The morning times., 1897-02-07

hundred per cent that the host could afford
TO take the chances. And then, you know,
If he got real hand up he could get a few
broncs TO break, and s. was easily earned
by riding something that NJ one else would.
1t was a little risky, to be sure; but, then,
how else could COW -plnchers die if not rolled
on or trampled to death 10y some terrified
horse? So the game went on.
The wind howled around the log build
ing, and the fine snow sifted through some
OF tile cracks were the mud daubing had
fallen out. The box stove roared and got
red in the cheeks in an unsuccessful attempt
70 keep a pail Of water that stood in far
corner from freezing. Notwithstanding its
efforts, the crinkle of the ice was heard as
tie cold outside increased, and, penetrating g
tile cracks, fought back the efforts of the
stove.
twas about 10 O'Clock in the morning.
but the sun was only up an hour or so, and
the ice-laden Storm from the north was
making a very successful attempt to con-
ceal the fact. a ''blue fog was rolling
through the Gap, and the mercury had all
dropped into the bulb, tired of trying to
Keep track Of the eccentricities of a climate
borrowed for the occasion from the snowy
wastes of British America.
The game went on at the table in a
quiet kind of way. Every time the range
rider moved his foot the spur chains jiugled
Oh the floor The stage stock-tender on
tha o+bar Sida Of tho IA bla Was MIA WING his
best, for he knew he had reached the limit
OF his credit at the bar, but the cards were
against him. Two sheep-herders completed
the quartet, and the sneaky-looKing, blear-
eyed stock tender sized them up with a
glance that boded i'll if they perchance fell
asleep before the till behind tile bar had re
ceived their rolls, earned 10y standing out
on the hills in the storms OF the six Or
seven months past. Two wet colley dogs
lay by the stove with smoking peltS, dream
ing of the trail, for every once in while
one of them would give a curious zip
yip," that suggested efforts to get slow
band OF sheep into the corral. The bar
tender stood with his elbows Oh the hecounter,
peering out OF the window and waiting
for the inevitable moment, that occurred at
more or less regular intervals. when some
one OF the players would ''go broke re-
quiring round OF drinks, a dollar added
% the steadily increasing store in the
till, aud a redivision OF the chips.
After doing the honors ON one Of these
occasions, he opened the door, admitting
a cold blast Of air and snow that made
the card players sw ear. And peering
cut, he said:
Time fur the stage. I guess the Kid
must ha' missed the trail"
We'll, what if he has?'' growled the
stock-Uendcr, To whom the arrival of tile
stage meant an hour OF cold and dis
agreeable a work It's no use freezing
US to death lookin' for him; he's no
chicken
The shcer-heriers laughed, the range
rider yawncd, when rattling of wheels
and harness and o cheerful "huro" out
side caused the game to tie forgotten,
and all made rush 10 the door. They
Were greeted 10y two or three mail sacks
thrown with considerable force and as
the stock-tcnder led away the horses,
the driver, great bundle of blankets
shawls and buffalo robe, rolled off his
seat and followed the mail sacks, as
they Were dragged Though the saloon
by the barkceper, into the store beyond.
After the driver had loosened up his
outer wraps and melted the frost from
his eyelashes, he looked around and
nodded to those present. When his eye
Lit on the range-rider, he said:
"Hullo, Bill / saw Campbell at the river
and he sent u note TO you. Hereitis,'' and
he handed piece OF paper TO the rider
Bill looked at II a moment and then whis-
tied softly to himself, glancing out Of the
window at the scurrying snow meanwhile.
He wants you to go down the south side
of the Gap and see If them Basin cattlethat
has dritUed through are Dadiy mixed up With
the Musselshell outfit, So he told me- said
the driver. "He said fur you to 20 downthis
morning, stop over night at the o. III.
home ranch on Careless Greek and send
word by me when 1 come back tomorrow
and if the cattle amt scattered yit he'll
send over n wagon outfit and try and
work 'e,n back into the Basin.'
YES" said Bill slowly, that is what
he says here; but great Cod does he ex-
pect me TO 20 when this fog is a-biowing?"
..I suppose so,'' said the driver. He
said IL you didn't go now 1T would be no
sse later, fur the cattle would be scat