Red Lodge picket. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1889-1907, 1893-01-07

ing his Winchester down on the
stranger. ''Now, ye load up yer
traps an git"
"All right" he answered doggedly.
you've got ther advantage O. me.
I'll go, but I'll git even with ye some
time, see if l DON'T" and he began
tumbling his effects together.
Bill and Joe watched him while be
piled his traps into the wagon.
Stranger" said Bill, I'VE don't
want ter be hard on yer, an we don't
mind payin ye fer yer little shanty,
seein as ye can't take hit along"
No, hit ain t worth nothin, was
the answer. "Idon't mild givin q
good neighbor little thing like
that"
''Waal, Bill, "said Joe, hits gittin
late, an we'd bitter be gittin back ter
the shanty an lookin after our sup
per-"
"Supperl" exclaimed Bill. ''Thar
hain't nothing fer supper, nor brock
ferts either, unless that onery cuss
gifts back from Atticy ternight"
Don't say that" answered Joe.
''Hit makes me hungrier an bar
ter hear ye speak like that. Hain't
we got nothin ter eat?'
"No, nothin but a few pieces O
hard bread an a bit Or two O meat
That onery cuss, John Biggs, that we
sent after grub to Atticy II git
drunker an billed owl an not come
back till we go after him, like as not. "
With this they turned their horses
around and rode away in the direc-
ton Of home, leaving the stranger
standing in silence looking after
them
Ike Dover-for such was the stran-
gers name-tlTned and entered his
shanty.
"Waal, hit means pull out, reck-
on, he muttered, but I'll jist stay
hyar-till mornin anyhow"
The sun had gone down behind a
bank Of tawny, purple clouds, and
an ashy pallor overspread the sky.
Coin ter have bad weather." OBJ
served Joe Scaggs as they rode
through the fast gathering darkness.
Late that night Bill punched Joe
in the ribs with his elbow, and said:
Joe, hits glttin colder an all git
out. We've got ter git up an find
some more covers. Gee whiz listen
ter that wind'
Bill got up and struck light and
put on his clothes
The weather had suddenly grown
intensely cold, and the wind was
roaring across the prairie and sweep
ing through the dead grass with
sharp, Kissing sound.
Bill opened the door and looked out
A great gust Of wind swept into the
room. whirling cloud Of rsnowhakes
with it and extinguishing the light.
"A blizzard!' exclaimed Bill, slam
ming the door and relighting the
lamp.
Joe had also got up and was putting
on his clothes.
1--WE must see ter the hosses,' he
said, drawing on his heavy boots
They'll freeze ter death in that shed
if they hain't blanketed.
He opened the door and went out,
and in few moments returned.
1.-The bosses air gone" he ex-
claimed; broke loose an been driv
away by the blizzard.
lone Nv us must go after EN-, ex-
claimed Bill. Hit won't do to lose
'em. They'll die in this storm if they
don't find shelter"
Yes, an you'd die a dozen times
fore yed find 'em in this storm
Poor animals' exclaimed Bill;
''but hit can't be helped" "
Bill kindled a fire in the little
sheet iron stove in the corner
The air was growing colder and
colder every moment, and the circle
of heat around the stove grew smaller
and smaller with each surge Of the
wind as it shook the loose boards OH
the roof and sent the ,sleet and snow
Kissing through the crevices.
The two men drew their chairs near
the stove, after replenlshing the fame
from q pile of coal in the corner of
the room.
Morning came at last, gray and
desolate, with binding clouds of snow
and sleet sweeping across the prairie.
The storm showed no signs of abat-
ing, but was increasing in its fury
"Joe," said Bill, breaking the
silence, nobody can't come from
Atticy terday, an the pervisions-
thar's nothin in the house ter eat.
Joe got up and looked out at the
small window.
Hits as ye say, Bill; thar can't
nobody come from Atticy terday"-
And then, huskily, Hit may be a
week fore they can"
The two men looked at each other.
and each read the others thoughts.
Thar can't nobody git nowhar
now, an mebbe not fer a week.
Bill, we air in bad fix"
Bill made no reply, but filled a
large black pipe, lit it, sat down by
the fire and began putting away in
silence
Joe brought more fuel from the
corner and filed up the stove.
The day passed and night came
down, and still the storm ragged and
the snow fell in binding clouds.
It was at the close Of the fifth day,
and neither Bill nor Joe had tasted
foad FOR. four. darg and as they