Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1898-02-12

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sturdy ponies reined in near the broken
vehicle. They were men of about
thirty, bearded, bronzed and clad in
the rough garb usually worn by plains
men. Broad hats covered
their heads and brace of heavy
revolvers was stuck into, their wide
leathern belts.
To one unaccustomed to the dress
and manners of plainsmen the sudden
appearance of these men might have
induced feeling akin to terror But
during the two years and half which
Faith had spent on the Nebraska
frontier, she had grown used to such
types of Western character.
"Good evenin', maam,' said Ike
Barclay, dismounting from his pony.
Had n break down, / see. Bad job"
he remarked, examining the broken
wheel.
eyes, sir" answered Faith "Ts
there place near here where l can
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 u.s." re-
turned Faith.
''Wot! Yer don't mean to say yer
travelin' alone with only them two
kids?" said Jim Hancock.
"Yes." answered Faith, simply.
"We are from Nebraska and are on
onr way to our mcle's ranch on the
Arkansas River in this State"
"Wa,al. I'll be---switched!' ex-
claimed Jim, growing a little red in
the face, as he quickly reminded him
self that he was in the presence of a
woman.
Eyer see, ma'am," explained Ike,
sit seems plumb cur'ous like to see a
woman travelin' alone over this lone
some kentry in sich weather. But I'll
tell yer wot jim an nell do for yer.
Ii yer willin to trust us, we'll tote
that wheel over to ole Berger's shop
an git him to fix it up for yer"
Il hate TO trouble you so much, :"
said Faith.
"It'll be no trouble to us, maam, :"
Jim assured her. "Tke 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 be rough weather to- night,
an l reckon cabin with a fire place
would be right smart better than
campin' hyer in the wagon. Thar's II
good cabin beyond thet patch O. tim
ber 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"
"Td be very thankful for shelter
from this Storm" said Faith. eff the
owner wouldn't care"
"He's not one O. them kind-this
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 of
the timber from where the wagon had
stopped. 1t was new log structure,
tightly daubed with lime and sand.
There was n snug fireplace in one
corner and the room contained a table,
four chairs and bed. The deer rifle
thrown across antlers above the door,
and n mans old straw hat, a coat and
blue jeans overalls on pegs near the
head of the bed proclaimed the fact
that the owner must be bachelor.
jim soon made roaring fire on the
open hearth. Then, after he and Ike
had transferred such things as Faith
needed from the wagon to the cabin,
they mounted their ponies and rode
away, carrying the crippled wheel be-
tween them. They assured Faith that
they would fetch it back that night.
When the claim holders, Ike Bare
lay and Jim Hancock, reached the
blacksmith shop, just back of Miley's
general store, they tumbled the wheel
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.
I'VE want this wheel mended up right
away to-night!'
Eyes, an do a good job-none o.
yer blotchin'" put in Ike. "We'll pay
yer when We finish"
Berger took the wheel and set to
work Immediately to repair it. Jim
and Ike hitched their ponies back of
the shop, where they were out of the
keen wind.
Then they started toward Miley's
store. Pausing before one of the win
dows, they peered within. Miley was
tying up package for short, fat man
with ragged red wooden scarf around
his neck, while solitary figure was
warming at the stove in the back part
of the store.
Suddenly an exclamation burst from
Jim. and he pointed toward the man
by the stove:
Look, Ike! II thar amt Rob Wood
I'll swaller tibet WHEEL"
"Yer right, by ginger.." CALCULATED
Ike, as he peered in above the rim Of
frost on the pane at well-built, hand
some young man, about thirty, who,
divested Of hat and overcoat, was Civ
ing himself thorough warming at
Pete Miley's rust-begrimed stove.
'Wot'll Rob say?"
Bout his cabin?"