Iuka reporter. (Iuka, Miss.) 1888-1894, 1889-06-27

wandering of in search Of bettl
grass, for the range about here ia aebI
ting poor. In fact. I have about deci-
ded to turn all the milk stock out for
the present. They will be much better
OH IN the hills until the fell rains start
. pew coat of grass
Better let Tom go then, suggested
Mrs. Webster. "Turn out the rest Of
the cattle and I'll warrant that old
Keddy will find him."
'SJust what I would do II the calf was
branded; but as 1t is, we will have to
get him up again. I can't afford to run
any risk OF losing Tom; he is about all
the fine stock that we own"
I,l have him corralled by noon. +" as
serted Bruce, stoutly, "1t's a pity I
haven't got him broken to ride, SO I
could bring in my game on him. .
. FIRST HI your game" replied his
iather. ut is just possible that you
VIII nii to return upon this occasion
with either Tom or the ducks. And, by
Ge wayl keep an eye open for strangers.
Caddo Bill, the Indian, who was con.
lined nj Fort Griffin, awaiting trial Tor
murder, escaped the other day, and he
may drift through here tn his way west
ward, although the chances are that he
has been recaptured before this"
I'll be ready for him." was the con-
ndent remark OF the frontier lad. MS he
stood on tiptoes TO reach tho gun living
In Its rack over the fireplace. tive rot
one barrel loaded with big shot, and if
l see anything that looks fnjuny--"
you'll break your neck running. ("
interrupted his mother. 81 know how
fierce and courageous my little bow ia
q times; but it seems to me that he is
the most inclined to recklessnese after
the danger is over, or before IL comes.
But never mind, Bruce, All ounce Of dis
erection is worth ton of foohardiness;
any day, and l am really glad that you
have too'much sense to rush heedlessly
into danger"
'That's 80, Molly" remarked Mr..
Webster. ''Bruce has got lots Of good
sense and judgment for boy Of his age,
and he is no coward either. Why, I
would bet on that boy capturing that
fellow, if he found him, as quick as /
would, and not run half the risk of get
ting killed. But pshaw there's not
one chance in ten thousand Of Caddo
Bill passing through this section; for
al the soldiers from Griffin are after
him. and half the county besides"
''Well, at all events, / will bring in
Tom all right, if Caddo Bill hasn't eat
en- him, asserted Bruce, as he left
the room. "Have my dinner ready at
twelve sharp, mother; you know that
hunting always gives me an appetite
Like wolf.
1t is a rare thing for Texas boys to at
tempt much of pedestrian trip, for
from early childhood much of their time
is spent on horseback, and they grow,
in time, to consider mustang IN in
dispensable companion. Bruce Web
ster, however, was an Illinois lad, who,
ever since his sixth year, had been &C.
customed to daily walk of q couple of
miles to the neighboring school6ouse,
and although he was fast becoming a
proficient in the wild and reckless
Workmanship of the Southwest, he still
preferred to enjoy his short hunting
trips unincumbered with any trouble
some equine.
Therefore, he left, on this particular
occasion, the door of the little log stable
wide open, so that the sleek sided, buck
skin pony might be free to crop, at will,
the short grass ad accent to the corrals,
confident that his welcoming neigh
would be the first sound to greet him on
his return.
Bruce Webster confidently hoped to
find the missing calf within quarter Of
q mile Of the ranch. This was by no
means the first time that the truant
Tom had wandered away from his little
herd Of youthful. companions, for it
would seem that he simply detestod the
confinement to which he was subjected
during the day, and endeavored, to the
extent of his limited ability, to manage
bis own particular affairs in way more
to his liking. Bruce had always de-
clared that Toms aristocratic notions
the superiority OF blue blood,
was the cause Of his preferring solitude
10 the society Of the common herd Of
Texan long horns, which supposition
was based on the fact that old Reddy,
Toms mother, was full blooded Here
ord, that the Websters had brought
nth them ell the way from their old
lopaa IN thu North.