San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-04-28
In "A DLlLLAnU.

Twas setting up type in the office of The
Bloomington Spike one bright day in
February, 1882, when 1 heard voice at
the window saying: "Hello, Seagraves!
wan to hold down yer CLAMP The
speaker was sneering at me through his
mittened hands. l shook my head, but
motioned for him to come in, which he
did.
AS he stood before the rusty cannon
stove l demonstrated with him for his
rashness.
''Now, I'm an honest man, Moore. l
don't want to take advantage of any one,
not even drummer for farm machinery.
The fact is, I'm dangerous. Why, there
amt man in this territory that would
ask me to go out on the prairie with him
If he knew my record. I'm sure death ;"
'What do you mean? Explain your
self"
81 will. I've been out on that pre-
emption of mine promptly at the end of
every thirty days ever since the last day
of October, and every time it stormed
damnably. The first time it rained, the
next time it showed and blowed like the
devil and all, and the last time Murray
and went out to the claims we spent
. three days in his twelve by fourteen
, shanty with the horses. Why, l can't go
to Heron or Belleplain but a terrible
\ storm sweeps down on the poor people.
( Therefore the boys fight shy of me-"
Moore was whistling through his teeth
at my yarn. He didn't put much i'm
portance upon it.
"Oh! / know all about that; but don't
scare worth a cent, and, besides, look at
the sun shining out there. Now, you get
yer toggery on and We'll be off after din
ner. Bailey's going too. Now rustic
I'll see you later"
This settled the matter, and accordingly
got things into as good shape as possible
in the office, and went early to dinner at
the Western house. The boys at the table
were also talking about going cut on their
claims, and cursing Sparks. Of the land
office, because of the ruling which obliged
them to be on the presumption once q
month, no matter what the weather
might be.
81 guess we're about all in the same
fix" said Adams; 'there's Bailey and
Moore and Shelby, myself and"-
"And Seagraves," | said, quietly.
"Wh-a-at! Not you, Seagraves?"
"You bet l am"
THAT settles my hash; if Seagraves
goes, don't, you can bet high on that.
I'm not ready to turn up my toes for the
coyotes to gnaw."
Gentlemen, I'm sorry for you, but
/ I'm going to break my record or try a
dying"
And about 2 O'Clock, behind Moores
little team, well nigh buried In blankets
and robes, we drew out of the main street
and headed west, amid chorus of yells.
"Git there, Eli! Seagraves is sure death;
push on the reins;" etc.
The sleighing was excellent, and the
vast level plain as bare as the bosom of
frozen sea, was sparkling under a brilliant
sun shining from deep blue sky. Our
| course lay straight into the wilderness to
| the west, distance of nearly thirty miles
| An easy trip if the roads are good all the
way.
Bailey and Moore kept up lively chat
ter over their huge buffalo coat collars,
and hailed every passing team with jolly
Ishouts, and when we were about ten
miles on our way Bailey said: 81 CUES.
Seagraves will escape this time"
lifted my head and took look at the
northwestern sky; then said: "No, boys,
we're in for it, sure"
And we were; for, borne on the wing
Of the north wind, great tleecy dome of
cloud, s!aty blue balow and silver white
above, was rising. vast, wide as the north
fern horizon, seamless, dim and noiseless,
sweeping with the speed of shadow upon
nus. The day was yet brilliant, but the
frost white edge of the cloud had already
Slid across the face of the sun, making
the depth of the dark blue dome more
luminous and stern. 1t would be dark in
two hours.
''Well, boys, the blizzard is coming,
sure, and there are just two things to do