The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1890-10-09
sosEPH,s RRorHER.


u
np1ke 20 each other, and their lives
and their actions were q sort Of mys-
terry 70 the rest, who were Jolly set,
drinking, earousing, fighting and
playing cards, and wishing for
brush with the Indians. Some said
that Joseph was o fugitive from jus
tiee. and that he wouldn't frAteFniZe
with them for fear Of betraylng him
self when INTERCEPTED. Otbers
thought he felt tOO proud To mix With
sociely, and between the two theories
he had nearly all Of the men think
Ing Ill OF him before the wagon train
was fOuF dsys' travel from Cheyenne.
"He keeps his brother hidden
away in the agOn as II little sun
shine would Kill the boy" growled
one OF dozen gold hunters sitting
around their campfire In the twi-
light.
HPerhaps he thinks our language
10 not hlgh-tOned enough, blast his
syesl 7" exclaimed another.
"Aln't We all bound TO the same
place, all sharing the same dangers,
one a. good - another" demanded
o broad-shOuIdered fellow from Ban
Antonio.
. "Yesl yes!" they shouted.
Then dOn'L-It look lOw-dOwn
mean for thia ERE man Joseph To
edge away from "a ~ II we were
plzen? IL he's 30 mighty refined and
hlgh-tODed, why didn't he come out
here In . balloon
There WAs q laugh from the circle,
and the Texan went on:
al don't purtend 10 he an angel,
but I know manners ~ well ~ the
z II Ia
o regular starch, ready To wilt down
~ soon ~ ] pint my finger At him,
and I am going over TO his wagon,
and pull his nOse!"
"Thai's the game, Jack! Go in,
old fellow! 'RAh for the man from
Texas!" yelled the gold hunters, %
they sprGng TO their feet.
"COme right along, aud see the
fun" continued the Texan, as he led
the way 60 JOseph's wagon.
The vehicle formed one In the cir
Gle, and At a small flrs a few feet
from the hind wheels sat Joseph and
his brother eating their frugal sup
per. As the crowd came near, the
boy spFAng up, and climbed into the
covered wagon, while Joseph slowly
rose up, and looked at them Rnxi-
OuHly and inguiringly.
"Sse here, Mr. Joseph, whats your
other name" began the Texan, M
he halted before the lone man. I'VE
have come Ia the conclusion that you
and that bonby brothero' yours don't
like our style. Are we kerect?"
II have nothing against any of
you" quietly replied Joseph. The
Journey thus far has been very pleas
ant and agreeable tO US"
but you hang OT-yOu don't
speak to u.s." persisted Jack.
81 Hm sorry IL have incurred any
mans III will; ] feel friendly tow
ardF you all"
"Oh, you do, eh?" sncered the
Texan, feeling that he WSs losing
ground. "Well, It's my opinion that
you are q sneak"
Joseph = face turned white, and the
man EBW n dangerous CLEAN in his
eye. He seemed about To speak ar
make some movement, when n soft
voice from the wagon called out:
Joseph, Joseph!'
A soft light came Into the mans
face. The Texan noticed u, and
shaping JOseph's face, lac blurtrd
out:
III We amt a coward yen resent
that, suTe!"
A bOyish figure sPrang from the
wagon, and staod beside the lone
man. A small hand was laid un his
shoulder, aud voice whispered la
his ear:
''Bear u for my sake"
There was q full minute In which
no one moved. JOseph's face Looked
ghOstly white Ia the gloom, Rnd
they could ace him iremble;
mes co~ard, Just as Thought,
said tue Iexan, as ne turhe" away
ihe others IoiIoweu MIN, some Irti-
ing ashshed and Others surprised ., |
gratihed, aud by the by the word |
reached every wagon that J"Seph |
Shd Josephr brother we're cowHrds.
NeAt morning when ire wagon |
ram wsS Teauy 10 move tine cal taih
passed. near Jcsephs wagon on rur-
Pose 10 say:
IL ihere are an towards w 'his
t1hin, they needn't travel WIN us
any Iurther.
harhessing his horses, anu hts broth
ei was slowing away the Cooking
utensils. The strange mans lace
grew Nhite again, Ahd his hand went
Gown Tor hts revolver, but just then
q voice called out:
Don't mind ~, Joseph wen GO
on alone!
Tue traih moved on without ihem;
some OF the gold hunters taunting
nnd joking, and others fearful that
tne Two would be butehered 10y The
tn1Ishs before the DAY Was over.
Mhsn tue whiis-toPped wagons got
% Tar away that they sremed no
larger than his hand, Joseph moved
SiOhB Tue tisii, MS lace stern, ana 80
OusJ win ms thoughts that he did
not bear the eonsoling words:
Never mind, Joseph, we are try
ing 10 do right"
TnAt night when the wagon train
OF the guild hunters went Into camp,
they could not see the lone wagon,
though many OF the men, ashamed
OF their conduct, looked long and
earnestly Tor 10. They bad seen
Indians afar on, aud knew that the
red devils would pOuhee down upon
Q single team ~ soon as they sighted
IL.
Darkness came, midnight came,
and the sentinels heard nothing but
the stamping Of the horses aud the
bowls OF coyotes. A. I o'clock the
reports OF rifles and the fierce yeIIs
Of Indians floating mp through the
little valley, aud the camp Was
reused In . moment.
The devils have jumped on 10