The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-11-28

its belongings in perfect order, besides
mending HOWardS clothes, which were
almost daily shredded by his wresties
with the spiny sotol, on which he was
hard at work from morning till night,
slashing open with big sotol knife,
so that the sheep could set at the ten
der, juicy heart to eat it.
Strong in her love for Buddy and her
determination to help him, the first
half Of Phyllis stay passed almost like
a frolic. Old Jose had been down twice
with water, and each time Buddy
urged her, if she felt lonely, to go back
with the Mexican and let them send
Manuefs boy down to take her place.
But Phyllis secuted the idea. She was
growing brown and rosy living out of
doors.
Three days before the day they had
planned TO strike camp, Howard came
in greatly disturbed to tell her that he
had found five dead sheep. and every
indication that the bunch had been
fired into the night before, though
neither of them had heard the shots.
Phyllis was so angry that she scarce
ly though of fear; but Howard looked
at her With troubled eyes. This is
what I was afraid Of little sister, he
said. How should l ever face mother
if any harm came to you down here?"
Phyllis managed joke by way of
trying to cheer Howard up. You don't
think they'll take me for a lamb, do
you?" she laughed. It's only mutton
they're after, you know"
But that night showed her her mis-
take. Phyllis was sleeping in the tent;
Howard wrapped in his blanket by the
camp fire. The camp, wearied by its
days labors, was apt to be sound
asleep by o'clock
About 10, as Phyllis guessed, they
were aroused by repeated shots in the
! direction of the flock L can't stand
this" cried Howard, leaping to his feet.
Phyllis, l can't! You stay in the tent, y
and he dashed off in the darkness to-
ward the sheep.
Left alone, Phyllis could think Of
nothing to do but to pile dry sotol
stalks on the fire. These burn like
ditch pine. and she soon had brave
beacon.
1t was well she had, for poor Howard
could scarcely have found his way
| back without. Accidentally, or inten-
! tionally-the MaSonS never knew which
the party of cowboys who were firing
| into the sheep shot him. AS he cried
out and fell, he heard one man call to
another in the dark, Say, Shorty,
| you've winged the Teller that owns
these here Sheep" and another voice
reply, II hope to the Lord I've killed
| him. Bet We thatd stop his heep
| driftia'''
AS they galloped away Howard tried
to call after them. 1t seemed to him
impossible that human beings should
leave a fellow creature wounded, help
less as he was, and so miles from any
succor. But his voice died in his
throat; he tainted, and when he came
once more to consciousness he was
alone. His first thought was of Phyllis
He groared and sat up. There was
Phyllis camp fire faring away so thai
he thought for one terrible moment
that the miscreants who had shot him
had fired the camp. Then, across the
levels, he saw the tent and his sister
beside it. He must get to it. The hur'
was in his shoulder; he was only faint
and after ten minutes Of resolute try
ing he did finally stagger into camp
only to faint again and fall almost a.
Phyllis feet.