The Canton times. (Canton, Miss.) 1893-1906, 1895-01-25

fore" My own spirits SCENE d to ami
mate the lifeless steel and rubber that
sent me bounding forward with fresh
speed in response to each pressure Of
the pedals. There were no hills to
speak of, but just enough swell here
and there to relieve the strain of
steady pedaling. Turpit had a good
hours start. l struck into b steady,
even pace but spurted for all that was
in me whenever / came to the least
down-grade. Silently and swiftly
sped on and into the night Unless
the old man was driving like the furies
knew must be gaining on him-but
that was the way he usually drove.
Five, ten. twenty miles of that prairie
road left behind before my ears
caught the rumble Of his wagon. Ibid
not run up too close lest they should
see me, but came near enough to catch
much of their conversation, which was
well interspersed with references to
shat dude" followed invariably by
peals of laughter.
Then their claim'll be worth all of
a thousand apiece in less'n year."
heard the old man say.
II hope they will" chuckled to my
self, as rolled along in their wake.
Turpit, thinking himself past all dan
ger of pursuit, allowed the four-year-
olds to settled down to slow trot,
which slackened to walk at every
little grade. l found it easy enough
to keep pace with them; so easy in
#! 60 ~ |, 81 7 l,l 10 hro Ia
than once to avoid coming too plainly
into view as the old man wheeled sud-
denly around some sharp turn. l be-
gan to grow hungry as well as sleepy,
and dropped behind to strike mattel,
and consult my watch. 1t was past
midnight, and spurted ahead to catch
up again. If / had been a teamster
myself should have been more eau.
tious, for knew that little creek
crossed the road at the bottom of a
draw" not far ahead. But my horse
never had to stop to drink, and won
dering why it took me SO long to come
within hearing Of them again, l rolled
up to the very brink of this draw to
see Turpit watering his team at the
bottom-not hundred yards away
Like fash Topped down into the
tall grass, wheel and all.
"What's that?" I heard one of the
young fellows say.
"Oh, nothin' but an owl or coyote,
answered Turpit, who did not dream
that silent shadow was trailing him
so closely.
Don't give 'em too much now,
Tom" heard him tell the young man
who handled the bucket. "There's
another creek about ten miles aheadi
We'll stop there to water again and
feed bit" :,
was glad enough to hear that. II
might give me the chance topass them
that had been looking for for the last
three hours. might as well have tried
to run through hedge fence as to Gu,
! out on the open prairie through thai
, tall grass and flank them, as should
have done had the ground been clear
If l remembered rightly, the next
creek was dry where the road crossed
, it, with a water hole dozen rods uI
stream allowed them to get gooo
start before picking myself and whee
up out of the grass, and was careful te
keep we'll in the rear for several miles
As we neared the creek, however.
closed up and crept alchg as close t.
the old mans heels as dared. Yes
:, my memory had not failed me, ant
felt the blood leap through my veins
as the team went down into the draw
and saw Turpit pull out of the roae
toward the water hole.
knew it would be by the meres
scratch If 1 got past without being
seen, but it was a chance that daret
not miss, and, putting on my bes
: speed, shot down through the llttl
hollow and up the other side befor
the wagon came to standstill. The.
would have been sure to hear me hat
l waited until they stopped, and as
: was l saw both the young fellows turf
their heads when ratified through tn
prayelly bed of the creek. expected
nothing less than shouts and livel.
E pursuit, but none came, and, knowing
that had the game in my own hand
then, nibbled my lunch as wheele'
leisurely on.
z Sleepy, tired and sore enough, blu
d with the papers made ont all ready t.
= file nv tree claim on the four fortie
e bordering the river-I knew Turpit'
e friends would not want the remaining
e forties without the water-l was tn
h first man to enter the door when tn
land office opened the next morning
: | was none too soon either, for ha
: barely pocketed the receipt for m
e entry fee, when Turpit and his friend
: came in. Wishing to see the fun,
. stood behind door in the receiver
t window. The young fellows quickl,