
upon it. In this defenseless attitude the po-
tency of his earlier potations surprised him.
| The room flickered and faded before his eyes,
reappeared, faded again, went out and left
him-asleep.
Meantime Dick Bulen, closing the door,
confronted his companions. Are you
readyF' said Staples. Ready said Dick;
whats the timer Past H." was the
reply "can you make ita-it's nigh on fifty
miles, the round trip hither and yonn II
reckon returned Dick, shortly. "Whars
the mare.' bill and Jacks holdin her at
the crossin'." Let em hold on a mint
| longer" sale, Dick
| He turned and re entered the house softly.
BY the light of the guttering candle and dy-
| ing fire he saw that the door of the little
loom was open. He stepped toward it on
tiptoe and looked in. The Old Man had
fallca back in his chair, snoring, his helpless
! feet thrust out in line with his collapsed
shoulders, and his hat pulled down over his
| eyes. Beside him, on q narrow wooden bed
Stead, lay Johnny nuffied tightly in q
blanket that hid all save strip of forehead
and q few curls damp with perspiration.
Bullen made step forward, hesitated, and
/ glanced over his shoulder into the deserted
room. Everything was quiet With a sud-
den resolution he parted his huge mustaches
with both hands and stopped over the Sleep
ing boy. But even as he did so mischievous
/ blast, lying in wait, swoopcd down the Chin
j
room with shameless glow from which Dick
fled III bashful terror.
Ills 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 a great yellow
! horse
~ no "
picture. From her Roman nose to her rising
launches, from her archcd spine, hidden by
the stiff machillas of Mexican saddle, to
her thick, straight, bony legs, there was not
a line of equine grace In her half blind but
wholly vicious white eyes, in her protruding
under lip, in her monstrous color, there was
nothing but ugliness and vice.
"Now, Them said Staples, astand cl'ar of
her heels, boys, and up with you. Don't
miss your first holt of her name, and mind We
get your off stiriup quick. Ready!'
There was leap, scrambling struggle, a
bound, wild retreat of the crowd, circle
of flying hoofs, two springless leaps that
Jared the earth, a rapid play and jingle of
spurs, a plunge, and then the voice of
Dick somewhere in the darkness, @All
right!'
Don't take the lower road back onless
you're hard pushed for time! Don't hold her
in down hill Wen be at the ford at s.
G.lanS! Hoopa! Mula. Coz
A splash, spark struck from the ledge in
the road, a clatter in the rocky cut beyond,
and Dick was gone.
Sing, 0 Muse, the ride of Richard Bulen.
Sing, Muse, of chivalrous men! the sacred
quest, the doughty deeds, the battery of low
churls, the fearsome ride and grewsome peris
of the flower of Simpsons Bar Alack! she
is dainty, this Musci She viii have none of
this bucking brute and staggering, ragged
rider, and | must fain follow him in prose,
afoot!
1t was | O'Clock, and yet he had only gained
Rattlesnake hill For in that time Jovita
had rehearsed to him all her imperfections
and practised all her vices. Thrice had she
stumbled. Twice had she thrown up her
Roman nose in a straight line with the reins,
and, resisting hit and spur, struck out madly
across country. Twice had she reared and,
rearing, fallen backward: and twice had the
agile Dick, unframed, regained his seat before
she found her vicious legs again. And mile
beyond them, at the foot of long hill, was
Rattlcsnake creek. Dick knew that here was
the crucial test of his ability to perform his
enterprise, set his teeth grimly, put his knees
well into her TANKS and changed his do