The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1892-10-08

you'd swear he was bound to fall back
ward and crush his rider; walk at a nod
from Jim into a saloon and knowingly
wink an eye at the man behind the hlr.
and as for cows-holding. driving, haz-
ing or cutting out-he knew it as well
as his rider. and a great deal better if
his rider happened to be a green hand.
And now, as | said. horse and rider
were on top of the cut bank some twenty
feet above the road. along which trotted
little Goldy, lifting her small voice in
invocation Of Papa Jack, scouting and
crashing along i'll hot pursuit Of IA big
Texas steer that had broken away from
beneath the branding iron. wild and
sayage with pain and wilder and more
savage for the rough hazing given him
by Jim snI Ginger.
The round up had been working that
morning half a mile away across the
Cottonois; had just made camp, and at
NAT faieful moment Papa JACK" was
saving, as he pulled the saddle from off
his tired horse:
III throw this onto lobe and lope
over to the ranch for dinner. It's only a
couple If miles: Ill be back before you
are fairly at work"
And so. with his coat thrown over his
arm and his right leg curled around the
polnmel Of the saddle, to rest the tired
muscles, he galloped his fresh horse
easily up the saope from the Cottonois,
to see-his child, his golden haired baby,
running toward him, with arms out
stretched, crying. Papa Jack, l toned
to wider!' And behind her, only a
few rods, coming at full charge, head
down, eyes rolling in their blood full
sockets. maddened by his mornings tor
ture, and wild to attack something-the
big Texas steer, which had slipped down
d blind coulee under the very eyes Of
Jim and Ginger.
"Great heavens..' cried the father as
the full Significance of the sight burst
upon him. Great heavens! | can't
make it! Tobe.'' and voice and spur and
quirt were put at their work. and lean
ing forward in the saddle the man
brought AL the strength that was in
him to the task OF urging on the animal.
The horse was q good one. and he ran
well, striding to his full reach, sides and
tanks heaving with the sudden strain,
and con fiecked with the flying foam
from his mouth, which mingled with
the blood drawn by the madly driven
spurs OF his rider. But in vain! The
chance was too great, and Jack Ford.
ham closed his eyes and his senses
reeled at the thought of the horrible
thing which he saw that he was power
less to prevent.
Meanwhile Jim had missed his steer
and, riding neal the edge of the bank in
his search, heard Goldy's cry at the sight
of her approaching father, and peering
over took in the situation at a glance.
Measuring from his coign of vantage the
relative position of the actors in the
scene below, he wheeled his horse and
galloned back a few yards. then head
ing him toward a point which would
bring him between the child and the in
furiated animal, which was so rapidly
nearing her. he gave a significant shake
to the bride.
"Weye got to do it, Ginger he said.
OOOubS, OIu DON, anu SITa1SnC as a
shot the obedient creature sped-and
horse and man came hu1ling down with
a crash that put an effectual stop to the
career OF the brute below. which, recog-
nizing its old adyersaries, turned and
fed down the valley of the Cottonois.
A minute later Jack Fordham flung
himself from his painting horse, and
with difficulty dragged his half con.
scious friend away from the carcass of
poor Ginger, whose neck had been
broken in the desperate leap.
Jim he cried. Jim, old man! do
you know what you've done: You've
saved her from those horns and hoofs,
man. The baby! don't you understand:
Think Of her mother. Jim: and of me,
old man. What is it. Your leg? Well
have you in bed in the house and the
best doctor in the territory-Jim, old
friend, can't You speak to He::"
Jim opened his eyes, and his friends
say that Z manly tear was standing in
each Of them.
"Never mind the Leg he cried; sit
poor old Ginger I'm thinking of.r'-De-
trOit Free Press,