Iron County register., 1896-07-02


Because the cattle's comin'?" put in
a settler from across the creek. Little
thing like that hadn't ought to prevent
Lone Prairie's havin' a good time on
Fourth O. July"
"WeIl have too much to do. The
herds a big one, or Jason Moore
would not come in with it"
His first trip to town in six years,
I'm told. A woman was il it-wasn't
there?''
''Yes, his girl married another man,
or something like that"
Two well-dressed gentlemen, sharp
contrast to the settlers, entered. They
were buyers from the city at the mouth
of the river, come to inspect the big
herd of Texas cattle to come in off the
range.
what did you say this peculiar herd
er's name is?" one of them, tall and
dark, asked.
Jason Moore, the best known herder
on the grazing ground-an' the best one,
too, ! reckon"
The stranger seemed little startled,
but he only remarked: Good day for
him to come to town-Fourth of July"
DuI ain ROillB OA llldl L
know Of"
There was something going on, and
each member of the settlement found
out what it was the next morning early
when small boy on horseback made
the rounds, firing a large torpedo at
every cabin door and announcing to
the startled inmates that flag-raising
would take place at noon ont at the
schoolhouse.
"Guess we might as well go out and
see the fun," remarked George Harlan,
the dark-visaged stock buyer. Its
mighty dull hereabouts."
'4AlI right" added his friend, and the
two went across the level plains with
the rest toward the tiny schoolhouse,
set in the midst of the prairie five miles
away. A few cottonwood trees were
making a brave effort to shade the yard,
but were somewhat bent by the steady
south winds.
A considerable company of farmers,
ranchmen, boys and girls, wives and
Rweethearts, were gathered and the
teacher, pretty, blue-eyed Anna Leland,
was busiest of all arranging the pro-
Pramme and preparing for the raising
her old home in western New York had
sent to the school.
''Now, Mr.. Graham" to the stora-
keeper, AT shall ask you for speech"
"Don't do it'll break down." yet
everybody knew that he could talk
longer than any speaker on Lone Prai-
rie.
AS the strangers rode up they were
closely watched by the settlers and the
assembled families. Harlan was
graceful rider, and not even the Texas
pony on which he was mounted could
unseat him. He was not in time to sea
the school-teacher, for she had gone
inside the building.
Before he reached the steps another
matter of interest had attracted atten-
ton. Off to the south, already SO near
at hand as to surprise all that it had not
been noticed before, was a cloud of
dust. It was many rods wide and
reached in long irregular line up from
the plains OF the south.
"Cyclone's commit" shouted some ex-
citable individual. and the women were
perceptibly nervous.
'No such n thing" reassuringly put in |
the storekeeper. That's the herd from |
the ranches we've been lookin' for, an |
Il amt a mile away"
Silently they gazed. Then, as If a |
commander had come out of the midst |
of an army, single horseman was dis
finguishable in front Of the wall of
dust and was evidently advancing on
the schoolhouse group, gaining rapidly |
on the herd, now visible, plodding along |
behind.
'sTt's the boss herder, comm IN to pick
q camp" remarked Graham.
He was right.
In a few minutes wide~hatted, hand /
some cowboy dashed up and dismount-
ed, his big spurs jingling merrily an he
Walked.