The Opelousas courier., 1899-05-06
reckon they'll make the ranch ali

reckon they'll make the ranch al
right"
For some time they dashed along
in silence, then Bill glanced retro
spectiyely over his shoulder and gave
a sharp exclamation: "I'll be blessed
ii there amt a bunch of wolves a-fol
lerin' us. They've got a taste of fresh
blood from the hoss's shoulder, an
now the onery brutes are after the
boss and us, too, I reckon. Here
Minnie, take the lines, an throw the
whip into the bosses, while I pump
lead into them wolves"
A moment later the sharp crack
crack, crack of a pistol rang out OIL
the frosty air, as Bill emptied his six.
shooter into the hungry pack. Three
of the wolves went rolling over in the
snow, but the others, after a moments
hesitation, dashed forward, bowling
! ferociously as they came. Bill fumbled
II his belt for more cartridges and
thee turned pale in spite Of his bronze,
81 ve only got three cartridges left, .
said y; "I must hayF been plumb
looosd = have left at7"R without filling
He glanced furtively'at the young
girl at his side as he spoke. With
pallid cheeks and set teeth she was
skillfully guiding the team over the
rough and dangerous trail, plying the
whip with a dexterity that betrayed
long practice as we'll as great mental
excitement. But the horses were fast
becoming exhausted, especially the
one whose wounded shoulder had first
attracted the attention of their blood
thirsty pursuers, and the wolves were
rapidly shortening the distance that
interviewed between them and their
intended victims. There we're still
sixteen of the big, gaunt brutes, their
eyes glowing like GOALS of fire, and
their teeth cleaning ominously in the
moonlight. Bill glared at them for a
space in impotent rage, then laying
his revolver on the seat began to pull
off his overcoat.
GIVE got to do it," said he; "if
them wolves yer get near enough to
hamstring the bosses, we're done fer,
but if I make a rush and give 'em
three shots right quick, they may
break an run if they don't
you can get to the ranch all
right alone; it amt far from here"
"Stop, listen"
Bill paused and turned his head.
As he did so a loud "Hallo!" and the
sound of horses hoofs crunching Oh
the snow came to his ear.
"Thank God, we're saved! that's
your dad an the boys a-comin'," cried
Bill.
Almost as he spoke four horsemen
swept past, and a volley from Win.
chester and six-shooters sent the
wolves scurrying away in all direc-
The horsemen turned their
animals heads, and with the stoical
taciturnity of frontiersmen rode sill
entity along behind the stage.
"Have you got my kid aboard to-
Bill?" finally inquired Jack
Crawley.
"That's what I have" responded
the driver.
Not another word was sroken until
blackboard paused before the
.rawley residence, when a soft, white
hand pressed Bills big brown paw,
and Minnie's voice murmured in his
ear: TRY and be a man for my sake,
Then she sprang to the ground.
the pale, tired-looking woman
mat had just appeared at the door in
her arms and covered her face with
Bill sat like one dazed, staring at
he open floor, until the ranchman
"Well, it looks like you'd
all out of that wagin and come in
Some twelve months later a small
party of Riverside sdaneurs" were
gathered at their uEnal rendezvous,
When the Sheriff entered with a pris-
'ner, a short, heavy set French Can
dian, who had been accused of SELL
ng intoxicating beverages to the
loble Sioux. The Sheriff seated him
elf in n Of the well-worn chairs,
rossed his feet comfortably on the
table, and began: "Well, I've
cen pretty near all the old-timers on
llkali Creek this trip, and they all
eemed to be doing we'll; but I must
ay that Maverick Bill surprised me.
all know what a usher he used
be when he was whacking broncks
II the stage line-we all thought he
'as dead hard. But he's done quit
rinking and gambling and put him
p a dandy little ranch in the next
end above Jack Crawley's-where
ne big beaver-dam used to be-, you
now-and he's got as nice a bunch
cattle as you ever set eyes on. OF
purse the banks got a plaster on 'em
ct, but if he has luck for two OF three
more he'll be out of debt and
ying high. F.;
"By the way, were any of you fell
RS up at the wedding? Bills and
tile Minnie Crawley's, I mean.
FELL, I've been to q hoe-down or two
|yself before now, but I must say,
lat n took the cake. The whole Of
kali Creek and a big gang of us
iverside gobblers were there. Old }
ack Crawley alus was stuck on Bill, ,
Id he just kept ~moseying around, a. :
up the drags, and we kept the !
a-milling till plum sun up the )
morning."-Field and Stream. J
Raising Frogs A%rtificially.
Tho 1Draekr;o&o1 brp@o- .~a !