Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1889-05-30

M~/|>>l~~S ituP.,,
Bruce, replenishing his plate from the
platter of antelope steak.
II was thinking Of taking a hunt to-
day anyway, so / will take the shotgun
along and try to kill duck or two. l
see that there are few dropping in
from the North. expect it is that fool
Tom that's gone again. He is always
making us troubled"
''You are right in regard TO it being
Tom, but he is by no means foolish for
wandering off in search of better
grass, for the range about here is get
ting poor. In fact. L have about deci-
ded to turn all the milk stock out for
the present. They will be much better
off in the hills until the fall rains start
new coat of grass. /"
''Better let Tom go then," suggested
Mrs. Webster. Turn out the rest OF
the cattle and I'll warrant that old
Reddy will find him. I"
"Just what / would do il the calf was
branded; but as it is, we will have to
get him up again. / can't afford to run
any risk of losing Tom; he is about all
the fine stock that we own"
"I'll have him corralled by noon, as
serted Bruce, stoutly. sits q pity
haven't got him broken TO ride, SO l
could bring in my game on him."
First kill your game, replied his
father. at is just possible that you
will fail to return npon this occasion
with either Tom or the ducks. And, by
the way keep an eye open for strangers.
Caddo Bill, the Indian, who was con-
fined at Fort Griffin, awaiting trial for
murder, escaped the other day, and he
may drift through here on his way west
ward, although the chances are that he
has been recaptured before this. "
"I'll be ready for him." was the con-
fident remark of the frontier lad, as he
stood ON tiptoes to reach the gun lying
in its rack over the fireplace. 'T've got
one barrel loaded with big shot, and if
see anything that looks Injury"
"Youn break your neck running"
interrupted his mother. ~ know how
fierce and courageous my little boy is
OF times; but it seems to me that he is
the most inclined to recklessness after
the danger is over, or before it comes.
But never mind, Bruce, an ounce of dis
erection is worth ton of foohardiness,
any day. and l am really glad that you
have too much sense TO rush needlessly
into danger"
"That's so, 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, l
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
~sll passing through this section, for
all the soldiers from Griffin are after
him, and half the county besides"
"Well, at all events, L will bring in
Tom all right, if Caddo Bill hasn't eat
en- him, - asserted Sruce, as he left
the room. "Have my dinner ready at
twelve sharp, mother; you know that
hunting always gives me an appetite
like a 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 a mustang an in
dispensable companion. Bruce Web |
ster, however, was an Illinois lad, who,
ever since his sixth year, had been ac-
customed to daily walk of a couple of
miles to the neighboring schoolhouse,
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 adjacent to the corrsls,
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
o 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 detested the |
confinement to which he was subjected |
during the day, and endeavored, to the !
extent of his limited ability, to manage
his own particular affairs in a way more |
to his liking. Bruce had always de- |
clared that Toms aristocratic notions
regarding the superiority of blue blood,
was the cause of his preferring solitude
to 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
ford, that the Websters had brought
with them all the way from their old
home in the North.