The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1889-01-23
: CHIPS CURE.

brood hntted and be-wcaponed, with
jangling Mexican spurs and leather
''chap" leggings, dismounted. tied his
"cayuse'' pony to the gnawed rack,
and joined the group of cowboys
lounging in the shade OF Ashburr's
postofice. With each conner tho frst
question was:
tsHow's Chip7''
'sNo better, Old Man Ashburn re-
piled. each time.
Looks to me like that thar was a
mighty heavy load to put onto a child
like Chip" said Santa Fe, the cowboy,
with the gaudy Mexican sash about
his waist. "A load NV pain an misery
big enough to break a man down, an
she noth'n' but a childT
spoke red checked Posy; she's
How old. Ashburn2"
Seventeen, Ashburn answered.
Hanged II / lnowed." said Santa
Fe. Reckon yer right; but got so
ust to seein' her amongst us, a-ridin'
the cayuscs an dancin' an laughin' an
singin' like a happy child, that I'd
plumb fergot she'd growed up"
INC. too, said Reddy Rose.
I'm nightly afeard she'll never
ride nur run no more" said Old Man
Ashburn. Ever sence she was a.
throwcd she's bon a-gittin' slowly but
shorcly worse an worse, an -
wal" interrupted Sante Fe, with
grim earncstness. Il h'aint never bon
sorry fer the way we run out o the
Range the cuss that roped the cayuse
nm got her throwed."
''Nur mel" cried cowboy chorus.
At the sound of faint call. Old
As1,
building. Presently he appeared,
splint 6ottomed rocking chair, in
which rcclincd the wasted form of
little Chip. Ashburn's crippled daugh-
ter
at sight of her, the impulsive cow
boys waved their broad hats and went
through the motions of shouting lusti-
ly. But very little sound came from
th1r disteuded mouths.
''Hcllo. boys!" the little cripple
salutcd, weakly. 81 jest couldn't stay
III there any longer when l heard you
all talking. Pa didn't want me to
como. but 1 told him
She lowed" interrupted Ashburn,
that she'd come out yere if she'd to
crawl on her hands an knees, an /
reckon shcd"-
.'Yeu bet she'd a-done it," broke in
SAINT, Fc.
That's what she'd a-done, agreed
Reddy Rose.
"How nicc the sunshine seemsl"
said the ittlc cripple. I've been
a-thinkin' often that mcbby I'd never
git out into it ng'in to run an ride as
ust to. Some way"-
SAINT" whispered Posy, hanged If
I h'aint sorry we stopped at runnin'
out the cuss that got her throwed."
Nc. toor' returned Santa Fc. sort
to c-killcd him then an tharp
That's what we ortl" agreed Reddy
Rose.
Even the slight eSertion attendant
upon tho short trip from the little bed
room to tho door seemed almost too
face grew palcr, and she leaned weari-
ly back in the old rocking chair.
"Mcbby I'll never see you again,
boys" she piped. IT
'Old man" interrupted Posy, ''you
better take her back now"
But l don't want to go" tho girl
protested. Il want to stay an see the
boys. ann
As easily as if she had been of but
feathers weight, Posy took her in
his strong arms and carried her back
into her little bedroom carefully and
very tenderly. His brown cheek was
close to her pale one.
''An' who. Chip2" he whispered.
AN you, Posy," she answered,
Boys, Old Man Ashburn was say
ing as Posy rejoined the group about
the door. things looks mighty black.
She's a a-sutferin' an q sutferin'
an -
Posy rushed to his cayuse, flung
away across the prairie, followed by
his comrades.
Il couldn't stand it, he told them,
as the ponies bounded away to the
eastward. II jest couldn't stand to
hear that pore ole cuss a-tellin' of little
Chip a-gettin' neartler an nearder
death. an he. her dad, not able TO help
herl"
ort'-
.You betr' interrupted Posy. 1--WE
ort, an wc will do
Thar comes Hank ~ broke in Reddy
Rose, as tho little mules and faded
blackboard that comprised the turnout
of Hank Bittcrs, the mail carrier,
emerged from the distant timber.
Hanks got q passenger"
Obedient to the touch of the nuge
Mexican spurs, the cayuses bounded
toward the approaching vehicle at the
cowboys favorite gait, a keen run.
Hank Bitters' passenger, an old
gentleman with phenomenally bald
head and a general appearance of
almost owlish wisdom, had been grow
ing more and moro uncomfortable
ever since entering tho cattle country.
The conversation of the stage driver,
and later of Hank Bitters, had not
served to allay any of his apprehension.
Wy" said Hank, with great gray
ity, tsomc NV these yere cowboys is
pizon- plumb pizonl An recklessi
Wal. reckless h'aint no name for It'll
They're badi'
His auditor shivered.
XIII a mani Jest as quick as to
eatl Durn sight quicker, some of 'em.
He paused and gazed thoughtfully
at the tall hat of his companion.
I've knowed 'em to shoot states
man jest fer wearin' plug hatI'
Ny starsl" shivered the passenger.
'Knowed wuss'n that Wy. out on
the Soap River range
And Hank Bitters luridly pictured
the depravity of the cowboys of the
Soap river region.
But surely they would not harm