The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1889-05-30
OLD RLDDY's CALI q

IaaksAF sfNAfNA w ANNS tSN taNtssA - y
Aad you vill have 10 iook IL np.
All right replied Bruce. ropleaishins
bis plate from the plaiter Of sBlclop,
sieat.
I sss thinking Of tskiag . hont today
aaywsy. 90 ] gill take The Shotgun Alons
ssd try 10 kill duck or tao. see thai
there are few dropping IN from the north
| expect !, is tbs, fool Tom that's gone
sgsiu. He is always making us trouhle
4 Yon are right 10 regard TO II beiog Tom,
but be is by no means foolish for sander.
+ log of in search OF better grass, for the
range about bers is getting poor 10 fact.
4 have about decided 10 turn all the milk
stock ont for the present They will be
much better of 10 the bills until the fail
rains start nov coat OF grass
Better let Tom 90 then, suggested Mrs
Webster. Turn out the rest Of the cattle
and III warrant that old Reddy will End
him.
Just what would do IL the calf wss
branded; but as il is. We viii have to get
him up again. cant afford TO run any
risk OF losing Tom; be is about oil the tlne
stock that We own.
I'll have him corrslled by noon. asserted
Bruce, stoutly. It's "a pity | haven't got
him broken TO ride. so | could bring 10
my game on bin.
First kill your game, replied bis father.
II is just possible that you will fail to re.
turn upon this occasion with either Tom
or the ducks And, by the way keep an
eye open for strangers. Caddo Bill. the
Indian. who was confined at Fort Grifiin,
swsiting trial for murder, escaped the
other day, aud he may drift through here
on his way westward. although the chan.
ces are that be has been captured before
this.
I'll be ready for him, was the confident
remark Of the frontier lad. as be stood on
tiptoes to reach the gun lying 10 its rack
over the fireplace. I've got one barre
loaded with big shot, and il see anything
that looks Iojany
You'll break your neck running, inter
rupted his mother. | know how fierce
and courageous my little boy is at times;
but it seems to me that be is the most 10
clined to recklessness after the danger is
over, or before it comes. But never mind
Bruce, an ounce OF discretion is worth q
,on OF foolhardiness. any day, and l am
.eally glad that you have too much sense
o rush needlessly into danger.
That's so, Molly, remarked Mr.. Web.
ter Bruce has got lots OF good sense
nd judgement for boy of bis age, and
10 is no coward either. Why, would
,et on that boy capturing that fellow, il
le found him. as quick as 1 would. and
lot run half the risk Of getting killed
But, pshawl there's not one chance in ten
thousand OF Caddo Bill passing through
his section, for all the soldiers from Grit.
10 are after him, and half ths country be-
Ides. {
Well, at all events, l will bring in Tom |
II right, il Caddo Bill hasn't eaten him. Q
sserted Bruce, as he left the room. Have
~ dinner ready at twelve sharp, mother; I
ou know that hunting always gives me I
q appetite like wolf.
II is q rare thing for Texas boys to at
,mpt much OF pedestrian trip. for from Z
arly childhood much OF their time is
pent on horseback, and they grow. 10 !
me. to consider mustang an indispen |
BILE companion. Bruce Webster, how
yer, was 40 Illinois lad, who, ever since
is sixth year, bad been accustomed to a 9
ally walk OF couple OF miles TO the b
schoolhonse, and although he h
as fast becoming proficient 10 the wild a
I'd reckless horsemanship OF the south e
est. be still preferred to enjoy his short I,
nntiDg trips unlncnmbered with any p
oublesome equine. "
Therefore, he left, on this particular oc. b
sion. the door OF the little log stable
ile open, 20 that the sleek sided. buck b
in pouy might be free to crop, at will.
e short grass adjacent TO the corrals, b
'ufieut that his welcoming neigh would al
the first sourd 10 greet him on his re- il
ru. il
Bruce Webster confidently hoped to b.
I'd the missing calf within quarter Of a Ia
lie OF the ranch. This was by no means N
G first time that the truant Tom had tt
,ndered away from bis little herd OF hi
uthiul companions, for II would seem tb
at he simply detested the confinement
which he was subjected during the day h'
d endeavored. to the extent OF his limit III
ability. 10 manage his own particular ss
airs 10 way more to bis liking. Bruce til
a always declared that Toms sristocrat. or
notions regarding the superiority OF ~
ne.blood. sss The oause OF his preierring
Iituds 10 the society OF the com m on herd th
Texan long horns, which supposi,ion M
,s based on the fact that old Reddy th
ms mother. was q inll.blooded Here de
"a, tba, the Webs,er's bad brougb, with WI
em al the way from their old home in
= north. pr
I, was. really. rather strange that this dc
,hly .priz u scion OF an ancient family
onlI have been 40 prone TO make bis de
ness trouble: since for the first six wa
,nths OF bis lille, be had been peiiei by tiy
owner. and allowed to wander at will th
out the door yard, so that be nigh, en- fol
perfect immunity from the assaults Of
o iering wolf or Mexican lion; but al be
,ugh be still remembered some Of the be
merous accomplishments taught him by cri
uce 10 leisure moments. one of which bi
. 10 charge blindly al the tanializing on
We Of red bandksrohiei. be vas 10 hs
Ter respects as wild any other young cI