The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1888-05-18

4
j Cant prove it by me" answered
Sand.
Nor me-" said Ben haywood.
i Long Ike Beadler said nothing ~
What dye reckon it's doin, IkeP''
questioned Sand.
'.Movin'."
Short-tempered Sand. whose name
Mt one time had been Alexander some
thing. had. in his long contact with
life on the range. which had worn of
the greater part of his name. gained
one bit of wisdom. That was not to
pick quarrel with Long Ike Beadlcr.
So he contentcd himself with q short
expression of great wrath.
That was all that could be said of the
snail-like advance of the distant vehi-
Gle. 1t was moving and little more.
BY the time all but Long Ike had fin
ished their dinners. the cowboys had
decided to investigate the mystery.
"Cattle will take kcer NV themselves
while we're gone, reckon" said
Sand.
They flung themselves onto their
sturdy ''Cayuse" ponies and dashed
away across the prairie. Long Ike in
the rear. contentedly munching huge
chunk of corn bread. the last of the
dinner.
''Must be Old Man Poverty Himself,"
commented Ben haywood. as after a
sharp ride they drew near the slowly
advancing vehicle. Zone spring wagon
with rag for cover"
"One big limpin' skeleton with boss
hide stretched over it." commented
Stub.
''Yes'n one little limpin' skeleton
with mule hide stretched over it." add
ed Sand.
Long Ike. busy with his corn-dodger.
said nothing.
'.Whole outfit amt worth six bits"
said Stub. Cant cure them limps.
If you had a team that limped that-a-
way. Ike. what'd you do with emp
LET 'em limp!' Ike answered la
conically.
''Wal. I'll be switched!' ejaculated
Stub. as they came close to the vehicle.
ME. tool" Ben and Sand echoed.
The broad -brimmed hat that con-
cealed the face of the driver of the
limping team was pushed back by a
small hand. and the sight of the face
that was revealed caused Sand to burst
out:
"Boys. it's a-a-"
IA girlr' put in Long Ike, so inter-
ested that, for moment. he forgot to
MUNICH the chunk of dodger.
Tackle her. Stub!' said Sand.
''Tackle her yerself," was the reply.
"rm no good on pretty talk"
'.Nur me; Ben. you do the talkin'!'
'Not me-" demurred Ben haywood.
Without 4 word. Long Ike rode for
ward. and his comrades followed him.
Long Ike thrust the corn dodger into
the breast of his shirt, and. with a mo-
ton that was intended to be graceful,
removed his hat, revealing a mop of
sun-faded hair that seemed total
stranger to the application of a comb.
Instantly the other cowboys initiated
his example. and. in turn. exposed
shocks of hair as tangled as was the
thatch of Long Ike.
don't he skeered. miss" began
Ike. practically. I'VE won't poster
you. That thar's Ben haywood. Fell
Ter next to him is Sand. All the name
he's got. reckon. Little fellow thar
is Stub Tally. An this yere"-indi-
eating himself-'.is Ike Beadler."
As each was introduced he made an
elaborate but awkward bow, and fur
lively rubbed his mop of hair. as if in
hope of reducing its rebellious snarls
to more presentable appearance.
Il am glad 10 meet you. gentlemen"
the girl said pleasantly.
much obleeged to ye." returned
Long Ike. while the rest repeated their
awkard bows.
Hits jest this-a-way," Ike went on.
':None NV our business what yer doan'
yere, an we hain't a-goin' to ask yer.
but if yer sorto felt like tellin' us,
wy"
They listened in silence while she
told her story-a simple story with a
dash of originality and vein of pathos
running through it.
Me an the boys" began Long Ike.
! when she had finished. will
Thar goes the cattle??" shouted Ben
haywood.
They dashed away with such speed
that the chunk of dodger bounded out
of the breast of Long Ike's shirt and
was lost. 1t was nearly half an hour
before the broad horns were driven
back where they belonged. and the
cowboys, by riding line" for awhile,
had got them to feeding in the opposite
direction. As they rode back again
toward the wagon. Long Ike head was
! bent as if he was bordering deeply.
Boys" he said. suddenly. Iii q
struggle like herr don't deserve to he
rewarded with success nuthin' does"
"Yer right" agreed his comrades
'.An' l reckon she needs hit bad
enough. too" Ike went on. THE
long trip on the cars an the buyin' in
the wagin' an skeletons whar the rail-
road stopped must a took right smart
NV her money. Wal"
Miss" Ike began. when they reach
| ed the wagon. ''We're sump'n morn
common cowboys We're the school
board'n this yere deestrict."
His comrades stared in astonish-
| ment
.We've decided that you kin have