The Van Buren press., 1894-12-15

the edges Of dry goods boxsa In the
gambling houses the dealers were
drowsing in their chairs and the look
outs were mapping ON the billiard
tables Small boys were lying Ia =
bit Of bunch grass shaded from tho
sun by cottonwood tree. There waa
not . sound to Jar the heated air save
the clang Of the anvils In the blaok'
smiths shop where the drivers twd
bays were being shUd.
Away to the east there is seen . dim
and mistlihe puff OF alkali dust 1t
turns and twists and wriggles In the
hot air, and scattors upward and away
into whirling clouda II moves to the
west In flying line, and from its GEN.
ter come half dozen gAiloping
horses with as many fiders, slowly un-
covered from their smoky disguises. II
comes nearer and nearer, until II
reaches the ranch that marks the
limitations OF Ubet, and then the air is
pierced by shrill, weird yell, the cow
boys signal:
"Oh-he-ee-yo-oo-o whoop!"
It echoes through and quiclsens the
drowsy life Of TIBET like an electric
shock. The village boys crawl from
under the grateful shade Of the cot
tonwood and gather In the square,
The faro dealer calls TO the lookout
and begins to shuttle the well-worn
deck. Tho loafers shut their jack
knives and leave the dry goods boxes
The bartender shades his sombrero,
looks down the street, and yells to the
old man. The dogs wake up from their
MONDAY sleep to do battle with the
newcomers.
In q moment more the flying line OF
cowboys is before the hotel, q cursing,
bowling crew, with old man ferguson
at the front, his white hair blowing
In the soft wind beneath great, dirt
covered felt hat. At ono side is his boy,
Aleck, d stalwart, bearded young fel-
low, and TO the left is another boy,
Henry. small, wiry and 80 young that
his place would seem to be in the nur-
sery. There are also half dozen boys
of the plains, all wearing red-fannel
shirts girded by long rows Of cart
ridges
"Oh-he-ec-yo-oo-whoopr'
And the saloons and stores are de-
populated while the natives gathcr In
scmicircle about the dust-covered
group.
Hello. Charley. Take the hosses
in the shed, charley, an russle
back directly an give the boys some
Of red eye," shouts the old man.
"Go slow on the red eye, ol' man.
The T. E. boys is comm up to-day"
Charley replies.
"Whoop-cel Boys, hear that Hear
what Charley says. The 7. E. is com.
In! l done said they might Boys,
we'll get them russlers that took fifty
head outen our bunch. Sure. An II
the rest interferes we'll get them, too.
Yo' hear?"
"Yo' bet" In chorus
IAN Charley's right, boys Go slow
on the red eye till we make 'em lny
down, an then have jubilstion. Yo'
there, Alecls, stay in the SO uare. For
sure don't miss seein' the T. E. comm.
Yo'. Henry, watch the hosses. We may
need 'em quick; but feed 'em up fust.
An yo', boys, keep your hands on your
guns an keep In sight, No foolin', TO-
day. Short-handcd on the ranch.
Make every shot bring a man. Whoop-
ee-e! done said we might meet 'em.
Stay in the square, Aleck, while we
uns drink, an Charley II bring your
drink out. Come ahead, boys, an
Ticker up; but go SLOW"
The square Is cleared for action like
the deck of q cruiser. The villagers
stand about within saloons or In front
of stores, waiting for the first signs of
battle. Old man ferguson has for
gotten his warning and stands against
the hotel bar boasting about the men
he is going to kill and keeping Charley
on the run for the brown bottle with
the glass ball stopper that holds the
''red-eye."
The sun drops away over the snowy
tops of the Belt range. Aleck alone
stands watch in the square, his eyes
turning in all directions and his gun
cooked ready for action. His vigil Is
not long.
Over in the village hurdy house a
window is raised so quietly that the
sound does not attract the gossipers
beneath. The appearance of a rifle
barrel escapes notice in the changing
light, and the form behind Is out OF
sight save for head and q pair ol
bright eyes getting rnnge on the boy.
The youngster rests his gun on the
ground, turns to the hotel, and calls:
Charley, bring out that"
His voice is stopped. The gun from
the window is sighted. Blim! blim! a
stream of fire shoots out. and the boy,
struck in the head by both bullets,
falls face to the ground, dead.
In a flash the barroom is emptied,
and out on the square comes the old
man. staggering from the liquor he
has drunk. and at his heels are hall
dozen cowboys of his tribe, all with
guns drawn and looking vainly for
the enemy. The other boy cries:
"Pa, watch out! The T. e. has been
here all dayw
Hardly had he spoken before the
hurdy house window is again raised,
two guns are swung out. and blim!
blim! blim! blim! away they go right
into the little cluster Of men. Two
cowboys fall and the others are stam-
peded. The old man shouts:
Scatter, boys, till we locate 'em,
an then get together! Boys, don't for
get that they murdered our Aleck!"
And his voice drops away into fierce
wall for revenge.
The old man runs to the hotel as an