The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1895-05-17

Pete laughed again. "Go along out
ter Their pump. them" he said.
But Wawaga's eye was still glued to
the interesting object before her.
Soon Pete himself went out to the
pump, pail In hand: Immediately the
bundle OF rags by the wall stretched
up a lean arm, with quick and
stealthy motion of a pounctng cat,
and, SELLING the bottle, roured the
fiery contents down through the
brown. parchment throat.
Such an unearthly bowling and yell
ing as followed this successful thiev-
cry! Pete dropped his pail and came
running In, to find his guest doubled
up in agony and rolling around ON
the floor screaching like mad.
what in thunder's struck herT he
cried; but Just then catching sight Of
the black bottle still clutcheds In the
Indians skinny claw, his blank look
turned to a wide grin. He dropped on
the nearest box, slapping his thigh
and chuckling: "My eye ct the old
fool amt drunk that Their quart o.
kerosene" The terror stricken scream
ing redoubled, while the man watched
the poor wretch's antics In ecstacy.
dim" he muttered gleefuIly:: shnt ns
the moments passed he began 20 real
ize that the matter was serious, for
the creatures cOntortiOns grew awful
and her anguish was too great Tor
amusement. -
Pete's grin faded insensibly; he
scratched his head thoughtfui!y,
grumbling: Don't know % WANT the
old gal kickin' the bucket right here
and now, but what in tarnal creations
q teller goin' ter do fer her1 Oh, sosh!
Il know!,, He bolted across the road.
sending mp a checking cloud OF pow
derry soil, and burst into sthe store.
"Say, Ike, yer got any mustard: he
demanded; ''old Wawaga's done
drunk all my coal oil, an l guess It's
goin' to kill her! Don't yer hear that
screechin'Y Ike Dempsey. reused
from his midday nap, rubbed Ills eyes
and stretched himself, then rising de.
liberately from the crncker-barrel. and
thrusting his quid into one cheek,
ilrawled, laxily: oval, now, where's
the hurt eft the ol'sot do gin US the
shaker Oh, ,doan'e be in er rush naow !!
I guess TIERS q can err mustard
raound somewhere" Reaching long
lazy arm under the counter, he clat-
tered among his possessions and
brought mn a fist full of yellow-brown
dust' .aThis here NUT? Never mind
navin'Ps N tvo minutes more Pete
uberlin laid. e violent hands on the
rolling heap of agony in his cabin, aud
sterniy commanded, "Drink this
here" She drank It. Then the from
stiersman dragged Hid body outside the
shantv anL iaft her alone with her
misery.
= After some time Pete returned to
his patient, bearing q tin plate with
q generous share of his dinner. He
presented !. this with flourish and
Srinned sympat hetically As the NOR
sells Of food disappeared.
When the shadows Of the ,blue-gumi
stretched long and gaunt to the east
ward, and a mellow pink flushed the
tops Of the grand, distant mountains
q tipsy 5sqpalil old squaw. In tat
dusty road through the feofhills; and
for six month"; ndther Ikes peppsey
nor Pete, NOR 6ved Pat Gto9an 1T HE
saloon, saw any more Of Wawaga.
When Pete Oberlin reached up to
the shelf behind the stove that night
and, after feeling yainly around In
the darkness struck match and ex
aminetl the surface, he let forth . vol
ley Of baths TINT would have .shocket
the ears Of a .nale-driver, finishing uI
wrathfully with:. "Wlsht I'd let t1t
old thief die and be ID to her
afore ever she got away with my
hand-carved briar-wood pipe"
- ~ - = - - 4 +
Week after week, Pete Obcrlin, II
( his capacity OF mail carrier. logged
over the dusty plain, wound In and
out through the foothills, with a stor
here and there, at the. ranches, and
climbed over the ridge to the fort or
the reservoir, always the destination
OF the biggest part OF his budget. ri
After the early rains had carpeted
the bare brown hills with green and
given q giessier tinge to the norm
ful barkstripped eucalyptus. he began
to hear ugly rumors on his trips IRON
farmhouse to farmhouse. There ghld
not been I'M lndtan : outbreak fol
twenty years In that section. but some
disquieting influence was hard al
work on the red skins. Some said the
Indian Messiah was coming, Others
TINT one Of Aoronino's lieutenantt
Aad been sowing this excitement
nM0ng theMi pa TINT as It may, there
was q watchfui anxiety ct the sor1
ana q growing feeling OF danger u
the breasts Of the neighboring ranch
men. Every Dill Ol tpis came. 81
course. to tine ears OF the mail-carFier
Qnd, In the snug bQr.rOom OF th(