The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-02-11
A RACE WITH FIRE.

away out on the prairies OF western
Kansas He was a small lad. dressed
IN a course cotton shirt, a pair OF well
worn overalls and a wide brimned
straw hat.
He stood gazing across the plains.
intently watching a party OF horsemen
who were riding in long gallop in his
direction. The horsemen were clad in
cowboy attire and at their waists
were broad heather belts from which
hung huge. Misunderstanding pistols.
after the lapse of a few minutes
the cowboys dashed up TO the little
tent and stopped. The boy still gazed
, at them in silence. There was a short
pause; and h one Of the men spoke.
Kid he said, "whar's your pap?"
The boy looked the man over care
fully. then slowly replied:
Reckon he's in his skin"
The cowboy who had spoken flashed
out a pistol and poured forth a per-
feet volley of profanity, while his COM
panions burst into a roar of laughter.
mo use gittin' riled, Jake" one Of
the boys said, addressing the man who
had drawn the revolver. It's a hoss
on you an you'd as well own up an
let it go at that"
Jake replaced his revolver n in a
little while his anger cooled down
With a a smile he aid
You're a blamed impudent little
! scamp an you got a monty reckless
way O fingin' your jaw around. Some
these days you'll git yourself into
trouble, 'caus won't everybody bear
with your chinnin' like I done"
Don't you like my style O. gab?"
the boy asked.
mo, 1 don't"
Reckon thar lain NJ law COM
pellin' Of you to stay here, is thar"
NO"
Then if you don't ike to hear me
chin you can go away"
Jake flushed slightly, but the laugh
from his companions warned him to
keep his temper, or at least to keep
quiet. 1t was almost a minute before
he spoke; then a respectful and even
conciliatory tone ne said:
Look here kid, we got business
with your pap, an We want to see
him if he's bout home"
Wal, he amt here" the boy re-
piled.
where's he gone, them"
Dunno"
(which direction did he go?"
Went the way his nose was p'intin.'
Jake ave vent to a smOthered oath.
Then he returned to the attack.
See here" he said, Il want to
know what's the matter of you that
you can give SIGH fool answers to my
questions?"
Fool answers is the kind to give to
fool questions, I reckon"
We'll, we've had enough nonsense"
Jake announced, becoming thoroughly
nettled. II tell you I want TO know
w1har your pap is" =
II hain't said o didn't want to
know that, have II"
mo, but you hain't told me whar
he is"
Reckon I hain't."
"Well, why don't you?"
Don't have to-"
but you must. It's important for
US to know. We got business with
him that has to be tended to-"
The boy stuck his tongue up in his
cheek and winked one eye.
Reckon I know what sort o. bus
mess you got with pap"
Reckon you don't. We amt said
nothin bout it."
Il amt no plumb fool, an I've seen
cowboys before I see you"
You're powerful peart, amt your"
In pedTC enough TO KNOW UIdC you
want to drive pap off o this claim.
But I low you amt goin' to do it,
just the same; an if you try it you're
going to find out that you've bit off
a heap more than @ a chaw."
why, will you fight?"
I'll drap a few chunks O. lead in
some Of you, or do my best tryin'; an
you can bet pap will make it hot for
you"
We'll" said Jake, you've guessed
our business exactly. We need this
land here for grain purposes, and
we want your pap to pack UP an
move off. We come to drive him away,
but as he amt here We'll give him till
noon tomorrow to be gone. If he
amt gone by that time We'll come
back here an start him out. You tell
him what I say when he gifts back
He'll he here tomorrow at noOn,'
the boy replied, quietly, 80 o may
as we'll make your arrangements to
drive US away"
You tell him what I said" Jake re-
peated, as he turned about, and, with
his companions, rod back as he had
come.
Joe Edmunds-such was the boys
nam@watched the cowboys until
they reached a little belt of timber
that skirted a small stream, a couple
of miles distant from the tent, and
disappeared from view.
Away beyond the timber, almost six
miles from where he stood, he could
see the cattle ranch and the great
herds of cattle of which Jake and his
companions had charge.
AS Joe turned into the tent, after
watching the cowboys out Of sight, he
muttered angrily:
Them cowboys has a notion they
own the whole world, I reckon. Pap's
done give up three claims cause them
cowboys ordered him away an threat
ened to shoot him if he don't 60"
Then for a ONE he was silent,
and his face grew dark and his small
form became rigid and tense. Then he
added:
But 1 bet they don't drive him
away this time; an if they try It
somebody is goin' TO git hurt, jest
shore. Pap says thar amt no use o
submittin' to bein' drove around like
a dog all h time; an thar amt,
neither"
The day wore away and the night
Il ~ ~ On Ina mo- -rsI1 4l-- 80 -.