The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1889-07-26
A TERRIBLE RIDE.
-gY WILLIAM NJ. eRArnor

ABOUT all Don't fergit the terbacker. an
don't fail ter inquire if thar's any letter,
fur Abram Bartlett, and glaring at Dave
over his great horn spectacles. Mr.. Bart.
lett leaned over the counter and slowly
repeated the last clause.
.. Yes, sir, " answered Dave, struggling
hard to keep back smile, for Mr.. Bart,
let's anxiety about letters was a standing
joke at Dagon's Cross Roads. as he was
never known to have received one vet.
"And where are you expectin' a letter
from, Mr.. BARTLETT" Dave asked.
The storekeeper's brow wrinkled and
he hesitated between anger and amaze
ment at such audacity. Before he could
reply the door opened and Squire Dagon
came in.
"GOing to wysanking, Davel" he
asked abruptly.
''Yes, sir"
'.Now see here, my boy" went on the
squire, pulling out bulky-loolzing pocket
book Il think can trust you. and I
want you to attend to little business
Tor me. ought to go to Wysanking
myself to-day, but find it impossible. In
this pocket-book is the money to nav the
loggers over in Powells Valley. Tbere
are three hundred dollars in currency
there, and want you to give it to Ned
Harklns, the boss. He must have it TO-
Gay so he can go up to Towanda and get
It changed to pay the men off on Satur-
day. You viii find him at the postoffice
You have an inside pocket there. Put IT
n I4st- your jacket tightly.
I guess there is no risk" and the squire
looked uneasy for minute. ssof course
not, he added with laugh. .sNobodT
knows you have If. Better 90 now. No
time TO waste if you want to get back to-
night and with his own hands the
squire put the money in Dawes pocket
and buttoned up the ragged jacket.
III deliver the money all right, Mr..
Dagon, he said resolutely, as he started
toward the door.
Now, Dave" called out Mr.. Bartlett,
''don't fergit ter ak the postmaster if
there's any" but Dave was already out
of hearing.
''Daye Hunter is an honest lad" OBJ
served the squire, lighting cigar. ssThe
money viii be safe enough with him,
guess"
Mr.. Bartlett took pinch of snuff, and
drawled out slowly: "Waal, yes I reckon
he is. But he's gettin' impudent, squire.
I declar he's gettin' impudent.n
The squire only laughed, and with a
CHEEKY good morning." mounted his
horse and rode off to visit his lumber
camps.
Dave felt as happy as a lark as ne
trudged OF down the valley, pulling an
empty sled behind him. His father had
been killed by an accident several years
before at one of Squire Dagon's lumber
camps, and ever since Dave had been
working hard to support his mother. He
nd odd bits Of work for Mr.. Bartlett,
who kept the rude store at Dagon's Cross
Roads, backwoods settlement five miles
from the river. Nearly every week he
went to Wysanking across the Susoue
hanna, and brought back such supplies
as the loggers purchased of Mr.. Bartlett.
But Dave was only sixteen, and with
out Squire Dagon's kindly help he would
have struggled in vain.
''My graciousl' he said half aloud as
he slapped his hands to his breast. "what
heap of money! If that was mine I'd |
buy mother new dress an shawl, an
lots to eat, an I'd go to school at To
wanda, an have an overcoat, an breech
loader gun an but Dawes air castles
suddenly vanished as he looked up and
saw where he was
LA7s-4zst5ua-. ran me vtaiIgy; rne
beaten footpath through the snow grow
ing DINNER and DINNER till lost in the
hay distance. But above him, up the
steep mountain side crept zigzag road.
This led up to the summit, and thence
along the crest to a lumber slide over
looking the river.
Both the slide and the road had been
in disuse for several years, but an icy
crust was on the snow, and Dave knew
that by taking this course he could save
a good mile at least He remembered
also that near the slide a gradual foot
path led down 10 the river. He hesitated
only an instant, and then started up the
mountain.
He rested a while at the top, and then
went on along the ridge. On both sides
thewss unbroken forest, and here and
there great masses of stone piled up il
fantastic shapes. 1t was wild, lonely
place, but Dave had not a thought of
fear. He could hear the mountain tor
rent brawling over its rocky bed away
down in the ravine, and some birds were
chattering in the woods.
1t was toward noon when he crossed a
small clearing that lay half a mile back
from the river. The ridge at this point |
widened and formed quite a vast plateau.
Dave walked fast, and before long he
could see the end of the wood less than
quarter Of a mile away, and the great |
pines that rose on either side of the slide. |
He was still thinking of all the delight
ful possibilities that lay snugly next to
his breast, and wondering if ever he
would be the owner of SO much money,
when gruf voice broke in on his reAec- !
lions.
"Hallo, Dave, me boylp