Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1894-11-22
BY CONAN DOYLE.

"Have l thOugh?' the man answered,
penitcntly; Il didn't so for to do it"
AS lie spoke he unwrappcd the gray
shawl and cXtricated Il very pretty lit
tic girl of about five years Of age
whose dainty shoes and smart pink
frock. with it's little linen apron, all
bespoke Il mothers care. The child
was pale and wan, but her healthy
arms and legs showed that she had suf-
fered less than her companion.
How is it now?" he asked, anxious
ly, for she was still rubbing the towsy
golden curls which covered the back Of
her head.
kiss it and make it we'll" she said,
with perfect gravity, showing the in
jured part up to him. That's what
mother used to do. Where S 'mother?"
Mothers gone. / guess you'll see
her before long"
"Gone, chi" said the little girl. Fun
NY, she didn't say good-by; she most
always did if she was just goin' over
to auntie's for tea, and now she been
away three days. Say, it's awful dry
amt it? Amt there no water nor moth
ing to eat?'
mo, there amt nothing. dearie.
You'll Just need to be patient awhile,
and then you'll be all right. Put your
head I'D agin me like that and then
you'll feel better. 1t amt easy to talk
when your lips is like leather, but
guess Id best let you know how the
"Pretty things! fine things!" cried the
little girl, enthusiastically, holding UP
two glittcring fragments of mica.
.rsr
them to brother Bob"
you'll see prettier things than them.
soon,' said the man confidently. You
just wait bit. I was going to tell
you, though-you remember when we
left the river?' 49,.
"Oh, yes"
well, we reckoned we'd strike an
other river soon, dye see. But there
was something wrong: compasses, OF
map, or somethin', and it didn't turn
up. Water ran out. Just except Il
little drop for the likes Of you and
and
"And you couldn't wash yourself
interrupted his companion, gravely,
staring up at his grimy visage.
mo. nor drink. And Mr.. Bender. he
was the first to go, and then Indian
Pete, and then Mrs. McGregor, anG
then Johnny Homes, and then, 6earie,
your mother
"Then mothers deader, too" cried
the little girl, dropping her face in her
pinafore and sobbing bitterly.
"Yes. they all went except you and
me. Then 1 thought there was some
chance of water in this direction, so
heaved you over my shoulder and we
tramped it together. 1t don't seem as
though we'd improved matters.
There's an almighty small chance for
us now!"
do you know that we are going to
die, too? asked the child, checking
her sobs, and raising her tear-stained
face.
Il guess that's about the size of it,"
"Why didn't you say so before?" she
said, laughing gleefully. You gave
me such a fright. Why, of course,
now as long as we die Well be with
mother again.
Eyes, you will, dearie."
"And you, too. Ill tell her how
awful good you've been. I'll bet she
meets us at the door of Heaven with
a pitcher of water. and a lot of buck
wheat cakes. hot, and toasted on both
sides, like Bob and me vas fond Of
How long will it be first?'
II don't know-not very long" The
mans eyes we're fixed upon the north
ern horizon. In the blue vault of the
heaven there appeared three little
specks which increased in size every
moment, so rapidly did they approach
They speedily resolved themselves into
three large brown birds. which circled
over the heads of the two wanderers,
and then settled upon some rocks
which overlooked them. They were
buzzards, the vultures of the West.
whose coming is the forcrunner Of
death. ...
Cocks and hens" cried the little girl,
gleefully, pointing at their ill-omened
forms. and clapping her hands to make
them rise. Say did God make this
country"
"In course He did" said her COM
panion rather startled by this unex
pected question.
He made the country down in Him.
DIS and He made the Missouri" the
little girl Continued. II guess some
body else made the country in these
parts. It's not nearly so well done.
They forgot the water and the trees"
What would you think Of Offering
up praycr?" the man asked, dif1ident-
ly.
ut amt night YETI she answered.
sit don't matter. 1t amt quite regu-
lar, but EIe won't mind that, you bet.
You say over them ones that you used
to say every night in the wagon when
we was on the plains"
"Why don't you say some yourself?"
the child asked, with wondering eyes.
81 disrcmember Them" he answered.
II hain't said none since was half the
height O that gun. l guess it's never
too late You say them out, and Ill
stand by and come in on the choruses."
'''i'hcn you'll need to knael down,
and me. too" she said, laying the
shawl out for that purpose. You've
got to put up your hands like this. 1t
rel es you feel kind Of good"
1t was strange sight had there been
any thing but the buzzards to see it,
Side by side on the narrow shawl knelt
the two wanderers. the little, prattling
child. and the reckless. hardened ad-
ventmer. Her chubby face, and his
haggard, angular visage Were both
turned up to the cloudless heaven in
~ ff II ,,ntrn,tH, tn that .1pNo1 tAi,,r