Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1898-12-23

well, I'd like TO see II Ir1eo, per
sisted the Kid.
why not do it yoursef?" asked the
foreman. Nobody is holding you
What, me ?'' said the Kid, in shaky
voice; I'm only boy" and went away
to bed.
We sat around the table some time
longer, smoking and drinking hot cot
fee. AS the clock struck for midnight
the mess-house door was flung opens
I thought by a stronger gust of wind
Turning to look. found myself looking
into the muzzle of one OF Laraways
guns He stood in the doorway with his
eyes afire and gun in either hand.
(which one of you dogs has got my
Bible?' he cried. Its not in the hole,
and I'll give you just ten seconds to
prsduce it."
''Noyy, Laraway," said the foreman, in
smooth tone, you got the drop on us
all right, but tell you it's Gods truth
that not a man here knows anything
about your Bible. We thought you had
dug it up and was half way to town by
now"
stop that driveling and get the
Bible" growled Laraway, and the ham,
mers went "click, click" as be raised
them both. ''I'l pot a few of you before
you get out of this"
1t looked as though some one was
going to get hurt. All the hot coffee
had been drinking came to the surface
in perspiration. Every man in the room
was looking square at Laraway. oAnd to
every man it seemed that the pistols
were looking square at himself.
The Kid always was sandy-and
freckled. Half an hour before he had
skunk off to bed. Now. just at the right
moment, he skunk up behind Laraway,
jumped onto his back like a cat, put
both his freckled hands to the mans
throat, and brought him down. The
guns went off through the roof.
Mr.. Laraway was tied to his bed that
night and many nights after. He had
Z severe attack of brain fever from
which he came out as weak as baby.
During his convalescence he never
spoke of his Bible. and he had an aver
sion to liquor. During those days a
strong and quiet friendship greW up be
tween Laraway and the Kid.
The "old man" was visiting his ranch
es that season, and took a great interest
in the sick man; told him to go off
somewhere and get well and hearty be
fore trying to work again; said his pay
should go on exactly as though he were
in the saddle. But Lafg.way said: I've
no place to go that like half so well as
this old ranch, and no friends so lgoodas
these" So he stayed around camp and
made hair brides and cinches, ard read
books, and helped the cook. and did all
those things that a man war cowboy
does only when he is invalided.e
Among the visitors whom the "old
man" entertained at the ranch that
spring was Mitchell, the famous mind
reader. One Sunday afternoon he vol
unteered to show the boys what he
could do. He gave us a show that
couldn't be beaten on any stage. We
had objects all over the place and kept
him chasing around for an hour.
At last Mitchell said: This is all
dead easy for me; it doesn't amuse me.
You all know where these objects are
placed, and the trails hot TO them.
Now" said he to the KID. who had been
one of the most interested participants:
you fix your mind on something whose
whereabouts is known only to yourself,
and which you don't want me to find"G
He took the Kids hand and began to
wander around the buildings. Twice he
circled the corrals, then, getting his
bearings, made 4 Decline for small,
bowlder-stre1n butte a quarter-mile
away. BY this time he was fairly drag
ging the reluctant Kid along, and the
cook, who had often charged the boy
with raiGing the commissary at night
rejoiced openly.
It'll bet boiled dinner" said he, 'thatz
we find n cache of canned goods up in
these rocks ID
The mind-reaSler halted at the first
big bowlder, and the boys quickly
turned ii over. The bed of the rock was
a rounded hole, some three feet deep,
and at the bottom lay a small black
Bible At sight of
it we fell back step and stood about
the hole as solemnly as at a grave. The
Kid was bIubbering. Il didn't mean no
HARM" said he.
Laraway had been in the second rank
of those who followed the mind-reader
NJ the hill; now he crowded to the
front and looked in
'My Bible, by God" he cried, and
jumped into the hole. AS he came out
with the book in his hand, and strobe
down the hin without a word to anyone.
he tore out the fly-leaf upon which he
had written his pledges. I picked it
up and kept it as record of noble en-
deavor.
you've got the sand" presently said
the foreman to the Kid. who was still
snivehng.
but it did no good" sobbed the boy.
Nothing will ever do him any good"
asserted the foreman, gloomily.
We turned our back TO the Kids
l.
" down the hill. For some time there