The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1889-05-16
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
said Mr.. Webster to his twelve-ycar-
old son at the breakfast table one
lovely morning in October. 1871.
'Une Of the calves is missing; straycd
off down the creek. ! guess. and you
will have to look it up
'.All right replied Bruce, rcplcn.
fishing his plate from the platter of
antelope steak.
Il was thinking of taking hunt to-
day any way. SO will take the shot
gun along and try to kill duck or
two. see that there are few drop
ping in from the North. | expect it is
that fool Tom that's gone again. He
is always making us trouble"'
.You are right in regard to il being
Tom, but he is by no means foolish for
wandering of in search Of better grass.
for tho range about here is getting
poor. In TACT. have about decided
to turn all the milk stock out for the
present. They will be much better of
In tho hills until the fall rains start a
new coat of grass
Better let Tom 60. them" suggest
ID Mrs. Webster Turn out the rest
Of the cattle and Ill warrant that old
Reddy will find him"
just what would do II the calf
was branded; but. as it is. We will
have to get him up again. cant A.
ford 10 run any risk Of losing Tom; he
Is about all the tine stock that we
own"
I'll have him corralled by noon,"
asserted Bruce. stoutly. '.lt's Il pity
haven't got him broken to ride, SO l
could bring in my game on him"
First kill your game" replied his
father. 1T is just possible that you
will fail 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-
fined at 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 rccaptured before
this
Ill be ready for him." was the
con fident remark of the frontier lad.
as he stood on tiptoes TO reach the gun,
lying in its rack over the fireplace.
i've got one barrel loaded with big
shot, and If see any thing that looks
Injury"
You'll break your neck running"
interrupted his mother. ..Iknow how
fierce and courageous my little boy is.
at times: but il seems to me that he is
the most inclined to recklessness after
the danger is over, or before it comes
But never mind, Bruce, an ounce Of
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
follow. 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
nre after him, and half the county be-
Sides"
..Wcll. mt 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"
It is a rare thing for Texas boys to
attempt much of pedestrian trip, for
from early childhood much OF their
time is spent on horseback, and they
grow, in time, to consider a mustang
an indispensable companion. Bruce
Webster. however, was an Illinois lad,
who, ever since his sixth year. had
been accustomed to a daily walk Of d
couple Of miles to the neighborine
school-house. and although he was
fast becoming a proficient in the wilC
and reckless Workmanship Of tho
Northwest. he still preferred to emo,
his short hunting trips, unencumbcret
with any troublesome equine.
Therefore. he left. on this particu
lar occasion. the door Of the little 10:
stable wide open. 50 that the sleek
sided, buckskin pony might be free t.
crop at will the short grass adjaccn
to the corrals. confident that his wei
coming neigh would be the first soun'
to greet Kim 90 Ills return.
Rruce Webster conndeG;;, noped :.
and the missing cale within Guart2
of q mile Of the ranch. This was u
no means the first time the truant Ton
had wandered away from his httl
herd of youthful companions. for
would seem that he simply. detestcd tn
confinement to which he was subjecte
during the day, and endeavored, to tn
extent OF his limited ability, to manag
his own particular affairs in wa
more to his liking. Bruce had Away
declared that Toms aristocratic nc
lions regarding the superiority OF blu
blood was the cause OF his preferrini
solitude to the society Of the common
herd OF Texan long-horns, which sup
position was based on the fact that oil
R0ddy. Toms mother. was full
bloodod Hereford that the Webstsr