The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1889-05-16
had brought with them all the way
from their old home in The North.

/ III was. really. rather strange that
this highly-prilcd scion Of an ancient
family should have been 30 prone To
make his owners trouble: since, for
| the first six months OF his life. he had
been pcticd BY his owler, and allowed
TO wander III will about the door-yard.
50 that he might enjoy perfect i'm
| munity from the assaults OF wander
ing wolf or Mexican lion: but al
though he still remembered some oil
the numerous accomplishments taught
him hs Bruce i'm leisure moments. one
of which was TO charge blindiy at the
.antalizing wave OF red handkcr-
chief, he was in other respects rs wild
as any other young cattle.
As he had expected. Bruce found
the calf's tracks without difficulty.
| plainly showing in the dusty path that
led down the valley OF the little creek;
but he was somewhat surprised 10 find
that Tom had logged steadily along,
ewerving neither To the right nor left,
for nearly mile. finally leaving the
trail at a point where the rocky nat
nrc Of the soil and dense underbrush
rendered futile all attempts at further
trailing, and the most persuasive and
persistent calling failed to elicit any
responsive blcat from the little runa-
way.
For mile farther Bruce wandered
down the little valley, shooting now
and then Il grecn-crcstcd duck. or one
OF the numerous gray squirrels that
barkcd and chartered at him from the
limbs above his head; but, search as
he would. no further trace Of the lost
Tom could be discovered.
Puzzled and disheartened, the lad
finally turned back, resolving to mount
his pony after dinner. and search out
the entire country fora radius OF three
or four miles.
Crossing the stream. he hunted back
along the south bank, hardly expert
ing to discover the object OF lis
search, but adding occasionally to lis
string Of game.
Presently his attention was attracted
by an unusually demonstrative squir-
rel who was saucily bidding him de-
iiance from his perch on the limb of a
large hollow oak. The shotgun was
brought to the boys shoulder, but. as
il aware of his danger, the threatened
animal lodged out of Sight in Il con.
venient orifice in the tree trunk.
hello! you aye sharp little fellow,
] see.' muttcred our young hunter.
Never mind. though. You can,
stay in that hole forever; and the next
time ytAi show up you'll never know
what hurts you"
A fallen tree near by offered com
Portable seat. and Bruce assumed ar
easy position. with his back agains
the moss-covered stump: and. restin.
his gun across his knees, awaited thu
reappearar &C Of the belcaguered squir
rel.
| Minutes passed, but nothing mor
was seen OF the sharp, rat-likc ear
and bcady eyes. although Bruce
vigilance never relaxed.
Halfway down, a mass Of scalle
and yellow ivy leaves hid 4 sccont
opening in the tree trunk, and here
unnoticcd by the lad, the cunnin:
squirrel watched his every motion
with not the slightest intention OF OK
posing himself further.
Another pair OF eyes We're rivete,
on the unsuspicions boy-a pair Q
snaky, black orbs that cleaned dan
gcrously near, in Il clump Of yerdan
foliage; for, by some unlucky chance
the route to safety selected by Cadd'
Bill, the red fugitive from justice, ha'
lain through this quiet valley, ate
all; and the escaped murderer was nov
crouched, like a tiger gathering for ;
spring, not twenty PAGES from the un
suspecting Bruce.
If Caddo Bill had fancied his safet,
assured upon successfully lodging hi
guard and climbing the stockad
at Fort Griffin, his mind must hav,
soon been disabused Of that impression
For more than forty-cight hours h
had been followed and harassed by tn
numerous parties in pursuit-contin
ually on the gliding from coy
ert to covcrt-now hid in clump @
thorny cacti- again threading tn
winding bed OF some narrow arroyo
or gliding like Il snake through tn
tall prairie grass. Exhausted by his cor
tinued cxertions. and weak from th
. ravages OF hunger that he lacked th
| hc, 4 Il IL IN his II,
| worn to shreds. and the red shirt: an
cavalry pants. that he wore at The tim
OF his escape. now torn to .fragment
by the enyious bricrs. the fugitive rea
~ presented a pitiable appearance.
But worn and weary rs he was, III
evil, murderous instinct was still don
inant in his breast, and his eye
glintcd ominously as he watched th
, boyish form carclessly reclining )
! close to his own hiding-place.
: Was there ever such good luck! Tn
greatest cause of uncasiness TO Cadd
Bill had been the fact that he had bee
forced to begin the fight totally III
armed; for. although renowned for HI
reckless bravery when armed to tn
teeth, in his present defenseless cond
ton he was helpless. Supplied wit
. but carbine. some of his pursuel
!. would have doubtless have felt h
!. vengeance before this: but. withol
!. even SO much as knife, hOweve
small. he had no choice but stealth,
speedy flight.
Was kind fortune about to ssmil
upon him once more? Here, With
his reach, almost, and 10 be had Il
the mere taking. was IA sabstantial-lool
ing shotgun, just the weapon that /
wanted. Possibly he would have
commit another murder to secure I'll
!, coveted arm. but that was II matter
small moment. On second thought;
: would be far the safest plan to kill q
! boy and quiet his tongue. Yes; tn
] was the proper course to pursue.
: Cautiously he rose TO his feet, h