The Logan County banner. [volume] (Logan, W. Va.) 1889-1903, 1889-06-20
THE MISSING CALF.
It Appears Upon the Scene Elk
actly on Time.


It Appears Upon the Scene Ex-
actly on Time.
Some work for you to-day. Bruce, y
said Mr.. Webster to his twelve-year-
old son at the breakfast table one
lovely morning in October, 1871.
''One Of the calves is missing; strayed
of down the creek, I guess, and you
will have to look it up. =
"All right, replied Bruce, replen-
ishing his plate from tho platter of
antelope steak
was thinking OF taking hunt to-
day any way, 50 | will take the shot
gun along and try to kill duck or
two. ! see that there are a few drop
ping in from the North expect it is
that fool Tom that's gone again. He
Is always making us troubler'
You are right in reg ard to 1t being
Tom. but he is by no means foolish for
wandering off in search of better grass,
Tor the range about here lis getting
poor. In fact, | have about decided
to turn all the milk stock out for the
present. They will be much better off
In the hills until the fall rains start a
new coat Of grass. =
Better let Tom go, Them suggest
ed Mrs.zN ebstcr.s I urn out the rest
of tho cattle and I'll warrant that old
Reddy will find him. ''
what Hweuld=de If the@c,tif
was branded; but, as it is, we will
have to get him up again. | cant at
ford to run any risk OF losing Tom; he
IL about all the fine stock that We
own
.Tll have him corralled by noon,
asserted Bruce, stoutly. les pity /
haven't got him broken to ride, so I
could bring-in my game on him"
First kin your game replied his
father 1T is just possible that you
willfail to return on this occasion with
either Tom or the ducks. And, by the
way, keep an eye open for strangers.
Caddo Bill, the Indian who was CON
fined9at Fort Griffin awaiting trial for
murder. escaped the other day, and he
may drift through here on his way
westward, although the chances are
that he has been recaptured before
zthis.,,e,z= -:--
IN be ready for him." was the
con fident remark of the frontier lad,
MS he stood on tiptoes to reach the gun,
lying in its rack over the fireplace.
five got one barrel loaded with big
shot, and If j see any thing that looks
Injury"
You'll break your neck running"
interrupted his mother. II know how
fierce and courageous my little boy is,
at times; but it seems to me that he is
the most inclined to recklessness after
the danger is over, or beforeyit comes.
But never mind Bruce, saafs=aane e=ef
discretion is worth ton OF foolhardi-
ness, any day, and am really glad
that you have too much sense to rush
needlessly into danger
That's SO, Molly remarked Mr.,
Webster. Bruce has got lots OF good
sense and Judgment for boy OF his
age, and he is no coward either. Why.
] would bet on that boy capturing that
fellow, if he found him. as quick as !
would. and not run half the risks of
getting killed. But, pshaw! there's
not one chance in ten thousand of
Caddo Bill passing through this sec
ton, for all the soldiers from Griffin
ire after him., and half the county be-
sides. Ne
well, at all events, will bring in
Tom all right, If Caddo Bill hasn't
eaten. him." asserted Bruce, as he. left
the room. Have my dinner ready at
twelve sharp, mother; you know that
hunting always gives me an appetite
like wolf. "a =s'@.777
1t is rare thing for Texas boys to
attempt much of a pedestrian trip, for
! from early childhood much Of their
time is spent on horseback, and they
grow, in time, TO consider mustang
an indispensable companion. Bruce
Webster however, was an Illinois lad,
who, ever since his sixth year. had
abeen accustomed to a daily walk ofs;t
couple OF miles TO. the neighboring
schoQlahouse, and although he was
fast bes8ming proficient in the wild
and reckless horsemanship OF the
Northwest, he still preferred to enjoy
his short hunting trips, unencumbeted
with any troublesome equine.
Therefore, he leftg on this particu-
lar occasion, the door Of the little log
stable wide open. so that the sleek
sided, bnckskin pony might be free to
cop at will the short grass adjacent
to the corrals. confident that his well
coming neigh would be the first sound
to greet him ON his return.
Bruce Webster confidently hoped to
find the missing calf within quarter
Of a mileo OF the ranch.s This was by
no means the first time thetpuant Tom
had wandered away froms his little
herd of youthful companions, for il
would seem that he simply detested the
confinement to which he was subjected
during the day, and endeavored, to the
extent Of his limited ability, to manage
his own particular affairs in way
more,to his liking. Bruce had always
declared that Toms aristocratic no
tions regarding the superiority of blue
blood was the cause OF his preferrine
solitude to tha society Of the common
herd of TexanS fong-horns, which sup
nosition was bAsed on the iact that oil
Reddy. Toms mother, was full
bloodcd Hereford that the Webster
&.