The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1896-01-22

teh, Bill?" asked Sam. ''Casta shoe?
Blessed f ye hain't," he continued,
after dismounting and examining the
foot the horse held up for inspection.
Ought t We had ye fixed up more'n
two weeks back, OF hoss." He took
ont his knife-a sort of pocket black
smith and carpenter r-shop-ieftly re-
moved the rest iof 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 .of the coun.
try, and without the slightest Idea of
where or how he was going to find a
place where he might Iget that shoe
reset. True, helhad no business rid
ing an animal that required the SER
vices of farrier; but Bill was not a
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
Tsborville, whence Sam had started
that morning, and he disliked the
idea of returning that distance Just to
have 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 a Cowboy, he "met up with"
n man travelling in the other direc-
ton, who, much to his relief, told him
that there was a 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.
az thought I'd tell ye," he said,
"bein' as yo're a stranger, 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
purity good place t'r t fight shy OF, L
reckon"
"Good You bet I'm right glad We
tol' mel sho' am. ] don't think I'll
daily none whatevah.
Then Sam and tue friendly stra lger
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 sin a jiffy," Four or
five men were loaing about the place,
aud they at once proceeded TO take
note of, and 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
linked free" with them. As it was,
even, he inadvertently admitted that he
was going to Ell Rio, and was in n
hurry to get there; but he sensibly re,
fused all invitations to "likker up"
on the ground that it didn't agree
with him.
The blacksmith's "Iiffy" lasted unit,
almost six o'clock, and whilst he was
engaged on BilPs foot, the loaiers
wandered out, one at time, and dis
appeared up the hillside, presumably
in the direction of house, and this
reminded Sam that it was supper tim -,
and that he was hungry.
"'Bout suppeh time, strangeh, said
the blacksmith, suddenly, as though
divining his clients thoughts. Hadn't
ye bettah come up an Craze with We
all, an let tn job so f'r a bit?"
"Cain't do 1t, pardner," Sam re-
piled, somewhat hastily, thereby con-
tirming the other in II certain suspi-
oion he held concerning Sam Ii. e.,
that he was q marshais or snerIt d