The Red Cloud chief., 1889-03-01

Iet yer uttt0 Su2ntys seem Is yc can't take
hit along"
"No. hit amt worth nothin'," was the
answer. Il don't mind givin' Q good neigh
Dor . little thing like that"
"Wal. Bill" said Joe. ''h'it's gittin' late,
an we'd better be gittin' ter the shanty and
lookin' after our supper"
supper" exclaimed Bill. THAR h'ainy
nothin' fer supper. nor breckferst either,
unless thu. ocsryc uss gifts back from Atticy
ter-night."
Don't ny that" answered Joe. Hi,
makes me hungrier AN . bar ter hear We
speak like that. H'ain't We got nothin' ter
eatr
mo, nothin' but . few pieces Of hard
bread an Q bite or two o. meat. That emery
cuss, John Bi&Rs. that we sent after grub
to Atticy. IL git drunken An . billed owl,
and not come back till W 60 after him, like
- not"
With this they turned their horses around,
and rode away in the direction Of home,
Leaving the stranger standing In silence
looking after them.
Ike DOver-for such was the strangers
name-turned and entered his shanty.
wal. hit mean pull out, I reckon" no
mutsered; but I'll jist stay hyar till morn
In anyway"
The sun had gone down behind q bank Of
tawny, purple clouds. and IN ashy pallor
o~verspread the sky.
Joe Scaggs. - they rode through the fast
gathering darkness.
Late that night Bill punched Joe In the
ribs with his elbow. and said:
Joe. hits gittin' colder an all git out.
We've got ter git up an and some more
covers. Gee whiz! listen ter that wind!"
Bill got up and struck . light and put on
his clothes.
The weather had suddenly grown intensity
cold. and the wind wa roaring across the
paririe, and sweeping through the dead
grass with . sharp. kissing sound.
Bill opened the door and looked out.
A great gust OF wind swept into the room,
whiriing . cloud OF snow-fiakes with il
and ~extinguished the light.
"A blizzsrdw exclaimed Bill, slsmming
the door and reliRhting the lamp.
Joe had also got up and was putting on
his clothes.
I'VE must see ter the hosses," he said,
drawing on his heavy boots. They'll freeze
ter death in that he'd il they h'ain't blank
eted."
He opened the door and went out, and in
. few moments returned.
The bosses air GOnew he exclaimed"
''broke loose and been driven away by the
blizzard"
Zone Nv US must 60 after EN-" exclaimed
Bill. 'Hit won't do to lose 'em. They'll
die in this storm il they don't find shelter"
"Yes. n you'd die . dozen times fore
ye'd find 'em in this storm"
''PO0r animals!" exclaimed Bill "but hit
can't be helped"
Bill kindlcd . fire in the little sheet-iron
stove In the corner.
The air was growing colder and colder
every moment, and the circle Of heat around
the stove grew smaller and smaller with
each surge Of the wind a. It shook the roof
and sent the sleet and snow Kissing through
tho crevices.
The two men drew their chairs near the
stove after replenishing the fame from .
pile Of coal in the corner OF the room.
Morning came at last. gray and desolate,
with binding clouds Of snow and sleet
sweeping across the prairie. The storm
showed nc signs Of abating. but was increas-
ing in It's fury.
Joe" said Hill. breaking the silence, "no-
body can't come from Atticy ter-day; and
the pervisions! thar's nothin' in the house
ter eat"
Joe got up and looked out at the small
window.
Hits - yer say. Bill; thar can't nobody
come from Atticy ter-dsy-" And then,
huskily: Hit may be . week for they
can"
The two men looked ut each other, and
each read the others thoughts.
THAR ant nobody git nowhar now. and
unnhk, mot for IN rs,ook Ilin ss,n MS sn n ho1
fix"
Bill made no reply. but filed q large black
pipe, lit it sat down by the fire and began
pufing away in silence.
Joe brought moro fuel from the corner
and filed up the stove.
The day passed and night came down.
and still the storm RACED and the snow fell
In binding clouds.
1t was at the close Of the 6fth day, and
neither Bill nor Joe had tasted food for four
days. and as they looked out across the
desOlate, snOw-covered plain, their hearts
sunk within them.
''Bill," said Joe. huskily. I'VE can't hold
out much longer. H'it'l b moro IN .
week fore any ono could git hyar or we
could git away"
"Yas. an that will b too late.' answered
Bill, IN ashy pallor overspresding his hin
face.
The next morning 200 arose, kindled the
fire in the little stove, and sat down In
silence.
Bill did not get up. but remained In bed
. pinchcd look settling over his features.
It was getting Late In the afternoon when
he called Joe u the bedside.
Joe" he said, feebly, II h'ain't got much
longer ter stay with ye. This zero cold Il
freezin' my thin blood. m I'm gittin' weaker
an weaker.
Come, come. Bill!" said Joe, Q great
lump rising in his throat. ''Cheer up; meb-
BY som'thin' II turn up; mebby-"
"'Tsin't no use. Joe. We've Ill got ter
20 sometime. 'Tain't no use In hopin' when
thar h'ain't nothin' tor expect"
Joe made NO reply. STOPPING down pres
entity he drew . little box from under the
bed and took out . small piece Of dry, hard
bread and laid It BY the side Of Bill.
IL saved hit fer u. BIZ. he said, turning
away.
.No-uo" said Bill, hits better fer one
Nv Us ter 60 . both Nv Us. Mcbby, . ye
say, somethin' II turn up, an"
A muf1ed Oundl like footsteps in the snow
came from the outside. and somcthiae 1.-The
tho sound Of . human voice mingled with
the kissing wind.
Joe listened. but the sound was not re-
peated. He opened the door and looked put
A few feet from the threshold. half buried
In the drifting snow. wa the PROSTATE
figure Of . man, . Tango bundle Of some
thing At his side. A moment. and Joe va
STOPPING over the PROSTATE figure. He
shook him. but he did NOT speak. Then. BY
. series Of heroic e1ossA. he dragged the
did 30 . bundle that waS strapped about the
~hoA,ldNra ~ fhe unfortunate hocnmA H.