Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1898-03-23

y
vehicle. They were men of abou
thirty, bearded, bronzed and clad i
the rough garb usually worn by plains
men. Broad-brimmed hats covere
their heads and o brace of heav
revolvers was stuck into their wild
leathern belts.
To one unaccustomed to the dres
and manners of plainsmen the sudde,
appearance of these men might hav
induced feeling akin to terror. Blu
during the two years and half whicl
Faith had spent on the Nebrask
frontier, she had grown used to sucl
types of Western character.
"Good evenin', ma'am," said TX
Barclay, dismounting from his pony
"Had breal-. down, I see. Bad job!'
he remarked, examining the broker
wheel.
eyes, sir" answered Faith. "I
there place near here where I cal
get the wheel mended?"
"Wa-al, thar's ole Berger's black
smith shop over by Pete Miley's store
but it's plumb three mile from hyer,
replied Ike.
Faith looked troubled.
"Whar's yer men folks?' inquired
Ike, glancing around.
"There are no men with us, re-
turned Faith.
"Wot! Yer don't mean to say yel
travelin' alone with only them two
kids?" said Jim Hancock.
eyes," answered Faith, simply.
eve are from Nebraska and are on
our way to our uncle's ranch on the
Arkansas River in this State"
"Wa-al, I'll be-switched!" ex,
claimed Jim, growing little red in
the face, as he quickly reminded him
self that he was in the presence of 9
woman
eyer Fsee, ma'am," explained Ike,
''it seems plumb curious like to see q
woman trayelin' alone over this lone
sanae ken try, iiss1s;oh n.eats l5gtEIIEzlEl
tell yer wot Jim an nell do for yer.
If yer willin' to trust us, we'll tote
that wheel over to ole Berger's shop
an git him to fix it pfor yer"
'sI hate 10 trouble you so much, u
said Faith.
"It'll be no trouble to us, ma'am, y
Jim assured her. 'Ike an me was
goin' over to Pete Miley's store any.
way"
Assisted by his companion, Ike
soon had the wagon propped up and
the broken wheel removed.
Turning to Faith, Jim said: 'Ma'am,
it's goin' to berough weather tonight,
an I reckon cabin with a fireplace
would be right smart better than
campin' hyer in the wagon. Thar's 8
good cabin beyond thet patch O. tim
Der belongs to afrlend O. ourn-a chap
who's visitin' his ole home in Illinoy,
Yer welcome to take the kids an camp
thar, if yer will"
"I'd be very thankful for shelter
from this storm" said Faith. eff the
owner wouldn't care
"Re's not one O. them kind-thi:
friend O. ourn in Iliinoy. He's open
hearted as summer day, an the most
go-ahead young settler in these parts, .
said Jim.
Ike led the way to the absent mans
cabin, which was on the other side o.
the timber from where the wagon hat
stopped. It was new log structure
tightly daubed with lime and sand
There was a snug fireplace in ont
corner and the room contained table
four chairs and bed. The deer riff,
thrown across antlers above the door
and mans old straw hat, q coat ant
blue jeans overalls on pegs near thu
head of the bed proclaimed the fac
that the owner must be bachelor.
Jim soon made roaring fire on tn
open hearth. Then, after he and Tx
had transferred such things as Faitl
needed from the wagon to the cabin
they mounted their ponies and rod
away, carrying the crippled wheel be
tween them. They assured Faith tina
they would fetch it back that night.
When the claim-h holders, Ike Bare
lay and Jim Hancock, reached tn
blacksmith shop, just back of Miley'
general store, they tumbled the whee
to the ground, just as Berger, tall
gaunt and dust-blackened, was CLOSING
up for the night.
"Hold on, Berger!'' called Jim
springing from his pony and begin
ming to push the wheel into the shop
"We want this wheel mended up righ
away to-night!'
eyes, an do a good job-none c
yer blotchin'!" put in Ike. 'We'll pa
yer when ye finish.
Berger took the wheel and set t
work Immediately to repair it. Jir
and Ike hitched their ponies back @
the shop, where they were out of th
keen wind.
Then they started toward Miley'
store. Pausing before one of the win
dows, they peered within. Miley wa
tying up package for short, fat ma
with ragged red woolen scarf aroun
his neck, while q solitary figure wa
warming at the stove in the back par
of the store.
Suddenly on exclamation burst fror
Jim, and he pointed toward the ma
by the stove:
"Look, Ike! If thar amt Rob Woo
I'll swaller thet Wheel"
Eyer right, by ginger" calculate
Ike, as he peered in above the rim
frost on the pane at awell-built, hano
some young man, about thirty, who
divested Of hat and overcost, was gi'
ing himself thorough warming
Pete Miley's rust-begrimed stove.
"Wot'll Rob say?"
"Bout his csbin?"