The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-04-22
PART III.

Drake tOOlN "a lTtsu tHiCN
Mis- legs over the chair-arm.
II think you smoke too much," said
Boles, whom these days had made
familiar and friendly.
"Yep. Have to just now. That's
what! as Uncle Pasco would say. They
are half-breed lot, though" the boy
lcontinued, returning TO the buccaroos
and their recent visit. weaken in the
face of straight bluff. you see. Unless
they get whisky-courageous. And I've
called 'em down on that"
"Oh!" said Bolles, comprehending.
/; "Didn't you see that was their game?
But he will not go after it,"
Half-past Full did not go to Harvey
City for the .abooed whisky, nor did
anyone. Drake read his buccaroos like
the children that they were. After the
late encounter Of grit, the atmosphere
was relieved of storm. The children,
the primitive pagan dangerous children,
forgot all about whisky, and lusted joy
ously for Christmas. Christmas was
coming! No work! a shooting match!
"A big feed, Cheerfulness bubbled at
the Malheur agency. The weather
itself was in tune. Castle Rock seemed
no longer to frown, but rose into the
shining AIR, friendly mass of strength.
Except when a rare sledge or horseman
lpassed, Mr. Bolles' journeys to the
lschool were all to show il was not some
pioneer colony in new white silent
world that heard only the playful
shouts and songs of the buccaroos. The
sun overhead and the hard-crushing
snow under foot filled everyone with o
crisp, tingling hilarity.
Before the sun first touched Castle
Rock on the morning of the feast, they
were up and in high feather over at the
bunk-house. They raced across to see
what Sam was cooking; they begged
and ioyfully swallowed Jumps of his
raw plum-pudding. ''Merry Christ
mas!" they wished him; and smelly
Clismas!" said he TO them. They
played leap-frog over by the stable,
they put snow down each others backs.
Their shouts rang round corners: il
was like boys let out of school When
Drake gathered them for the shooting
match, they cheered him; when he told
them there were no prizes, what did
they care for prizes? When he beat
them all the first round. they cheered
him again. Pity he hadn't offered
prizes! He wasn't good business man
after ALL
The rounds at the target proceeded
Through the forenoon, Drake the ac-
claimed leader; and the Christmas sun
drew TO mid-sky. But as it's splendor in
the heavens increased. the happy shout
ings on earth began TO wane. The body
was all the buccaroos knew: well. the
flesh comes pretty natural TO most of us
and who had ever taught these men
about the spirit? The further they were
from breakfast, the nearer they were to
dinner; yet the happy shoutings waned.
The spirit is a strange thing. Often il
hwclls dumb in human clay. then
speaks unexpectedly out of the clay's
darkness.
1t was no longer a crowd Drake had at
the target. lie became aware that
Guiesness had been gradually coming
over the buccaroos. lie looked, and saw
. man wandering by himself in the lane.
Another leaned by the stable corner,
with vacant face. Through the wir-
dows OF the biink-house he could see
two or three on their beds. The children
were tired Of shouting. Drake went in
doors and threw great log on the fire.
IL blazed up high with sparks. and he
watched il. although the sun shone
bright on the window-sill. Presently
be noticed a man had come in and taken
n chair. n was Half-past Full. and with
his boots stretched 20 the warmth. he
sat gazing into the fire. The door
opened. and another buccaroo entered
and sat of in n corner He had n bundle
of Old letters. smeared sheets tied with
twisted old ribbon. While his large
vope-toughened fingers softly loosened
she ribbon. he sat with his back 20 tho
room and presently began 20 read The
letters over. one by one. Most Of the
men came in before long. and silently
1oined the watchers round the great
Fireplace Drake threw another lor
on. and in n short time this. too broke
into ample fame. The silence was long;
q slice Of shadow bad fallen across the
window sill. when n young man spoke
addressing the logs:
Il skinned coon in San Saba, Texas
this day a year"
At the sound OF a voice. some Of thcii
eyes turned on the speaker. but turneC
back 20 the ire again.
After some more minutes, a neighbo
whispered 10 a neighbor: play yu' 1
game of crib"
The man nodded. stole over TO wher'
the board was. and brought il across tn
fqpr on creaking tiptoe. They sat !
t<:wesn them, and now and then th