Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1897-10-08

pungent odor and q tinkling Of little
bells. Over the crest Of an adjacent hill
appeared the flock browsing ON tho
rank sage.
They do look some like mules" he
solilOquized, land I'll bet I'm the only
freshman In America ever owned n
herd Of sheep"
Winter came and passed. and tn,
only lrishman prospered. BY roofing
IN a cut with brush he had commodious
sheus, anu crOss-sectlOns Of poles d.
ViueI the broad ditch into as many
corais as he chose. The sheep were fa,
anu carried heavy fieeceS.
Whalen had for help two BOYS who
hau wandered there and asked for
work. He had proposed to hire one OF
theh. hut the boys protested that they
had never been separated, and that II
they got jobs at different ranches '.the
other one wouldn't know where the
other one was" n contingency whicl,
they could not abide. SO Whalen offer.
ell TO take the two at the price of one,
ana ON that basis they shared with him
the shack. herded the flock, and cooked
the grub. They soon knew as much,
or as little. about sheep as Brick him.
sell: and the proprietor found Opp0rtu.
nifty to break the mOnotOny of camn
lie by occasional trips to the railroad
and once to San Francisco.
I'm going to see my friend Martin -
he told the boys. "NOw tend to bust.
hess and don't let any get away" And
the boys gave their word that not one
should escape.
During Whalen's absence In the city
he went out Of the sheep business even
more abruptly than he went into II the
previous autumn. The instruction 10
the boys was fulfilled to the letter
not any got away.
1t happened on a hot day In June
when. contrary to usual custom, the
boys brought the flock to camp and the
shade OF sheds at noOntime. 1t never
rains In that arid region, but sometimes
pOurs. This was one Of those times.
Charged with ice and water, n great
black cloud came drifting down the
wind. and emptied out Its load upon
the camp and the hillside above It.
The canal. curving around its base.
formed an eave-trOugh for the whole
mountain and poured several thousand
Inches Of water into Whalen's impro.
vised sheep-sheds. The flood very soon
subsidized, but when the cloud had PASS.
ed and the sun again shone forth. there
were no living sheep. Not many min.
utes are required to drown a rat in a
hole.
Meanwhile the boys. greatly fright
ened by the sudden storm. and with no
thought for the safety OF the flock.
were In the shack. The hail bounded
and the wind shook 1t. Water covered
the floor.
Pray. Billy" said the one on the
barrel.
mo. you do it." he answered from
the tabletop.
The shack had no window, and, with
the door closed. 1t was pretty dark In
there. When Whalen reached home
two hours later, the floor was still wet
and the boys were yet roosting on
table and barrel, but outside, In the
bright sunlight. the ground appeared
already almost dry. 4 solitary goat
stood upon the shed roof; he had beeu
among the sheep in the pen.
'YOu can't keep good man down
any more than you can goat" was
Bricks comment on the catastrophe.
While Whalen was working the boys
double time Mt pulling the wool from
the dead sheep. he had the happy
thought Of stocking his ranch with
bees. Having money enough from the
proceeds Of his wool sale to buy hun
bred stands. he promptly carried the
thought into effect.
Again he sat down in the door Of his
shack to double his money"
This Is better than sheep" said he:
''fOr they herds themselves. And they
are like mules In one thing-you are
liable to get hurt II you fool with EN-"
This wave Of prosperity broke up as
soon us former ones had done, for he
had imported bad case of foul brood,
and within year the hundred swarms
huu PCICl Cu Outs W utu We went NIOWu
there last summer In the interest Of a
new company which has taken up the
work Of completing the canal, Whalen
gathered the bones out of the old shed
In the cut and hauled them to the rail-
road, where he sold them for fertilizer,
realizing enough to buy two more
mules. With his fourmule team he Ia
ut work in the ditch for days wages.
Somewhat grizzled now, and not 30
brick-red Of hair and whisker as for
merly, he Is happy as ever, and san
guine that he will double his money.
Here's hoping" that he may.-San
Francisco ArgOnaut.
Title OF Admiral.
1l,o hosa h. LII. Il.