The L'Anse sentinel., 1897-03-06

cious stones, likely. You know folks
are all rich down il. New England" re-
piled Theo.
Aunt Serena wouldn't bring those"
"Ot course she wouldn't" put in that
lady herself, coming from the dwell
ing which was to be her home for a
year. Il guess know better than to
bring anything like that out here-why
don't you have board walk instead of
q dirt path to the house?"
This isn't Connecticut, aunt; it's
ITeNas. an mighty near the Panhandle"
replied Paul. IF you visit the Texans,
do as the Texans do; you know the
rro,erb.'
1T is not proverb, and you did not
quote it correctly; but hurry in with
the trunk"
So the heavy burden was. with much
strainng of muscles on the part of the
two nephews, carried inside; but the
youths curiosity remained unsatistied.
I've brought this 20 miles in
Nagon to-day. and ] ought TO be told
what's in it," insisted Paul.
So they waited while Aunt Serena
unpacked.
Dresses, aprons, n few keepsakes-
out the articles came, all light of weight
and furnishing no explanation of the
mystery. But before the bottom was
reached the lid slammed shut and no
more was 10 be seen.
Mighty funny she's so particular"
commented Paul, as Theo and himself
sat on their ponies the following day,
couple Of miles from the cabin, watch
ing the big cattle herd. I'm going to
md out, an right soon, too"
Make raid on the trunk?'
Don't know; but l guess so. Fa-
ther and mother are going to take her
over to the schooldirector's this after
noon. I'll make hunt then"
And he did. When he came back his
lace was a study.
What dye find?" asked Theo.
Couldn't guess it in a thousand
years" X
Gold. silver, iron, horseshoes, beans,
bullets?"
Your trail amt even warm-it's
salt"
What for?"
How do you suppose l know? I'm
goin' to ask her"
But Paul did not need to ask. Aunt
Serena suspected that her belongings
had been searched, and forestalled any
comments by remarking at the break
fast table: Its the purest, finest salt
could get-a hundred pounds of it.
I've lived too long within smelling dis
tance of salt water to risk having things
fresh. Even for visit / wanted to be
prepared for emergencies, and besides,
suppose you use stock salt in Jumps
here"
Paul admitted that she was partly
right, and from that time the ranch
table was not without the fiourlike, re-
hned product of the eastern salt works.
The sack was set inside the storeroom
door, and was the subject of many
Joke in the family as well as among the
herders.
Even the sturdy nephews were not
above referring to the freshness" that
their aunt expected to see in the south
west.
But then it's just what you'd allow
10 find school-teacher doin'," said
raul. His contempt for school-teachers
was, however, largely assumed, and
he often wished he were capable of
reaching the neighborhood school, as
ms aunt was doing. He longed for her
knowledge of books every time he saw
her crossing the prairie to the sod
schoolhouse, IA mile or more from the
ranch, where all the settlers children
gathered.
But soon something else was of more
pressing importance. The grass on the
range was becoming short, and the Sc
we're drought had prevented the start
ing of rev growth.
we must move the stock down
nearer the ranchhouse," ordered the
ehief herder; and the men allowed the
e"ttie to Craze closer to the corral.
rive thousand head of Texas cattle!
little sea of horns, thin. nervous faces.
'narp backs and switching tails-itw