The national leader., 1889-03-23
CHIPS CURE.

Every now and then horseman.
broad hated and be-weaponed, with
jangllng Mexican spurs and leather
''chap'' leggings, dismounted, tied his
s'cayuse" pony to the gnawed rack,
and Joined the group Of cowboys
lounging in the shade of Ashburn's s
postOffice. With each conner the first
question was:
"How's Chlpp"
eNo better" Old Man Ashburn re-
piled, each time.
"Looks to me like that thar was a
mighty heavy load to put onto child
like Chip" said Santa Fe, the cowboy,
with the gaudy Mexican sash about her
waist. "a load Nv pain an misery
big enough to break man down, an
she noth'n' but childV"
Eyer right, only she h'ain't a child, "
spoke red checked Posy; she's-How
old, Ashburn?"
Seventeen" Ashburn answered.
changed if L knowed," said Santa
Fe. "Reckon yer right; but l got so
ust to seein' her amongst us, a-ridin'
the cayuses and dancin' an laughin'
an singin' like happy child, that I'd
plumb fergot she'd grown up"
"Me, too" said Reddy Rose.
''I'm nightly afeared she'll never
ride nur run no more,' said Old Man
Ashburn. ''Ever sence she was a.
throwed she's BEN a-gittln' slowly but
shorely worse am worse. an'"--
oval" interrupted Sante Fe, with
grim earnestness, II h'ain't never be'n
sorry fer the way we run out o. the
Range the cuss that roped the cayuse
am got her throwed."
'sNur mel" cried a cowboy chorus.
At the sound of faint call, Old Man
Ashburn hastened within the building.
Presently he appeared, dragging care
fully behind him a splint bottomed
rocking chair, in which reclined the
wasted form of little Chip, Ashburn's
crippled daughter.
At sight of her, the impulsive cow
boys waved their broad hats and went
through the motions of shouting lusti-
ly. But very little sound came from
their distended mouths.
Hello, boysl" the little cripple sa-
1uted, weakly. 81 jest couldn't stay
in there any longer when I heard you
all talking. Pa didn't want me to
come, but / told him''-
''She 'lowed," interrupted Ashburn,
"that she'd come out yere If she'd to
crawl on her hands an knees, am l
reckon she'd"--
'You bet she'd a-done it!'' broke in
Santa Fe.
"That's what she'd a-done." agreed
Reddy Rose.
.'How nice the sunshine seems!''
said the little cripple. "I've been a.
thinkin' often that mebby I'D never git
out into it ag'ln to run an ride as l ust
to. Some way"--
"Sant." whispered Posy, changed if
I h'ain't sorry we stopped at runnin'
out the cuss that got her throwed."
''Me, tool'' returned Santa Fe. "Ort
to a-killed him then an tharP'
''That's what we ortl'' agreed Reddy
Rose.
Even the slight exertion attendant
upon the short trip from the little bed
room to the door seemed almost too
much for Chips enfeebled frame. Her
face grew paler, and she learned weari-
ly back in the old rocking chair.
s'Mebby I'll never see you again,
boys" she piped. "I"--
''Old man, interrupted Posy, ''you
better take her back now."
"But don't want to CO." the girl
protested. ''I want to stay an see the
boys, an -
AS easily as if she had been Of but a
feathers weight, Posy took her in his
strong arms and carried her back into
her little bedroom carefully and very
tenderly. His brown cheek was close
to her pale one.
"An' who, Chip" he whispered.
"An' you. Posy," she answered,
softly.
Boys" Old Man Ashburn was say
ing as Posy rejoined the group about
the door, ''things looks mighty black.
She's a-sufferin' an a-sufferin' an y
Posy rushed to his cayuse, flung him.
self into the saddle, and dashed away
across the prairie, followed by his COM
rades.
ssI couldn't stand it,'' he told them,
as the ponies bounded away to the
eastward. ~ jest couldn't stand to
hear that pore ole cuss a-tellln' Of little
Chip a-gettin' nearder an neardel
death, an he, her dad, not able to help
herl"
"Say," said Santa Fe. suddenly, eve
ort"-