Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1892-02-05

were ON top of the cut-bank some twenty
feet above the road, along which trotted
little Colby, lifting her small voice In
invocation of Papa Jack, scouting and
crashing along In hot pursuit Of a big
TNxas steer that had broken away from
beneath the branding iron, wild and
savage for the rough hazing giving him
by Jim and Ginger.
The round up had ben working that
morning half mile away across the Cot
tonois, had just made camp tor dlnner:
and at that fateful moment Papa JACK
was saylngSas he pulled the saddle from
off his tired horse: Il il throw TINS onto
ODE and lope over to the ranch for dim
ner. It's only a couple of miles; Ill be
back before you are falrl" at work
And so, with his coat thrown over ms
arm, and his right leg curled around the
pommel of the saddle, to rest the tired
muscles. he galloped his fresh horse easily
no the slope from the Cottonols, TO see his
child-his golden haired baby-running
toward him, with arms outs retchod, cry
ing: Papa Jack, toned to wide." And
behind her, only few rods behind, com
ing at full charge, head down, eyes rol.
ling in their bl0od-full sockets, naddened
by the mornings torture, and wild to at
tack 8omething-the big Texas steer,
which had slipped down a blind coulee I'm
der the very eyes of jim and Ginger.
'Great heavens!' cried the father, as
the full significance of the sight burst upon
him. Great heavens! I cant make it!
| Tobe!' And voice and spur and quirt
We're put at their work, and, leaning for
ward in the saddle, the man Brought all
| the strength that was in him to the task
of urging on the willing animal he rode.
I The horse was a good one, and he ran
well, striding to his full reach, sides and
| TANKS leaving with the sudden strain
and soon fecked with the flying foam from
| his mouth, which min led with the blood
drawn by the madly driven spurs Of his
rider. But in vain. The chance was too
| great, and Jack Fordham closed his eyes
and his senses reeled at the thought of
| the horrible thing which he saw that he
was powerless TO prevent.
Meanwhile, Jim had missed his steer.
and, riding near 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 galloped
back few yards, then, heading him to-
Wal n q pOAlb "A1Ch WOulA JILL hiLLl NC
tween the child and the Infatuated animal
which was so rapidly nearing her, he gave
significant shake to the bride.
"We've got to do it, Ginger" he said
"Good-by, old boy" and straight as a
shot the obedient creature sped-and
horse and man come hurting down with
a crash that put an efectual stop to the
career of the brute below. which, recog-
nizing his old adversaries, turned and fed
down the valley OF the Cottonois.
A minute later Jack Fordham flung
himself from the painting horse, and with
difficulty dragged his half conscious friend
away from the carcass of poor Ginger,
whose neck had been broken in the des.
perate leap.
"Jimr" he cried Jim, old man! Do
you know what you have 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 speak to me?'
Jim opened his eyes, and his friend
saw that manly tear was standing in
each of them.
Never mind the legr' LIE cried; cts
poor old Ginger I'm thinking of!'-De-
troit Free Press.