The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1889-02-07

1o kin cut up Ill No wants 70
said old Slade ''We're sble fer him .
Which statement was substantiated
by the hugo revolver holstered ut thu
hip Of each one Of the riders.
Every now and then, - tho cayuses
bounded along, Scotty turned TO gaze
regretfully toward the place whore thu
circus had disappeared in the timber.
Blast the grangerl'' he growled
once. That thar elephant wal
mighty nigh a. big a. shack, am
Plenty time enough TO see him. =
interrupted old Elade. Were sortc
killing two birds with one stone this-a-
way-runnin' out the granger an SEQ.
in the circus. both the same trip"
They'll begin to put up the tents o.
soon as they git to town" said Scotty,
half regretfully. II never seed"
WAL" broke in Slade. las said. II
won't take Us but little bit yere.
Wen chuck the granger's outfit into
his wagin an tell him to git He'll
git, orr
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" growlcd
Scotty. full Of wrath at the innocent
granger. who ought to have known
that the cattle interests werc the only
ores regarded on the range, and have
governed himself accordingly.
The turtle-dove dew from the piece
Of . fence as the squad came close, but
the housekeeping. half-delirious 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 Weakening all about to greet the
day.
Impatient at any delay, Scotty sug-
gestcd very simple and effective mode
Of action, but this was rejected BY old
Slade.
Yes, m run yer head into some
burned trap! 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 q
shaggy head was lifted cautiously
above the window-sill, but when the
sick child's eyes opened they rested on
the bill that fluttered gently upon the
wall. Then. ~ the candle-dame, AZ II
wearied with it spluttering struggle.
expired, thechild tossed uneasily. pant
Ing in feeble gasps. and the man in the
splint bottomed chair awoke with IN
anxious start He did not SEQ the old
cowboys shaggy pate. for It had been
quickly jerked below the sill
o"The ole elephant likes little boys,
don't he, pappyv the childs 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 tho pip
ing.
Tell mo moro bout the ole ele.
plant, pappy."
Presently the sound Of the granger't
voice had ceased, and utter several
moments OF silence old Slade cautious
" raised his head.
Upon the opposite side of the poor
bed the granger was kneeling, with
his bearded face buried In the quill,
beside the sick child, and his frame
shaking with soundless sobs, almost IL
unison with the child's gasping.
Then, impatient and wondering a.
old SHADES delay. the rest OF the COW.
boys, with the exception OF one who
held the cayuses. hurried, and Their
crept forward till they were all squat
ted beneath the window. At frs,
their hands were 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'" Scotty whispered softl,
to his neighbor.
Then the child's feeble voice inter
rupted the prayer.
"Pappy." it moaned, half reproach
fully, Il never saw q ole elephantl''
Pm afeard he never will,". oil,
Slade whispered, softly.
Perhaps mono Of the cowboys squat
ting beneath the window were marvel
Of acumen. but as the prayer-vehe
ment, almost agonizing-went on
they understood most Of the story o
tho struggles Of the despised granger
Tho prayer ceased presently, bu
the granger still knelt with his hea,
bowed. and the cowboys heard som,
sounds that made Scotty whisper husk
lily to his neighbor:
"Cryin' I" -
Then the one thought that was al
ways uppermost in the child's delir
ium asserted itself again.
"Pappy," the little voice piped
gaspingly. "tell me moro about tn
ole elephant! I never seed him!
The prayer began again. more fer
vently, despairingly than before.
20 God!" tho granger prayed
"sparo him! Let him live to see tn
ole ELEPHANT" As he went on tn
prayer grew more rambling. "Le
him live! Think Of the pore little fel
Ter; never secd the ole elephant! Fe
days-cver since that bill was droppe
out thar-he's looked an longed Re
to-day. that he might SEQ the oil
elephant An now" He brok
down for On instant, and the mel
squatting outside stirred uneasily
"Never seed the ole elephant" th
prayer went on, halt incoherently
Pore little fcller! An when hi
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