Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1889-07-03
THE MISSING CALF.
It Appears Upon the Scene Ex-
actly on Time.

"Some work for you to-day, Bruce"
said Mr.. Webster to his twelve-year-
old son at the breakfast table one
lovely morning in October, 1871.
"One OF the calves is missing; strayed
of down the creek, l guess, and you
will have to look it up"
"All right" replied Bruce, replen-
ishing his plate from the platter OF
antelope steak.
81 was thinking OF taking hunt to-
day any way, 20 l will take the shot
gun along and try to kill duck or
two. / sec that there are few drop.
ping in from the North. expect IL 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 of in search OF better grass,
for the range about here is getting
poor. In fact, have about decided
to turn all the milk stock out for the
present They will be much better of
In the hills until the fall rains start a
new coat OF grass.
Better let Tom GO, then," suggest
cd Mrs. Webster. Turn out the rest
OF the cattle and I'll warrant that old
Reddy will find him."
Just what i would do II the calf
was branded; but, as it Is, we will
have to get him up again. can't af-
ford to run any risk of losing Tom; he
is about all the fine stock that we
own"
"Tll have him corralled by noon, "
asserted Bruce, stoutly. "It's pity /
haven't got him broken to ride, so /
could bring in my game on him."
First kill your game" replied his
father. ut is just possible that you
will fail TO return on 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
westward, although the chances are
that he has been recaptured before
this"
"Pll 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.
'Pve got one barrel loaded with big
shot, and II l see any thing that looks
Injury"
You'll break your neck running. "
interrupted his mother. "Iknow how
fierce and courageous my little boy is,
at times; but 1t 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
discretion is worth ton OF foolhardi-
ness, any day, and / 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,
/ would bet on that boy capturing that
fellow, il he found him. as quick as
would. and not run half the risks OF
getting killed. But, pshaw! there's
not one chance in ten thousand Of
Caddo Bill passing through this sec
ton, for all the soldiers from Griffin
are after him, and half the county be-
Sides"
"Well, at all events, will bring in
Tom all right, il Caddo Bill hasn't
eaten 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 a wolf"
1t Is q rare thing for Texas boys to
attempt much OF a pedestrian trip, for
from early childhood much OF their
time Is spent on horseback, and they
grow, in time, to consider a mustang
an indispensable companion. Bruce
Webster, however, was an Illinois lad,
who, ever since his sixth year, had
been accustomed to daily walk of a
couple OF miles TO the neighboring
school-house, and although he was
fast becoming proficient in the wild
and reckless horsemanship OF the
Northwest, he still preferred to enjoy
his short hunting trips, unencumbered
with any troublesome equine.
Therefore, he left, on this particu-
lar occasion. the door OF the little log
stable wide open, so that the sleek
sided, buckskin pony might be free to
crop at will the short grass adjacent
TO the corrals, confident that his well
coming neigh would be the first sound
TO greet him on his return.
Bruce Webster confidently hoped TO
find the missing calf within quarter
OF mile OF the ranch. This was by
no means the first time the truant Tom
had wandered away from his little
herd cf youthful companions, for IL
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
declared that Toms aristocratic no
tons 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 sup
position was based on the fact that old