The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-05-07

Sun-burnt fellow, with long howin9
black locks, dressed in homcspun, wear
ing long cowhidc boots, and carrying a
his waist belt equipped with small
arsenal of pistols and ammunition-no'
at all the kind of gentleman nervou.
traveller would care to meet on a lonely
road, though there were few honestel
young fellows. as times went. thar
Richard Swayne.
The Westcrner eyed the soldier will
keen glance of criticism. as he looked
to the trappings of the horse allotted
him, frightened the girth of the saddle
adjusted the stirrup-leathers ant
mounted.
''Shake.' he said, laconically, stepping
up to Franks side and stretching fortl
big, brown, Scared hand, who's.
horny cuticle would have puzzled TIL
modern philosopher of palmistry.
Frank grasped the proffered hant
with eagerness. Each read in tn,
others eye a true patent of nobility.
my names Dick Swayne," TIN
brawny young farmer exclaimed
Whats your'n"'
Frank Besant.'
No time nor need of further words
Swayne sprang to the saddle and LEI
the way at brisk gait. half-trot. half
canter, which the horses seemed Il
take of their own accord. From TIN
start the roads were execrable, il 20,
could dignity by the name of roads til.
thin beaten tracks which lay across tn,
wooded ridges, and which nevc
seemed to turn aside for any obstacl,
less formidable than precipice. nov
climbing till the horse had literally I.
scramble for a footing, now speedin,
over declivities SD steep that Frank
with all his skill in craftsmanship, ex
pected to find himself flying over tn
beasts ears at every step he took.
"ketch hold O the polnmel o yer sad
die eft yer mus claw onter suthin'
young Teller; fur thet mares mouth
amt no hitchin' post" Swaync nd
monished his companion, as the.
reached the top of an unusually stee'
ascent.
Frank accepted the reproci graa
fully.
Its the most villainous road eve
travelled in my life-but say, frien>
Dick. are these poor beasts to keep thi
pace up much longer? 1t seems to m
as though they'd drop in their tracks i
we don't ease 'em up bit: why, "
must have put dozen miles between u
and the camp already"
Dick grinned.
Saddles gettin' kim O hot?' h
queried. "Wal, we'll hev ter take
spell o rest daown i tn dip yonder, fu
thar's skeary stretch o lSentry befor
us which it won't do ter travel ove
with winded hosscs.''
"lou mean that there Is danger {
falling into the hands Of the enemy"
''laas, the meanest, bloodicst, dol
gonedest kin o an enemy, too. lie
yer never heerd tell ov the gorillu,""
THE guerrillas! What, have 70
them in this part of the State:?''
'.Hev we? Why, they swarm owe
the hull kentry. Wait till we tethc
the bosses under the walnuts yondc
an III tell yer what they've done to m
an mine"
They rode slowly to the clunp @
trees, where they dismonnted.
You stretch yer legs Il bit, Fran!.
while tend to the CATTLE" the farmc
said. taking at the same time from hi
pocket handful of rolled tobacc
leaves, which it were indeed u compl
ment to call cigars, but which Fran
found on a further acquaintance wer
more palatable than their appearance
seemed to justify.
Swayne evidently believed that L mel
ciful man is merciful to his beasts.
was an interesting sight to watch til
strip their saddles off, cut whisps {
long grass and rub them down till the
were as dry as when they left the stab
in the morning. Not till they WEI
| quite cool did he lead them to the littl
stream and let them drink their fill {
the clear water; and then from his 81.
die bags he took few handfuls of GA
and gave them to them. but it was NJ
until they had eaten this and he ha
hobbled their forelegs and allowe
them to crop the scant grass that /
thought OF his own and his companion
comfort.
Now, mate, let's squat here an tai,
a bite ourselves" Saying which, /
flung himself upon the turf and brougl
from one of his capacious pockets "A 70
of greasy paper, which contained Sc
eral huge slices of bacon placed NJ
over-temptingly between thick chunl
of hard, dry hominy cakes In val
Frank tried to tempt him with the co,
tents of his own saddle-bags, the youu
Missourian declaring that hog al
hominy was the only food for man.
They had dispatched of their hast
meal and lighted the long, ungainl
cheroots, when Frank reminded Il
companion of his promise to tell hi
about the guerrillas.
[To BE CONTINUED.