Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1888-04-26

81 0"t'u' VII drawled. question
ingly. as he settled
back, keeping his hollow eyes fixed on
the stranger. His brother smiled
broadly. Josh Hydon had habit of
smiling upon all occasions. careless of
whether smiles were appropriate at
that time or not.
'How you feelin'?" he asked.
jest tollable." Sam drawled.
Every day for several weeks Josh
had asked that self-same question. and
every day Sam had replied in almost
the same manner as now. Sometimes
he said "middlin' instead of "tol-
table," but the latter seemed to be his
favorite adjective to express his con-
dition.
Then, having exhibited the interest
in his brothers health. Josh laughed
again. and showed the boy forward.
SAM" he said, "this yere is leetle
Jim. Jim, that there is my brother
SAM"
Sam acknowledged the introduction
with listless "howdy?" in response.
to which little Jim. the stranger,
grinned bashfully and said nothing.
Hits this away" Josh explained.
presently. when he and little Jim had
seated themselves. "Was jist bout to
light out o. town when Hank Bird
hollered to me. JOSH SEE he. light
in out?' Yes. seq /. Then he lowed
he'd 90 with me but fer one thing A
carload O orphans. plumb from New
York, had landed there not half a day
before, an they was bein' divided up
'mongst the farmers. They're sent
West by some big charitable outfit to be
made men Of
..Or to be shuck to death by the
ager," growled Sam.
For weeks the asue had held Sam
Hydon in its grasp. He had his
'.fever days" and his loft days." and.
altogether. his daily routine. which
was broken only by the taking of fire.
4uent and large doses of quinine, was
any thing but an enjoyable one. Josh
laughed and continued:
..Wal, Hank went to the church
where the boys war bein' parceled out.
an l went with him. Hank lowed
he'd bet dollar his woman'd picked
out a boy, though she'd said before
she went that she didn't low to do no
sech thing. An blamed if she hadn't
gone an done hit Her choice was a
peart little chap rs tall rs table an
as sharp as a squirt. Blamed if he
didn't whip Bill Hendcrson's boy fore
Hank had morn signed the bindin'
papers. Hank was mighty took with
the leetle chap. un' seq he: wy
don't you git one. tOo?'
".What'd l do with one. an nary
woman on the place, an no prospect
o gettin' one?' ! asst him.
LEARN him to batch like you an
Sam do he answered. an lowed
he'd be powerful help runnin' urrants
twixt the two claims an any amount
O. other ways Wal. fore l knowed
hit was in fer hit an the how O.
the whole matter was that tuck q
boy. an yere's my choice"
The Hydon brothers had "taken
up" claims q mile or So apart. and.
had it not been for Sans prolonged
attack of the ague, would have passed
with but few drawbacks the time that
the Government required squatte - to
live upon their claims before granting
them deeds to the same.
As the days passed. little Jim grew
fond of the bachelor brothers, rough and
uncouth though they were. Beneath
their rugged exteriors beat hearts that
warmed wonderfully toward the or
phan boy. "Uncle Sam and "Uncle
JOSH" the lad called them. and they
were as proud of tho titles a. II they
had been his relatives in reality. i'm
stead of only uncle by proxy.
Josh taught the boy how to trap cot
ton-tail and jack rabbits. how to ride Z
bucking pony and to throw larist
with considerable accuracy; and up.
ON his ..upr days Sam whitfield out I
model Of > .coyote trap and supexin'
!