The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1889-03-15

the hands OF the cowboys and cattle
kings" Though, legally, grangers,
as the cattle-men scornfully denoni-
nate the squatters and homesteaders,
have right on the range. they are
regarded as interlopers, and the little
patches of prairie that they are brave
ly and toilsomely trying TO convert
into fertile farms are regarded as so
much stolen from the rightful feeding
grounds of the cattle.
- He kin cut up all he wants to-"
said old Slade. Were able fer him
Which statement was substantiated
by the huge revolver holstered at the
hip of each one OF the riders
Every now and then, rs the cayuses
bounded along, Scotty turned to gaze
regretfully toward the place where the
circus had disappeared in the timber.
a. Blast the grangeri' he growled
once. That thar elephant was
mighty nigh rs big as shack, an
- Plenty time enough to see him."
interrupted old Slade- We're sorto
killing two birds with one stone this-a-
way-runnin' out the granger an see
in the circus, both the same trip
They'll begin to put up the tents as
soon as they git to town." said Scotty,
half regretfully. Il never seed"
Wal" broke in Slade, las ! said, it
won't take US but a little bit yere.
Wen chuck the granger's outfit into
his wagin an tell him to git He'll
git, or"
He completed the sentence by letting
his hand fall to the butt of the huge re-
volver at his hip
That's what's the matter" growled
Scotty, fun of wrath at the innocent
granger, who ought to have known
that the cattle interests were the only
ones regarded on the range, and have
governed himself accordingly.
The turtle-dove flew from the piecs
of a fence as the squad came close, but
the half-slecping, half-dclirious child
did not notice the cessation of her
soothing, mournful coo. The orange
in the eastern sky was climbing higher,
and the myriad forms of prairie-life
were wakening all about to greet the
day.
Impatient at any delay, Scotty sug-
gested n very simple and effective mode
of action, but this was rejected by old
Slade-
Yes, N run yer head into some
burned trapr' the latter said, scorn-
fully. KANT tell what these grangers
II do Some NV 'em air pizen,''
Then Old Slade crept forward to re-
connOiter- The cayuses were with
drawn to one side, almost out of range
of the little window of the shack where
the night wind had drifted in, tanning
the sick child's feverish face Soon a
shaggy head was lifted cautiously
above the window-sill, but when the
sick child's eyes opened they rested on
the bill that fiuttcred gently upon the
wall Then, as the candle-fame, as If
wearied with its spluttering struggle,
expired, the child tossed uneasily, pant
ing in feeble gasps, and the man in the
splint- bottomed chair awol1e with an
anxious start He did not see the old
cowboys shaggy pate, for it had been
quickly ierked below the sill
0"The ole elephant likes little boys,
don't he, pappy?n the child's voice
piped-
To the anxious father the weak
voice seemed weaker still, and it was
with face gravely apprehensive, and
tones a-tremble, that he told of the
old elephant, in obedience to the pip
ing
Tell me moro bout the ole ole
phant. pappy.
Presently the sound of the granger's
voice had ceased, and after several
moments OF silence old Slade cautious
" raised his head.
Upon the opposite side of the poor
h.a hsa 81,
his bearded face buried in the quilt
beside tie sick child, and his frame
shaking with soundlcss sobs. almost in
unison with the child's gasping.
Then, impatient and wondering at
old SHADES delay, the rest of the cow
boys, with the exception of one who
held the cayuses, hurried, and then
crept forward till they were all squat
ted beneath the window. At first
their hands We're on the butts of their
huge revolvers, but as the granger
spoke in trembling tones every hand
was Withdrawn from its weapon.
Then. one by one, they peered eau
tiously in.
''Prayin'r' Scotty whispered softly
TO his neighbor.
Then the child's feeble voice inter
ruPted the prayer.
"Pappy." it moaned, half reproach-
fully, Il never saw ole elephantr'
I'm afeard he never will" old
Siade whispered, softly.
Perhaps none of the cowboys squat
ting beneath the window were marveIs
OF acumen, but as the prayer-vehe-
ment, almost agonizing-went on.
they understood most of the story OF
tho struggles of the despised granger.
The prayer ceased presently, but
the granger still knelt with his head
bowed, and the cowboys heard some
sounds that made Scotty whisper husk-
lily to his neighbor:
"Cryin' -
Then the one thought that was al
ways uppermost in the chiId's delir-
ium asserted itself again
Pappy." the little voice piped.
gaspingly, "tell me more about the
ole elephant l never seed himI"
The prayer began again. more fer
vently, despairingly than before.
20 God :" the granger prayed.
"spare him Let him live 10 see the
ole elephant :" AS he went on the
prayer grew more rambling. Let
him live, Think of the pore little fel-
leri never seed the ole elephantl Fer
days-ever since that bill was dropped
out thar-he's looked an longed fer
to-day. that he might see the ole
elephant An now" He broke
down for an instant, and the men
squatting outside stirred uneasily.
Never seed the ole elephant" " the
prayer went on, half incoherently-
- Pore little felleri An when his
nav died promised TO be both father