Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1889-07-18

Zone is enough" he replied. taking
the nearest bottle and pouring some
of the fluid between the unconscious
ohild's lips"
..What's up? What's all this mean!"
who've We got thar" asked the other
men from the rear, who had just ridden
up where the little group was gathered
round
"A little gal, as l live!" exclaimed
one of the men. "How in the blazes
did she come out hyar alone this time
O. the morning.?
Dunno" was the reply;" but reckon
we'll find out for she's comm round. J"
..Oh, papa, papa! where is my
papa?" came from the little girls lips,
as she opened her eyes and saw the
men clustered about her.
IN be hanged if know, little un'. )"
answered Bill Strong, kindly. that's
just what we wor goin' ter ask Nv
you" 49,
..Oh. my poor papa! my poor papa!
cried the child, and she began to weep
bitterly.
Boys" said the leader, l guess
we'll halter put of our business with
the squatter till we kin find this little
gals pa" Then to the little girl:
There, now. don't cry, an jist tell us
whar yer pa is an Wen take ye to him
in jiffy."
Between her sobs the little girl then
told of her fathers illness, and how
she had been afraid he was going to
die and she had started to Neutral
City for doctor.
Gentlemen" said Bob Akers, "I'll
be dad gummed if that little gal amt
a brick, an no mistake, an l say that
q man who's got gal like that hain't
a bad man. an that little gals pa is
Amos Lee. l saw her there when
went to sarve the notice on him."
A murmur of surprise ran through
the crowd, and the speaker continued:
LAS fer as obeyin' the orders in the
League, hain't nuthin ter say against
it. an We can all go ahead an do as
you please with Amos Lee; but if any
man tries ter harm this little gals pa,
he's got ter walk over me fore he
does it,
ME, too?''
''You bet!"
And several of the men stepped to
Bob Akers' side.
Boys" said Bill Strong, turning
and confronting the men, do We aim
ter say that We disobey the orders Nv
the League?"
1--WE do" they responded. firmly.
Then" continued the leader, II
fine every many in tn crowd thot
thinks as We do two dollars an a half!
an 1 want every one Nv We ter come
up hyar an pay yer fine ter this leetle
gal who I appoint as treasurer.
And as he spoke he took the re-
quired amount from his pocket and
dropped it into the little girls lap.
Every man in the crowd followed
his example and dropped his Zine"
into the "treasurer's" lap, who found
herself nearly covered up with the in
cumbrances of her new Office.
Nov, boys" said Bob Akers, I'm
goin' after the doctor fer this leetle
gals pa, an thar amt no time ter be
foolin' around hit
He swung himself into the saddle as
he spoke, and turned his horses head
toward Neutral City.
"Some Nv We kin take the leetle gal
home an stay thar till come," and
with this he galloped away, and was
soon lost to sight in the wreaths of
mist that were rising across the
prairie.
rode out from the crowd, and wen
in the direction of Amos Lees cabin,
Bill Strong riding ahead carrying the
little girl in his arms, while the other
members of the party wheeled their
horses and went in different directions
to their homes. just as the first CLEAN
of the morning shot across the broad
waste of prairies.
On the night following the
League" held meeting at Bob
Akers' house.
'.How's the squatter an the leetle
gal?" asked one of the men of Bill
Strong.
The leetle gal is as pert as a
cricket. an the doctor says the squat
ter's gittin' along fine. an hopes to
have him up in a week"
brothers Nv the League" said Bob
| Akers. rising. shave men been ap-
p'inted ter take care Nv the squatter
till he gifts well?"
They have" was the reply.
Then" continued the speaker, Il
call for the report Nv the leader NV
the delegation that wor sent ter hang
| ole Amos Lee"
Bib Strong rose m and said.