Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1894-07-07

-eS ~ 49, W AAt7NA ~
the worst; all hope is over. I see not
from what quarter help can come!r
But even as he thus soliloquised, he
once more seized the bottle, and bent
%anxiously over his insensible compan-
ion.
CHATTER ".
10 THE RESCUED
"Wha,. it's tn divil's own work this
ere. l TAX it. Bill! Talk o. tn Spirit o.
Evil bein' black or red, i'deed but 1t
seems Z me he's white enow some
times!" and Carter Tom laughed
hoarsely at the doubtful point of his
OwI joke, as be stuffed the lighted
"baccer" yet deeper into the bowl of
his blackened clay pipe with the horny
third finger Of the coarse gnarled hand
which grasped its slender stem.
His confrre Bill-stretched full
length within the covered carriers cart,
whilst Tom held the reins, occupying
the foremost plank which did duty as
the box-seat Of his somewhat cumbrous
equipa2e-emitted prolonged chuckle,
which Bill presumably accepted in to-
ken OF acquiescence.
"But 'ow an t turns out a guide pay
in job fur US twa. as tn little un pre-
dicted? VIVA thin it's jist tn wark o.
Providence this same sna'fall, | TAX it,
eh? an tn Evil I'm ha' no so much as
a finger i tn piel Talkin O. pie makes
me think on. an 1 falls a wonderin' as
to whether tn old wumman 'ull keep q
summat a pipin' 'ot gen l gettens back?
Use no a pertickler man, Tom, but
dashed if I doant like mi bit an sup
like a Christiang, agen mi W fireside,
o Chrissermas Eve, o. all guide nights i
tn year, Howsomiver. what is 10 be
will be, that's plain; an tn mkt best
thing T. 'aving ones way, is T. re-
sign oneself { untoward circumstances.
] should say. Hulloa, theer. t. tn
right, dye see a twinklin' light doom
aground? though how tn divil they
maun chance to gittin t same be
moor than l can say; anyhoo-"
"Anyhoo, maxi less ado. whip up
tn 'osses an push ahead!" rejoined
Tom. rising to the occasion literally no
less than metaphorically, for he strug-
gled to his feet under this excitement,
and clambering down by aid of the
wheel, ran round to the horses heads,
and seized the off-side brute by the bril-
die to assist its stumbling gait.
NildiAA ~ = AAh6C-lhb ios ~ oO bp al
be as tn little lass said" he continued.
Cad! but Use rect doom pleased Z see
that same, fur it ave jist STRICKEN me,
Bill, as 'ow it I'D be a pretty 60 if tn
wench 'ad 'ad a mind Z hoaxen US, an
we wur T. find theer'd been niver no ac-
cident at ALL"
"Hoaxen, indeedl' returned Bill with
an ar of infinite superiority, AS though
more Disguised than amused by the sim
plicity OF hts companion; ''wha ivel
heard o. foolln' folks a. this time o
Chrissermas Eve o. all guide nights!
Theirs times enow, and nights enow
let alone playin' tricks o. solemn festi'
fules. Nal nal tax my woord fur it,
lassies is ma so fule as Z tempt tn, old
man i that ere unseemly flashing. Hap
pen he'd be alter 'um bodily, an carry
'um off whites tn very poudin wur a
simmerin' j. tn pot"
Thus the cheer carriers beguiled the
tedium- Of tbs way, doing their duty
like Christians land first-rate men OF
businessl) despite the inclemency of the
hour and the manifold attractions else
where. And once the glimmer OF the
lantern caught their eye, they took
heart OF grace, and turning the corner
of the crossroads ar this juncture,
raised aloft their WI lantern and
''whooped" at the very top Of their
united voices, urging their stout cobs
forward at the same moment at their
utmost speed-which same, however,
vas hardly calculated 10 bring them
within the scope of the bylaw anent
furious driving" for the tired beasts
could but stumble along at a snails
pace, sinking eyery now and then above
their fetlocks in the drift snow, or else
coming to grief over buried timber or
blocks Of stone.
But that shout reached the ear, and
revived the fainting spirits and droon-
ing hearts Of those afar, and was forth
with answered by a cry of grateful ac-
acknowledgement from Dick Carlisle's
lips, which spurred both men and
beasts alike to do their best for fellow
creatures in distress, regardless OF all
personal cost. So Tom tugged at the
bride helping 9TH old meer" over the
toughest places, as though she were a
toddling child he feared TO let run alone;
whilst Bill went round to the rear OF
the cart, and literally putting his Shout
der TO the wheel assisted the convey
ance over stones and out of ruts in a
fashion which very considerably accel'
Grated the general progress.
Once the angle OF the road was
turned, the distance was shorter than
had at first appeared; and. ten minutes
later, rescued and rescuers were in
speaking distance of one another.
VOL, hoo goes it," shouted Bill
"Bear up!r
BADLY, badlyl'' came the response
"you're not q minute too soonl Fol
] T<l-a ~Ay-n I1. 1x-A m rra~ hAN<
seems more like dead than faint; l my
self am three parts frozen, positivel!
paralyzed with coldin
ESlf q very few moments after that
Tom and Bill had brought their horses
to a full stop, and knowing to an incl
the width and exact position Of tn,
dyke, deity placed the movable cart
planks dubbed seats" by courtesy
across the snow, 30 as TO span the aper
ture beneath, treacherously covered
DOW by the drift-thus forming an i'm
promptu gangway.
Togrope their way by these means Il
the sufferers side was comparatively
easy. and by the united efforts Of thu
carriers, Jim Browne was presently
bodily raised and carried TO the warn
shelter of the cart; where stretched up
on the straw, and covered by all avail
able wraps and rugs, he was for tn,
moment left. whilst the men returned
to assist Dick over the ground to 18th
conveyance" as ELL termed it, int,
which he was lifted by the stout arm'
of the carriers as though he had been II
very truth q child.
Then the two men ran on to inspec
the horse and cab. "Hii tn old hack
done for, an ma mistook!' Tom shout
ed; .an' tn car can bide until mornin'
TAX it. Onything i'side, EUR? Shult
I bring these ere Tags an baggage
likeyn as = glance revealed Dick
small p~crtmanteau and multitude
nous parcels slowed away under tn
seat.
"Bring everything responded Dick
ssand for Heavens 6ake lose not o mo
ment; let's get on 1t any price. /
seems to me" he added TO himself un
der his breath. that oply by the pres
emit intensity Of gratitude and joy at thu
prospect Il deliyeraBce, can / at Ill ca
Innate tho previous depths Of past de
SPAR. That's right. old fellow a
browne slowly opened his eyes. thAw
,SfNs IN tie genial a~tnsaphdS Vt th