Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1896-01-20

'1,a--S 4 H-aszs.. eyes; y.Sn, a., 49,.
teh, Bill?" asked Sam. "Casta shoe !?
Blessed Il ye hain't," be continued,
after dismounting and examining the
foot the horse held up for inspection.
"Ought Il We had ye fixed up more'n
two weeks back, OF hoss." He took
out his knife-a sort of pocket black
smith and carpenter. .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 q
tparsely settled portion Tof the coun-
try, and without the slightest idea of
where or how he was going to find q
place where he might sget that shoe
reset. True, heShad no business rid.
ing an animal that required the SER
vices of a fArrier; but Bill was not O
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 q 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 q Cowboy, he "met up with"
a man travelling in tho other direc-
ton, who, much to his relief, told him
that there was crossroads lust
ahead in the timber, with store and
blacksmith shop situated close by.
Sam thanked him and passed on,
but presently, much to his surprise,
the stranger turned aud galloped back
to him.
"T thought I'd tell ye," he said,
'bein' as yo're 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 a
purity good place t'r t. fight shy of, /
reckon"
"Goodl You bet I'm right glad ye
top mel sho' am. | don't think I'll
daily none whatevah.
Then Sam and the friendly stra ager
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 jiffy." Four or
i've men were loaing about the place,
and they Mt once proceeded 20 take
note OF, and comment upon, Bill's
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
peNrances, just as honorable and up
right citizens as himself In fact, they
looked just like the average frontiers
man whose time, for tho moment,
hangs heavily on his hands, and but
for the warning of tho 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 a
hurry to get there; but ne sensibly re.
fused all invitations to "likker mp"
on the grouul that it didn't agree
with him.
The blacksmith's "Jilfy" laoted until
almost six o'clock, and whilst he was
engaged on Bills 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 time,
and that he was hungry.
Bout suppeh time, stranger, ;" said
the blacksmith, suddenly, as though
divining his client'sthoughts. "Hadn't
ye bettah come up an Craze with we.
all, an let tn job go fr bit y
"Cain't do Ii, pardner," Sam re-
piled, somewhat hastily, thereby con.
tirming the other in certain suspi-
cion he held concerning Sam Ii. e. q,
that he was a marshals or sheriff <