Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1891-05-14

that zee are coming. That is all. Go
now, and God be with your
Frank followed the orderly to clump
of trees a quarter of a mile from the
camp, where he found a rough young
country fellow standing beside two
servicea ble-looking horses, of the breed
that has made Western Missouri ia
mous-light, strong, wiry animals,
sure-footed as mules and gifted with an
endurance rivaling that of the steed
OF the Arabs. The man himself was
the typical product of the sofia hardy,
sun-burnt fellow, with long flowing
black locks, dressed in homespun, wear
ing long cowhide boots, and carrying at
his waist a belt equipped with small
arsenal of pistols and ammunition-not
at all the kind of gentleman a nervous
traveller would care to meet on lonely
road, though there were few honester
young fellows, as times went, than
Richard Swayne.
The Westerner eyed the soldier with
a 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 and
mounted.
'Shake!" he said, 1aconically, stepping
up to Franks side and stretching forth
big, brown, SCARED hand, whose
horny cuticle would have puzzled the
modern philosopher of palmistry.
Frank grasped the profered hand
with eagerness. Each read in the
others c-e a true patent of nobility.
my names Dick Swayne," the
brawny young farmer exclaimed.
''What's your'n?'
Frank Besant.''
No time nor need of further words.
Swayne sprang to the saddle and led
the way at a brisk gait, haf-trot, half
canter, which the horses seemed to
take of their own accord. From the
start the roads were execrable, if you
could dignity by the name o. roads the
thin beaten tracks which lay across the
wooded ridges, and which never
seemed to turn aside for any obstacle
less formidable than precipice, now
climbing till the horse had literally to
scramble for footing, now speeding
over declivities so steep that Frank,
with all his skill in horsemanship, ex-
pected to find himself flying over the
beasts ears at every step he took.
'Ketch hold O the pommel O yer sad
die eff yer mus claw onter suthin',
young Teller; fur thet mares mouth
amt no hitchin' post" Swayne ad-
mOnished his companion, as they
reached the top of an unusually steep
ascent.
Frank accepted the reproof grace
fully.
Its the most villainous road 1 ever
Travelled in my life-but say, friend
nia1>
pace up much longer? 1t seems to me
as though they'd drop in their tracks if
we don't ease 'em up a bit; why, we
must have put a dozen miles between US
and the camp already
Dick grinned.
saddles gettin' kim o. hot?'' he
queried. oval, we'll hev ter take
spell O. rest daown l. tn dip yonder, fur
thar's a skeary stretch O. kentry before
us which it won't do ter travel over
with winded hosses.''
''You mean that there is danger Of
falling into the hands of the enemy
''Yaas, the meanest, bloodiest, dog
gonedest kim O. an enemy, too. Hev
yer never heerd tell ov the gorillas?"
''The guerrillas! What, have you
them in this part Of the State?"
''Hev we? Why, they swarm over
the hull kentry. Wait till we tether
the bosses under the walnuts yonder
an I'll tell yer what they've done to me
an mine.''
They rode slowly to the clump of
trees, where they dismounted.
''You stretch yer legs bit, Frank,
while tend to the CATTLE the farmer
said, taking at the same time from his
pocket a handful of rolled tobacco
leaves, which it were indeed compli-
ment to call cigars, but which Frank
found on a further acquaintance were
more palatable than their appearance
seemed to justify.
Swayne evidently believed that mer-
ciful man is merciful to his beasts It
was an interesting sight to watch the
tender care he took of them, to see him
strip their saddles off, cut whisps of
long grass and rub them down till they
were as dry as when they left the stable
in the morning. Not till they were