Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1888-03-22
A Brothers Keeper.
By MARY HARTwELL CATHERwoODr
Copyri, hted 1877, Ivy the A. n. Kellogg News
Taper Company.
TContinued. |

mere atoms in the universe, may seen
scarcely worth the great readers attention
until he remembers that he is himself mere
ly one of those atoms, and that the ancient
of all readers increasingly cons this primer
world and its simple combinations.
Several people were grouped around the
deep red fire, over which hung three iron
kettles breathing an odorous steam into the
air Beyond this stood q tent of poles COW
cred with brush and bljnketS, where the
men who tended camp sept. 1t was close
ly wooded spot.
Tom Holmes. in one Of hi woolly over
coats. was stretched g. ;he roots of n tree
smoking Randy TholI1son, insulated by
silence, sat upright all ::ytcntive near the
fire. A sister Of the Two ncn who were
boiling sugar occasionally helped them try
Q ladle-full in cold water, or took her turn
at the long stircr. AS Gurley approached
the camp he noticed these people after he
had seen that McArdle was there sitting by
Phoebe White.
To her black dress Phoebe White had
added scarlet shawl, looping it around her
waist and hooding one corner over her
head. He felt sure no influence Of the dark
outdoors world was lost upon her. She
was listening to other sounds besides Nc
Ardle's remarks. She heard the first sigh
ings of spring in the TOPS Of naked trees.
"You're late. my lal'' said Holmes, ris-
ing to meet Gurley alI his horse, and at
once taking hold Of The bride.
"But faint suyared yet" called out tho
elder of the boilers. :. Nose, he poured a
bucketful of cold sugar water in the kittle
when my back was turned"
81 didn't do no such thing" retorted
Nose. "'Twas you went to sleep early in
the evenin' at let the fire go QUIZ
"-Ee went to sleep when everybody in
the deestrick knows you amt never half
awake. Folks mind yet how you used to sit
in school all day with your chin on your
breast and the boys firm wadS down your
throat
"There amt one word O. truth in it,"
muttered Nose, fixing his torpid regards on
the fire.
"1his looks like the gypsy scene in Tro-
vatore," lifting his nat IS he joined tho
party, seven to the a;lvil-chorus Adam
and Nose are going TO fall to and hammer
each other"
at is rather picturesque" admitted Nc
Ardle, looking about Linn. But appre-
bend you find it different from Miss Faw-
cett's dining-room.'
''Miss Fawcetts drawing-room is not to
be allowed any picturesqucness, then!" re-
sponded Gurley.
81 only meant in point of fact" McArdle
fastened TO add. that this is what you
might call sylvan; while down at Fawcett
House the rcfinements of life are-I would
say-paramountn
''Who's Miss Fawcett," inquired Phoebe.
''She is very beautiful, very wealthy
young lady, explained McArdle, 'who has
just returned from foreign travel to her
homestead not far from Gurley's. l be-
ieve it is understood" added McArdle,
''that the proximity of those homesteads is
considered fortunate thing, under the Cir
cumstances."
This 'sn't a bad nag, jack" remarked
Tom Holmes, finishing critical eXamina-
ton of Guricy's saddlc-horse. "But she'll
never make a gocr. You could have found
more points for the money"
'Let nc see her." said Phoebe, coming to
look at the pretty animal 'She has nose
just like velvet. If 1 were buying horse
should insist on Il velvet nose'' Phoebe
put one arm across the shining neck and
she and the horse exchanged a caress.
''My goodness exclaimed Randy kiss
horse! That's most as simple as them
ucdtucuS WOFSIllDll uuulD DcdStS.
You like horse, don't you!" said Cur
ley to Phoebe, with appreciation.
Indeed, yes. What co You call herl"
"Bess. Do you rider
81 have always known how to ride-my
fashion. It's as good as being like those
Centaurs; and not half so clumsy"
I'd consider it a favor if you'd ride her
sometimes" said Gurley.
oh would yo,,
ayes; I've really thought of making Q
lady's horse of her.
Phoebe rubbed her cheek against the
mares warm neck.
Il would so love TO get upon her now"
But she isn't properly saddled for you"
I don't mind about saddles. Ifyou don't
object"
"Oh, don't object" said Gurley, laugh
ing, 'except on account of your safety"
He stopped to receive her foot, and in an
instant she and Bess had shot away through
the trees.
"That girl will get her neck broke" ex-
claimed Randy Thompson, apprehensively.
You were careless, Gurley," declared
1cArdle, coming forward with disapproval
Let her alone" said Tom Holmes,
spreading smoke around himself 81
shouldn't be afraid to see that little thing
mount tiger if she took the notion. Be-
sides, that nag of Jacks isn't going to run
with anybody
I'll put up all paid for her, Tom, that
you'll be wanting to buy that nag of me be-
fore six months. It's a way you have Of
abusing my choice and then begging it
away from me-"
Phoebe came back in few moments,
slipping to the ground and taking the bride
on her arm, as the horse paused. Both
were exhilarated by the run; and she tied
the hitching- strap in horseman's knot
around branch by the time Gurley was at
hand to do it,
"Oh, it was delightful. We rushed like
wind to the very edge of Black Hollow
And there we stood still and looked across
at the lonesomest light that shone like
some thing one-eyed just ready to spring at
us. And then we secured away from it as
fast as we could go.'
"The light in Painters cabin" said one
Of the sugar-boilers.
And who is Painter!''
painter" said Tom Holmes, waving
aside his smoke, ''ls natural curiosity Of
the hills. It's odd how such human fungi
will spring up in the midst of wealthy clvili-
zation. Haven't you heard of him vet, Miss
Phobel He's hermit, and as ugly q
creature as you would want to meet. They
tell that some woman Tilted him Q century
or % ago, and soured him against the race
But it's my opinion the old wretch was too
stingy ever to get married. He is credited
with keeping barrels of money in that old
den. We don't know where he came from.
He and his house We're suddenly there, like
q toadstool. Some of the neighbors think he
is crazy, but his wits all come home when
he makes a bargain. He keeps his own
house, and don't think anybody in this re-
gion has ever seen the inside of it'
81 seen it onct,'' said Nease. the sugar
tsoiler ssThe boys said he'd melted all his