St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1891-11-21

i - u 8Us
II Pm not here before data I viii \.
sd'on after. Just hold the: cattle well
toRether and don't let any Of them
s s'a.y III from mt, the herd and: you'll &c.
Oh. can manage the CATTLE said.
You needn't have no fear. for them. !"
An right then" Jim replied. snow
you fetch my pony while make pre-.
paration to GO"
| arose from the table and went IN
get !im's pony. saying nothing more.
ieit restlessness and uneasiness
that was far from pleasant had
never been to the lower range, but
knew it was secluded spot and was
dispieases with the idea Of going
there alone. 1t was . long way from
the ranch and far removed from any
other herd. ! resolved. however, to
keep my feelings a secret in INV own
breast, and not let Jim know what ]
I Thought
Within a few minutes Jim rode
away. and after watching him out of
sight ] saddled my pony and turning
the cattle out needed them to the
south. In due time I brcught into n
narrow strip of bottom prairie which
lay wedged in between two skirts of
timber. The land was low and rather
swamPy. and the grazing was excel
lent Some one had evidently attempt
ed to preempt . ''claim" there in
times past. for down by the timber to
the ives: was an old tumble down
adobe house. and near it was hole.
which, no doubt. had been dug for a
well. This hole was about ten feet
deep. unwalled, and containing a very
little water. speak thus particularly
OF the well because my tale has much
to do with it.
The lower range proved 10 be Is $50
lated as possible. and to; me the long
hours Of the forenoon passed with
dreadful slowucss The herd demand
cd but little attention. SO l had nothing
to do but Toll about on tie grass be-
meath the shade Of q tree.
Finally the noon hour came and sat
down to eat my lunch. l devoted near
~ an hour to that duty thinking it a
good way to kill little of my surplus
time. After that I rode oeer to the old
cabin and prospected about it for some
time. Thus I wore the hours away,
and ut last saw the sun sinking low in
the west
I was preparing 10 noun. ny podg to
head the cattle boulevard: greatly re-
lieved that the long day was approach
ing its close, when saw two broad
hated men galloping across the prairie
IN my direction They wore the Cow
boys attire and ! judged they were cat
tlernen from some of the neighboring
ranches. Seeing me in the act of mount
ing, they mOtioned me to stop, and
having no suspicion Of anything wrong
Iobeyed willingly enough was glad
of an opportunity to converse with
some one.
Are those your cattle?" one of the
men said as they came up, pointing
carelessly to the herd with his whip.
Il have charge of them" I replied.
"They belong to my brother"
''Who is your bro:her?" the man
asked.
James Hart0n."
SAh. So those are Harton's cattle.
eh?"
"Yes, SIR said /.
Lets see; Harton's ranch is mp to
tie north, isn't it?''
Eyes, SIR"
''Is Haftou therer'
Ireplicd that he was not. -
"Will he be home this EVENING" the |
man questioned. .--I
"Yes, SIR" said.
''At what timer
disliked the idea Fl being too free
with informstion. SD hssitated little
in answering this last question. The
man noticed my hesitaHcy, and con-
tinued:
''weAc buying cattle and would like
10 see Mr.. harton in regard TO his
''He went IL town this morning.
said. and may not get back until late.
It will be dark 1t least before he re-
turns" tAH
The two men exchanged q quick
glance, smiled and nodded their heads,
and then the one who had addressed
me remarked to the other:
What do you think, jake? Is it all
right, You reckon?.'
Il guess" replied tie other, Eve
won't strike better chasce soon."i
I'VE can get the cattle all right
enough" said the first, '.but what
shout the boy? II won't do 70 let him
70, for he'd report us at the ranches
md have pack of cowboys on our
rail in less than an hour"
That's fact" Jake admitted. 4
Then what's to he done about him?'
he other asked. n L
Jake shook his head It first, but d.
'ectly came nearer to his companion,
md, sinking his voice almost 70 whis-
YER. said:
xiii him" Il
nd hate to do that. Jake replied
he other. Z.
Yes, but it's safest, Bill"
Chen the two men talked together in
KS tones, and though ] could not UNI
all they said, l knew they
we're discussing the ACCESSIBILITY Of
making way with me so they might
teal the cattle without the danger of
'eing detected You may rest assured
ny thoughts were far from pleasant
rhile I stood there, waiting in dread
nj suspense for those men to settle my
ate. realized that my iife was in the s
alance with the chances against me.
could not run away. for the men kept
heir eyes on me and their hands on
heir pistols and knew they would
boot me il l made any attempt to
rove. So waited and watched every
they made. trying TO read Z
of their thoughts in their
.atureA.