Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1896-01-17

teh, Bill?" asked Sam. ''Casta shoe?
Blessed T We hain't," he continued,
after dismounting and examining the
foot the horse held up for inspection.
''0ught t We had ye fixed up more'n
Two weeks back, oil hoss." He took
out his knife-a sort of pocket black
smith and carpenter-shop- re-
moved the rest sof the nails by which
the shoe hung to the hoof, put the
shoe in his pocket, then stood up and
scratched his head.
THIS was serious business. Here he
was, over sixty miles away from home
land in hurry to get there), in a
sparsely settled portion sof the coun-
try, and without the slightest idea of
where or how he-vas soing to find n
place where he might .get that shoe
reset. True, heshad no business rid.
ing an animal that required the SER
vices of a farrier; but Bill was not q
native horse, and, having worn shoes
when Sam first got him, he had been
kept shod ever since.
1t was twenty odd miles back to
Taborville, whence Sam had started
that morning, and he disliked the
idea of returning that distance just to
have "a shoe set; SO, after some min
utes' hesitation he decided to go
ahead and trust to luck; and after
walking about three miles IA painful
task for n Cowboy, he "met up with"
man travelling in the other direc-
ton, who, much to his relief, told him
that there was crossroads just
ahead in the timber, with store and
q blacksmith shop situated close by.
Sam thanked him and passed on,
but presently, much to his surprise,
the stranger turned and galloped back
to him.
81 thought I'll tell ye," he said,
"bein' as yo're strangeh, th't ye'd
best not daily 'raound that place none
an don't drink nothin'. Ye see"
he went on to explain, "they's ben
fellahs turned up a.missin' th't was
heerd of last, right bout yere. Moth
in want never proved, but it's n
purity good place t'r t. fight shy of, l
reckon"
"Good! You bet I'm right glad We
toP mel sho' am. l don't think I'll
daily none whatevah.
Then Sam and the friendly stra 1ger
parted, and Sam found his way to the
crossroads.
The blacksmith was at work when he
came along, but assured him he would
attend to Bill ''in a jiffy." Four or
five men were loadng about the place,
aud they at once proceeded 20 take
note OF. aud comment upon, Bills
good points-a fact that Sam would
have duly appreciated had he been
able to convince himself that their at
tentions were altogether disinterest.
ed As it was. however, he viewed
with suspicion all their overtures to-
ward striking up an acquaintance, and
found it difficult to treat them with
the civility that Southwestern courtesy
demands albeit they were, to all APP
pearances, Just as honorable and up
right citizens as himself. In fact, they
looked Just like the average frontiers
man whose time, for the moment,
hangs heavily on his hands, and but
for the warning of the friendly strang'
er, Sam Stires would doubtless have
"mixed free" with them. As it was,
even, he Inadvertently admitted that hG
was going to FL Rio. and was in d
hurry to get there but he sensibly re
fused all Invitations 10 "iikker up, "
ON tho grouni that il didn't agree
with him.
The blaeksmith's "Iiffy" lasted until
almost six ociocA. aud whilst he was
engaged on Bills foot. the loaiers
wandered out. one ut a time. aud dis
appeared ap the hillside. presumably y
ia the direction OF house, aad this
reminded sam that Il was supper time,
aui that he Was huagry.
= Bout aaPpeh ssae, ssEaugeh, sal
th.. black ssa.lth sn4dnnlx. a. though
| diy.ning his client 'slhonRhts. "iiain'I
SO neitah come ap an' graze ~ith se
al, ~ let "a IoD 81 i'f bits
cams do II. paTinsF, sam 70
| pllad, sOlasa hat hastily, thereby eon
uFmlng the other IA . certain saspi
eios ba held concerning hain 4 q.
| that le vac a mals4afs va 94Fts.i