The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-04-26

z
The drunkards were sitting arounC
outside the ranch house. 1t was even
ing. They cast a sullen inspection or
the newcomers, who returned no in
4, spection whatever. Drake had his meI
together and took them first to the
stable, shed with managers. Here he
had them unsaddle. Because" he men
toned 10 Brock, 'in case of trouble Wei
be sure of their all staying. I'm taking
no chances now" Soon the drunkards
strolled over, saying good-day, hazard
! ing n few comments on the weather
ind like topics, meeting sufficient an
swers.
Coin TO stay?"
"Don't know"
"Thets good horse you've got" .
"Fair"
But Sam was the blithest spirit at
the Malheur agency. "Hi-yah!" he eX-
claimed. "Misser Dlake. How fashion
you come quick SOP" and the excellent
Chinaman took pride in the meal of well
come he prepared.
'Supper's now" said Drake to his
men. "Sit anywhere you feel like. Don't
mind whose chair you're taking-and
we'll keep our guns on"
Thus they followed him, and sat. The
boy took his customary perch at the
head Of the table, with Brock at his
right. IL miss old Bolles," he told his
foreman. you don't appreciate Bolles."
Prom what you tell of him." said
IL.
full"
Seeing their boss, the sparrow hawk,
back in his place. 1anked with support
ers and his gray eye indiiferently upon
them, the buccaroos grew polite to OPP
pressiveness. While Sam handed his
dishes TO Drake and the newcomers ate
what was good before the old inhab-
itants got a taste, these latter grew
more and more polite. They offered
sugar TO the strangers, they offered
their beds. After supper. Half-Past Full
urged them TO sit companionably in
the room where the fire was burning.
But the visitors went TO another room
with their arms and lighted their own
fire. They brought blankets from their
saddles, and after little concertina
they permitted the nearly-perished
Uncle Pasco 20 slumbar. Soon they
siumbered themselves, with the door
left open and Drake watching. He
would not even share vigil with Brock,
and all night he heard the voices of the
buccaroos holding grand. unending
council
When the relentless morning came,
and breakfast with the visitors again
IN their seats, unapproachable, the
drunkards felt the crisis to be strain
upon their sobcred nerves. They
glanced up from their plates, and down
along to Dean Drake eating his hearty
porridge, and back at one another and
the hungry, well-occupicd strangers.
Say, we don't want trouble" they
began TO the strangers.
Course you don't. Breakfasts what
You're after"
90 well, you'd have got gay. A
ma ~ets gay"
&C."
49, Drake" said Half-past Full,
sweating with his effort, 1--WE were sorry
while we was a-fogging you up"
Yes said Drake. You must have
been just overcome by contrition."
\ large laugh went up from the visit
ors, and the meal was finished without
further diplomacy.
"Onc matter, Mr. Drake" stammercd
Full, as the party rose. We're
glad TO pay for any things what got
sort OF broke"
sort of broke" repeated the boy.
eying him. 80 you want to hold your
jobs?"
IF" began the buccaroo, and
halted.
Fact is, you're set Of cowards."
said Drake, briefly. 81 notice you've
forgot TO remove that whisky Jug"
The demiiohn still stood by the great
fireplace. Drake entered and laid hold
Of it. the crowd standing back and
lie took IL out. with what
remained in its caracious bottom. set
1t on stump, stepped back, loyeling
gun and shattered 81 to pieces. The
whisky drained down. wettiug the
stump, creeping 20 the ground
Much potency lies in tho object les
son. a grin was on the faccs Of al
present. save Uncle Pssco'e. 10 had been
Dis dcmijohn aud when Fl. Iet struck
d. He 1.aked Ike Gee hr whip
IS ra.sct
You ornery old mir, .l Drake,
'ook.ng ut him. you keep TO the jew.
tiry business hereafter"
The bucclroos prinncd again. II was
soothing 70 witness wrath turn upon an.